oy 
' THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. srr 
could not make out; he feemed, however, to be a. very bad. 
cobler, and took no notice of us. 
Ayto Ayto’s fervant, who ftood behind me, pufhed me 
with his knee, as a fign that I fhould fpeak, which I ac- 
cordingly began to do with fome difficulty. “Iam come, 
faid I, by your invitation, and the king’s leave, to pay my 
refpects to you in your own government, begging that you 
would favour my curiofity fo far as to fuffer me to fee the 
country of the Agows, and the fource of the Abay, or Nile, 
part of which I have feen in Egypt.” “The fource of the 
Abay! exclaimed he, with a pretended furprife, do you know 
what you are faying? Why, it is, God knows where, in the 
country of the Galla, wild, terrible people. The fource of 
the Abay! Are you raving! repeats he again: Are you to get 
~ there, do you think, in a twelvemonth, or more, or when ?”’ 
“ Sir, faid I, the king told me it was near Sacala, and full 
nearer Geefh; both villages of the Agows, and both in your 
government.” “ And fo you know Sacala and Geefh? fays he,. 
whiftling and half angry*.” “I can repeat the names that I 
hear, faid 1; all Abyflinia knows the head of the Nile.”— 
“ Aye, fays he, imitating my voice and manner, but all 
Abyflinia won't carry you there, that I promife you.” “ If 
you are refolved to the contrary, faid I, they will not; I wifh 
you had told the king fo in time, then I fhould not have at- 
tempted it; it was relying upon you alone I came fo far, con- 
fident, if all the reft of Abyflinia could not protect me there, 
that your word fingly could. do it.” 
FE 
* This affeGed ignorance was probably intended to bring me to mention the donation 
the king had given me of Geeth, which he never much relifhed, and made effectually ufelefs 
to me. 
