THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 264 
On the N. E. of Tigré lies the province of Begemder. 
It borders upon Angot, whofe governor is called Angot Ras.; 
but the whole province now;: excepting afew villages, is 
conquered by the Galla. 
Ir has Amhara, which runs parallel to it, on the fouth, 
and is feparated from it by the. river Bafhilo.. Both thefe 
provinces are bounded by the river Nile on the weft. Begem- 
der is about 180 miles in its: greateft length, and 60.in 
breadth, comprehending Lafta,,a, mountainous province, 
fometimes depending on Begemder, but often in rebellion. 
The inhabitants are efteemed the beft foldiers in Abyffinia, 
men of great ftrength and ftature, but cruel and uncivilized3_ 
fo that they are called, in common converfation and writin 2. 
the peafants, or barbarians.of.Lafta; they pay to the king. 
1000 ounces of gold... 
SrvERAL {mall provinces are now difmembered from. Be- 
gemder, fuch as Foggora, a finall ftripe reaching S. and N, 
about 35 miles between Emfras and. Dara, and about 12. 
miles broad from E. to W..from the mountains of Begem- 
der to the lake Tzana.. Qn the north.end of this are two- 
{mall governments, Dreeda and Karoota, the only territory 
in Abyflinia that produces wine,.the merchants trade to 
Caffa and Narea, in the country of the.Galla. We {peak..of 
thefe territories as they are in point of right; but when a 
nobleman of great power-is governor of the province. of 
Begemder, he. values not. lefler rights, but unites them all 
to his province. . 
Becemper is the ftrength of Abyflinia in horfemen. It is* 
faid, that, with Lafla, it-can bring out 45,005 men; but 
this 
