THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 365 
felf, but I would never advife you to fpeak one word of Ya- 
fine to him; it is not the cuftom ; you may, if you pleatfe, to 
Confu, he knows him already. His eftate lies all around 
you, and he will enforce your orders if there fhould be any 
need,” 
“Parpon me, Tecla Mariam, faid I, if 1 do not underftand 
you. Icame here to folicit for Yafine, that Confu or his 
fucceflor would appoint him their deputy, and you anfwer 
that you advife me to appoint him myfelf.”—“ And fo I do, 
replies Tecla Mariam: Who is to appoint him but you? 
You are governor of Ras el Feel; are you not?” I ftood mo- 
tionlefs with aftonifhment. “ It is no great affair, fays he, 
and I hope you will never fee it. It isa hot, unwholefome: 
country, full of Mahometans; but its gold is as good as any 
Chriftian gold whatever.. I wifh it had been Begemder 
with, all my heart, but there is a. good time coming.” 
Arrer having recovered myfelf a little from my furprife,, 
¥ went to Ayto Confu to kifs his hand as my fuperior, but 
- this he would by no means fuffer me to do. A great din- 
ner was provided us by the Iteghé; and Yafine being fent 
for, was appointed, cloathed,thatis invefted, and ordered im- 
mediately to Ras el Feel to his government, to make peace 
with the Daveina, and bring all the horfes he could get with | 
him from thence, or from Atbara. [fent there alfothat poor 
man who had given us the {mall blue beads-on the road, asI 
have already mentioned. The having thus provided for 
thofe two men, and fecured, as I thought,.a retreat to Sen- 
naar for myfelf, gave me the firft real pleafure that I had re- 
ceived fince landing at Mafuah; and that day, in company 
with. Heike], Tecla Mariam, Engedan, Aylo, and Guebra 
Denghel,. 
