THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 159 
feafon of the year, when moft rivers in Abyflinia ran now 
no more. 
In the middle of the ftream we met a deferter from Ras 
Michael’s army, with his firelock upon his fhoulder, driving 
before him two miferable girls about ten years old, ftark- 
naked, and almoft famifhed to death, the part of the booty 
which: had fallen to his fhare in laying wafte the country 
of Maitfha, after the battle. We afked him of the truth of 
this news, but he would give us no fatisfaction ; fometimes. 
he faid there had been a battle, fometimes none. He 
apparently had fome diftraft, that one or other of the 
facts, being allowed to be true, might determine us as to 
fome defign we might have upon him and his booty. He 
had not, in my eyes, the air of a conqueror, but rather of a 
coward that had fneaked away, and ftolen thefe two mifer- 
able wretches he had with him. I afked where Michael 
was? If at Buré? where, upon defeat. of Fafil, he natu- 
tally would be. He faid, No; he was at Ibaba, the capital of 
Maitfha; and this gave us no: light, it being the place he 
_ would go to before, while detachments of his army might 
be employed in burning and laying wafte the country of 
the enemy he had determined to ruin, rather than return to: 
it fome time after a battle. At laft we were obliged to leave 
him. I gave him fome flour and tobacco, both which he 
took very thankfully; but further intelligence he would 
HOt give. 
Tue banks of the Tacazzé are all covered, at the water’s. 
edge, with tamarifks ; behind which grow high and ftraight 
trees, that feem to have gained additional ftrength from: 
having often refifted the violence of the river. Few of thefe 
i ever 
