THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 216 
‘which had been taken from them; and they had fucceeded 
in part, when they were difcovered, purfued, and fome of 
the mules retaken. At the fight of armed men running up 
and down the hill, an alarm fpread that nobody knew the 
- occafion of, till the Ras caufed the mule-keeper to be baf- 
tinado’d in the morning. That day, the 26th, we received 
advice, that the Edjow Galla,,and fome other horfe of the 
fame diftrid, had maffacred all. the people they met on their 
way to and from Gondar, and that a body of troops had 
marched into the town, which threatened to fet it on fire if 
any more provifions were fent to the camp. 
We were now without food or watér; a great council 
was therefore held, in which it was agreed to decamp the 
28th in the night, and return to Gondar on the 29th, in the 
morning. A prefent of frefh provifions had been fent to 
Ras Michael, and, in one of the bafkets, a number of torch- 
es. A meflage was alfo delivered from Gufho, “ That as 
he was informed the Ras intended travelling in the night, 
that therefore he had fent him ftore of torches, left he 
fhould miftake his way to Gondar by having burnt all he 
had by him in the laft night’s alarm about Fafil.” He de- 
clared, moreover, in name of all the Confederates, that it 
was their refolution not to moleft him in his march; that 
the whole kingdom was in alliance with them to fave the 
effufion of blood, now abfolutely unneceflary, and to meet 
and treat with him at Gondar. 
Upon receipt of this meflage, with the torches, the Ras 
flew into a moft furious paffion. He called for Kefla Ya- 
fous and Guebra Mafcal, and fharply upbraided them: with 
having betrayed him to his enemies. He gave orders to 
be Ee2 i the 
