TRAVELS TO DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. RAVEL TO DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, In the Years 1768,1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773. IN FIVE VOLUMES. BY JAMES BRUCE OF KINNAIRD, ESQ. F. R. S. VOL. IV. Sola poteji Lihye turbam prajlare makrum, Ut dec eat fug'iffe viros. Lucan, lib. ix. EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY J. RUTHVEN, FOR G. G. J. AND J. ROBINSON, PATERNOSTER-ROW, LONDON. M.DCC.XC. / iwi — mill' hhhiiiii CONTENTS O F T H E FOURTH VOLUME. BOOK VII. RETURN FROM THE SOURCE OF THE NILE TO GONDAR- TRANSACTIONS THERE——BATTLE OF SERBRAXOS, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES-THE AUTHOR PREPARES TO LEAVE ABYSSINIA. CHAP. r. Return from the Source of the Nile by Maitfha—Come to the Houfe of Welled Amlac—Reception there—Pafs the Nile at Delakus— Arrive at Gondar, P. i CHAP. II. FafVs infidious Behaviour—Arrival at Gondar—King pajfes the Ta-cazze—Itcghc and Socinios fly from Gondar, 30 Vol. IV. a CHA V\ C II A P. III. The Author joins the Army at Mariam-Ohba—Reception there—Universal Terror on the Approach of the Army—Several great Men of the Rebels apprehended and executed-^Great Hardnfs of the Kings Hearty P. 54 CHAP. IV. The King promifes Leave to the Author to depart—Receives a Rein-forcement from Shoa—Amiable Carriage of Amha Tafous—Striking Contraf between him and a Prince of the Galla~-Bad State of the Kings Affairs, 87 CHAP. V. Rebel Army approaches Gondar— King marches out ofGondar—Takes Pofl at Serbraxos—*The Author returns to Gondar with Corfu, wounded, 110 CHAP. VL Michael attempts to enter Begemdcr—Firft Battle of Scrbraxos—The Revels offer Battle to the King in the Plain—Armies feparated by a violent Storm, P. 133 CHAP. VII. King offers Battle to the Rebels in the Plain—Defcripiion of the fc-cond Battle (f Serbraxos—Rajh Conducl, and narrovo Efcapc of the King—Both Armies keep the Ground, 159 CHAP. VIII. King rewards his Officers~~The Author again per/ecu ted by Guebra Mafcal—Grcat Difpleafure of the King—The Author and Guebra Mafcal are reconciled and rewarded-~~Tbird Battle of Serbraxos, 181 CHAP. IX. Interview with Cttjho in his tent—Convcrfaiion and Interefing Intelligence there-—Return to the Camp—Kings Army returns to-(Joudar—'Crent Cvnfujion in that Night's March,. P. 204. C H A P. X.- Rebel Amy invcfts Condar—King's Troop's deliver up their Arms —The Murderers of Joas put to death—Gufho made Ras—Ras Michael carried away Prifouer by Powuffen—Iteghc returns to Kofcam—Falil arrives at Gondar-~~Kiug acknowledged by all Parties—Bad Conducl of Gufbo—Obliged to fly, but is taken and put in Irons, 229 C H A P. XT. 7 he Author obtains Liberty to return Home—Takes Leave of the Iteghc at Kofcam*~-Lafl Interview with the Monks,. 249 BOOK BOOK VIII. £THE AUTHOR RETURNS BY SENNAAR THROUGH NUBIA AND THE GREAT DESERT—ARRIVES AT ALEXANDRIA, AND AF~ TER AT MARSEILLES. CHAP. I. Journey from Gondar to Tcherkin, V. 27% CHAP. II. [eception at Tcherkin by Ozoro Efher, —Hunting of the Elephant, Rhinoceros, and Buffalo, 293 CHAP. III. Frm Tcherkin to Hor*Cacamot in Ras el Ecel—decount of it—Tran-facliom there, 313 C II A P». CHAP. IV. From Hor-Cacamotto Teawa; Capital of Atbara, P. 333 C H A P. V. TranfaBions at Teawa—Attempts of the Shckh to detain the Author there-^drnhiifters Medicines to him and his Wivcs-~Yarious Convex fat ions with him, and Inflames of his Treachery y 355 CHAP. VI. Tranfafticns at Teawa continued—A Moullah and Sherripfe arrive from Beyla—News from Ras el Feel and Sennaar—An Eclipfe of the Moon—Leave Teawa, 3 84 CHAP. vir. Arrival at Beyla—Friendly reception there, and after, amongjl the Nuba—Arrival at Sennaar, 408 C H A P. VIII. .Converfation with the King—With Shckh Adelcin—Interview with the Kings Ladies, &C, p- 429 CHAP. IX. Conversions with Achmet—Hifiory and Government of Sennaar-—* Heat—Difeafes—Trade of that Country—The Author s diftrcjfed Situation—Leaves Sennaar, 455 CHAP. X. Journey from Sennaar to Chendi, 500 CHAP. XI. "Reception at Chendi by Stttina_Converfations with herf-Entcr the Defert—Pillars of moving Sand^JThe Simoom*—Latitude of Qhiggre, 529 CHAP*. Viii CONTENTS, CHAR XII. DifreTes in the Defer I—Meet with Arabs—Camels die_Bdggagc abandoned_Come to Sycne, P, 562 CHAP. XIIL Kind Reception at Affouan—Arrival at Cairo—Tranfaclions with the Bey there—Land at Matfeilles, 602 TRAVELS TRAVELS TO DISCOVER THE SOURCEOF THE NILE. BOOK VII. return prom the source of the nile to gondar-transactions there-battle of serbraxos, and its consequences—the author prepares to leave abyssinia. CHAP. I. Return from the Source of the Nile by Maitfha—Come to the Houfe of Welled Amlac—Reception there—Pafs the Nile at Delakus—Arrive at Gondar. TT was on the 10th of November 1770 we left Geefli in A our return to Gondar, and pafled the Abay, as before, under the church of Saint Michael bacala. We defcended the hill through the wood, crofled the river Davola, and that night halted at a few huts, called Dcmbea, on the north-call fide of the entrance of a valley. Vol. IV. A On On the nth we continued our journey in our former road, till we arrived at the church of Abbo ; we then turned to the right, our courfe N. by E. and at three quarters paft nine refted under the mountain on the right of the valley; our road lay dill through Gourto, but the country here is neither fo well inhabited nor fo plcafant as the wed fide of the Nile. At eleven, going N. N. E. we palled the church of Tzion, about an eight part of a mile diftant to E. N. E. ; we here have a diftinct view of the valley thro' which runs the Jcmma, deep, wide, and full of trees, which continue up the fides of the mountains Amid Amid. At a quarter paft eleven we pafTed a fmall dream coming from the weft, and at twelve another very dangerous river called Utchmi, the ford of which is in the midit of two cataracts, and the ftrcam very rapid; after panlng this river, we entered a narrow road in the midft of brufbwood, pleafant and agreeable, and full of a kind of foxes * of a bright gold colour. At three quarters paft one we halted at the houfe of Shalaka Welled Amlac, with whom I was well acquainted at Gondar ; his houfe is called Welled Abea Abbo, from a church of Abbojtbout an eight part of a mile diftant. I have deferred, till the pre lent occafion, the introducing^ of this remarkable character to my reader, that I might not trouble him to go back to paft tranfactions that are not of confequence enough to interrupt the thread of my narrative. Soon after I had feen part of the royal family, that had * I fuppofe this to be the animal called Lupus Aureus; it is near as large as a wolf;,aad tives upon moles- had been infected with the fmall-pox, happily recovered, and was fettled at Kofcam in a houfe of ray own, formerly belonging to Bafha Eufebius, my friend Ay to Aylo recommended to my care a man from Maitfha, with two fervants, one of whom, with his mailer, had been taken ill of the intermitting fever. As I was fupplied plentifully with every neceflary by the Iteghc, the only inconvenience that I fufTered by this was, that of bringing a flranger and a difeafc into my family. But as I was in a ftrange country, and every day itood in need of the afliftancc of the people in it, it was neceflary that I fhould do my part, and make myfelf as uleful as poflible when the opportunity came in my way. 1 therefore fubmitted, and according to Ay to Aylo's defire, received my two patients with the heft grace poflible ; and the rather, as I was told that he was one of the molt powerful, refolutc, and betl-attcnd-cd robbers in all Maitfha; that he lay directly in my way to the fource of the Nile ; and that, under his protection, I might bid defiance to Woodage Afahcl, confidcrcd as the great obllacle to my making that journey. The fervant was a poor, timid wretch, exceedingly afraid of dying. He adhered flrietly to his regimen, and was very foon recovered. It was not fo with Welled Amlac; he had, as I faid, another fervant, who never, that I law, came within the door; but as often as 1 was out attending my other patients, or with the Iteghc, which was great part of the morning, he Dole a vifit to his mailer, and brought him as much raw meat, hydromcl, and fpirits, as, more than once, threw him into a fever and violent delirium. luckily I was early informed of this by the fervant that was recovered, and who did not doubt but this was to end in his A 2 maficr's » mailer's death, as it very probably might have done ; but, by the intcrpofkion of Ay to Aylo and the Iteghc, we got the unworthy fubject banifhed to Maitfha, fo that Welled Amlac remained attended by the fervant who had been lick with htm, and was to be trufled. Not to trouble the reader with uninterefling particulars, Sh ilaka Welled Amlac at lait recovered after feveral weeks illncfs. When lie firft came to my houfe he was but very indifferently cloathed, which, in a lick man, was a thing not to be remarked. As he had no change of raiment, his cloaths naturally grew worfc during the time he ftaid with me ; and, indeed, he was a very beggarly fight when his difeafe had entirely left him. One evening, when I was remarking that he could not go home without killing the ground before the Iteghc, he faid, Surely not, and he was readv to go whenever I mould think proper to bring him his cloaths. I underflood at fir ft from this, that lie might have brought fome change of cloaths, and delivered them into my fervant's cuftody ; but, upon farther explanation, I found he had not a rag but thofe upon his back ; and he told me plainly, that he had much rather flay in my houfe all his life, than be fo difgraccd before the world, as to leave it after fo long a flay, without my firft having cloathed him from head to foot ; afking me, with much confidence, What fignifies your curing me, if you turn me out of your houfe hke a beggar ? I still thought there was fomcthing of jeft in this; and meeting Ay to Aylo that day at Kofcam, I told him, laughing, of the convcrfation that had palled, and was anfwered gravely, " There is no doubt, you muft cloath him ; to be fure fure it is the cuftom." " And his fervant, too ? faid I." Certainly, his fervant too ; and if he had ten fervants that ate and drank in your houfe, you moil cloath them all." " I think, faid I, Ayto Aylo, a phyfician at this rate had much better let his patients die than recover them at his own expence," " Yagoube, fays Aylo, I fee this is not a cuftom in your country, but it is invariably one in this : it is not fo among the lower fet of people ; but if you will pals here as a man of fome degree of confequence, you cannot avoid this without making Welled Amlac your enemy : the man is opulent; it is not for the value of the cloaths, but he thinks his importance among his neighbours is meafur-ed by the refpecl ihewn him by people afar off; never fear, he will make you fome kind of return, and for the cloaths I fhall pay for them." " By no means, faid I, my good friend; I think the anecdote and cullom is fo curious that it is worth the price of the cloaths ; and I beg that you would believe, that, intending to go through Maitfha, 1 con-fider it as a piece of friendlhip in you to have brought me under this obligation." " And fo it is, fays he : I knew you would think fo; you arc a cool difpallionate man, and walk by advice, and do not break through the cuitoms of the country, and this reconciles even bad men to you every day, and fo much the longer fhall you be in fafcty." The reader will not doubt that I immediately fulfilled my obligation to Welled Amlac, who received his cloaths, a girdle, and a pair of fandals, in all to the amount of about two guineas, with the fame indifference as if he had been buying them for ready money. He then afked for his fervant's cloaths, which were ready for him. He only faid he thought they were too good, and hinted as if he mould take them for for his own ufe when he went to Maitfha. I then carried him new-drefTed to the Iteghc, who gave him ftriet injunctions to take care of me if ever I fhould come into his hands. He after went home with Ay to Aylo, nor did I ever know what was become of him till now, when we arrived at his houfe at Welled Abea Abbo, unlefs from fome words that fell in difcourfc from Fafil at Bamba, Shalaka Welled Amlac was, however, from home, but his wife, mother, and filters, received us kindly, knowing us by report; and, without waiting for our landlord, a cow was inflantly flaughtered* The venerable miflrcfs of this worthy family, Welled Amlac's mother, was a very flout, chearful woman, and bore no figns of infirmity or old age : his wife was, on the contrary, as arrant a hag as ever acted the part on the iiage; very active, however, and civil, and fpcaking very tolerable Amharic. His two fillers, about fixtcen or ie\cntcvn, were really hand fome; but Fafd's wife, who was there, was the mofl beautiful and graceful of them all; flic fcemed not to be paft eighteen, tall, thin, and of a very agreeable carriage and manners. The features of her lace were very regular; fhe had fine eyes, mouth, and teeth, and dark-brown complexion ; at lirft fight a call of melancholy fecmed to hang upon her cotmtenance, but this foon vanifhed, and fhe became very courteous, chearful, and mofl convcrfible of the whole, or at leaft fecmed to wiih to be fo ; for, unfortunately, flic fpoke not a word of any language but CalJa, though flic underftood a little Amharic ; our converfation did not fail to give great entertainment to the whole family, and for her part, flic laughed beyond all mealurc. i The The two fillers had been out helping my fcrvants in dif-pofmg the baggage ; but when they had pitched my tent, and were about to lay the mattrefs for fleeping on, the el-deit of thefe interrupted them, and not being able to make hcrfelf underflood by the Greeks, flie took it up and threw it out of the tent-door, whilfl no abufe or opprobrious names were fpared by my fcrvants; one of whom came to tell me her impudence, and that if they underftood her, flic faid I was to deep with her this night, and they believed we were got into a houfe of thieves and murderers. To this I an-fvvercd by a fharp reproof, defiring them to conform to every thing the family ordered them. I faw the fair nymph was in a violent paflion; flie told her talc to the matrons with great energy, and a volubility of tongue pall imagination, and they ail laughed. Fafifs wife called me to fit by her, and begin to inllruct me, drolly enough, as they do children, bur of what fhe faid I had not the fmalleil gucis. I endeavoured always to repeat her lafl words, and this oc-cafioned another vehement laugh, in which I joined as heartily as any, to keep up the joke, for the benefit of the company, as long as poflible. Immediately after this Welled Amlac arrived, and brought us the difagreeable news, that it was impoflible to proceed to the ford of the Abay, as two of the neighbouring Shums were at variance about their refpeelivc diilricls, and in a day or two would decide it by blows. The faces of all our companions fell at thefe news; but as I knew the man, it gave me little trouble, as I fuppofed the meaning to be, that, if we made it worth wdiilc, he would accompany us himfelf, and in that cafe we fliould pafs without fear; at any rate, 1 well knew that, after the obligations I had laid him him under at Gondar, he could not, confident with the received ufages of the country, if it was but for his own reputation's fake, fail in receiving me in the very bed manner in his power, and entertaining me to the utmofl all the time I was in his houfe. Satished that I underflood him, he put on the mofl chearful countenance : another cow was killed, great plenty of hydromel produced, and he prepared to regale us as fump-tuoufly as poflible, after the manner of the country. We were there, as often before, obliged to overcome our repugnance to eating raw flefli. Shalaka Welled Amlac fet us the example, entertained us with the florics of his hunting elephants, and feats in the lafl wars, moflly roguifh ones. The room where we were (which was indeed large, and contained himfelf, mother, wife, fillers, his horfes, mules, and fcrvants, night and day) was all hung round with the trunks of thefe elephants, which he had brought from the neighbouring Kolla, near Guefgue, and killed with his own hands, for he was one of the boldefl and bcfl horfemen in Abyfllnia, and perfectly matter of his arms. This Polyphcmus's feafl being finifhed, the horn of hydromel went brifkly about. Welled Amlac's eldeft filler, whofe name was Melectanea, took a particular charge of me, and I began to find the neceflity of retiring and going to bed while I W^s able. Here the former flory came over again; the invariable cuilom of all Maitfha and the country of the Galla, of eftablidling a relationfhip by fleeping with a near of kin, was enlarged upon ; and, as the young lady herfelf was prefent, and prefented every horn of drink during this polite difpute concerning her perfon, I do not know whether it will not be 3 thought thought a greater breach of delicacy to have refuted than to have complied :— But what fuccefs VanclTa met Is to. the world a fecret yet; Can never to mankind be told, Nor fhall the confcious mufe unfold. £ye upon the confcious mufe, fays lord Orrery; and fyc, too, fay I:—a man of honour and gallantry ihould not permit himfelf fuch a hint as this, though the Red Sea was between him and his millrefs. It was impoflible to deep; the whole night was one continued ilorm of thunder, rain, and lightning; the morning was clearer, and my people very urgent to go away; but I had dill to fettle with /or Woldo, who had been kept by his millrefs, Fafd'.s wife, notwithflanding his mailer's orders, till he had told her the whole circumllances of our ex* pedition, and made her laugh heartily at the oddity of our fentiments and cuftoms. This flic repaid to him by plentiful horns of mead and bouza, as alfo large collops of raw meat, which made him a very eloquent hiflorian ; whether or no he was a faithful one, I cannot poflibly judge. After having fettled with him to his perfect fatisfaction, and cancelled entirely the memory of fome difagrceable things patted, he configncd us very folemnly to Ayto Aylo's fervant, in prcfence of Welled Amlac, and had taken his leave, when a very fine white cow was brought to the door of the tent from FafiFs wife, who infilled, as a friend of her hufband, that I would flay that day for her fake; and I Ihould Vol. IV. - B ' either either learn her my language, or fhe would teach me Galla* The party was accepted as foon as offered; the morning was frefh and cool, nor had lafl night's libation any way difor-dered my flomach. Stratcs himfelf, though afraid of Welled Amlac, and exceedingly exafperatcd at the impudent behaviour, as he called it, of Melcctanea, was, however, a little pacified at the approach of the white cow., Brother, fays he to Michael, we have nothing to do with people's manners as long as they are civil to us: as to this houfe, there is no doubt but the men are robbers and