THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 25% 
the revenue of the cuftomhoufe in Mafuah; in return 
for which he was fuffered to enjoy that {mall ftripe 
of barren, dry country called Samhar, inhabited by black 
fhepherds called Shiho, reaching from Hamazen on the 
north to the foot of the mountain Taranta on the fouth ; but, 
by the favour of Michael, that is, by bribery and corruption, 
he has poileffed himfelf of two large frontier towns, Dixan 
and Dobarwa, by leafe, for atrifling fum, which he pays the 
king yearly ; this muft neceflarily very much weaken this 
ftate, if it fhould ever again have war with the Pugks, of 
which indeed there is no great penance 
THE next province in Abyfiinia,as well for greatnefs as 
riches, power, and dignity, and neareft Mafuah, is Tigré. It 
is bounded by the territory of the Baharnagafh, that is, by 
the river Mareb on the eaft, and the Tacazzeé upon the weft. 
It is about one hundred and twenty miles broad from E. to 
W. and two hundred from N. to S. This is its prefent fitu- 
ation. The hand of ufurping power has abolifhed all dif- 
tinction on the weft-fide of the Tacazzé; befides, many 
large governments, fuch as Enderta and Antalow, and great 
part of the Baharnagafh, were {wallowed up in this province 
to the eaft. 
Wuat, in a fpecial manner, makes the riches of Tigré, is, 
that it lies neareft the market, which is Arabia; and all the 
merchandife deftined to crofs the Red Sea muft pafs through 
this province, fo that the governor has the choice of all. 
commodities wherewith to make his market. The ftrong- 
eft male, the moft beautiful female flaves, the pureft gold, 
the largeft teeth of ivory, all muft pafs through his hand. 
Fire-arms, moreover, which for many years have decided 
2 who 
