THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 4.49 
fun was hot, and the ground again beginning to become 
dry. 
Netcuo, Ras Michael’s Fit-Auraris, with about 4co men, 
had paffed in the morning, and taken his ftation above us 
in little huts like bee-hives, which the foldiers, who carry 
no tents, make very {peedily and artificially for them{felves, 
of the long, wild oats, each ftraw of which is at leaft eight 
feet long, and near as thick as an ordinary man’s little fing- 
er. He had fent back word to the king, that his men had 
paffed {wimming, and with very great difficulty; that he 
doubted whether the horfes, or loaded mules, could crofs at 
any rate; but, if it was refolved to make the trial, they fhould 
do it immediately, without ftaying till the increafe of the 
river. Hefaid both banks were compofed of black earth, flip- 
pery and miry, which would become more fo when horfes 
had puddled it; he advifed, above all, the turning to the right 
immediately after coming afhore, in the direction in which 
he had fixed poles, as the earth there was hard and firm, be- 
fides having the advantage of fome round ftones which 
hindered the beafts from flipping or finking., Inftead, 
therefore, of refting there that night, it was refolved that the 
horfe fhould crofs immediately. 
Tue firft who paffed was a young man, a relation of the 
king, brother to Ayamico killed at the battle of Banja; he 
walkedin with great caution, marking a track for the king 
to pafs. He had gone upon rather folid ground, about 
twice the length of his horfe, when he plunged out of his 
depth, and {wam to the other fide. The king followed him 
immediately with a great degree of hafte, Ras Michael call- 
ing to him to proceed with caution, but without {uccefs. 
Vou, IIL. 3 L Afterwards 
