THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. st 
dudtor. Through his country is the only paflage from Tigré 
to Begemder and Beleflen, and many armies have perifhed 
by endeavouring to force it. Michael and the king now pafi- 
ed under the protection of Guigarr, notwithftanding Powuf- 
fen had many parties among the other clans that wifhed to 
prevent him. On the 15th of December he forded the Ta- 
cazzé, and turned a little to the left, as if he intended to 
pafs through the middle of Begemder, though he had real- 
ly no fuch defign, but only to bring Powuflen to an engage- 
ment. Seeing this was not likely, and only tended to watfte 
time, he purfued his journey ftraight towards Gondar, not 
in his ufual way, burning and deftroying, but quietly, cor- 
recting abufes, and regulating the police of the country 
through which he pafled, for he was yet in fear. 
Tue news of his having paffed the Tacazzé determined 
Socinios and the Iteghé to fly ; and they fet out according- 
ly. Socinios directed his flight, firt towards Begemder, but, 
the next day, turned to the right, through Dembea, and 
joined the queen at Azazo, where great altercations and 
difputes followed between them. The queen had engaged 
the Abuna to attend her, and that prelate had confented, up- 
on receiving fifteen mules and thirty ounces of gold, which 
were paid accordingly: But when the queen fent, the morn- 
ing of her departure, to put the Abuna in mind of his pro- 
mife, his fervants ftoned the Iteghé’s meflenger, without 
fuffering him to approach the houfe, but they kept the 
mules and the gold. The queen continued her flight to 
Degwafla, near the lake Tzana, and fent all that was va- 
luable that fhe had brought with her, into the ifland 
of Dek. | 
G 2 AyTOo 
