THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 417 
bling troops, and had committed fome cruelties upon the 
king’s fervants in Maitfha; but this, he imagined, was at 
the inftigation of Fafil, for he never was known to have 
been connected either with Powuflen or Gufho. He told 
me after, under the feal of fecrecy, that Ras Michael had 
halted two days at Derdera; that, upon a meflage he had 
received from Begemder, he had broke out into violent paf- 
fions againft Gufho and Powuffen, calling them liars and 
traitors, 'in the openeft manner; that a council had been 
held at Derdera, in prefence of the king, where it was in 
deliberation whether the army fhould not turn {hort into 
Begemder, to force that province to join them; but that it 
was carried, for the fake of the Agows, to fend Powuflen a 
fummons to join him for the laft time: that, in the mean 
while, they fhould march ftraight with the greateft dili- 
gence to meet Fafil, and give him battle, then return, 
and reduce to proper fubordination both Begemder and 
Amhara. , 
‘Tus was the very worft news f could poflibly receive ac- 
cording to the refolutions that I had then taken, for I was 
within about fourteen miles of the great cataract, and it 
was probabie I never again fhould be fo near, were it even 
always acceflible ; to pafs, therefore, without feeing it, was 
worfe, in my own thoughts, than any danger that could 
threaten me. 
Necape Ras Manomer was a fober plain man, of excel- 
Jent underftanding, and univerfal good character for truth 
and integrity ; and, as fuch, very much in the favour both 
of the King and Ras Michael. I therefore opened my 1n- 
sentions to him without referve, defiring his advice how to 
Vor. Ill. , 3G manage 
