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THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 399 
Tigre to Gondar, and a mortal hatred had followed her re- 
fufal. It was therefore reported, that he was heard to fay, 
he would order the eyes of Welleta Ifrael to be pulled out, 
if Aylo her fon did not join him. It muft‘have beén a man 
fuch as Ras Michael that could form fuch a refolution, for 
Welleta Ifrael’s eyes were moft captivating. She was then 
in the camp with her fifter. 
A sincxE {mall tent had appeared the evening of the 15h 
on the other fide of the Nile, and, on the morning of the 
16th, Welleta Ifrael and the tent were miffing: fhe boldly 
made her efcape in the night. The tent had probably con- 
cealed her fon Aylo, or fome of his friends, to fhow her the 
paflage ; for the Nile there was both broad and deep, roll- 
ing along a prodigious mafs of water, with large, black, flip- 
pery ftones at the bottom. It was therefore a very arduous, 
bold undertaking for foldiers and men accuftomed to pafs 
rivers im the day-time; but for a woman, and in the night, 
too, with all the hurry that the fear of being intercepted 
muft have occafioned, it was fo extraordinary as to exceed all 
belief. But fhe was conducted by an intrepid leader, for 
with her deferted Ayto Engedan fon of Kafmati Efhté, and 
confequently nephew to Ozoro Welleta Ifrael; but their 
own inclinations had given them ftilla nearer elation than 
the degree received from their parents, or decency fhould 
have permitted. All the camp had trembled for Welleta 
Ifrael ; and every one now rejoiced that fo bold an attempt 
had been attended with the fuccefs it merited. It was ne- 
ceflary, however, to diffemble before Michael, who, intent 
upon avenging the Agows againit Fafil, carried his reflec- 
tions at that time no further; for Aylo’s not coming was 
attributed to the influence of Fafil, whofe government of 
2 Damot 
