THESOURCE OF THE NILE, 65 
day, and foon after, the whole army was in motion; the 
council had been in the Ras’s tent, not in prefence of the 
king, with whom I had ftaid the moft part of the evening, 
indeed, till late in the night; he feemed to have loft all his 
former gaiety, and to be greatly troubled in mind; inquir- 
ed much about the Iteghé, and Fafil; told me he had fent 
his affurance of peace to the Iteghé, and defired her not to 
leave Kofcam: but fhe had returned for anfwer, that fhe 
could not truft Michael, after the threatnings he had fent 
againft her from Tigré. It was obferved alfo, in this day’s 
march, that, contrary to his cuftom before crofling the Ta- 
cazzé, he received all that came out to meet him with a 
fullen countenance, and fcarce ever anfwered or {fpake to 
them. Michael alfo, every day fince the fame date, had put 
on a behaviour more and more fevere and brutal. He had 
enough of this at all times. - : 
Ir was the 23d of December when we encamped on the 
Mogetch, juft below Gondar. This behaviour was fo con- 
fpicuous to the whole people, that no fooner were the tents 
pitched, (it being about eleven o’clock) than they all ftole 
home to Gondar in fmall parties without their dinner, and 
prefently a report was fpread that the king and Ras Mi- 
chael came determined to burn the town, and put the inha- 
bitants all to the fword. This occafioned the utmoft con- 
fternation, and caufed many to fly to Fafil. 
As for me, the king’s behaviour fhewed me plainly all 
was not right, and an accident in the way confirmed it. He 
had defired me to ride before him, and fhew him the horfe 
Thad got from Fafil, which was then in great beauty and, 
erder, and which I had kept purpofely for him, It happen- 
VoL. IV, I ed 
