THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 149 
Tur$ aflaflin was no fooner fecured and difarmed, than 
a noofe, with a running knot, was flipt round his neck, 
and his hands tied behind his back, in which manner he 
was carried before Ras Michael, who. fat upon a ftool at 
fome diftance from his tent; after every part of it had been 
fearched. . The fellow at firft refufed to fpeak, but, being 
threatened with torture, anfwered, in his own language, 
which I did not underftand. He was afked, who had. em- 
ployed him to attempt that affaffination? He faid, The re- 
bels; and named Gufho and Powuflen: he then varied, 
and faid the Iteghé employed him. Before he was fent a- 
way he contradicted all this, and declared, that Hagos, his 
brother, had employed him ; and that he was then actual- 
ly in the camp, with four others, who were. determined to 
murder the Ras;and Guebra Mafcal, whatever it fhould coft. 
them.. ) bi 
A sEARcH was on this ordered through all the camp, bus 
no firanger found, excepting one of the fame nation, wha 
had planted himfelf and his faggot near the tent of the A- 
buna;.and who being feized, examined, and promifed par- 
don, declared himfelf abfolutely ignorant of any fcheme 
but robbing, for which purpofe three of them, he faid, had 
come into the camp together; one of them had ftolen two 
mules thé night before, and gone off, and that he was.that 
night intending to take away two of the Abuna’s mules; 
and he fuppofed his companion had the fame intention 
with regard to the Ras; but as to murder, or any other plot, 
he knew nothing of it.. Being put flightly to the. torture, 
he perfifted in his declaration ; and when interrogated, de- 
clared, that they all three had come from Guragué with 
Amha Yafous, to load and unload his baggage, and take care 
of - 
