THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 119 
for their fize, quantity, or goodnefs. The beft are thofe of 
Mai Gogua, a clear and pleafant rivulet, running very vio- 
lently and with great noife. This circumftance, and igno- 
rance of the language, has mifled the reverend father Je- 
rome, who fays, that the water of Mai Gogua is called fo 
from the noife that it makes, which, in common language, 
is called guggling. This is a miftake, for Mai Gogua fig- 
nifies the river of owls. 
THERE are many agreeable {pots to the fouth-eaft of the’ 
eonvent, on the banks of this river, which are thick-fhaded 
with wood and bufhes.. Adowa confifts of about 300 houfes, 
and occupies a much larger {pace than would be thought 
neceflary for thefe. to ftand.on, by reafon that each houfe 
has an inclofure round it of hedges and trees ;. the laft 
chiefly the wanzey.. The number of thefe trees fo planted 
in all the towns, fcreen them fo, that, at a diftance, they 
appear fo many woods.. Adowa was not formerly the capi- 
tal of Tigré, but has accidentally become. fo: upon the accef- 
fion of this’ governor,. whofe property, or paternal eftate,. 
lay in and about it.. His manfion-houfe is not diftinguifh- 
ed from any of the others- in the town unlefs by its fize ;. 
it is fituated upon the top of the hill. The perfon who is. 
Michael’s deputy, in his abfence, lives in it. It refembles 2 
prifon rather than a palace; for there are in and about it 
above three hundred perfons in irons, fome of whom have 
been there for twenty years, moftly. with a view to extort 
money from them; and, what is the moft unhappy, even 
when. they. have paid the fum of money which he afks, do. 
not. get their deliverance from his mercilefs hands; moft of 
them are kept in cages like wild beafts, and treated every 
way in the fame manner.. | 
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