murderers, and their women wh—es; but if they ufe us well while we are now here, and we are fo lucky as to get to Gondar alive, let the devil take me if ever I feck again to be at Welled Abea Abbo. It was agreed to relax that day, and dedicate it to herborizing, as alfo to the fatisfying the curiofity of our fe* male friends, by anfwenng all their quefUons; and thus -the forenoon pafTed as agreeable.as poflible, . Welled Amlac, a great hunter, had gone with me early to a neighbouring thicket on horfeback, armed with lances in feareh of venifon,< though we certainly did not s want provifions. We in a few minutes raifed two bohur, a large animal of the deer kind, and each purfued his beall; mine had not run 400 yards before I overtook him, and pierced him with my pike ; and.the fame would have happened probably to the other, had not Welled Amlac's horfe put his fore-feet into a fox's hole, which threw him and his rider headlong to the ground; he was nor, however, •hurt, but rofe very gravely, and defired me to return; it being a rule among thefe people, never to perfid when any thing unfortunate falls out in the beginning of a day*., cur Our company was now incrcafed by our former landlord at Goutto, where we were obliged to Woldo's llrata-gem for difcovering the cow that was hid. We fat down chearfully to dinner. Welled Amlac's fall had not fpoiled his appetite ; I think he ate equal to four ordinary men. I, for the moll part, ate the venifon, which was made into an excellent dim, only too much Hulled with all kind of fpices. FafiFs wife alone feemed to have a very poor appetite, not-withflanding her violent fits of laughter, and outward appearance of chearfulnefs. A melancholy gloom returned upon her beautiful face, that feemed to indicate a mind not at cafe. She was of a noble family of Galla, which had conquered and fettled in the low country of Na-rea. I wondered that Fafil her hufband had not carried her to Gondar. She laid her hufband had twenty other wives befides her, but took none of them to Gondar; which was a place of war, where it was the cuflom to marry the wives of their enemies that they had forced to fly, Fafil will be married therefore to Michael's wife, Ozoro Ef-thcr. I could not help being llartled at this declaration, remembering that I was here lofing my time, and forgetting my word of returning as foon as poflible ; but we had, for many months, lived in fuch conllant alarms, that it was ab-folutely as needful to fcize the moment in which we could repofe our mind, as to give refl to the body. In the afternoon we diftributcd our prefents among the ladies. Fafd's wife was not forgot; and the beautiful Mc-lectanea was covered with beads, handkerchiefs, and ribbands of all colours. Fafd's wife, on my firfl rcquefl, gave me a lock of her fine hair from the root, which has ever fince, 13 2 and and at this day does fufpend a plummet of an ounce and half at the index of my three-feet quadrant. The next morning, the 13th of November, having fettled our account with our holt, we fet out from the hofpitable houfe of Shalaka Welled Amlac, after having engaged, by promifes to the ladies, that we Ihould pay them foon another vifit. Our landlord accompanied us in pcrfon to the ford, and by this, and his readinefs to mew us what he thought worthy of our curiofity, and by his care in ascertaining for us the diftances and filiations of places, he gave us a certain proof he was well contented, and therefore that we had nothing to fear. We had both nights heard the noife of cataracts, and we thought it might be of the Nile, as we were in fact but five miles from the fecond fmall cataract at Kerr, which lay W. S. W. of us. We were informed, however, in the morning, that it was the found of falls in the river Jemma, near whofe banks this houfe is fituatcd. We fet out at eight o'clock, the hills of AroolTi bearing north ; and at half paft eight we came to the ford of the Jemma, which is flrong, rugged, and uneven. The Jemma here comes from the call; its banks are molt beautifully fhaded with acacia and other trees, growing as on the weft of the Nile, that is, the trunks or Hems of the trees at a diftancc, but the tops touching each other, and fprcad-ing broad. Though growing to no height, thefe woods are full of game of different kinds, moflly unknown in Europe. The bohur is here in great numbers; alfo the Buffalo, though not fo frequent. Whoever fees Richmond hill has an t an idea of the banks of the Jemma, and the country call: of it, with all that addition that an cadern and happier climate can give it; for the rains had now ccafed, and every hill was in flower ; the fun indeed was hot, but a conffant and frefh breeze prevented its being felt near the river. The heat in this country ceafes, in the warmed day, the moment we pafs from the fun to the made : we have none of thefe hot winds or violent reflections which we had fulTered in Egypt, Syria, and Arabia, and both the coads of the Red Sea. There are two cataracts lower than this ford of the Jemma, the firft about 300 yards below the ford, and another larger, fomething about half a mile; it is not, however, more than feven or eight feet high, perhaps about ninety feet broad, and the fheet of water is not entire, but is interrupted in many places. It falls, however, into a magnificent baton above 400 yards fquare, and very deep, in which arc large fifh in great plenty, but no crocodiles ; nor indeed are there any feen, as I have heard above the third cataract, nor confiderably below, when, after having made the tour of Gojam, it again turns northward towards its fources. The Gomari, however, often comes to the mouth of the Jemma, efpccially when the fird rains fall; the crocodile feems to require a warmer climate; After having fatisfied our curiofity as to the Jemma, I began to reproach thofe that were with me about the panic which they felt the night before ; thefe were, a Greek of Gondar, Strates, and three others, my fcrvants, whom I brought from Cairo. " You fee, faid I, what danger there is ; Welled Amlac is with us upon a mule, without a lance 4 or or fhield, and only two naked fervants with him ; did not I tell you what was the meaning of the news ?" Though this was fpoken in a language of which it was impoiTible Amlac could know a fyllable, yet he prefently apprehended in part what I would fay. " 1 fee, fays he, you believe what I told you laft night to be falfe, and invented only to get from you a prefent: but you fhall fee ; and if this day wc do not meet Welled Aragawi and his foldiers, you are then in the right; it is as you imagine."—" You do me wrong, faid I, and have not underflood me, for how mould you. Thofe white people believe too well all you told them, and are only apprehenfive of your not being able to defend us, being without arms and followers. All I faid was, that where you were, armed or unarmed, there was no danger."—" True, fays he, you are now in Maitfha, and not in my country, which is Goutto ; you are now in the worfl country in all Abymnta, where the brother kills his brother for a loaf of bread, of which he has no need: you are in a country of Pagans, or dogs, Galla, and worfe than Galla ; if ever you meet an old man here, he is a ilranger; all that are natives die by the lance young; and yet, though thefe two chieftains I mentioned fight to-day, unarmed as I am, (as you well faid) you are in no danger while I am with you. Thefe people of Maitfha, fliut up between the Jemma, the Nile, and the lake, have no where but from the Agows to get what they want ; they come to the fame market with us here in Goutto ; the fords of the Jemma, they know, are in my hands; and did they oiler an injury to a friend of mine, were it but to whittle as he palled them, they know I am not gentle ; though not a Galla, they arc fenliblc, one day or other, I Ihould call them to account, though it were in the bed-chamber of their mailer FaiiL" .2 " Yqur "Your matter, Welled Amlac, with your leave, faid V* " Yas, mine too, faid he, by force, but he never mall be my mailer by inclination, after murdering Kafmati Efhtc. He calls me his brother, and believes me his friend. You faw one of his wives, whom he leaves at my houfe, lail night, but I hope llill to fee him and his Galla flaugh-tered as the cow in my houfe was yefterday." " I am furprifed, faid I, your houfe was fpared, and that Ras Michael did not burn it in either of his pa/Tages through Maitfha."—" In 1769, replied he, I was not with Fafil at Fa-git ta, and the Ras palTed the Nile above this far beyond the Kelti; after which I returned with him to Gondar, In Gin-bo t *, Fafd informed us that Amhara and Begcmdcr were come over to him. When then all Maitfha joined Fafil, I went with my people to meet Michael at Dcrdera, as I knew he muft pafs the Nile here oppofite to Abbo, and Begemder and Amhara would then be behind him, or elfe try to crofs at Delakus, which was then fwollen with rain, and unford-ablc: but apprehenfive left, marching llill higher up along the Nile to find a ford, he might burn my houfe in his way, I myfelf joined him the night before lie knew of PowufTen's revolt, and he had it then in contemplation to burn Samfeen. The next morning was that of his retreat, and he chofe me to accompany him acrofs the Nile, ilill con-lidering me as his friend, and therefore, perhaps, he would I have done no harm to my houfe."—' So it.was you, faid I, that led us that day into that curled clay-hole, which you call a ford, where fo many people and beafts were maimed and loft ?"—He replied, " It was Fafii's fpics that firft perfuad- - Cd .a * The. I ft of.Giobot is the 26th of our April cd him to pafs there, or at Kerr. I kept him to the place where you pafled; you would have all periihed at Kerr. This, to be fure, was not a good ford, nor paflahle at all except in fummer, unlefs by fwimming; but fo many men crofting had made it ftill worfe ; befides, do you remember what a llorm it was ?—what a night of rain ? O Lady Ivlariam, always a virgin, faid I, while they flruggled in the mud and clay. O holy Abba Guebra Menfus Kcdus, who never-ate or drank from his mother's womb till his death,willyou not open the earth, that all this accurfed multitude may defcend alive into hell, like Dathan and Abiram ?'*—A kind and charitable prayer !—" I thank you for it, Welled Amlac, faid I; firft, for carrying us to that charitable ford, where, with one of the ftrongeft and ablcft horfes in the world, I had nearly periihed :—and, fecondly, for your pious wifh, to difpofe of us out of the regions of rain and cold into fo warm quarters in company with Dathan and Abiram f' " I did not know you was there, fays he; I heard you had ftaid at Gondar in order to bring up the black horfe. I faw a white perfon* with the Ras, indeed, who had a good h an jar and gun, but his mule was weak, and he himfelf fecmed fick. As i returned I could have carried him off in the night, but I faid, perhaps it is the brother of Yagoube, my friend and phyfician ; he is white like him, and for your fake I left him. 1 was much with you white people in the time of Kafmati Elhte."—" And pray, faid 1, what did you after we pafled the Abay ?"—" After I faw that devil Lias Michael over, faid Welled Amlac, I returned under pretence of alliiling * This was rYancifco, v,ho '.vas fitk. aflifting Kefla Yafous there, and, being joined by all my people, we fell upon the flragglers wherever we found them. You know what a day of rain it was ; we took 17 guns, 12 horfes, and about 200 mules and afles laden, and fo returned home, leaving the reft to Fafil, who, if he had been a man, mould have cut you all to pieces the day after."—" And what did you, faid I, with thefe ftragglers whom you met and robbed ; did you kill them ?"—" We always kill them, anfwered Amlac ; we fpare none; we never do a man an injury, and leave him alive to revenge it upon us after; but it was really the fame; they were all fick and weak, and the hyjena would have finifhed them in the morning, fo it was juft faving them fo much fuftering to kill them outright the night before ; and I affure you, Yagoube, whatever you may think, 1 did not do it out of malice."—From this con-verfation one may fufhciently guefs what fort of a man Welled Amlac was, and what were his ideas of mercy. We pafled the church of Kedus Michael at half after nine, on the road to our right. At nine and three quarters our courfe was N. by W. and, at a quarter after ten, we paf-fed the Coga, a large river. At three quarters paft ten our courfe was north. We pafled the church of Abbo a quarter of a mile on our right. The country, after we had crofted the Jemma, was much lefs beautiful than before. At twelve our courfe was N. by W. and at half paft twelve the church of Mariam Net, 200 yards to the left; and here we forded the fmall river Amlac-Ohha. Every ftep of this ground put us in mind of our difaftrous campaign in May ; and we were now palling directly in the tract of the ever-memorable retreat of Kclla Yafous and the rear of the army. At a quarter after one we halted at a fmall village of low houfes, as it Vol. IV, C were were in bent grafs, where, for the firft time, we faw flocks of goats lying on the tops of the houfes for fear of wild beafts. " You fhall fee, fays Welled Amlac, whether I am telling truth or not; this is the houfe of Welled Aragawi; if he is here at home, then I have deceived you." We faw a number of women laden with jars of bouza and hydromel, and afked where they were going. They faid to their mafter at Dclakus, who waited there to prevent Welleta Michael of Degwafta from palling the river. Our Greeks on this began to relapfe into their panic, and to wifh we were again at Welled Abca Abbo. At three quarters paft one we continued our journey to the north, and pafled a river, called Amlac-Ohha, larger than the former: it comes from the eaft, and, half a mile further, receives the other ftrcam already mentioned. The fun was now burning hot. At three o'clock we halted a quarter of an hour; and, beginning to defcend gentry, an hour after this we came to the bank> of the Abay. Here we faw the two combatants, Welleta Michael and Welled Aragawi, exactly oppofite to each other, the firft on the weft the other on the eaft fide ; they had fettled all their differences, and each had killed fcveral kine for thcmfelves and friends, which was all the blood fried that day. The Nile is here a confidcrable river; its breadth at this time full three quarters of an Englifh mile ; the current is very gentle ; where deep you fcarce can perceive it flow; it comes from W. by S. and W. S. W, and at the ford runs eaft and weft. The banks on the eaft fide were very high and ftecp ; and on the weft, at the firft entrance, the bottom; torn is foft and bad, the water four feet and a half deep, but above, another foot, which we fink in clay. I cried to Welled Amlac, while he was leading my mule acrofs, that he fhould not pray to his faint that never cats, as at the paffage of the Jemma in May. He only anfwered lowly to me, Do you think thefe thieves would have let you pafs if I was not with you ? My anfwer was, Welleta Michael would not have fecn me wronged ; I faved his life, he and every body knows it. We gained with difficulty the middle of the river, where the bottom was firm, and there we relied a little. Win 1(1 we were wading near the other fide, we found foul ground, but the water was mallow, and the banks low and eafy to afcend. The river fide, as far as we could fee, is bare and deftitute of wood of any kind, only bordered with thirties and high grafs, and the water tinged deep with red earth, of which its banks are compofed. This paffage is called Dclakus, and is pafiablc from the end of October to the middle of May. Immediately on the top of the hill afcend-ing from the river is the fmall town of Dclakus, which gives this ford its name; it extends from N. E. to N. N. E. and is more confiderable in appearance than is the generality of thefe fmall towns or villages in Abyilinia, becaufe inhabited by Mahometans only, a trading, frugal, intelligent, and in-duflrious people. Our conductor, Welled Amlac, again put us in mind of the fervice he had rendered us, and we were not unmindful of him. He had been received with very great refpect by the eaflern body of combatants, and it is incredible with what expedition he fwallowcd near a pound of raw ilefli C 2 cut cut from the buttocks of the animal yet alive. After fome horns of hydromel, he had pafled to the other fide, where he was received with Hill more affection, if poflible, by Welleta Michael, and there he began again to cat the raw meat with an appetite as keen as if he had failed for whole days ; he then conllgned us to Ayto Welleta Michael, his friend and mine, who furnifhed us with a fervant to conduct us on our way, while he himfelf remained that night at the ford among the combatants. He advifed us to advance as far as poflible, for all that country was dellroy-ed by a malignant fever which laid all waile beyond Dclakus. We left the ford at a quarter pall five in the evening, and, purfuing our journey north, we pafled the fmall town of 1 )e-lakus, continuing along the hill among little fpots of brufh-wood and fmall fields of corn intermixed At half pad fix palFed the river Avola. At half paflfeven eroded another fwift-running flream, clear and fhallow, but full of Ihppery ilones. At three quarters after feven we alighted at Googue, a con-fiderablc village, and, as it was now night, we could go no farther; we had already feveral times miftaken our way, and loll each other in the dark, being often alfo mired in a fmall plain before we pafled the lail river; but our guide had heard the orders of his mailer, and pufhed on brilkly. We found the people of Googue the mofl favage and nn-hofpitable we had yet met with. Upon no account Would they fuller us to enter their houfes, and we were obliged to remain without, the greateff part of the night. At lafl they carried us to a houfe of good appearance, but refuied abfolutcly abfolutely to give us meat for ourfclves or horfes; and, as we had not force, we were obliged to be content. It had rained violently in the evening, and we were all wet. We contented ourfelves with lighting a large fire in the middle of the houfe, which we kept burning all night, as well for guard, as for drying ourfelves, though we little knew at the time that it was probably the only means of faving our lives ; for in the morning we found the whole village fick of the fever, and two families had died out of the houfe where thefe people had put us : for my own part, upon hearing this I was more affrighted than for Welled Aragawi and all his robbers. Though weary and wet, I had flcpt on the ground near the fire fix whole hours ; and, tho' really well, I could not during the day perfuade myfelf there was not fome fymptom of fever upon me. My firft precaution was to infufe a dofe of bark into a glafs of aqua-vita?, a large horn of which we had with us; we then burnt frankincenfe and myrrh in abundance, and fumigated ourfelves, as pra£tifed at Mafuah and in Arabia. Farly in