THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 89 
gagement I was under in my own country was not fulfill- 
ed, and I recovered my health, I fhould bring as many of 
my brethren and family as poffible, with their horfes, muf 
kets, and bayonets; that, if I could not pafs by Sennaar, 
I fhould come by the way of the Eaft Indies from Surat to 
. Mafuah, which, by how muchit was more tedious, was by 
fo much more fecure, than that by Sennaar. 
; 
I cannot but hope, the impoffibility of performing this 
oath extinguifhed the fin of breaking it; at any rate, it was 
perfonal, and the fubfequent death of the king * muift have 
freed me from it; be that as it will, it had this good effect, 
that it greatly compofed my mind for the time, as I now 
no longer confidered myfelf as involved in that ancient and 
generalrule of the country, Never to allow a ftranger to re- 
turn to his home. We that night learned, that the king had 
been in great ftraits ever ince he came from Tigré; that 
the Ras, who was pofleffed of all the revenues of the provin- 
ces that were in their allegiance, had never yet given the © 
king an ounce of gold; aiidthat he furnifhedhis daily fubfitt- 
ence from. his own houfe, a cow for his own and great officers 
table, and two loaves of wread for each of his fervants; as 
{mall an allowance as any private perfon gave. It was be- 
lieved that the Ras had left moft of his money in Tigré, and 
had trufted to the contributions he was to levy upon the 
great men whenever he fhould crofs, the Tacazzé; but in 
this he difappointed himfelf by his cruelty, for no perfon 
Wor 1v.... M came 
* It was reported, when I was at Sennaar, that the king had been defeated and flain, I 
have no other authority, only think, all things confidered, it was moft probable. 
