THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 466 
Just as the king fat down to dinner an accident happen- 
ed that occafioned great trepidation among all his fervants. 
A black eagle* was chafed into the king’s tent by fome of 
the birds of prey that hover about the camp; and it was 
after in the mouth of every one the king would be dethro- 
ned by a man of inferior birth and condition. Every body 
at that time looked to Fafil: the event proved the applica- 
tion falfe, though the omen was true. Powuffen of Begem- 
der was as low-born as Fafil,as great a traitor, but more fuc- » 
cefsful, to whom the ominous prefage pointed; and, though 
we cannot but look upon the whole as accident, it was but 
too foon fulfilled. 
In the evening of the 29th arrived at Dingleber two horfe- 
men from Fafil, clad in habits of peace, and without arms; 
they were known to be two of his principal fervants, were 
grave, genteel, middle-aged men; this meflage had nothing: 
of Doho’s buffoonery. They had an audience early after 
‘their coming, firft of the Ras, then of the King. They faid, 
and faid truly, that Fafil had repafied the Kelti, was encamp- 
ed on the oppofite fide, and was net yet joined by Welleta 
Yafous. Their errand was, todefire that the Ras might not 
fatigue his men by unneceflarily hurrying on to Gondar, 
becaufe he might reft fecured of receiving no further mo- 
leftation from Fafil their mafter, as he was on his march to 
Bure. They told the Ras the whole of the confpiracy, as far 
as it regarded him, and theagreement that Powuflen and Gu- 
fho had made with their matter to furround him at Defde- 
ra: they mentioned, moreover, how fenfible Fafil was of their 
Vor, Il. 3N . treafon 
ee i eeeeel 
* See a figure of this bird in the Appendix. 
