THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 40g 
Owing, as it is faid, to the cataracts, which they cannot get 
up. However, as they are amphibious animals, and walk 
very well on fhore, I think they might furmount this diff- 
culty as eafily as the hippopotamus ; I rather think the caufe 
is the coldnefs of the water and climate, which does not 
agree with the crocodile, but much with the river-horfe. 
Tue Waito {peak a language radically different from any 
of thofe in Abyffinia ; but though I have often endeavoured 
to get fome infight into this, their religion, and cuftoms, I 
could never fo far fucceed as to be able to give the public 
any certain information. A falfe account in fuch cafes is 
certainly worfe than no account at all. I once defired the 
king to order that one of them might be brought to Gon- 
dar. Two men, an old and a young one, were accordingly 
brought from the lake, but they would neither anfwer nor 
underftand any queftions ; partly, I believe, through fear, 
partly from obftinacy.- The king at this became fo angry 
that he ordered them both to be hanged ; they feemed per- 
fectly unconcerned, and it was with fome difficulty I pro- 
cured their releafe; I never therefore made an experiment 
of that kind afterwards. The Abyfiinians believe they are 
forcerers, can bewitch with their eyes, and occafion death 
by their charms even at a confiderable diftance. It is like- 
ly, if that had been fo, thefe two would have tried their 
power upon me, of which I do not recolleé& to have ever 
~ been fenfible. 
We paffed the Reb at nine o’clock in the morning. It 
rifes high in the mountains of Begemder, and is one of 
thofe rivers that continue running the whole year, and has 
a tolerable ford, although it was vifibly increafed by rain. 
gha2 We 