the morning we repeated our dofe of bark and fumigation. Whether the bark prevented the difeafe or not, the aquavits certainly ftrengthened the fpirits, and was a medicine to the imagination. The people, who faw the eagcrnefs and confidence with which we fwallowed this medicine, flocked about us demanding aflittance. I confefs I was fo exafpcrated with their treatment of us, and efpecially that of lodging us in the in-fe fed houfe, that I conftantlv refufed rhem their requcft, le iviiig them a prey to their diftemper, to teach them another time more hofpitality to ftrangers. This This fever prevailed in Abylllnia in all low grounds and plains, in the neighbourhood of all rivers which run in valleys ; it is really a malignant tertian, which, however, has fo many forms and modes of intermiilion that it is impofli-ble for one not of the Faculty to defcribe it. It is not in all places equally dangerous, but on the banks and neighbourhood of the Tacazze it is particularly fatal. The valley where that river runs is very low and fultry, being full of large trees. In Kuara, too, it is very mortal; in BelciTcn and Dembea lefs fo ; in Walkayt it is dangerous; but not fo much in Tzegade, Kolla, Woggora, and Walcluhba. It does not prevail in high grounds or mountains, or in places much expofed to the air. This fever is called Ne-dad, or burning ; it begins always with a Inhering and headach, a heavy eye, and inclination to vomit ; a violent heat follows, which leaves little intermimon, and ends generally in death the third or fifth day. In the lalt f age of the diflemper the belly fwells to an enormous fize, or fome-times immediately after death, and the body within an in-ftant fmclls moll infupportably; to prevent which they bury the corpfe immediately after the breath is out, and often within the hour. The face has a remarkable yellow appearance, with a blackifh calf, as in the lad ftagc of a drop-fy or the atrophy, This fever begins immediately with the fun-lhine, after the firft rains, that is, while there are intervals of rain and fun-ihinc : it ccafes upon the earth being thoroughly foaked in July and Auguft, and begins again in September; but now, at the beginning of November, it finally ceafes everywhere. The country about Googue is both fertile and plcafant, all laid out in wheat, and the grain good. They were now i in in the mid ft of their harvefl, but there were fome places, to which the water could be conducted, where the corn was jftift appearing out of the ground. From Googue we have an cxtenfivc view of the lake Tzana, whilfl the mountains of Bcgemder and Karoota, that is, all the ridge along Fog-gora, appear diflincTly enough, but they arc funk low, and near the horizon. On the 14th, at three quarters pad: feven in the morning, we left the inhofpitable village Googue ; our road lay N. by \V. up a fmall hill. At half paft eight we eroded the village of Azzadari, in which runs a fmall river, then almofl flagnant, of the fame name. At three quarters after eight, the church of Turcon Abbo, being a quarter of a mile to our right. At three quarters after nine we paffed the river Avolai, coming from N. W and which, with all the other dreams above mentioned,-fall into the lake : from this begins Degwaila. At half pad ten we relied half an hour. At eleven continued our journey N. by W. and, at half after eleven, entered again into the great road of Bure, by Kelti. All the country from Googue is bare, unpleauinr, unwholc-fome, and ill-watered. Thofe few ilrcams it has are now Handing in pools, and are probably flagnant in January and February. The people, too, are more milcrable than in any other part of Maitfha and Goutto. As we are now leaving Maitfha, it will be the place to fay fomething concerning it in particular. Maitfha is either proper, or what is called fo by extenfion. Maitfha Proper is bounded on the well by the Nile, on the fouth by the river Jemma, dividing it from Goutto; and, on the other fide of Amid Amid, by the province of Damot;, on the fouth by Gojam ; on the eaft and north by the Abay or Nile, and the lake : this is Maitfha proper; but by extenfion it comprehends a large tract on the weft fide of the Nile, which begins by Sankraber on the north, and is bounded by the Agows on the weft, comprehending AtchefTer and Arooftl to the banks of the Nile. This is the Maitlha of the books, but is not properly fo, Maitsha is governed by ninety-nine Shums, and is an appendage of the office of Betwudet, to whom it pays two thoufand ounces of gold. The people are originally of thofe Galla weft of the Abay. Yafous the Great, when at war with that people, who, in many preceding reigns, had laid wafte the provinces of Gojam and Damot, and efpecial-ly Agow, when he palled the Abay found thefe people at variance among themfelves ; and the king, who was everywhere victorious,being joined by the weakeft, advanced to Na-rea, and, on his return, tranfplanted thefe Galla into Maitfha, placing part of them along the Nile to guard the paffes. His fucccflbrs at different times followed his example; part they fettled in Maitfha, and part along the banks of the Nile in Damot and Gojam, where being converted to Chriftianity, at leaft to fuch Chriftianity as is profeffed in AbyfTmia, they have increafed exceedingly, and amounted, at leaft before the war in 176S, to 15,000 men, of whom a-bout 4000 are horfemen. The capital of Maitlha is Ibaba. There is here a houfe or fmall callle belonging to the king. The town is one of the largeft in Abyllinia, little inferior to Gondar in fize or riches, and has a market every day; this is governed by an officer called Ibaba Azage, whofe employment is worth 600 3 ounces ounces of gold, and is generally conferred upon the principal per fon of Maitfha, to keep him firm in his allegiance, as there is a very confiderahle territory depends upon this office. The country round Ibaba is the mofl pleafant and fertile, not of Maitfha only, but of all AbyiTinia, efpecially that part called Kollela, between Ibaba and Gojam, where the principal Ozoros have all houfes and pofTeffions, called Goult or Fiefs, which they have received from their refpeo-tive anceflors when kings. Though Maitfha be peculiarly the appendage of Bctwu-dct, and governed by him, yet it has a particular political government of its own. The ninety-nine Shums, who are each a diflincT family of Galla, chufe a king, like the Pagan Galla, every feventh year, with all the ceremonies anciently obferved while they were Pagans ; and thefe governors have much more influence over them than the King or Betwudet; fo have they .(In my time at leaft) been in a conflant rebellion, and that has much leffened their numbers, which will not now amount to above 10,000 men, Ras Michael having every where deilroycd their houfes, and carried into ilavery their wives and children, who have been fold to the Mahometan merchants, and transported to Mafuah, and from thence to Arabia. At twelve o'clock, Gucfgue was to the right, three or four, perhaps more miles; and the very rugged mountain Cafercla, broken and full of precipices, on our right, at a-bo.u 12 miles dillance; they rife from Kolla. Gucfgue, which, though the language and race be Agow, is not comprehended in the government of that countfy, but generally goes with Kuara. At a quarter paft one we arrived at the Vol, IV. D houfc houfe of Ayto Welleta Michael, at DegwalTa, after entering into a country fomething more pleafant and cultivated than the former. The village of DegwalTa is but fmall; it had alio been burnt in the late war ; it is pleafantly fituated on a hill fouth of the lake, about 3 miles diftancc, and is fur-rounded with large wanzey-trees ; we were but ill-received at this village, notwithstanding the promifes of the mailer of it at the paffage of the Abay, and we found thefe people fcarcely more hofpitable than at Googue. 1 his village is a little out of the road, to the right. We had travelled this day five hours and a half, or little more than ten miles..' On the 15th of November, from DegwalTa we entered Gonzala, immediately bordering upon it: heavy rain prevented our Jetting out till noon. Gonzala is full of villages, and belongs to the queen-mother. At a quarter after one we palled a large marfh, in the midfl of which runs a fmall river which here falls into the lake. We reftcd here half an hour ; and, at three quarters pail one, we entered the great road which we had pafled to the left in going to DegwalTa. At two o'clock we came Hill to a dimnc~ter view of the lake, as alfo where the river enters and goes out; it appears here to enter at S. W. and go out at N. E. and is diliant about eight or nine miles. At three quarters pail two, we arrived at Dingleber, having this day travelled only two hours and a half, or five miles.. Ox the 16th we left Dingleber at feven o'clock in the morning ; it was very hot; and, a little before we came to Mefcalaxos, in a flripe of land, or peninfula, which runs out intQ the lake, we halted a fhort time under the made of fome fome acacia-trees. Here we faw plenty of water-fowl, and feveral gomaris. A fmall river crofTes the road here, and falls into the lake: and, at one o'clock in the afternoon, we continued our journey, and overtook a troop of Agows, who were going to Gondar, laden with honey, butter, and un-taimed hides. They had with them alfo about 800 head of cattle. Thefe people accuftomed to the road (though heavily laden) go long journies : they had at this time 50 miles to make by nine o'clock in the morning of the 18th, and it was now the 16th, paft one o'clock. A Shower overtook us foon after palling Mcfcalaxos, and forced us to take refuge in fome fmall huts near the lake, called Goja, where we remained. The inhabitants of this and the neighbouring villages fpeak Falafha, the language anciently of all Dembea, which, as has been already obferved, in mod of the plain country, has now given place to Amharic. Here we faw two gomari come out of the lake and enter the corn, but fpcedtly, upon the dogs of the villages attacking them, they tan and plunged into the wafer ; we could not have a diftincl; view of them, nor time enough to defign them, but they were very different from any draught we had ever feen of them. The head feemed to me to refemble that of a hog more than of a horfe. We had this day travelled fix hours and a half, or about thirteen miles. On the 17th, at a quarter paft feven, we left Goja. At one o'clock we halted at Sar Ohha, after a journey of five hours and a half, or about eleven miles ; and on the 18th, at half paft fix, left Sar Ohha. At three quarters paft feven we paffed the river Talti, and at half paft eleven halted at Abba Abram, near the church, under a large fafla-tree. At one, con- Dtinued tinued our journey, and at a quarter pad two arrived at Re* mona. On the 19th of November, at feven in the morning, we left Kemona, and going conftantly without flopping by Chergue and Azazo, I fent my fervants and baggage on to Abba Samuel at Gondar, where they arrived at one o'clock afternoon, and finifhed our long-projected expedition, or journey, to the fountains of the Nile, having, in our return home, made as it were the chord'of. the arch of our former journey, or about ninety-three miles, with which . we found our points, as fettled by obfervation, did very nearly agree. Two things chiefly occupied my mind, and prevented me from accompanying my fervants and baggage into Gondar. The full was my defire of inflantly knowing the date of. Ozoro Eflher's health: the fecond was, to avoid Fafd, till I knew a little more about Ras Michael and the king. Taking one fervant along with me, I left my people at Azazo, and turning to the left, up a very craggy, deep mountain, I made the utmofl diligence I could till I arrived at the gate of Kofcam, near two o'clock, without having met any one from Fafd, who was encamped oppollte to Gondar, on the Kahha, on the fide of the hill, fo that I had palled obliquely behind him. He had, however, feen or heard of the arrival of my fervants at Gondar, and had fent for me to wait up-pn him in his camp; and, when he was informed I had gone forward to Kofcam, it was faid he had uttcredTome words of. difcontent. I went I went ftraight to thelteghe's apartment, but was nor admitted, as flic was at her devotions. In eroding one of the courts, however, I met a Have of Ozoro Either, who, in-ftead of anfwering the queftion I put to her, gave a loud fhriek, and went to inform her miflrefs. I found that prin-cefs greatly recovered, as her anxiety about Fafd had ceafed. She had admitted him to an audience, and he had communicated to her the engagement he was under to her husband, as alfo the conduct he intended to purfue in order to keep Gufho and Powuflcn from taking any efFeetual mcafures which might fruflrate, or at leaft delay, the refto~ ration of the king and arrival of Ras Michael. OH A P. CHAP. II. FafiVs infidions Behaviour—Arrival at Gondar—Kingpaffes the Faccaz-%'e—Iteghc andSocinios fly from Gondar* T SHALL now refume the hiftory of Abyflinia itfelf, fo far A as I was concerned in it, or had an opportunity of knowing, and this I Ihall follow as clofely as poflible, till I begin my return home through thofe dreary and hitherto-unknown deferts of Sennaar, though not the moll entertaining, yet by far the mod dangerous and moll difficult part of the voyage. It was about the 20th of October that Woodage Afahel came with a firong body of horfe into the neighbourhood of Gondar, and cut off all communication between the capital and thofe provinces to the fouth ward of it. This occasioned a temporary famine, as his troops plundered all thofe they met on the road carrying provifions to the market. At firft he rcfufed to tell what his real errand was; 4 but. but, a few days after, having patted the low country of Dem-bea, he took poll at Dingleber, on the road to Maitflia and the country of the Agows, and then he declared his only intention in coming was to join Fafil, then marching to Gondar at the head of a large army ; nor was the caufc of that great army, nor the rcafon of Fafd's coming, fo fuflicicntly known as to free any party entirely from their apprehen-fions. Sanuda, who filled the office of Ras, and the red of that party, endeavoured to determine Afahel to enter Gondar, and pay his homage to Socinios, now king; not doubting but his example would have the efFect of making others gIo the like, and that fo by degrees they might collect troops e-nough to make Michael refpect them, fo far at leaft as to defer for a fcafon his march from Tigre. They prevailed, indeed, fo far as to engage Afahel to enter Gondar on the 28th of October, the day that we left it; fo, by a few hours, and his taking a low road that he might plunder the villages in Dembea, we miffed a meeting of the mod dangerous and molt difagrecablc kind. After having made his ufual parade, and pafted his cavalry in review before Socinios, he had his public audience, where he faid he came charged by Fafil to declare that he was ready to fet out for Gondar, and bring with him that part of the revenue due to the king from the provinces he commanded, provided he had a man of fufficient truft to leave in his ftead at home; that therefore he prayed the king to appoint him Woodage Afahel to command in the provinces of Damot, Maitlha, and Agow*, in his abfenee. AFTEfl After the many promifes and engagements Fafd had made and broken, without ever ailigning the fmalleft rea-fon, it may be doubted whether Socinios believed this fair tale implicitly; but his pre fent intention being to gain Woodage, it little fignified whether it was ftrictly true or not; he therefore received it as true. Fafd's requed was granted to the full; and this robber, twenty times a rebel, bred up in woods and defcrts, in exercife of every crime, was appointed to a command the third in the kingdom for rank, powrcr, and riches ; and, what was never before feen, the king went out of his palace to Deppabye, the public market-place, to fee the circle of gold, called the Ras Werk, put upon his head ; this, witli the wdiite and blue mantle, inverts him with the dignity of Kafmati, or lieutenant-general of the king, in the province given him. A low man, fuch as Afahel was, could not refill the ca-relfes of his fovereign ; he was entirely gained ; and, m return, made privately to Socinios, and a few confidents, a communication of all he knew, which their natural imprudence, and private previous engagements, afterwards made public. The fubflance of this confidence was, that peace had been made and fworn to, in the molt folemn manner, both by Michael and Fafil; that they were to re (lore- the king, Tecla Haimanout; that they were, by their joint means, to effect, if poflible, the ruin of Gufho and Powuflen, governors of Begcmder and Amhara; Fafil was to enjoy the pod of Ras and hetwudet, and to difpofc of the government of Begemder and Amhara to his friends; Ras Michael was to content himfelf with the province of Tigre, as he then enjoyed it, and advance no further than the river Tacaz/e, where he was to deliver the king to Fafil, and return to his ■2 province. province. Sanuda was, in the mean time, to appear as Ras by the connivance of Fafd and Michael; and, if he faw the people of the Itcghe's party refolvcd upon electing a king, he was to take care to choofe fuch a one as would foon prove himfelf incapable of reigning, but fill the vacancy in the mean time, and prevent the election from falling upon a worthier candidate from the mountain of Wechne. Fafil, on his part, undertook by promifcs and propofals, and occafionally by the approach of his army, to frighten and confufe the Iteghe, and prevent a good un-derftanding taking place between her, Gufho, and Powuf-fen. The lad article of this treaty was, that no more fliould be faid of Joas the late king's murder, but all that transaction was to be buried in eternal oblivion. This peace, Afahel had faid, was made by the mediation of Welleta Sc-laffc, nephew of Ras Michael, whom we have often mentioned as having been taken prifoner by Fafil at the battle tics, for he thereby broke his word with Fafd, who had done nothing more than Socinios gave him authority to do. On the other hand, SelafTe Barea was brother to Ayto Aylo, the queen's greateft counfellor and confident; equal to his brother both in wifdom, integrity, and riches, and in the favour of the people, but much more ambitious and defirous of governing, consequently more dangerous when difobli-gcd. Socinios, who did not believe that Sanuda was trcachcr-oufly urging him to his ruin, continued obdinate in rejecting Fafd's appointment, and all fell immediately into con-fuiion. Troops flocked in from every quarter, as upon a fjgnal given. Ayto Fngcdan, in difcontent, with a thoufand men fat down near Gondar on the river Mogetch; his brother Aylo, at Emfras, about 15 miles further, with double that number ; Ayto Confu, his coufin-gcrman, with about 600 horfe, lay above Kofcam for the protection of Ozoro Efthcr, his mother, and the Iteghc his grandmother—all; were in arms, though upon the def cnuvc.. In this fituation of things I arrived at Gondar on the-19th of November, but could not fee the queen, wdio had retired into her apartment under pretence of devotion, but rather from difguft and melancholy, at feeing that every thing, however the contrary might be intended, feemed to con-fpire to bring about the return of Ras Michael, the event in the world lire dreaded mod. I found with Ozoro Either the Acab Saat, Abba Salama, who, as we have already ob-ferved, had excommunicated her uncle Kafmati Efhte, and afterwards contrived his murder, and had alfo had a very principal iharc in that of joas himfelf. it was he that Fafil laid faid had fent to him to defire that I might not be allowed to proceed to the head of the Nile, and that from no other reafon but a hatred to me as a Frank. We bowed to each other as two not very great friends, and he immediately began a very dry, ill-natured, admonitory difcourfe, ad-drcfTed, for the greated part, to Ozoro Efther, explaining to her the mifchief of fuffering Franks to remain at liberty in the country and meddle in affairs. I interrupted him by a laugh, and by faying, If it is me, father., you mean by the word Frank, I have, without your advice, gone where I intended, and returned in fafety; and as for your country, I will give you a very handfome prefent to put me fafely out of it, in any direction you pleafe, to-morrow—the foon-er the better* At this inftant Ayto Confu came into his mother's apartment, caught the lad words which I had faid, and afked of me, in a very angry tone of voice, Who is he that wifhes you out of the country ?