THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 371 
every bit as bad as Galla, and did not choofe to rifk the trial 
_ of the difference. 
At this time a piece of bad news was circulated at Gon- 
dar, that Kafmati Boro, whom the Ras had left governor at 
Damot, had been beaten by Fafil, and obliged to retire to 
_ his own country in Gojam, to Stadis Amba, near the paflage 
of the Nile, at Miné; and that Fafil, with a larger army of 
ftranger Galla than that he had brought to Fagitta, had ta- 
ken poffeffion of Bure, the ufual place of his refidence. This 
being privately talked of as true, I afked Kefla Yafous in 
confidence what he knew of it. Upon its being confirmed, 
I could not difguife my forrow, as [ conceived that unex- 
pected turn of affairs to be an invincible obftacle to my 
reaching the fource of the Nile. “ You are miftaken, 
fays Kefla Yafous to me, it is the beft thing can hap- 
pen to you. Why you defire to fee thofe places I do not 
know, but this lam fure of, you never will arrive there with 
any degree of fafety while Fafil commands. He is as per- 
fect a Galla as ever forded the Nile; he has neither word, nor 
oath, nor faith that can bind him; he does mifchief for 
mifchief’s fake, and then laughs at it.” 
“ Micuaet, after the battle of Fagitta, propofed to his 
army to pafs the rainy feafon at Buré, and quarter the 
troops in the towns and villages about. He would have 
ftaid a year with them, to fhew that Fafil could not help 
them, but he was over-ruled. At Hydar Michael (that is, in 
November next) all Abyffinia will march againft him, and 
he will not ftay for us, and this time we fhall not leave his 
country till we have eaten it bare; and then, at your eafe, 
you will fee every thing, defend yourfelf by your own 
ain 2 force, 
