THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 184 
On the arft, Engedan was conveyed in a litter to Gondar; 
and early in the morning of that day arrived an officer from 
Powuflen, together with three or four priefts. He brought 
with him twenty or thirty kettle-drums belonging to the 
king, with their mules, and as many of the drummers as . 
were alive, The errand was fham propofals of peace, as ufual, 
and great profeffions of allegiance to the king. As Powuf- 
fen’s attack, however, that day, had fomething very perfon- 
alin it, and that the ftory of Theodorus was founded upon 
a fuppofition that the king was to be flain on the field of 
Serbraxos, little anfwer. was returned, enly the red flag was 
fent back with a meffage, That perhaps, from the good for- 
tune that had attended it, Powuffen might with to keep it 
for Theodorus his fucceffor, but it was never after feen or 
heard of. | 
Gusuo likewife, and Ayabdar, fent a kind of embafly to 
inquire after the king’s health and fafety ; they wifhed him, 
in terms of the greatett refpect, not to expofe himfelf in the 
field as he had done in the lait battle, or at leaft, if he chofe 
to command his troops in perfon, that he fhould diftinguith 
himfelf by fome horfe, or drefs, as his predeceflors ufed to 
‘do; and they concluded with fevere reflections on Michael, 
- as not fufficiently attentive to the fafety of his fovercign. 
Gracious meflages were returned to thefe two, and they all 
were difmiffed with the ufual prefents of clothes and 
money. 7 
Azsour eleven o’clock in the forenoon I received an or- 
der from the Ras to attend him, and, as I thought it was 
about the affair of Guebra Mafcal, I went very unwillingly. 
‘i was confirmed in this by feeing him waiting with many 
Aag of 
