_THE SOUR CEX OR THE VNILE. 453 
J 
mtereeding with him to proture their pardon and difmii 
-fion.; He was a man, as I faid, of the greateft affability and 
complacency, and heard every one {peak with the utmoft pa- 
tience. Thefe priefts, terrified to death left Michael fhould 
pull their eyes out, or exercife fome of His ufual cruelties 
upon them, which was certainly his intention by. bringing 
. whem with him to Gondar, frankly declared to. Kefla Yafous 
avhat they apprehended. They faid that they had never 
Known a ford: there before, though they had: lived many 
years in the neighbourhood, nor had ever heard of one at 
Kerr, the firft cataract,.which the guides had perfuaded she 
rather of the-two; they did believe, therefore, that Michael’s 
‘guides had deceived him on purpofe, and that they intend- 
ed the fame thing by him to-morrow, if he attempted to 
pafs at Kerr. They told him further, that, about three 
days before Michael had: arrived in the neighbourhood of 
Samfeen, they had. heard a nagareet beat regularly every 
evening at fun-fet, behind the high woody hill in front, 
whereon was the church of Bofkon Abbo;. that they had 
feen alfo aman the day before who had left Welleta Ya- 
fous, Fafil’s principal. officer and confident, at Goutto, wait- 
ing the arrival of fome more troops to pafs the Nile there, 
whence they doubted not. that there was treachery intend=- 
ed.. 
Tue fagacious and prudent Kefla Yafous’ weighed every 
word of this in his mind, and, combining all the circum- 
ftances together, was immediately convinced that there had 
been a {nare laid by Fafil for them. Entering further in- 
to converfation with the priefts; and encouraging them with 
affurances of reward inftead of punifhment, he inquired:if 
they certainly knew any. better ford below.. They anfwer- 
ee ed. 
