THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 213 
caft-away, no Greek nor Armenian fervant, but perhaps of 
equal rank to yourfelves : if | wanted money, Metical Aga’s” 
fervant would procure it for me upon demand. Ir is your 
wife and two daughters who are ill; and when you fhall 
hereafter be great, and governing every thing at Gondar, 
I will by them put you in mind of any piece of friendfhip 
I may ftand in need of at your hand; and you fhall grant 
it.”"—“ You are a good prophet, Yagoube, fays he; and fo 
I thall; but remember my advice; I know you are a friend 
_ of Ozoro Efther, but fhe cannot protect you ; Ozoro Altafh* 
may : the beft of all is to keep clofe to the king, to defend 
yourfelf if any body molefts you on your way to Gondar, 
and leave the reft to me, 
An officer was now appointed to conduct me acrofs the 
plain, and feveral fervants laden with fifh and fruit. About 
a hundred yards from the tent, a man muffled up met me, 
whom I found to be a fervant of Engedan. “ Your army 
will-difband, fays he to me, in a low tone of voice; keep 
by the king, or Aylo my mafter’s brother,-and he will 
bring you over here.” Having left him, we continued a- 
crofs the plain, and faw feveral {mall -parties of horfe pa- 
troling, but they came not near us. My conductor faid they 
were Galla, waiting for fome opportunity to do mifchief. 
He told me that Ozoro Welleta Ifrael, and his fon Aylo, 
had joined their army that day with 10,000 men from Go- 
jam, to no purpofe at all, continued he, bur that of eating 
up the country. But your friend the Ireghé could not 
fee Ras Michael fall without giving him a thove, though 
. fhe. 
a a 
* Her daughter was married to Powuflin, 