—" I do, fmcerely and heartily, faid I, for one ; but what you lad heard was in confequence of a friendly piece of advice that Abba Salama here has been giving me/'—" Father, father, fays Confu, turning to him very flernly, do you not think the meafure of your good deeds is yet near full ? Do you not fee this place, Kafmati F-due's houfe, furrounded by the troops of my father Michael, and do you ft ill think yourfelf ,in fafety, when you have fo lately excommunicated both the King and Ras ? Look you, fays he, turning to his mother, what dogs the people of this country arc ; that Pagan there, who calls himfelf a Chridian, did charitably recommend it to Fafd to rob or murder Yagoube, a drangcr offending nobody, when he got him among his Galla in Damot: this did not fuc- cced„. cccd. He then perfuaded Woodage Afahel to fend a party of robbers from Samfeen to intercept him in Maitflia. Coqtie Aboii Barca himfelf told mc it was at that infidel's de-fire that he fent Welleta SclalTe of Gueftnie with a patty to cut him oft', v/ho miffed him narrowly at Dcgwalla ; and all this for what ? I fhall fwear they mould not have found ten ounces of gold upon him, except Fafd's prefent, and that they dared not touch."—" But God, faid Ozoro Eft her, faw the integrity of his heart, and that his hands wrcre clean ; and that is not the cafe with the men in this country."—" And therefore, faid Confu, he made Fafil his friend and protector. Woodage Afahcl's party fell in with an officer of Welleta Yafous, who cut them all to pieces while robbing fome Agows." Then riling up from the place where he was fitting at his mother's feet, with a railed voice, and countenance full of fury, turning to Abba Sa-lama, he laid, u And I, too, am now nobody ; a hoy ! a child ! a mockery to three fuch Pagan infidels as you, Fafil; and Abou Barca, becaufe Ras Michael is away !"—S-iy.s the Acab Saat, with great compofurc, or without any lecming anger, " You are excommunicated, Confu; you arc ^communicated if you lay I am Infidel or Pagan : I am a Chriflian pried."—u A prieft of the devil, fays Confu, in a great paf-fion—wine and women, gluttony, lying, and drunkennefs —thefe are your gods ! Away ! fays he, putting his hand to his knife: by Saint Michael I fwear, ten days fhall not pafs before I teach both CoqueAbou Barca and you your duty Come, Yagoube, come and fee my horfes; when J have put a good man upon each of them we fhall together hunt your enemies to Sennaar." Fie fwang hailily out of the door, and I after him, and left Abba Salama dying with fear, as Ozoro Efthcr told me afterwards, faying only to 3 her her, as he went out, Remember I did not excommunicate him. I left. Confu with his horfes and men ; and, though it was now late, I went to the camp to pay my compliments to Fafd. Having no arms, I was very much molelted both in going and coming, under various pretences; I was afterwards kept waiting about half an hour in the camp without feeing him ; he only fent me a mcilage that he would fee me on the morrow. However, we met icveral friends we had feen at Bamba, and from them we learned at length what we fliortly had heard from Ayto Confu, that Woodage Afahel had fent a party to intercept and rob us ; and it was that party which was called the five Agows, who had pafled Fafd's army the night after we left Kelti*. They told us that the Lamb faid they were Agows, not to alarm us, but that he knew very well who they were, and what was their errand ; and that, the night after he left us, he got upon their track by information from three country men whom they had robbed of fome honey, furrounded them, and, in the morning, had attacked them wed of Geefh,and, though inferior in number, had flain and wounded the whole party as dexteroufly as he had promifed to us at our lad interview. I sent a fmall prefent to our friend the Lamb, in token of gratitude to him, and delivered it to three people, that I might be hire one of them would not deal it, and took Fa-Ill's guarantee to fee it delivered; but this was upon a following See my h([ journey to the fountains of the Nile. lowing day. I refolved to remain at Kofcam in the houfe the Iteghe had given me, as it was eafy to fee things were drawing to a crifis, which would inevitably end in blood. It was not till the 23d of November I firft faw the Iteghe. She fent for me early in the morning, and had a large break-faft prepared: Ayto Confu and Ayto Engedan were there; fire looked very much worn out and indifpofed. When I came firft into her prefence, I kneeled, with my forehead to the ground. She put on a very ferious countenance, and, without defiring me to rife, faid gravely to her people about her, " There, fays fhe, fee that madman, who in times like thefe, when we the natives of the country are not fafc in our own houfes, rafhly, againft all advice, runs out into the fields to be hunted like a wild bead by every robber, of which this country is full." She then made me a fign to rife, which I did, and killed her hand. " Madam, faid I, if I did this, it was in confequence of the good leffons your majefty deigned to give me."—" Mel fays flic, with furprife, was it I that advifed you, at fuch a time as this, to put yourfelf in the way of men like Coque Abou Barea, and Woodage Afahel, to be ill-ufed, robbed, and probably murdered ?"—" No, faid I, Madam, you certainly never did give me fuch advice ; but you mud own that every day I have heard you fay, when you was threatened by a multitude of powerful enemies, that you was not afraid, you was in God's hands, and not in theirs. Now, Madam, Providence has hitherto protected you : I have, in humble imitation of you, had the fame Chriftian confidence, and I have fuccecded. I knew I was in God's hands, and therefore valued not the bad intentions of all the robbers 1 in in Abyflinia."—" Madam, fays Ayto Confu, is not Gucfgue yours ? does it pay you any thing ?" fore. I was dining with Ozoro Eflher, when a meflenger arrived from Coque Abou Barea, with a complaint to the queen that he was on his march to Gondar, to pay his allegiance to Socinios, and bring him the tribute of his province, when kc received a meflage from Fafd to return the greateft part of his troops ; but that, defiring to be as ufeful as poflible in preventing the coming of Michael, he fo far difobeyed that order as to bring with him a confiderable body of the bed of his foldiers, fending the reft home under the conduct conduct of Welleta Selaffe; but that on the 26th, early in the morning, he had been furprifed by Confu and Fngedan, who, without any caufe alledged, had killed and difpcrfed all his troops, and taken from them all the horfes and mules they could lay their hands on: that they after followed Welleta Selaffe, and had come up with him unawares, juit as he entered Guefgue, had defeated him, and that Ayto En-gedan, in the beginning of the fight, had dain him with his own hand, by wounding him in the throat with a lance when ftretching out his hand to parley; after which, they had fet fire to nine villages in Guefgue, and given the plunder to their foldiers. In the mean time Powuflen had not difregarded the re-queft of Socinios. He had attempted to furprife Fafd, but could not pafs Aylo, who was at Fmfras, without falling upon him firft, which he did, difperfmg his troops with little rc-fidance. Upon the firft intelligence of this, Fafil proclaimed Tecla Haimanout king ; and, ftriking his tents, fat down at Abba Samuel, a collection of villages about two miles from Gondar, inviting all people, that would cfcape the vengeance of Ras Michael, to come and join him, and leave Gondar. From this he retreated near to Dingleber, on the fide of the lake, and intercepted all provifions coming to Gondar, which occafioned a very great famine, and many poor people died. Hitherto I had no intercourfe with Socinios, never having been in his prcfence, but when the Galla, the murderer of Joas, was tried; nor had I any reafon to think he knew me, or cared for me more than any Greek that was in Gondar; hut 1 had a good friend at court, who waked when I flept,, and and did not fuller me to pafs unknown ; this was the Acab Saat, Salama, who had infligatcd the king, on the 5th of December, in one of his drunken fits, to fet out from the palace in the night, attended by a number of banditti, moft-ly Mahometans, to plunder fevcral houfes; he dew one man, as it was faid, with his own hand: among thefe devoted houfes mine happened to be one, but I was then happily at Kofcam. The next was Metical Aga's,one of whofe fervants efcaped into a church-yard, the other being flain. The leader of this unworthy mob was Confu, brother to Guebra Mehcdin. Every thing that could be carried away was ftolcn or broken; among which was a reflecting telefcope, a barometer, and thermometer; a great many papers and {ketches of drawings, firft torn, then burnt by Confu's own hand, with many curfes and threats againil me. The next day, about nine o'clock, I had a meflage to come to the palace, where I wrent, and was immediately admitted. Socinios was fitting, his eyes half clofed, red as fcar-let with laft night's dcbai ch ; he was apparently at that moment much in liquor; his mouth full of tobacco, fquirt-ing his fpittle out of his mouth to a very great diflance-; with this he had fo covered the floor, that it was with very great difficulty I could chufe a clean place to kneel and make my obeifance. He was drcficd like the late king, but, in every thing elfe, how unlike ! my mind was filled with horror and deteftation, to fee the throne on which he fir fo unworthily occupied. I regarded him as I advanced with he molt perfect contempt: Hamlet's lines defcribed him exactly:— , 2 A A murtherer and a villain : A flave, that is not twentieth part the tithe Of your preceding lord ; a vice of kings ; A cutpurfe of the empire, and the rule, That from a lhelf the precious diadem dole And put it in his pocket; , A king of fhreds and patches. Shakespeare. It requires fomethingof innate royalty toperfonate a king. When I got up and dood before him, he feemed to be rather difconcertcd, and not prepared to fay any thing to me. There were few people there bcfides fervants, mod men of consideration having left Gondar, and gone with Fafd. After two or three fquirts through his teeth, and a whifper from his brother Chremation, whom I had never before feen—" Wherefore is it, fays he, that you who are a. great mart, do not attend the palace ? you were conftantly withTeclaHaimanoutjthe exile, or ufurper, in peace and war: you ufedto ride with him, and divert him witli your tricks on horfeback, and, I believe, ate and drank with him. Where is all that money you got from Ras el Feel, of which province, I am told, you arc dill governor, though you conceal it ? How dare you keep Yafine in that government, and not allow Abd el Jelleel, who is my Have, appointed to enter and govern that province?" I waited patiently till he had faid all he had to fay, and made a flight inclination of the head. I anfwered, " I am no great man,, even in my own country; one proof of this is my being, here in yours. 1 arrived in the time of the late king, and I-was recommended to him by his friends in Arabia. You are perfectly well-informed as to the great kindnefs he did all along ihew me, but this was entirely from his goodnefs, and no merit of mine. I never did eat or drink with him ; it was an honour I could not have been capable of afpiring to. Cuftom has eftablilhed the contrary; and for me, I faw no pleafure or temptation to tranfgrefs this cultom, though it had been in my option, as it was not. I have, for the mod part, feen him eat and drink; an honour I enjoyed in common with his confidential fervants, as being an officer of his houfchold. The gold you mention, which I have feveral times got from the late King and Ras el Feel, I con-flantly fpent for his fervice, and for my own honour. But at prefent I am neither governor of Ras el Feel, nor have I any pod under heaven, nor do I defire it. Yafine, I fup-pofe, holds his from Ayto Confu his fuperior, who holds it from the king by order of Ras Michael, but of this I know nothing. As for tricks on horfeback, I know not what you mean. I have for many years been in conftant practice of horfemandiip among the Arabs. Mine, too, is a country of horfemcn ; and I profefs to have attained to a degree not common, the management both of the lance and of firearms; but I am no buffoon, to drew tricks. The profeflion of arms is my birth-right derived from my anccltors, and with thefe, at his defire, I have often diverted the king, as an amufement worthy of him, and by no means below me." —" The king! fays he in a violent paflion, and who then am I ? a flave ! Do you know, with a damp of my foot I can order you to be hewn to pieces in an inftant. You are a Frank, a dog, a liar, and a Have! Why did you tell the Iteghe that your houfe was robbed of 50 ounces of gold? Any other king but myfeif would order your eyes to be 4 pulled pulled out in a moment, and your carcafe to be thrown to the dogs." What he faid was true ; bad kings have mod executioners. I was not, however, difmayed ; I was in my own mind, ftranger and alone, fnperior to fuch a bead upon a throne. " The Iteghe, faid I, is at prefent at Kofcam, and will inform you if I told her of any gold that was ftolen from me, except a gold-mounted knife which the late king gave me at Dingleber the day after the battle of Limjour, and which was accidentally left in my houfe, as I had not worn it fince he went to Tigre." He fquirted at this moment an arch of tobacco-fpittle towards me, whether on purpofe or not I do not know. I felt myfelf very much moved; it narrowly mifFcd me. At this inflant an old man, of a noble appearance, who fat in a corner of the room next him, got up, and, in a firm tone of voice, faid, " I can bear this no longer; we 111 all become a proverb, and the hatred of all mankind. What have you to do with Yagoube, or why did you fend for him ? he was favoured by the late king, but not more than I have fcen Greeks or Armenians in all the late reigns; and yet thefe very people confefs, in their own country, they are not worthy of being his fcrvants. He is a friend, not only to the king, but to us all: the whole people love him. As for myfelf, I never fpokc to him twice before ; when lie might have gone to Tigre with Michael his friend, he daid at Gondar with us: fo you, of all others, have lead rcafon to complain of him, fince he has preferred you to the Ras, tho' you have given him nothing. As for riding, I wifli Yagoube had jufl rode with you as much as with Tecla Hatmanout, and you fpent as much time with him as your predeccflbr did; lad night's difgrace Vol. IV. G would would not then have fallen upon us, at lead would have been confined to the limits of your own kingdom; you would have neither difobliged Fafil nor the Iteghe ; and, when the day of trial is at hand, you would have been better able to anfwer it, than, by going on at this rate, there is any appearance you will be." This perfon, I underflood afterwards, was Ras Sanuda, nephew to the Iteghe, and fon of Ras Welled dc TOul; he had been baniflied to Kuara in the late, king's time, fo I had no opportunity of knowing him. All the time of this harangue Socinios's eyes were moflly fhut, and his mouth open, and Havering tobacco; he was rolling from fide to fide fcarccly preferring his equilibrium. When Sanuda flopt, he began with an air of drollery," You are very angry to-day, Baba." And turning to me, faid, " Tomorrow, fee you bring me that horfe which Yafine fent you to Kofcam ; and bring me Yafine himfelf, or you will hear of it; Have and Frank as you are, enemy to Mary the virgin, bring me the horfe !" Sanuda took me by the hand, faying in a whifper, " Don't fear him, I am here; but go home; next time you come here you will have horfes enough along with you." He, too, feemed in liquor; and, making me a fign to withdraw, I left the king and his mi-nifler together with great willingnefs, and returned to Kofcam to the Iteghe, to whom I told what had pafled, and who ordered me to flay near Ozoro Eflher, as in her fervice, and go no more to the palace. At this time certain intelligence was received that Ras Michael was arrived in Lada with Guigarr, Shum, or chief of the clan called Waag, once a mortal enemy to Michael, though now at peace with him, and ferving him as his conductor,. ducTor. Through his country is the only paffage from Tigre to Bcgemdcr and Bcleffen, and many armies have periflied by endeavouring to force it. Michael and the king now paffc ed under the protection of Guigarr, notwithdanding Powuf-fen had many parties among the other clans that wifhed to prevent him. On the 15th of December he forded the Ta-cazzc, and turned a little to the left, as if he intended to pafs through the middle of Begemder, though he had really no fuch defign, but only to bring PowufTen to an engagement. Seeing this was not likely, and only tended to wade time, he purfucd his journey flraight towards Gondar, not in his ufual way, burning and dedroying, but quietly, correcting abufes, and regulating the police of the country through which he palled, for he was yet in fear. The news of his having paffed the Tacazze determined Socinios and the Iteghe to fly ; and they fet out accordingly. Socinios directed his flight, lird towards Bcgemdcr, but, the next day, turned to the right, through Dembea, and joined the queen at Azazo, where great altercations and difputes followed between them. The