THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 457 
‘better than he expected. He had pitched his tent on the 
high road to Gondar, before Welleta Yafous knew he was 
.decamped, and of this paflage he immediately advifed Mi- 
chael refrefhing his troops for any emergency. 
Azsout two in the afternoon Welleta Yafous appeared 
with his horfe on the other fide of the Nile, but it was then 
too late. Kefla Yafous was fo ftrongly pofted, and the banks 
of the river fo guarded with fire-arms, down to the water- 
edge, that Fafil and all his army would not have dared 
to attempt the paflage, or even approach the banks of the 
river. 
As foon as Ras Michael received the intelligence, he dif- 
patched the Fit-Auraris, Netcho, to take poft upon the ford 
of the Kelti, alargeriver, but rather broad than deep, about 
three miles off. He himfelf followed early in the morning, 
and paffled the Kelti juft at fun-rife, without halting; he 
then advanced to meet Kefla Yafous, as the army began to 
want provifions, the little flour that had been brought over, 
or which the foldiers had taken with them, being nearly ex- 
haufted during that night and the morning after. It was 
found, too, that the men had but little powder, none of 
them having recruited their quantity fince the hunting of the 
Aeer;-but what they had was in perfe@ good order, being 
kept in horns and fmall wooden bottles, corked in fuch a 
manner as to be fecured from water of any kind. Kefla 
Yafous, therefore, being in pofieffion of the baggage, the 
powder, and the provifions, a junction with him was abfo- 
lutely neceflary, and they expected to effect this at Waina- 
dega, about twenty miles from their laft night’s quarters. 
Vor. IIL ta ME Ths 
