" THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 1st 
Farzy in the morning fome priefts came from Powufl- 
fen, Ayabdar, and Gutho, to take the moft folemn oaths be- 
fore the Abuna, that they never had the {malleit knowledge 
of what the’ affaflin had laid to their efarge; and they 
took upon themfelves fentence of excommunication, which 
the Abuna then pronounced conditionally, if they had di- 
rectly, or indirectly, been principal or accefiory, or known, 
or been confulted, in any manner whatever, as to the de- 
figns of that affaflin. Several principal officers of the rebels, 
moreover, who had left Gondar and gone over to Fafil, and 
who were there in Gufho’s camp, came over to congratu- 
late with Ras Michael upon his efcape, fo that, for a mo- 
ment, one would have thought the whole country interefted 
in faving him whom all were actually in arms at that in- 
flant to deftroy. What furprifed me moft of all, probable 
as the thing might feem to be, not one man in the camp, 
from the Ras and King downward, feemed to think that 
this attempt of the Guragué had been in any fhape the 
plot of the rebels ; and yet, in old times, murder by treafon 
muft have been very frequent in his kingdom, as appears 
by their cuftoms preferved to this day ; no perfon, be their 
ftation, connection, or friendfhip what it will, can offer any 
one meat or drink without tafling it before them. 
Proposats of peace followed this friendly intercourfe, 
but the condition being always that Michael thould depart 
to Tigré, which he thought was but in other terms a pro- 
pofal to deftroy him, thefe friendly overtures ended in de- 
fiance and proteitation, That to him alone was owing the 
effufion of human blood, and the ruin of his country, which 
was immediately to follow, 
Ir 
