THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 420 
As I have mentioned the name of this perfon fo often, it 
will be neceffary to take notice, that he was by origin a 
Galla, but born in Damot, of the clan Elmana, or Denfa, two 
tribes fettled there in the time of Yafous I. that he was the 
moft intrepid and active partizan in his time, and had an 
invincible hatred to Ras-Michael, nor was there any love 
loft betwixt them. It is impoflible to conceive with what 
velocity he moved, fometimes with: 200° horfe, fometimes 
with half that number. He was conftantly falling upon 
fome part of Michael’s army, whether marching or en- 
camped ; the blow once ftruck, he difappeared in a minute. 
When he wanted to-attempt fomething great, he had only 
to fummon'his friends and acquaintance in’ the country, 
and he had ‘then alittle army, which difperfed as foon as 
the bufinefs was done. It was Ras Michael’s firft queftion 
to the fpies; Where was Woodage Afahel laft night? a 
queftion they very feldom could anfwer with certainty. He 
was in his perfon too tall for a good horfeman, yet he was 
expert in this qualification by conftant practice. His face 
was yellow, as if he had:‘the jaundice, and much pitted with 
the fmall-pox ; his. eyes flaring, but fiery; his nofe as it were 
broken, his mouth large, his chin long’and turned up at the 
end; he fpoke very faft, but not much, and had a very fhy, 
but ill-defigning look. Ina‘his chara¢ter, he was avaricious, 
treacherous, inexorable, and cruel'to a proverb; in fhort, he 
was allowed to be the moft mercilefs robber and murderes. 
that age had produced in all: Aby flinia.. 
WeARIED with thinking, and better reconciled to my ex: 
pedition, | fell into a found fleep. I was awakened by Strates 
in the morning, (the 21ft of May) who, from the next room; 
had heard.all the converfation. between me and Negadé Ras, 
and: 
