THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 265 



pope's fupremacy, and the two natures in Chrift, mafs was 

 faid, and a fermon preached, much with the fame fuccefs 

 as it had been in the time of Za Denghel, and with full as 

 great offence to the Abymnian clergy. 



The province of Dembea, lying round the lake Tzana, 

 is the moft fertile and the moft cultivated country in Abyf- 

 finia. It is entirely flat, and feems to have been produced 

 by the decreafe of water in the lake, which, from ve- 

 ry vifible marks, appears to have formerly been of four 

 times the extent of what it is at prefent. Dembea, how- 

 ever fruitful, has one inconvenience to which all level 

 countries in this climate are fubject : A mortal fever rages 

 in the whole extent of it, from March to Heder Michael, 

 the eighth day of November, when there are always gentler 

 mowers. This dangerous fever flops immediately upon the 

 falling of thefe rains, as fuddenly as the plague does upon 

 the firft falling of the nucta, or dew, in Egypt. 



On the fouth fide of this lake the country rifes into a 

 rocky promontory, which forms a peninfula and runs far 

 into the lake. Nothing can be more beautiful than this 

 fmall territory, elevated, but not to an inconvenient height, 

 above the water which furrounds it on all fides, except the 

 fouth. The climate is delightful, and no fevers or other 

 difeafes rage here. The profpecl: of the lake and diftant 

 mountains is magnificent beyond European conception, and 

 Nature feems to have pointed this place out for pleafure, 

 health, and retirement. Paez had alked and obtained this 

 territory from the king, who, he fays, gave him a grant of 

 it in perpetuity. The manner of this he defcribes : " A civil 

 officer is fent on the part of the king, who calls together 



Vol. II, L 1 all 



