TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA 
55 
more exasperated the viceroy, till he at length de- 
termined to raise the standard of revolt. In this 
crisis, he applied for the aid of the Abyssinian 
priests, who readily promised to espouse his cause, 
provided he would assist them in putting to death 
all the Romish missionaries. The viceroy, though 
on a pretty intimate footing with Lobo, listened 
only to the dictates of policy, and promised every 
thing to the priests. He used various stratagems 
and allurements to allure the father into his power ; 
and the latter had even set out to visit him j but 
learning fully the course which the prince was 
pursuing, he turned back and regained Fremona. 
The viceroy now raised openly the standard of re- 
bellion, but was soon after defeated by the impe- 
rial army, and put to death. 
Lobo was now ordered, by his superiors, into 
the kingdom of Damot, on the south-western fron- 
tier of Abyssinia. On his way he crossed the 
Nile (Bahr-el-Azrek), about two days' journey 
from its source. There was neither boat nor 
bridge, and the multitude of crocodiles and hippo- 
potami rendered it extremely dangerous to swim. 
The only way of passing is on floats, guided by long 
poles \ and even these are dangerous, as the above 
mentioned amphibia often cause them to overset. 
Lobo seems to have felt an extraordinary emotion 
at the view of this celebrated stream, and to have 
been highly elated with the idea of being so near 
