THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 31 
but, a few days after, having paffed the low country of Dem- 
bea, he took poft at Dingleber, on the road to Maitfha and 
the country of the Agows, and then he declared his only in- 
tention in coming was to join Fafil, then marching to Gon- 
dar at the head ofa large army ; nor was the caufe of that 
great army, nor the reafon of Fafil’s coming, fo fufficiently 
known as to free any par ty entirely from their apprehen- 
fions. » 
SanupA, who filled the office of Ras, and the reft of that 
party, endeavoured to determine Afahel to enter Gondar, 
and pay his homage to Socinios, now king; not doubting 
but his example would have the effect of making others do | 
the like; and that fo-by degrees they might collec troops e- 
nough to make Michael refpe& them, fo far at leaft as to de- 
fer for a feafon his march from Tigré. They prevailed, in- 
deed, fo far as to engage Afahel to enter Gondar on the 28th 
of October, the day that we left it; fo, by a few hours, and 
his taking a low road that he might plunder the villages in 
Dembéa, we miffed a meeting of the moft dangerous and 
moft difagreeable kind. After having made his ufual pa- 
rade, and pafled his cavalry in review before Socinios, he had 
his public audience, where he faid he came charged by Fa- 
fil to declare that he was ready to fet out for Gondar, and 
bring with him that part of the revenue due to the king 
from the provinces he commanded, provided he hada man 
of fufficient truft to leave in his ftead at home; that there- 
fore he prayed the king toappoint him Woodage Afahel to 
command in the provinces of Damot, Maitfha, and Agow, 
in his abfence. 
AFTER 
