ree Sa 
THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 22y 
oo yards from. the bridge, upon ground -equally plain 
as the former, the mule fell again, and threw the Ras ano- 
ther time in the dirt, on which a general, murmur, and 
‘groan was heard from all his attendants, for every body 
interpreted this as an omen that his! power, and fortune 
were gone from him for ever. Another mule was.fpeedily 
brought, but he refufed to mount it, and we pafled on by 
_ the Mahometan town, and up to Confu’s houfe, by Aylo 
Meidan. I could not, however, help reflecting how juftly 
the Ras was now punifhed for the murder of the fingers in 
that very fpot, when he returned from Mariam-Ohha and 
entered Gondar. The king went direétly to the palace, the 
Ras to his own houfe, and, by the fecretary’s advice, I went 
with him to that of the Abuna, where I left my Greek fer- 
vants with my gold chain, and fome trifles I wanted to pre- 
ferve, together with my inftruments.. I then dreffed myfelf 
in the habit of peace, and returned to the palace, where, re- 
membering the advice of Gutho, I refolved to expect my fate 
with the king. Upon feeing me with the fore,part of my 
head fhaven, and remembering the caufe,as his firft mark 
of favour he ordered me to cover my head, a thing other- 
wife not permitted in the king’s prefence to any of his 
houfehold. 
‘Tue king’sfervants brought mea bull’s hide for my bed; 
and although many a night I have wanted reft upon lefs 
dangerous occafions, I fcarcely ever flept more foundly, till 
I heard the cracking of the whips of the Serach Maffery, 
about five o’clock in the morning of the 29th. He performs 
this function much louder than a French poftilion upon 
finifhing a poft, it being the fignal for the king torife. There 
was, indeed, no occafion for this cuflom, now there was no 
Ff2 court, 
