THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 543 
difficult paflages in Woggora, a country full of hardy troops, 
imveterate enemies to the Kas, and where Ayto Tesfos of 
Samen had occupied all the defiles, and was refolved to dif 
pute every poft with him ; it was well known, however, that 
the paffes through the mountain of Lafta, were more dan- 
gerous and difficult than thofe of Woggora and Lamalmon; 
in a word, Guigarr, chief of the clan of Lafta (called Waag) 
pofleffed a ftrong-hold in thofe mountains, where many an 
Abyflinian army had perifhed, and where it was abfolutely 
impoffible to proceed but with the confent and connivance of 
‘that clan, or tribe ;.and tho’ this Guigarr had been Michael’s 
enemy ever fince the war of Mariam Barea, peace was now 
concluded between them, the Ras having fet Guigarr’s bro-. 
ther at liberty, who had been fome time a prifoner, and 
was taken in an incurfion which the people of Waag had 
made into Tigré: excepting this pafs in the mountains of 
Lafta, all the ground was even from thence to Tigré; the 
territory of Gouliou, indeed, through which the army was 
to-march for four days, was very ill-provided with water; 
it was inhabited by Galla, whom Michael had fuffered to 
fettle there, to. be as a barrier between Tigré, Lafta, and Be- 
gemder ;,but this clan was perfectly at his command, fo all 
was-eafy and fecure if.Guigarr.only remained faithful... 
After giving time to Guebra Mariam to refrefh-himefelf, 
I: took. him alone into the tent to hear Ozoro 'Efther’s mef- 
fage: fhe had been. ailing after-my leaving Gondar, had 
lad a flow fever, which very much affected her nerves, and 
was now alarmed.at'a fymptom which: was but the effect of ’ 
weaknefs, flartling, or involuntary contraction of. her legs 
and arms, or a kind of convulfion, which frequently a-. 
wakened her.out of her fleep. This fhe thought was a fure 
fores. 
