MISSION OF PAYZ. 
39 
BS soon as the table is removed, the cups are in- 
troduced, and a gay conversation begins, which 
is continued till they are thoroughly emptied. 
The Abyssinians then rose, and went off abruptly, 
without noticing their guests or inviting them to 
remain. Our missionary was not much edified at 
this last part of his treatment. He rose and de- 
parted ; but judged it advisable rather to shew 
himself grateful for the honour of being admitted 
to the emperor's table, than dissatisfied with any 
want of courtesy ^hich might appear at the close 
of the festival. 
Another interesting fragment of Payz, preserv- 
ed by Kircher, relates to his examination of the 
sources of the river, which he, in common with the 
rest of the Portuguese and Abyssinians, supposed 
to be the principal head of the Nile. As there 
seems every reason to believe, that he was the 
first, and probably, Bruce excepted, the only Eu- 
ropean visitor of these " coy fountains,^' it may 
not be amiss to give in full the passage where he 
describes them. 
" The source of the Nile is situated in the ele- 
vated part of a valley, which resembles a large 
plain, surrounded on every side with ridges of 
hills. While I resided in this kingdom with the 
emperor and his army, I ascended this place on 
the 21st April 1618, and took a diligent survey 
of every part of it. I saw two round fountainsi. 
