THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. a1 
few of his black horfe were in two lines immediately before 
him, their {pears pointed upwards, his officers and nobility on 
each fide, and behind him the reft of the horfe, diftributed 
in the wings, excepting prince George and Ayto Confu, who, 
with two fmall bodies, not exceeding a hundred, fcoured 
the country, fometimes in the front, and fometimes in the 
flank. I do not remember who commanded the reft of the 
army, my mind was otherwife engaged ; they marched clofe 
and in great order, and every one trembled for the fate of 
‘Gondar. We paffed the Mahometan town, and encamped 
upon the river Kahha, in front of the market-place. As 
foon as we had turned our faces-to the town, our kettle- 
drums were brought to the front, and, after beating fome 
time, two proclamations were made. The firft was, That 
all thofe who had flour or barley in quantities, fhould bring 
it that very day to a fair market, on pain of having their 
houfes plundered; and that all people, foldiers, or others, 
who attempted by force to take any provifions without ha- 
ving firft paid for them in ready money, fhould be hanged 
upon the {pot. A bench was quickly brought, and fet under 
a tree in the middle of the market; a judge appointed to fit 
there; a ftrong guard, and feveral officers placed round him ; 
~ behind him an executioner, and a large coil of ropes laid 
at his feet. The fecond proclamation was, That everybody 
fhould remain at home in their houfes, otherwite the per- 
fon flying, or deferting the town, fhould be reputed a rebel, 
- his goods confifcated, his houfe burnt, and his family cha- 
ftifed at the king’s pleafure for feven years ; fo far was well 
and politic. 
THERE was at Gondar a fort of mummers, being a mix- 
ture of buffoons and ballad- BEBE and poiture-matters. 
I ere Thefe 