queen had engaged the Abuna to attend Iter, and that prelate had confentcd, upon receiving fifteen mules and thirty ounces of gold, which were paid accordingly : But when the queen fent, the morning of her departure, to put the Abuna in mind of his pro-mife, his fcrvants ftoned the Itcghe's meflenger, without fullering him to approach the houfe, but they kept the mules and the gold. The queen continued her flight to DegwalTa, near the lake Tzana, and fent all that was valuable that fhe had brought with her, into the ifland of Dek. G 2 Ayto * Ayto Engedan and Confu were at hand at the head of large parties fcouring the country, at once protecting the Iteghe, and fecuring as many of thofe of Socinios's people as were thought worthy of punidiment. Sanuda, too, was in arms; and, throwing off the mafk, was now acting under the immediate direction of Ras Michael, and had apprehended many of thofe noblemen of Tigre who had revolted againfl the Ras, particularly Guebra Denghel, married to Ras Michael's grand-daughter, defcendcd from one of the nobleft houfes in the province, and a man particularly diftinguifhed for generofity, opennefs, and affability of manners ; and Sebaat Laab and Kefla Mariam, men of great confideration in Michael's province. Confu and Sanuda having joined, entered Gondar, and took polTeflion of the king's houfe, and put a ftop to thefe exceffes and robberies which had become very frequent fince the Iteghe's flight. One day, while I was fitting at Kofcam, Yafine entered the court before the houfe, and, coming into the room, fell down and killed the ground before me, after the manner they falute their fuperior. He told me he came from Ayto Confu, who ordered him to do homage to me as ufual for the province of Ras el Feel, and that I was to come to him directly, and go out to meet the king, for feveral of his people were already arrived at Gondar. I fent him back to Ayto Confu with my refpectful thanks, declined accepting of any office till I fhould fee the king ; and, as he himfelf had named the place to be Mariam Ohha, I thought it was my duty to flay till he came there. In the mean time the unfortunate Socinios continued his flight, in company with the queen, till they came to the the borders of Kuara, her native country. Thofe who made Socinios a king had never made him a friend. It was here fugged ed, that his prefence would infallibly oc-caiion a purfuit which might endanger the queen, her country, and all her friends. Upon this it was refolved to abandon the unworthy Socinios to the foldiers, who fiript him naked, giving him only a rag to cover him, and a good horfe, and with thefe they difmifled him to feck his fortune. After a fhort day in Kuara, the queen turned to the left towards Bure. All Maitlha aflfembled to efcort her to Fafd, while he led her through Damot to the frontiers of Gojam, where flic was received in triumph by her daughter Ozoro Welleta Ifrael, and Ayto her grandfon, to whom half of that province belonged, and with them flic reded at lad in fafety, after a long and anxious journey. On the 21ft of December a meflage came to me from Ozoro Eflher, defiling I would attend her fon Confu to meet the king, as his Fit-Auraris had marked out the camp at Mariam-Ohha; obferving, that I had a very indifferent knife or dagger in my girdle, (that which 1 had received from the king being ftolen, when my houfe was plundered) with her own hands fhe made me a prefent of a magnificent one, mounted with gold which fhe had chofen with that intention, and laid upon the feat bcfide her. She told me flic had already fent to acquaint her hufband, Ras Michael, how much Hie had been obliged to me in his abfencc, both for my attention to her and her elded fon, who had been feveral times fick fince hi* departure, and that I might ex* peel: to receive a kind reception. CHAP. CHAP. III. The Author joins the Army at Mariam-Ohha—Reception there—UniT verfal Terror on the Approach of the Army—Several great Men of the Rebels apprehended and executed—Great Mardnefs of the Kings Heart* HAVING Hill fome doubt about the propriety of going to Mariam-Ohha, till the king had taken poll there, I appointed with Ayto Confu to meet him next morning, the 22d, in the plain below the church of Abbo, where is the pafs called Semma Confu, the dangerous path, from its being always a place where banditti refort to rob pa£-fengers in unfcttled times. In my way through the town, though the day had fcarce dawned, numbers of the king's fcrvants, that had come from Tigre, flocked about me with great demonftra-tions of joy ; and, by the time I got into the plain below Abbo, I had already collected a ftrong party both of horfe 4 • and and foot. This was not my intention ; I had fet out unarmed, attended only by two Abyllinian fcrvants on horfe-back, but without lance or fhield, and in this manner I intended to prefent myfelf to the king as one of the fuite of Ayto Confu: but all my endeavours were in vain ; and I faw that, making the bed of my way, and profiting of the early time of the morning, was the only method left to a-void increafing my retinue. I mud own the good difpofition of thefe people to me, and the degree of favour they reported me to be in, and, above all, Ozoro Edhcr's affurances had given me great comfort; for feveral people of no authority, indeed, had prophefied that Ras Michael would be much offended at my having thrown a carpet over the body of Joas, and at my not having gone to Tigre with him* I passed the three heaps of dones under which lie the three monks who were ftoned to death in the time of Da-rid IV.; and at the bottom of the hill whereon ftands the church of Abbo, I was met by Yafine, and about 20 horfe-men, having on their coats of mail, their helmets upon their heads, and their viziers down ; their pikes perpendicular, with their points in the air, fo that by one motion more, placing them horizontally in their reds, they were prepared to charge at a word. I afked Yafine what was the meaning of his being in that equipage in fuch hot weather, when there was no enemy ? He replied, It was given him in orders from Ayto Confu lad night; and that, with regard to an enemy, there was"one that had feized the pafs of Sem-ma Confu, and obdinately refufed to let us through, un-lefs we forced them. Sure, faid I, Ayto Confu knows, that heavy armed-men on horfeback are not fit to force panes-. through through craggy mountains, where they may be all killed by rolling Hones upon them, without their even feeing their enemiy. Strange, flrange, faid I, (fpcaking to myfelf) that any party Ihould be fo audacious as to take poll in the king's front, at fix miles diflance, and put thcmfclves between, him and the capital: I am fure they heartily de-fervc to be cut in pieces, and fo they certainly will. Where is Ayto Confu ? It was anfwered by Yafine, That he was gone forward to the mouth of the pafs to reconnoitre it, and would meet us there. We marched on accordingly, acrofs the plain, about half a mile; but I was furprifed to fee all my attendants, that I had picked up by the way, laughing, excepting Yafine's men, and that none of the red made horfe, mule, or gun ready as if they were in danger ; fo that I began now drongly to fufpect fome trick on the part of Confu, as he was much given to jeft and fport, being a very young mam A little before we came to the mouth of the pafs, a foldier came to us and aflced who we were ? and was anfwered, it was Yafine, Ayto Confu's fervant at Has el Feel. To which it was replied, he knew no fuch perfon. He was fcarcely gone when another arrived with the fame que-dion. I began to be impatient, as the fun was then growing very hot; and anfwered, It was Yagoube, the white man, the king's friend and fervant. I was again anfwered, No fuch perfon could pafs there. The third time, being interrogated by one whom I knew to be Ayto Confu's fervant, Yafine anfwered, it is Yagoube, the king's governor of Ras cl Feel, with the flave Yadne, the moor, come to do the king homage, and to die for him, if he commands, in the midli of his enemies. We were anfwered, He is welcome : upon i which which the fervant, going back, brought a drum, and beat it upon the rock, crying, as in a proclamation, " Yagoube is Governor of Ras el Feel, Commander of the king's black horfe, Lord of Geelh, and Gentleman of the king's bed-chamber." Here this farce, the contrivance of Ayto Confu, ended. With him were many more of the king's fervants, my old acquaintances, and we all fat down by a fpring-well, under the d\ade of the rock, to a hearty breakfad prepared for us by Ozoro Either. After this was finiflicd with a great deal of chearful* -nefs, and being ready to get on horfeback, we faw a man running towards us in great fpced, who, upon his arrival, alked us where the king was, and if we were his Fit-Aura-ris ? To this we made him no anfwer; but, laying hold of him, obliged him to declare his errand. Fie faid that he was a fervant of Ncgade Ras Mahomet, of Dara, who had apprehended Ayto Confu, brother of Guebra Mehcdin, of whom I have fpoken at large, (never for any good) and that he had brought him along with him. This milcreant, whom we had found out to be the principal actor and pcr-fuadcr of the robbery'of my houfe, while in a drunken frolic with the Wretched Socinios, was now in his way before the king, where, if all his delinquency had been known, he would infallibly have lod his eyes, his life, or both. He was nephew to the Iteghe, as has been already mentioned, fon to her brother Bafha Eufebius, and confequcntly coufin-german to Ayto Confu himfelf, who, with great diffidence, afked me if I could pardon his coufin, and allow him to be delivered out of Mahomet's hands, which, ill as he defervedof me, I very readily complied with; fori would not for the world Vol. IV, H have have had it thought that I was the occafion of his death, after it had been fo often faid, though falfely, that I had been the eaufe of that of his brother. Mahomet delivered him to Confu and me, without hcfitation,and promifed not to complain to Ras Michael; but he threatened, if ever again he fell into his hands, that he would certainly put him to death, which he well faw would not be very difagrceable to any of his relations, provided it happened in the field, or any other way than by the hands of a public executioner. Ayto Confu, however, inuffed upon bringing him out, and correcting him publicly, though he was by ten years the younger of the two ; and the wretch was accordingly fe-verely whipt with wands, and delivered after to a fervant of Ozoro Efther's to conduct him to fome fafc place, where he might be out of the reach of Ras Michael, at leaft for a time. We now got on hOrfeback; and having ordered Yafine and his foldiers to difarm, we all went in the habit of peace, with joyful hearts, to meet the king, who was already arrived at Mariam-Ohha, and was encamped there fince about eleven o'clock that forenoon.. My firft bufinefs was to wait on Ras Michael, who, tho' very bufy, admitted me immediately upon being announced. This was a compliment I was under no neceflity of paying him, as the king's fervant; but I was refolved to take nothing upon me, but appear in all the humility of a private ftranger. This he quickly perceived, fo that, when he faw me approaching near him. to kifs the ground, he made an effort as if to rife, which he never did, being lame, uorxould do without help; ftrctching out his hand as if to prevent prevent me, repeated the words in a hurry, be gzeir, be gze\rK or, for God's fake don't, for God's fake don't. However, the compliment was paid. As foon as I arofe, without deuring me to fit down, he afkcd aloud, Have you feen the king? I faid, Not yet. Have you any complaint to make againft any one, or grace to afk? I anfwered, None, but the continuance of your favour. He anfwered, That I am fure I owe you; go to the king. I took my leave. I had been jollied and almofl fqueezed to death attempting to enter, but large room was made me for retiring. The reception I had met with was the infallible rule according to which the courtiers were to fpeak to me from that time forward. Man is the fame creature everywhere, although different in colour: the court of London and that of Abyflinia are, in their principles, one. I then went immediately to the king in the prcfcnce-chambcr. His larged tent was crowded to a degree of fufFocation ; I re-folved, therefore, to wait till this throng was over, and was going to my own tent, which my fervants pitched near that of Kefla Yafous, by that general's own defire, but before I could reach it I was called by a fervant from the king. Though the throng had greatly decreafed, there was dill a very crowded circle. The king was fitting upon an ivory ftool, fuch as are rc~ prcfentcd upon ancient medals ; he had got this as a prefent from Arabia fince he went to Tigre; he was plainly, but very neatly dreffed, and his hair combed and perfumed. When I killed the ground before him, " There, fays he, is an arch rebel, what puniihment ihall we inflict upon himr" " Your majefly's judice, faid I, will not fuller you to inflict H 2 liny any punifhment upon me that can poflibly equal the plea-fure I feel this day at feeing you fitting there." He fmilcd with great good nature, giving me firft the back, and then the palm of his hand to kifs. He then made me a fign to Hand in my place, which I immediately did for a moment; and, feeing he was then upon bufmefs,which I knew nothing of, I took leave of him, and could not help reflecting, as I went, that, of all the vaft multitude then in my fight, I was, perhaps, the only one deflitute either of hope or fear. All Gondar, and the neighbouring towns and villages, had poured out their inhabitants to meet the king upon his return. The fear of Ras Michael was the caufe of all this ; and every one trembled, left, by being abfent, he Ihould be thought a favourer of Socinios. The fide of the hill, which dopes gently from Beleflen, is here very beautiful; it is covered thick with herbage down to near the foot, where it ends in broken rocks. The face of this hill is of great extent, expofed to the \V. and S. W. ; a fmall, but clear-running dream, riflng in Beleflen, runs through the middle of it, and falls into the Mogetch. It is not confidcrable, being but a brook, called Mariam-Ohha, (/'. c. the water of Mariam) from a church dedicated to the Virgin, near where it rifes in Beleflen ; an infinite number of people fpread thcmfelves all over the hill, covered with cotton garments as white as fnow. The number could not be lefs than 50 or 60,000 men and women, all flrewed upon the grafs promifcuoufly. Mod of thefe had brought their victuals with them, others trufted to their friends and acquaintances in the army ; the foldiers had plenty of meat; as foon as the king had eroded the Tacazze all was lawful prize j prize; and though they did not murder or burn, as was Michael's cuftom in his former marches, yet they drove a-way all the cattle they could feize, either in Begemder or BeleiTen. Befides this, a great quantity of provifions of every fort poured in from the neighbourhood of Gondar, in prefents to the king and great men, though there was really famine in that capital, by the roads being every way obdructed ; there was plenty, however, in the camp. It was then the month of December, the faired time of the year, when the fun was in the fotlthcrn tropic, and no danger from rain in the day, nor in the night from dew ; fo that, if the remembrance of the pad had not hung heavy on fome hearts, it was a party of pleafurc, of the mofl ' agreeable kind, to convoy the king to his capital. The priefts from all the convents for many miles round, in drefles of yellow and white cotton, came, with their erodes and drums, in proccflion, and greatly added to the variety of the fcehe. Among thefe were 300 of the monks of Kofcam, with their large erodes, and kettle-drums of filver, the gift of the Iteghe in the days of her fplendour; at prefent it was very doubtful what their future fate was to be, after their patro-nefs had ded from Kofcam. But what mod drew the attention of all ranks of people, was the appearance of the Abuna and Itchegue, whofe character, rank, and dignity exempted them from leaving Gondar to meet the king himfelf ; but they were then in great fear, and in the form of criminals, and were treated with very little refpect or ceremony by the foldiers, who confidered them as enemies. It will be remembered, upon a report being fprcad juft after the election of Socinios, that Ras Michael's affairs were taking taking an advcrfe turn while bcueging the mountain Ha-ramat; that the Abuna, Itchegue, and Acab Saat, had fo-lcmnly excommunicated the king, Ras'Michael, and all their adherents, declaring them accurfed, and abfolving all people from their allegiance to Tecla Haimanout. But as foon as the king began his march from Tigre, application for pardon was made through every channel poflible, and it was not without great didiculty that Ras Michael could be brought to pardon them, chiefly by the entreaty of Ozoro Either. But this mortification was prefcribed to them as a condition of forgivenefs, that they mould meet the king at Mariam-Ohha, not with drums and erodes, or a retinue, but in the habit and appearance of fupplicants. Accordingly they both came by the time the king had alighted, but they brought no tent with them, nor was any pitched, for them, nor any honour ihewn them. JThe Abuna had with him a pried, or monk, on a mule, and two beggarlydooking fervants on foot; the Itchegue two monks, that looked like fervants, didinguiflicd by a cowl only on their heads ; they were both kept waiting till pad three o'clock, and then were admitted, and fharply rebuked by the Ras: they after went to the king, who pre-fently difmiflcd them without faying a word to either, or without allowing them to be feated in his prefence, which both of them, by their rank, were intitled to be. I aiked the Abuna to make ufe of my tent to avoid the fun: this he willingly accepted of, was crcll-fallen a little, fpoke very lowly and familiarly ; faid he had always a regard for mo, which I had no reafon to believe ; defired me to fpeak favourable of him before the King and the Ras, which I pro-miicd faithfully to do. I ordered coffee, which he drank with with great pleafure, during which he gave me fevcral hints, as if he thought his pardon was not compleated; and at lad anted me directly what were my fentiments, and what I had heard ? I faid, I believed every thing was favourable as to him and the Itchegue, but I did not know how much farther the king's forgivenefs would extend. I know, fays he, what you mean; that Abba Salama, (curfe upon him) he is the author of it all: What do I know of thefe black people, who am a dranger, fo lately come into the country ? and, indeed, he feemed to know very little ; for, befides his native Arabic, which he fpoke like a pea-fant, he had not learned one word of any of the various languages ufed in the country in which he was to live and die. Having ftnifhed coffee, I left him fpeaking