THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. Sy 
‘and foot. This was not my intention; I had fet out un- 
armed, attended only by two Abyffinian fervants on horfe- 
back, but without lance or fhield, and in this manner I in- 
tended to prefent myfelf to the king as one of the fuite of 
‘Ayto Confu: but all my endeavours were in vain; and I 
faw that, making the beft of my way, and profiting of the 
early time of the morning, was the only method left to a- 
void increafing my retinue. Imuft own the good difpofition 
of thefe people to me, and the degree of favour they report- 
ed me-to. be in, and, above all, Ozoro Efther’s affurances 
had given me great: comfort ; for feveral people of no au- 
thority, indeed, had prophefied that Ras Michael would be 
much offended at my having thrown a carpet over the 
body of Joas, and at my not having gone to Tigré with 
him, , 
I'passep the three heaps.of ftones under whichilie the 
three monks who were ftoned to death in the time of Da- 
vid IV:; and at the bottom of the hill whereon ftands the 
church of Abbo, was met by Yafine, and about 20 horfe- 
men, having on their coats of mail, their helmets upon their 
heads, and their viziers down; their pikes perpendicular, 
with their points in-the air, fo that by one motion more; 
placing them horizontally in their refts, they were pre= 
pared to. charge at a word. I:afked Yafine what was the 
meaning of his being in that equipage in fuch hot weather; 
when there was no enemy? He replied, It was given him 
in orders from Ayto Confu-laft night ; and that, with regard 
toan enemy, there was one that had:feized.the pafs.of.Sem- 
ma Confu, and obftinately refufed: to let us through, un- 
lefs we forced them. Sure, faid I, Ayto Confu knows, that 
heavy armed-men on: horfeback are not. fit to. force pafles 
| through. 
