274 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
fuch. word occurring, as far as I know, i in any language . 
{poken in thefe countries. 
Aut the difafters which I had been threatened’ with in. 
the courfe of that journey, which I had thus begun, now: 
prefented themfelves to my mind, and made, fora moment, 
a {trong impreffion upon my fpirits. But it was too late to. 
draw back, the dye was caft, for life or for death; home was. 
before me, however diftant.; and if, through the protection. 
of Providence, I fhould be fortunate enough to arrive there, 
I promifed myfelf both eafe and the applaufe of my country,. 
and of all unprejudiced men of: fenfe and learning in Eu-. 
rope, for having, by my own private efforts alone, compleat. 
ed a difcovery, which had, from early ages, defied the ad-. 
drefs, induftry, and courage of all the world, 
Havine, by thefe reflections, rather hardened, than com-. 
forted my heart, I now advanced down the fteep fide of. the- 
mountain, our courfe nearly N. N. W. through very ftrong, 
and rugged: ground, torn. up by the torrents that fall on. 
every fide from above. This is called the Defcent of Moura ;: 
and though both we and our beafts were in great health and: 
{pirits, we could not, with our utmoft endeavours, advance- 
much more than one mile an hour. Two Greeks, one of- 
whom only was my fervant ; anda third, nearly blind, fly-. 
ing from poverty and want; an old janiflary, who had come. 
to Abyffinia. with the Abuna, and a Copht who left us at; 
Sennaar; thefe, and fome common men who took charge of. 
the beafts, and were to go no further. than Tcherkin, were. 
my only companions in this long and weary journey. 
As. 