to fome of his own people ; about half an hour afterwards, he went l away. Ras Michael had brought with him from Tigre about 20,000 men, the bed foldiers of the empire ; about 6000 of thefe were mufqueteers, about 12,000 armed with lances and fhields, and about Cooo men had joined them from Gondar ; a large proportion of thefe were hOrfemcn, who were fcouring the country in all directions, bringing with them 1 fuch unhappy people as deferved to be, and were therefore deftined for public example. / The fhort way from Tigre to Gondar was by Lamalmon, , (that is the mountain of Samcn) and by Woggora. Ayto Tcsfos had maintained himfelf in the government of Samen fince Joas's time, by whom he was appointed ; he had continued conflantly in enmity with Ras Michael, and had now taken poiTeflion of the pafles near the Tacazzc, fo as to cut oil 2 ~ all all communication between Gondar and Tigre. On the fide of Beleflen, between Lafta and Bcgemdcr, was Ras Michael and his army. Powuflen and the Bcgemdcr troops cut off the road to Gojam by Foggora and Dara. Ayto Engcdan, who was to be confidercd as an advanced pod of Fafil, was at Tfhcmmera, in the way of the Agow and Maitfha, and Coque Abou Barea on the N. W. fide, towards Kuara ; fo that Gondar was fo completely invefted, that feveral of the people died with hunger. Ras Michael had ordered his own nephew, Tecla and Welleta Michael, the king's mader of the houfehold, to endeavour to force their way from Tigre to Woggora, and open that communication, if poflible, with Gondar; and for that purpofe had left him 4000 men in the province of Sire, on the other fide of the Tacazzc ; and now fcarcc was his tent pitched at Mariam-Ohha, when he detached Kefla Yafous with 6000 men to force a junction with Michael and Tecla from the Woggora fide. Their orders were, if poflible, to draw Tesfos to an engagement, but not to venture to dorm him in the mountain ; for Tesfos's principal pod, the Jews Rock, was inacceflible, where he had plowed and fowed plentifully for his fubfiflcnce, and had a quantity of the pure it running-water at all feafons of the year: to irritate Tesfos more, Keda Yafous was then named governor of Samcn in his place. This brave and active officer had fet out immediately for his command, and it was to me the greated difappointment poflible, that I did not fee him. Although Ras Michael had been in council all night, the fignal was made to itrike the tents at the firft dawn of 4 day, day, and foon after, the whole army was in motion ; the council had been in the Ras's tent, not in prefence of the king, with whom I had ft aid the mod part of the evening, indeed, till late in the night; he feemed to have loft all his former gaiety, and to be greatly troubled in mind; inquired much about the Iteghe, and Fafil; told me he had fent his aflurancc of peace to the Iteghe, and defircd her not to leave Kofcam: but fhe had returned for anfwer, that flie could hot truft Michael, after the threatnings he had fent again ft her from Tigre. It was obferved alfo, in this day's march, that, contrary to his cuftom before eroding the Tacazzc, he received all that came out to meet him with a fullen countenance, and fcarce ever anfwered or fpake to them. Michael alfo, every day fince the fame date, h '1 put on a behaviour more and more fevere and brutal. Fie had enough of this at all times. It was the 23d of December when we encamped on the Mogetch, jud below Gondar. This behaviour was fo con-fpicuous to the whole people, that no fooner were the tents pitched, (it being about eleven o'clock) than they all dole home to Gondar in fmall parties without their dinner, and prefently a report was fpread that the king and Ras Michael came determined to burn the town, and put the inhabitants all to the fword. This occafioned the utmoft con-fternation, and caufed many to dy to Fafd. As for me, the king's behaviour diewred mc plainly all was not right, and an accident in the way confirmed it. He had defired me to ride before him, and diew him the horfe I had got from Fafd, which was then in great beauty and order, and which I had kept purpofely for him. Ithappen- Vol. IV. I ei ed that, eroding the deep bed of a brook, a plant of the kantuffa hung acrofs it. I had upon my fhoulders a white goat fkin, of which it did not take hold; but the king, who was dreflcd in the habit of peace, his long hair floating all around his face, wrapt up in his mantle, or thin cotton cloak, fo that nothing but his eyes could be feen, was paying more attention to the horfe than to the branch of kantuffa beflde him ; it took firft hold of his hair, and the fold of the cloak that covered his head, then fpread itfclf over his whole moulder in fuch a manner, that, notwith-ftanding all the help that could be given him, and that 1 had, at firft feeing it, cut the principal bough afunder with my knife, no remedy remained but he muft throw olT the upper garment, and appear in the under one, or waiftcoat, with his head and face bare before all the fpectators. This is accounted great difgrace to a king, who always; appears covered in public. However, he did not fcem to be ruffled, nor was there any thing particular in his countenance more than before, but with great compofure, and in rather a low voice, he called twice, Who is the Shum of this diftriet ? Unhappily he was not far off. A thin old man of fixty, and his fon about thirty, came trotting, as their cuftom is, naked to their girdle, and flood before the king* who was, by this time, quite cloathed again. What had ftruck the old man's fancy, I know not, but lie pafled my horfe laughing, and feemingly wonderfully content with himfelf. I could not help confidcring him as a type of mankind in general, never more confident and carelcfs than when on the brink of definition; the king afked if he was Shum of that place I he anfwered in the aflirmative, and added, added, which was not afked of him, that the other was his fon. There is always near the king, when he marches, an oflicer called Kanitz Kitzera, the executioner of the camp; he has upon the tore of his faddle a quantity of thongs made of hull hide, rolled up very artificially, this is called the ta-rade. The king made a fign with his head, and another with his hand, without fpeaking, and two loops of the ta-radc were indantly thrown round the Shum and his fon's neck, and they were both hoided upon the fame tree, the tarade cut, and the end made fad to a branch. They were both left hanging, but I thought fo aukwardly, that they ihould not die for fome minutes, and might furely have been faved had any one dared to cut them down ; but fear had fallen upon every perfon who had not attended the king to Tigre. This cruel beginning feemed to me an omen that violent refolut'ons had been taken, the execution of which was immediately to follow; for though the king had certainly a delight in the ihedding of human blood in the field, yet till that time I never faw him order an execution by the hands of the hangman; on the contrary, I have often fcen him fhudder and exprefs difguft, lowly and in half words, at fuch executions ordered every day by Ras Michael. In this indance he feemed to have lod that feeling; and rode on, fometimcs convcrfing about Fafd's horfe, or other indifferent fubjccls, to thofe who were around him, without once redeeming upon the horrid execution he had then fo recently occafioncd. I 2 In In the evening of the 23d, when encamped upon the Mogctch, came Sanuda, the perfon who had made Socinios king, and who had been Ras under him ; he was received with great marks of favour, in reward of the treacherous part he had acted. He brought with him prifoners, Guebra Denghel, the Ras's fon-in-law, one of the bed and mod amiable men in AbyfTinia, but who had unfortunately embraced the wrong fide of the quedion ; and with him Sebaat Laab and Kcda Mariam, both men of great families in Tigre. Thefe were, one after the other, thrown violently on their faces before the king. I was exceedingly dif-trefled for Guebra Denghel ; he prayed the king with the grcatefl earncdnefs to order him to be put to death before the door of his tent, and not delivered to his cruel father-in-law. To this the king made no anfwer, nor did he fhew any figns of pity, but waved his hand, as a fign to carry them to Ras Michael, where they were put in cudody and loaded with irons. Arout two hours later came Ayto Aylo, fon of Kafmati Eflite, whom the king had named governor of Begcmder ; he brought with him Chremation brother to Socinios, and Abba Salama the Acab Saat, who had excommunicated his father, and been indrumental in his murder by Fafil. I had a great curiofity to fee how they would treat the Acab Saat, for my head was full of what I had read in the European books of exemption that churchmen had in this country from the jurifdidion of the civil power. Aylo had made his legs to be tied under the mule's belly, his hands behind his back, and a rope made fad to them, which a man held in his hand on one fide, while an-1 other other led the halter of the mule on the other, both of them with lances in their hands. Chremation had his hands bound, but his legs were not tied, nor was there any rope made fad to his hands by which he was held. While tlicy were untying Abba Salama, I went into the prefencc-chanv bcr, and ftood behind the king's chair. Very foon after Aylo's men brought in their prifoners, and, as is ufual, threw: them down violently with their faces to the ground ; their hands being bound behind them, they had a very rude fall upon their faces. The Acab Saat rofe in a violent pafllon, he draggled to-get loofe his hands, that he might be free to ufe the act of denouncing excommunication, which is by lifting the right hand, and extending the fore-iinger ; finding that impofli-ble, he cried out, Unloofe my hands, or you arc all excommunicated. It was with difficulty he could be prevailed upon to hear the king, who with great compofurc, or rather indifference, faid to him, You are the firfl ecclefiaf-tical officer in my houfehold, you are the third in the whole kingdom ; but I have not yet learned you ever had power to curfe your fovereign, or exhort his fubjects to murder him. You arc to be tried for this crime by the judges to-morrow, fo prepare to fhew in your defence, upon what precepts of Chrifl, or his apodles, or upon what part of the general councils, you found your title to do this. Let my hands be unloofed, cries Salama violently ; Lam a pried, a fervant of God; and they have power, fays David, to put kings in chains, and nobles in irons. And did not Samuel hew king Agag to pieces before the Lord ? I excommunicate rnunicate you, Tecla Haimanout. And he was going on, when Tecla Mariam, fon of the king's fecretary, a young man, flruck the Acab Saat fo violently on the face, that it made his mouth gulh out with blood, faying, at fame time, What ! fuffer this in the king's prefence ? Upon which both Chrcmation and the Acab Saat were hurried out of the tent without being fuffered to fay more ; indeed the blow feemed to have fo much difconcerted Abba Salama, that it deprived him for a time of the power of fpeak-ing. In Abyfllnia it is death to Rrike, or lift the hand to ftrike, before the king; but in this cafe the provocation was fo great, fo fudden, and unexpected, and the youth's worth and the infolence of the olfender fo apparent to every body, that a flight reproof was ordered to be given to Tecla Mariam (by his father only) but he lod no favour for what he had done, either with the King, Michael, or the people. When the two prifoners were carried before the Ras, he refufed to fee them, but loaded them with irons, and committed them to clofe cudody. That night a council was held in the king's tent, but it broke early up; afterwards another before the Ras, which fat much later; the rcafon was, that the fird, where the king was, only arranged the bufmefs of to-morrow, while that before the Ras confidered all that was to be done or likely to happen at any time. On the 24th the drum beat, and the army was on their march by dawn of day: they halted a little after pafling the rough ground, and then doubled their ranks, and formed into clofe order of battle, the king leading the center; a few few of his black horfe were in two lines immediately before him,their fpears pointed upwards, his officers and nobility on each fide, and behind him the red of the horfe, diftributed in the wings, excepting prince George and Ayto Confu, who, with two fmall bodies, not exceeding a hundred, fcoured the country, fometimes in the front, and fomctimes in the flank. I do not remember who commanded the red of the army, my mind was other wife engaged ; they marched clofe and in great order, and every one trembled for the fate of Gondar. We pafled the Mahometan town, and encamped upon the river Kahha, in front of the market-place. As foon as we had turned our faces to the town, our kettledrums were brought to the front, and, after beating fome time, two proclamations were made. The firft was, That all thofe who had dour or barley in quantities, Ihould bring it that very day to a fair market, on pain of having their houfes plundered ; and that all people, foldiers, or others, who attempted by force to take any provifions without having firft paid for them in ready money, ihould be hanged upon the fpot. A bench was quickly brought, and fet under a tree in the middle of the market; a judge appointed to lit there ; a ftrong guard, and feveral oiliccrs placed round him 1 behind him an executioner, and a large coil of ropes laid at his feet. The fecond proclamation was, That everybody fhould remain at home in their houfes, othcrwifc the perfon flying, or deferting the town,Ihould be reputed a rebel, his goods confifcated, his houfe burnt, and his family cha-ftifed at the king's pleafure for feven years *x fo far was well and politic. There was at Gondar a fort of mummers, being a mixture of buffoons and ballad-lingers, and pofture-matters. 1 Thefe Thefe people, upon all public occafions, run about the flrects, and on private ones, fuch as marriages, come to the court-yards before the houfes, where they dance, and ling fongs of their own compoiing in honour of the day, and perform all forts of antics: many a time, on his return from the field with victory, they had met Ras Michael, and received his bounty for ringing his praifes, and welcoming him upon his return home. 1 he day the Abuna excommunicated the king, this fet of vagrants made part of the folemnity; they abufed, ridiculed, and traduced Michael in lampoons and fcurrilous rhymes, calling him crooked, lame, old, and impotent, and fevcral other opprobrious names, which did not affect him near fo much as the ridicule of his perfon : upon many occafions after, they repeated this, and particularly in afong they ridiculed the horfe of Sire, who had run away at the battle of Limjour, where Michael cried out, Send thefe horfe to the mill. It happened that thefe wretches, men and women, to the number of about thirty and upwards, were then, with very different fongs, celebrating Ras Michael's return to Gondar. The King and Ras, after the proclamation, had jud turned to the right to Aylo Meidan, below the palace, a large field where the troops cxer-cife. Confu and the king's houfehold troops were before, and about 200 of the Sire horfe were behind; on a fignal made by the Ras, thefe horfe turned drort and fell upon the fingers, and cut them all to pieces. In lefs than two minutes they were all laid dead upon the field, excepting one young man, who, mortally wounded, had jud drength enough to arrive within twenty yards of the king's horfe, and there fell dead without fpcaking a word. All All the people prefent, mod of them veteran foldiers, and confequcntly inured to blood, appeared fliocked and tlifguflcd at this wanton piece of cruelty. For my part, a kind of faintiQincfs, or feeblenefs, had taken poiFefl'ion of my heart, ever fince the execution of the two men on our march about the kantuffa ; and this fecond act of cruelty occafioncd fuch a horror, joined with an abfencc of mind, that I found myfelf unable to give an immediate, anfwer,. though the king had fpoken twice to me. It was about nine o'clock in the morning when we entered Gondar ; every perfon we met on the llrcct wore the countenance of a condemned malefactor; the Ras went immediately to the palace with the king, who retired, as ufual, to a kind of cage or lattice-window, where he always fits unfeen when in council. We were then in the council-chamber, and four of the judges feared; none of the governors of provinces were prefent but Ras Michael, and Kafmati Tesfos of Sire. Abba Salama was brought to the foot of the table without irons,, at perfect liberty. The accufer for the king (it is a pod in this country in no great edimation) began the charge againfl him with great force and eloquence: he dated, one by one, the crimes committed by him at different periods, the fum of which a-mountcd to prove Salama to be the greatcd monfter upon earth : among thefe were various kinds of murder, especially by poifon ; inced, with every degree collateral and defcendant. He concluded this black, horrid lid, with the charge of high trcafon, or curfing the king, and abfolving his fubjects from their allegiance, which he dated as the greatcd crime human nature was capable of, as involving in its confequenccs all forts of other crimes. Abba Salama,. Vox. IV. K though though he fecmed under very great impatience, did not often interrupt him, further than, Ton lie, and, // is d lie, which he repeated at every new charge. His accufcr had not faid one word of the murder of Joas, but pafled it over without the fmalleft allufion to it. In this, however, Abba Salama did not follow his example : being deflred to anfwer in his own defence, he entered upon it with great dignity, and an air of fuperiority, very different from his behaviour in the king's tent the day before : he laughed, and made extremely light of the charges on the article of women, which he neither confeffed nor denied ; but faid thefe might be crimes among the Franks, (looking at me) or other Chridians, but not the Chriftians of that country, who lived under a double difpenfation, the law of Mofcs and the law of Chrid : he faid the Abyflinians were Beni Ifrael, as indeed they call themfelves, that is, Children of Ifrael; and that in every age the patriarchs had acted as he did, and were not lefs beloved of God. He went roundly into the murder of Joas, and of his two brothers, Adigo and Aylo, on the mountain of Wcchnc, and charged Michael directly with it, as alfo with the poifohing the late Flatze Hannes, father of the prefent king. The Ras feemed to avoid hearing, fomctimcs by fpeak-ing to people danding behind him, fomctimcs by reading a paper ; in particular, he aiked me, Handing directly behind his chair, in a low voice, What is the punifhment in your country for fuch a crime ? It was his cuftom to fpeak to me in his own language of Tigre, and one of his greatcd paflimes to laugh at my faulty cxpreflion. FIc fpakc this to me in Amharic, fo I knew he wanted my anfwer Ihould be be underflood: I therefore faid, in the fame low tone of voice he had fpokc to me, High-treafon is punidied with death in all the countries I have ever known.