64 
MEMOIR OF BRUCE. 
Ras Michael’s return to Gondar, than he marched 
against, the Agows, near the sources of the Nile, 
and defeated them in a bloody battle. A council 
was forthwith called, and although the rainy season 
was at hand, old Michael declared that the king's 
forces should immediately take the field. Bruce, 
who was suffering from ague and ill health, had 
taken up his residence at Emffas, a town eastward 
of the great lake Tzana j and as the army passed 
close by that place on its march, he embraced the 
opportunity of joining it, in order to -visit the neigh- 
bouring cataract of the Nile, as the troops had to 
cross the river before reaching the enemy’s territory. 
After a journey of several days, they arrived at the 
river, which was confined between two rocks, and 
ran in a deep ravine with great noise and impetuous 
velocity. “ The cataract itself (says Bruce) was the 
most magnificent sight that ever I beheld. The 
height has been rather exaggerated, but judging 
from the position of long sticks and poles, at diffe- 
rent heights of the rock from the water's edge, I 
may venture to say that it is nearer forty feet than 
any other measure. The river had been consider- 
ably increased by rains, and fell in one sheet of 
water, above half a mile in breadth, with a force 
and roaring that was truly terrible, and which 
stunned and made me for a time perfectly dizzy. 
A thick fume or haze covered the fall all around, 
and hung over the course of the stream, both above 
and below, marking its track though the water was 
not seen.” From the cataract Bruce returned to the 
