THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 303 



guardian of that communication, and the caravans pafTing 

 k. 



The Baharnagafh had in orders from Socinios to purfue 

 this queen till he had taken her prifoner, and to bring her in 

 that condition into his prefence. The enterprife was by no 

 means an eafy one. Great part of the road was without 

 water ; but Guebra Mariam, the Baharnagafh, was an active 

 and prudent officer, and perfectly acquainted with the fe- 

 veral parts of the country* With a fmall, but veteran army, 

 he marched down the Mareb, between that river and the 

 mountains, deft roving all the places through which he pann- 

 ed, putting the inhabitants unmercifully to the fword, that 

 no one might approach him, nor any report be made of 

 his numbers, which were everywhere magnified by thofe 

 that efcaped, and who computed them from, the greatnefs 

 of the defolation they had occaiioned. 



On the 13th day he came before Mendera, and fentr a- 

 fummons to the queen Fatima to furrender. Being told 

 that fhe had fled on his approach, he anfwered, That he ca- 

 red not where fhe was ; but that, unlefs fhe furrendered her- 

 felf prifoner before he entered Mendera, he would firfl fet 

 the town on fire, and then quench the flames by the blood. 

 of its inhabitants. 



Fatima, though old and infirm, was too great a lover o£ 

 her people to rifk the fulfilling this threat from any confix 

 deration of what might happen to her. She furrendered. 

 herfelf to Guebra Mariam, with two attendants ; and he,, 

 without lofs of time, marched back to his own country, ab^ 

 ftaining from every fort of violence or excefs in his- way^ 



3. flOKL 