—This I owed to Abba Salama, and it was not long before I had my return. Abba Salama next went into the murder of Kafmati Efhtc, which he confefFed he was the promoter of. He faid the Iteghe, with her brothers and Ayto Aylo, had all turned Franks, fo had Gufho of Amhara ; and that, in order to make the country Catholic, they had fent for prieds, who lived with them in confidence, as that frank did, pointing to me : that it was againd the law of the country, that I flrould be fuffered here ; that I was accurfed, and fliould be floncd as an enemy to the Virgin Mary. There the Ras interrupted him, by faying, Confine yourfelf to your own defence ; clear yourfelf firft, and then accufe any one you pleafe: it is the king's intention to put the law in execution againd all offenders, and it is only as believing you the grcatcft that he has begun with you* Tins calmnefs of the Ras fecmed to difconccrt the Acab Saat; lie loft all method ; he warned the Ras that it was owing to his excommunicating Kafmati Eflitc that room was made for him to come to Gondar ; without that event this king would never have been upon the throne, fo that he had dill done them as much good by his excommunications as he had done them harm : he told the Ras, and the judges that they were all doubly under a curfe, if they offered either to pull out his eyes, or cut out his tongue; and prayed thcm,burding into tears, not fo much as to think of either, if it was only for old fellowship, or friendfliip which had long fubfiftcd between them. K 2 Therb There is an officer named Kal Hatzc who Hands always upon deps at the fide of the lattice-window, where there is a hole covered in the infidc with a curtain of green talfeta ; behind this curtain the king fits, and through this hole he fends what he has to fay to the Board, who rife and receive the meilcngcr Handing: he had not interfered till now, when the officer faid, acidreffing himfelf to Abba Salama, " The king requires of you to anfwer directly why you perfuaded the Abuna to excommunicate him ? the Abuna is a flave of the Turks, and has no king; you are born under a monarchy, why did you, who are his inferior in odice, take upon you to advife him at all ? or why, after having prefumed to ad-vife him, did you advife him wrong, and abufe his ignorance in thefe matters ?" This quedion, which was a home one, made him lofe all his temper ; he curfed the Abuna, called him Mahometan, Pagan, Frank, and Infidel; and was going on in this wild manner, when Tecla Haiuianout *, the elded of the judges, got up, and addreffing himfelf to the Ras, It is no part of my duty to hear all this railing, he has not fo much as offered,one fact material to his exculpation. The king's fecrctary fent up to the window the fubflance of his defence, the criminal was carried at fome diilance to the other end of the room, and the judges deliberated whillt the king was reading. Very few words were faid among the reft; the Ras was all the time fpeaking to other people : after he had ended this, he called upon the }oung-cil judge to give his opinion, and he gave it, 'Fie is guilty, and mould die;' the fame laid all the officers, and after them the judges, and the lame faid Kafmati Tesfos after them. '*Thc fame whofe &oi wasJiurt by Strata's.mule in the campaign of Manilla. them. When it came to Ras Michael to give his vote, he affccTed moderation; he faid that he was accufed for being his enemy and accomplice ; in cither cafe, it is not fair that he Ihould judge him. No fupetior officer being prefent, the laft voice remained with the king, who fent Kal Hatzc' to the Board with his fentence ; 4 He is guilty and Jhdl die the death.—The hangman flail hang him upon a tree today.'' The unfortunate Acab Saat was immediately hurried away by the guards to the place of execution, which is a large tree before the king's gate ; where uttering, to the very laft moment, curfes againft the king, the Ras, and the Abuna, he fullered the death he very richly deferved, being hanged in the very vedmcnts in which he ufed to fit before the king, without one ornament of his civil or faccrdotal pre-eminence having been taken from him before the execution. In going to the tree he faid he had 400 cows, which he bequeathed to fome priefts to fay prayers for his foul; but the Ras ordered them to be brought to Gondar, and diilributed among his foldicrs. I have entered into a longer detail of this trial, at the whole of which I afliftcd, the rather that I might afk this quedion of thofe that maintain the abfolutc independence of the Abydinian prieflhood, Whether, if the many inftances already mentioned have not had the effeel, this one does not fully convince them, that all ecclefiaftical perfons are fubjeeT: to the fecular power in Abyflinia as much as they are in Britain or any European Protedant date whatever? Chremation, Socinios's brother, was next called, he feemed half dead with fear; he only denied having any concern in his brother being eleclxd king. He faid he had had no pod, and in this he fpoke the truth, but confeiTed that he had been fent by Abba Salama to bring the Itchegue and the Abuna to meet him the day of excommunication at Dippabye. It was further unluckily proved againd him, that he was prefent with his brother at plundering the houfes in the night-time when the man was killed; and upon this he was fentenced to be immediately hanged ; the court then broke up and went to breakfad. All this had palled in lefs than two hours; it was not quite eleven o'clock when all was over, but Ras Michael had fworn he would not tade bread till Abba Salama was hanged, and on fuch occafions he never broke his word. Immediately after this laft execution the kettle-drums beat at the palace-gate, and the crier made this proclamation, " That all lands and villages, which are now, or have been given to the Abuna by the king, fliall revert to the king's own ufe,and be fubjecT: to the government, or the Can-tiba of Dembca, or fuch officers as the king fhall after ap-* point in the provinces where they are fituatcd." I went home, and my houfe being but a few yards from the palace, I paffed the two unfortunate people hanging upon the fame branch ; and, full of the cruelty of the fcene 1 had witnefled, which I knew was but a preamble to much more, I determined firmly, at all events, to quit this country. ; Tin: next morning came on the trial of the unfortunate Guebra Denghel, Sebaat Laab, and Kcda Mariam ; the Ras claimed his right of trying thefe three at his own houfe, as, they were all three fubjccls of his government of Tigre, 4 Guebra Guebra Denghel bore his hard fortune with great unconcern, declaring, that his only reafon of taking up arms a-gainfl the king was, that he faw no other way of preventing Michael's tyranny, and monftrous third of money and of power : that the Ras was really king, had fubverted the conltitution, annihilated all difference of rank and perfons, and transferred the cdicient parts of government into the hands of his own creatures. He wdflied the king might know this was his only motive for rebellion, and that unlefs it had been to make this declaration, he would not have opened his mouth before fo partial and unjuft a judge as he conlidcrcd Michael to be. But Welleta Selaffe, his daughter, hearing the danger her father was in, broke fuddenly out of Ozoro Edher's apartment, which was contiguous; and, coming into the council-room at the indant her father was condemned to die, threw hcrfelf at the Ras's feet with every mark and cxpreUion of the mod extreme for row. I cannot, indeed, repeat what her expreffions were, as I was not prefent, and I thank God that I was not; I believe they arc ineffable by any mouth but her own, but they were perfecTly unfuccefsful. The old tyrant threatened her with immediate death, fpurncd her away with his foot, and in her hearing ordered her father to be immediately hanged. Welleta Selafle, in a fit, or faint, which refcmblcd death, fell fpeechlefs to the ground; the father, forg tful of his own fituation, dew to his daughter's adillance, and they were both dragged out at feparate doors, the one to death, the other to after fuflcrings, greater than death itfelf. Fortune Fortune fecmed to have taken delight, from very early life, conllantly to travcife the greatnefs and happinefs of this young lady. She was firft deftined! t0 be married to Joas, and the affair was near concluded, when the fatal discovery, made at the battle of Azazo, that the king had fent his houfehold troops privately to light for Fafil againlt Michael, prevented her marriage, and occafioned his death. She was then deftincd to old Hatzc Hanncs, Tecla Ilaima-nout's father: Michael, who found him incapable of being a king, judged him as incapable of being a hufband to a woman of the youth and charms of Welleta Selatfe, and, therefore, deprived him at once of his life, crown, and bride. She was now not feventccn, and it was dedgned flic fhould be married to the prefent king; Providence put a flop to a union that was not agreeable to either party: flic died fome time after this, before the battle of Scrbraxos; being drongly prefled to gratify the brutal inclinations of the Ras her grandfather, whom, when fhe could not redd or avoid, die took poifon -y others faid it was given her by U/.oro Either from jcaloufy, but this was certainly without foundation. 1 faw her in her lad moments, but too late to give her any aflidnnce; and die had told herwomcn-fcrvants and daves that fhe had taken arfenic, having no other way to avoid committing fo monftrous a crime as inced with the murderer of her father.. The rage that the intercedion of the daughter for her father Guebra Denghel had put the Ras into, was feen in the feverity of the fentence he pafled upon the other two criminals; Keda Mariana's eyes were pulled out, Se-baat Laab's eye lids were cut off by the roots, and both of tucm were expofed in the market-place to the burning fun, 2.. without without any covering whatever. S^baat Laab died of a fever in a few days; Kefla Mariam lived, if not to fee, at leaft to hear, that he was revenged, after the battle of Serbraxos, by the difgrace and captivity of Michael. I will fpare myfelf the difagreeable talk of (hocking my readers with any further account of thefe horrid cruelties ; enough has been faid to give an idea of the character of thefe times and people. Blood continued to be fpilt as water, day after day, till the Epiphany; prieds, lay-men, young men and old, noble and vile, daily found their end by the knife or the cord. Fifty-feven people died publicly by the hand of the executioner in the courfe of a very few days; many difappeared, and were either murdered privateiy, or fent to prifons, no one knew where. The bodies of thofe killed by the fword were hewn to pieces and fcattercd about the dreets, being denied burial. I was miferable, and almod driven to defpair, at feeing my hunting-dogs, twice let loofe by the carelelfnefs of my fervants, bringing into the court-yard the head and arms of daughtered men, and which I could no way prevent but by the deftruclion of the dogs themfelvcs ; the quantity of carrion, and the ftench of it, brought down the hyamas in hundreds from the neighbouring mountains; and, as few people in Gondar go out after it is dark, they enjoyed the flreets to thcmfelves, and feemed ready to difpute the pof-fedion of the city with the inhabitants. Often when I went home late from the palace, and it was this time the king chofe chiedy for convcrfation, though I had but to pafs the corner of the market-place before the palace, had lanthorns with me, and was furrounded with armed men, I heard Vol. IV. L them them grunting by two's and three's fo near me as to be a* fraid they would take fome opportunity of feizing me by the leg ; a piftol would have frightened them, and made them fpeedily run, and I conltantly carried two loaded at my girdle, but the difcharging a piftol in the night would have a-larmed every one that heard it in the town, and it was not now the time to add any thing to people's fears. I at hill fcarcc ever went out, and nothing occupied my thoughts but how to cfcape from this bloody country by way of Sennaar, and how I could bed exert my power and influence over Yafine at Ras el feel to pave my way, by alfdling me to pais the defert into Atbara. The king milling me fome days at the palace, and hearing I had not been at Ras Michael's, began to inquire who had been with me. Ayto Confu foon found Yafine, who informed him of the whole matter; upon this I was fent for to the palace, where 1 found the king, without any body but menial fervants. He immediately remarked that I looked very ill; which, indeed, I felt to be the cafe, as I had fcarcely ate or llcpt fince I faw him laft, or even for fome days before. He alked me, in a condoling tone, What ailed mo? that, bolides looking fick, I feemed as if fomething had ruffled me, and put me out of humour. I told him that what he obferved was true : that, coming acrofs the market-place, 1 had feen Za Mariam, the Ras's doorkeeper, with three men bound, one of whom he fell a-hacking to pieces in my prefence. Upon feeing me running acrofs the place, Hopping my nofc, lie called me to flay till he Ihould come and di(patch the other two, for he wanted to fpeak to me, as if he had been engaged about ordinary bufmefs : that the foldicrs, in confideration of his hade, immediately fell upon upon the other two, whofe cries were flill remaining in my cars: that the hycenas at night would fcarcely let me pafs in the ftreets when I returned from the palace; and the dogs ded into my houfe to cat pieces of human carcafes at leifure. Although his intention was to look grave, I faw it was all he could do to dide a laugh at grievances he thought very little of. " The men you faw with Za Mariam jud now, fays he, are rebels, fent by Keda Yafous for examples: lie has forced a junction with Tecla and Welleta Michael in Samcn, and a road is now open through Woggora, and plenty eilablifhed in Gondar. The men you faw fuller were thofe that cut off the provifions from coming into the city; they have occafioncd the death of many poor people; as for the hyaena he never meddles with living people, he fecks carrion, and will foon clear the drccts of thofe incumbrances that fo much offend you ; people fay that they are the Falafha of the mountains, who take that fhape of the hyaena, and come down into the town to cat ChriiUan fleih in the night."—" If they depend upon Chriilian fleih, and cat no other, faid I, perhaps the hyenas of Gondar will be the word fed of any in the world."—"True, lays he, binding out into a loud laughter, that may be, few of thofe that die •by the knife anywhere arc Chridians, or have any religion at all; why then ihould you mind what they flitter?'1— '*' Sir, faid I, that is not my fentimcnt; if you was to order a dog to be tortured to death before me every morning, I could not bear it. The carcafes of Abba Salama, Guebra Denghel, and the red, are dill hanging where they wrcre upon* the tree; you fmcll the dench of them at the palace-gate, and wdl foon, I apprehend, in the palace itfelf. This cannot L 2 be be pleafant, and I do adure yon it rauft be very pernicious s to your health, if there was nothing elfe in it. At the battle of Fagitta, though you had no intention to retreat, yet you ■ went half a day backward, to higher.-ground; and purer air, to avoid the dench of the field, but here in the city you i heap up carrion about your, houfes, where is your continual relidence." " The Ras has given orders, fays he gravely, to remove -all the dead bodies before the Epiphany, when we go down to keep that feftivalv and wafh away all this pollution in the clear-running water of i the Kahha: but tell me now, Yagoube, is it really pomble that you can take fuch things as thefe fo much to heart ? You are a brave man; we all know you are, and have feen it: we have all blamed you, ffranger as you are in this country, for .the little care you take of yourfelf; and. yet about thefe things you are as much affected as the mod cowardly woman, girl, or child could be."—"Sir,, faid I, I do not know if I am brave or not; but if to fee men tortured or murdered, or to live among dead bodies without concern, be courage, 1 have it not, nor defire to have it: war is the profcdiomof noble minds; it is a glorious one 4 it is the fcience and. occupation of kings; and many wife and many humane men have dedicated their whole life to the ftudy of it in every country; it foftens men's manners, by obliging them to fociety, to aflift, befriend, and even fave one another, though at their own rifk and danger, A barbarian of that profedion Ihould be pointed at, Obferve Ayto Engedan, (who came at that very in-ftant into the room) there is a young man, faid I, who, with the bravery, has alfo the humanity and gentlenefs of my countrymen that are foldiers." Engedan Engedan fell on his face before the king, as is ufual, while the king went on ferioully—" War you want; do you, Yagoube ? war you fhall have; it is not far dillant, and Engedan is come to tell us how near." They then went into a confiderable convcrfation about Gufho, Powuflen, and the preparations they were making, and where they were, with which I fhall not trouble the reader, as I fliall have an occafion to fpeak of the particulars afterwards as they arife. "I want Confu, fays the king; I want him to fend his men of Ras el Feel to Sennaar, and to the Baharnagafh to get horfes and fome coats of mail. And what do you think of fending Yagoube there ? he knows their manners and their language, and has friends there to whom he is intending to efcapc, without fo much as afking my leave."—" Pardon me, Sir, faid I; if I have ever entertained that thought, it is proof fufheient of the extreme necedity I am under to go." " Sir, fays Engedan, I have rode in the Koccob horfe.; I will do fo again, if Yagoube commands them, and will day with us till we try the horfe of Begemder. I have eight or ten coats of mail, which I will give your majedy: they belonged to my father, Confu, and I took them lately from that, thief Abou Barea, with whom they were left at my father's death ; but I will tell your Majedy, I had rather fight naked without a coat of mail, than that you fhoukl fend Yagoube to Sennaar to purchafe them from thence, for he will never return," Ras Michael was now announced, and we made hade to get away. I would have Confu, Engedan, and you, come here to-morrow night, fays the king, as foon as it is dark; and do not you, Yagoube, for your life, fpeak one word of Sennaar, till you know my will upon it, He faid this in the fternefl Itemed manner, and with all the dignity and majedy of a king. We paded the Ras in the ami-chamber, attended by a great many people. We endeavoured to dide by him in the crowd, but he noticed us, and brought us before him. We both kiffed his hands, and he kept hold of one of mine, while he ahked Engedan, *' Is Fafil at Ibaba?" to which he was anfwered," Yes." " Who is with him ? fays the Ras."