THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, 209 
managing my horfe and arms, with which, until that 
time, he had been unacquainted, placed me about his per- 
fon, both in the palace and in the field, for his own amufe- 
ment, and I may fay inftruction, and for my fafety; and 
this advice has proved fo good, that I have never once de- 
viated from. it but my life has been in danger. The firft 
attempt I made to go to the cataract, Guebra Mehedin 
way-laid and intended to murder me. When the king was 
in Tigré, Woodage Afahel defigned to do me the fame fa- 
vour by the Galla he fent from Samfeen; and fo did Coque 
Abou Barea at Degwatla, by the hands of Welleta Selaffe. 
No fafety, therefore, then remained to me but in adhering 
clofely to the king, as I have ever fince done, and was ad- | 
vifed from the firft to do, which indifpenfibly brought me 
to Serbraxos, or wherever he was in perfon. You cannot 
__ think it is from a motive of choice that a white man like 
myfelf runs the rifk of lofing his life, or limbs, fo far from 
home, and where there is fo little medical affiftance, in a 
war where he has no motive that can concern him.” 
“Do not miftake me, Yagoube, fays Gufho, your beha- 
viour at Sebraxos does you honour, and will never make 
you an enemy, fo does the like affair with Kefla Yatous ; 
there is no man you can fo properly connect yourfelf with 
as Kefla Yafous; all | wanted to obferve to-you is, that it is 
faid Woodage Afahel would have efcaped fafely from the 
mountain if you had not fhot him, and that yours was the 
only mufquet that was fired at him; which is thought 
invidious in you, being a ftranger, as he is the head of 
the Edjow Galla, the late king’s guards; they may yet return 
to Gondar, and will look upon you as their enemy, becaufe 
Vou. lV, Dd  _adleaden 