— " Damot, Agow, and Maitfha," anfwered Engedan. " Was you there? fays the Ras." " No, anfwered Engedan, I am at Tfhemcra, with few men." Fie then turned to me, and faid, " My fon is ill ; Ozoro Efther has jud fent to me, and complains you vifit her now no more. Go fee the boy, and don't neglect Ozoro Efther, flie is one of your bed friends." I inquired if lhe was at Gondar, and was anfwered, No; flic is at Kofcam. We parted; Engedan went to Kofcam to Ozoro Father's, and I went home to plan my route to Sennaar, and to prepare letters for Ilagi Belal, a merchant there, to whom I was recommended from Arabia Felix. g&Wrr-n----r.- - t-------r,--7^-^ CHAP. CHAP. IV. The King promifes heave to the Author to depart—Receives a Reinforcement from Shoa—Amiable Carriage of Amha Yafous—Striking Contrajl between him and a Prince of the Galla—Bad State of the Kings Affairs, TT was the 31 ft of December that we were at Kofcam. A * proclamation had been made fome days before of a general pardon to all that would return to Gondar; but no one had ventured but Ayto Engedan, who was with Fafil as the king's friend; nor were any of thofe who went with Fafd the object of the proclamation, for it was not thought that the retiring from Socinios with Fafil was doing any thing againft their allegiance. That night the bodies of Guebra Denghel, Keda Mariam, andSebaat Laab, were taken down from the tree and laid upon the ground ; after having been watched in the 1 nighs night by their friends to keep the beafts from "them, were at laft fullered to be taken privately away, *at the intercef-ilon of the troops of Tigre, whofe countrymen they were. Chremation and Abba Salama were abandoned to their fortune, and in part putrified ; they were covered with heaps of ftones thrown upon them by fuch as were palling, and had no other burial. The next night, the ill of January 1771, according to order, I waited upon the king with Confu and Engedan, and with them Yafine: meafures were then taken for buying their horfes and coats of mail; the Ras had advanced part of the money, the reft was to be made up by the meery, or king's duty, due by the Mahometan provinces, which had not been paid fince he went to Tigre; a Mahometan fervant of the king was fent for from the cuftomhoufc; with him was to go a man from Yafine, and with them I fent my letters by the hand of Soliman, a black of Ras el Feel, a man remarkable for his dlength, courage, and ftze, and very fhrewd and difcerning, under the appearance of an idiot: Yaiinewas fent with them to get a fafe conduct from his friend Fidele Shckh of Atbara, who was to convoy them to Beyla, and thence to Sennaar. It was not without great difputc and altercation the king would allow me the permimon to fend letters; at laft, feeing he could do no better, it was agreed that, as an immediate engagement between Powuden, Gulho, and Ras Michael, was inevitable, I ftiould fwear not to attempt to leave him till that aifair was fettled fome way or other; but the king infilled I fliould alfo take an oath, that, fliould he be victorious over, or reconciled to the rebels, if the cn-2 gagement gagemcnt I was under in my own country was not fulfilled, and I recovered my health, I fliould bring as many of my brethren and family as poflible, with their horfes, muf-kets, and bayonets ; that, if I could not pafs by Sennaar, I fliould come by the way of the Fad Indies from Surat to Mafuah, which, by how much it was more tedious, was by fo much more fecurc, than that by Sennaar. I cannot but hope, the impoflibility of performing this path cxtinguidied the fin of breaking it; at any rate, it was perfonal, and the fubfequent death of the king* mud have freed me from it; be that as it will, it had this good effect, that it greatly compofed my mind for the time, as I now no longer confidcred myfelf as involved in that ancient and general rule of the country, Never to allow a drangcr to return to his home. We that night learned, that the king had been in great flraits ever fince he came from Tigre; that the Ras, who was podeffed of all the revenues of the provinces that were in their allegiance, had never yet given the king an ounce of gold; and that he furnifhedhis daily fubfifl-ence from his own houfe, a cow for his own and great officers table, and two loaves of bread for each of his fcrvants ; as fmall an allowance as any private perfon gave. It was believed that the Ras had left mod of his money in Tigre, and had truded to the contributions he was to levy upon the great men whenever he fliould crofs the Tacazze; but in this he difappointed himfelf by his cruelty, for no perfon Vol. IV. M came. * It was reported, when I was at Sennaar, that the king had been defeated and /lain. I have no other authority, only think, all things confidcred, it was moll probable. came before him, on his arrival at Gondar, from whom he could raife a farthing. It was about the 20th of January, that a meflage arrived from Powuifen, to tell the Ras he had taken the ufurper Socinios prifoner, and held him in irons at the king's difpo-fal. He upbraided Michael with the cruelties of his executions, and declared his refolution of calling him to an account for thefe perfonally at Gondar ; he warned him in time, to repafs the Tacazze, and retire while it was in his power to his government of Tigre, where nobody would moled him, and leave the king at liberty to act. for himfelf, Gufho likewife fent a meifenger, but what word he brought did not tranfpire ; after feeing the King and Ras Michael, both thefe melfengers proceeded to Fafd. Soon after this came a meflage from Fafd, defiring only that the King and the Ras might renew to him the grant of his father's lands and eftates, which he formerly poflefled : what was the meaning of this meflage I could never learn ; he was already in full poflefllon of what he afked, and more ; no perfon had' attempted to take any thing from him, nor was it indeed in their power. Proclamation was made accordingly in terms of the requeft, and all the lands that he had poflefled were given him : before he could have news of this firft grant, a fe-cond meflenger came, defiring that he might be confirmed in his government of Maitlha, Damot, and Agow. This too was immediately granted him, but a condition was added, that he fliould bring the troops of thefe provinces, and as many others as he could raife, to join the king with all poflible fpeed, and take the field with Ras Michael againft Powuflen Powuflen and Gufho ; and this was but what he had fpon-tancoudy promifed when lie made his peace at Dingleber. At the fame time Ayto Aylo, brother to Fngedan, was proclaimed governor of Begemdcr; and all people holding of the king or of Aylo's friends, (for he had a very large edate in that province) were ordered to join him ; but a very few came, among whom was the famous Guigarr, chief of the clan, Waag of Lad a, fon to Aylo's filler. Mean time the king ufed all the means in his power to induce the Iteghe to return to Kofcam, for her prefencc in Gojam kept alive the fpirit of a number of people that Were attached to her, who bore very impatiently to fee her banilhed, as fhe then was, though rcfident with her daughter Ozoro Welleta Ifrael, and furrounded by the forces of Aylo her grandfon, who was governor of Gojam, and to whom half of that province belonged in property. But the queen was refolute never to trutt Ras Michael, though it was believed flic fent the king a fum in gold privately by Engedan. It was in the end of January that another mefTage arrived from Fafd, excufing his coming to Gondar on account of the badnefs of his health ; he laid, befidcs, he could not truft Michael unlcfs he gave him Welleta Pelade, his granddaughter, to wife, and lent her to him to Bure. 1 have already mentioned that the Ras was fond of this young lady himfelf, and nothing but that hindered him from giving her to the king in marriage ; and it was faid, and I believe with truth, that fome delicacy* the king had expreffed about M 2 this ^ Sufpicion of faratliarity with the Ras her grandfather. this fince his return from Tigre, was the reafon of coldncfs between him and the Ras, and of Michael's putting the king on fo lhort allowance on his firft coming to Gondar: but all that was now removed by the ncceflities of the times; gold came from Tigre in plenty ; even Powuflcn had lent fome of the revenue of Begemder, all the other provinces, a proportion, with butter, cattle, and cotton cloths, for the maintenance of the king's houfehold and troops : for my part, though I enjoyed the name of feveral polls, I had partaken fince this lalt revolution of a very fmall part of their revenues ; I had been liberally fupplied in the king's abfence by Ozoro Either and the queen. I had few fervants, and lived cheaply in the Itcghe's palace at Kofcam •, but after my arri<-val, the king, on purpofe I believe to difconccrt my journey, ran me grievoufly into debt with the foldicrs, and other expenecs that were, as I was told, abfolutcly ncceffary ; it is true, thefe were paid in part at times but very irregularly. Ras Michael was not a man to be craved, nor was my temper fuch as could be brought to crave him ; from this it arofe that often I had been in great flraits, and obliged to live fparingly, which luckily was never a great hardfhip upon me, in order to fulfil my promifc to others. And now the campaign was beginning, horfes, and mules, and every thing ncceffary were to be purchafed, and I was in debt a-bove one hundred pounds, nor wTould it have been poflible I ever mould have cleared myfelf, for my daily expenecs were enormous, if it had not been for the fituation that a certain Greek, named Petros, was in, from whom I borrowed about three hundred pounds, as Ifhall after mention. With regard to Kafmati Fafil, he fent me, twice, two large jars of honey from my lordfhip of Gecfh, at two different times : the Sx& was taken by Coque AbouBaxea, the lad taflcd fo bitter ter of lupines, that no ufe could be made of it. I was a Sovereign, it is true, and my revenue was what wife men have faid is the bell,—the love of the people. It went, however, but little way towards fupporting my dignity. While the king was at Kahha, keeping the feflival of the Epiphany, he received a very extraordinary vifit from Amha Yafous, fon of the governor of Shoa, offering his per-fonal fervice and afliftance to the king, and brought with him, as a prefent, 500 ounces of gold, and a thoufand excellent horfemcn ready equipt at all points. Upon his being prefcnted to the king, two young noblemen were inflruc-ted to be ready to lay hold of him by the arms, and prevent his throwing himfelf upon the ground if he intended fo to do. The king was feated upon the throne, very richly dreffed in brocade, a very fine mudin web wrapt loofely a-bout him, fo as to hang in plaits, and in fome parts fhow, and in fome conceal, the flowers of the cloth of gold of which his waidcoat was compofed. His hair was loofe, combed out at its full length, and falling about his head in every direction, and a fork, like a fkewer, made of a rhinoceros horn, with a gold button or head upon it, duck thro' his hair near his temples ; he was all perfumed with rofe water, and two people flood on the oppofite fides of the. tent, each of them with a filver bottle full of it. Amha Yasous with his thoufand horfe prefented himfelf before the door of the tent, and rode on till he was compleatly in it; he then defcended as in a great hurry or furprife, and ran forward, fiooping, to the foot of the throne, inclining his body lower and lower as he approached;, and, jud before the act of proflration, he was feized by Tecla 3> Mariam. Mariam and Guebra Mcnfus Kcdus, and prevented from kiff-ing the ground ; the king held his hand uncovered, but not extended, that is, as if he did not intend or expect that he mould kifs it. Amha Yafous, after the druggie was over about the prodration, fuddenly feized the king's hand and killed it, with fome refiflance on the part of the king, who, when he had luffed the back of his hand, turned the palm likewife ; a great mark of familiarity and confidence in this country. There was a fmall ftool, about half a foot from the ground, covered with a Perfian carpet. Amha Yafous attempted to fpeak danding, but was not fuflered, but con drained by the two noblemen to fit down on the little dool; they then deluged him fo with rofe-water, that I do believe he never in his life was fo wet with rain. After fome general quedions the tent was cleared. All this ceremonial was premeditated and dudicd ; the etiquette could not have been more punctually and uniformly obferved in any court of Europe, and would have jud fignified what it did here. Amha Yasous was a man from twenty-fix to twenty-eight years of age, tall, and of a jud degree of corpulence, with arms and legs finely made ; he had a very beautiful face, fmall features, and the mod affable manners. I have thought, when I have feen them together, that the king, Engedan, and himfelf, were three of the handfomeft men I had ever beheld in any country ; befides this, all three had fine under-ftandings, noble fentimcnts, and courage fuperior to the greatcd danger; charitable too, and humane inclinations, were it not for that accurfed indifference, or rather pro-penfity, one of them had to fhed human blood; this the 4 young young king had imbibed in the fchool of Michael, but for natural talents he certainly was the firft of the three. Apartments in the palace, and a table, were adigned to Amha Yafous, and he was ferved by the king's fervants as well as his own; a guard was appointed at his door, the officer of which attended to receive his orders and take the word daily. This was the manner of receiving illuftrious ftrangcrs in my time at Gondar. Anthule, a Greek, mailer of the king's wardrobe, was ordered from time to time to bring him clothes of the fame kind with thofe the king wore. All the Ozoros, or noble women at court, fell violently in love with Amha Yafous, as fame reported, except Ozoro Efther. The young prince had not a grain of cold-nefs nor indifference in his nature ; he carried himfelf, wherever he went, with honourable, attentive, and decent gallantry. But his chief attention was paid to Welleta Se-laflc ; nor was Ras Michael jealous, nor, as public report went, was Welleta Selaffe unkind. I was often in the evenings in his parties at her houfe; a fixed, never-changing melancholy hung upon her face ; deep, and involuntary fighs efcaped from her under vifible conftraint: it did not appear to me poflible this could have been her behaviour, if in actual enjoyment of fuccefsful love; or that, after having gratified it, fhe could have put in execution that defperate re-folution which apparently flie had then formed in her mind, Amha Yasous was fon of a fifter of Guflio; it was faid afterwards that he had a commiffion from his father, governor of Shoa, to detach Gudio, if poffible, from his alliance with Powuflen, and bring him back to his allegiance to the king. king. Whether this was true or not I cannot fay, hut that this, or fomething fimilar, was the cafe, feemed to be more than probable from the behaviour of Gufho afterwards, during the whole campaign. Amha Yafous did not come to take part in the war, he only brought, in imitation of old times, a tribute to the king as a teftimony of the loyalty of the faithful province of Shoa; but he was fo interefted for the king, after being admitted into intimacy with him, and fo pleafcd with the fociety of the young noblemen at court, that he determined to come back with the command of the troops of his father, and in his way force Gufho to return to his duty, if he was not already determined. He had heard, while at Shoa, from fome prieds of Dcbra Libanos, that there was a drange white man in favour with the king at Gondar, who could do every thing but raife the dead; it was among his fir ft requefts to the king, to make him acquainted with me. The king therefore ordered me to wait upon him every morning, and I, on my part, did not let flip that opportunity. Infenlibly we came to be infepar-able companions. Our converfation fell one day to be upon the Abyflinian kings who fird lived at Shoa at the time when the kingdom of Adel was a great mart for the Eaft Indian trade, before the difcovcry of the Cape of Good Hope. He faid that a book containing their hifiory, he believed, was in fome of the churches in Shoa, and that he would immediately fend for it. Although I could not help teftify-ing my defire of having a book which I had fought for in vain through the red of the provinces of Abydinia, yet I thought it unreafonablc to defire a man to fend 300 miles merely for the purpofe of getting it; I therefore did not prefs it, being fatisficd with his promife ; but as my work woidd would have been incomplete without it, I afked my friend Tecla Mariam to mention it to him as from the king. His anfwer was," I have already promifed to get it for Yagoube, the meffenger by this time is in Amhara; depend upon it, my father will not fail to let me have it; for fear of miflake, I have difpatched a very intelligent man, who knows and has feen the book at Debra Libanos." The promife was punctually kept, the book came, and from it I have drawn the hiftory of the Adelan war, and the reign of thofe kings who had not yet returned toAxum, but reigned in Shoa. One evening I inquired of him concerning the dory which the Portuguefe heard, at the difcovery of Benin, that the blacks of that country had intercourfe with a Chriftian inland date they acknowledged as fovereign, from which they procured the invediture of their lands, as has been already mentioned in the beginning of this work ? whether any fuch commerce did cxifl with Shoa at prefent, or if traces remained of it in older times ? if there was any other Chriflian or JewhTi date in his neighbourhood to which this defcription could apply * ? He faid they knew nothing of Benin at Shoa, nor had he ever heard of the name, nor any cudom of the kind that I had mentioned, which either then did, or ever had prevailed in Shoa; he knew of no Chriflian date farther to the fouthward, excepting Narea, a great part of which was conquered by the Galla, who were Pagans. The blacks that were next to Shoa, he faid, were exceedingly fierce, warlike, and cruel; worfe than the Galla, and of the fame kind with the Shan-gal la in Abyflinia. The other nations were partly Mahomei an, Vol. IV. N but Conquetes des Portugais, liv. i. p. 46. Lafitan* but chiefly Galla, and fome of thefe had turned Mahometan;;, but that they had no knowledge of any commerce with the Wcflcrn, or Atlantic Ocean, though they knew the l.adcrn or Indian Ocean, which was nearer; were often laved with Indian goods from Mahometan merchants from thence ; but that the Galla had over-run mod of the intermediate countries, and made the ways dangerous. After Amha Yafous's audience with the king, he waited on Ras Michael alfo, to whom he brought a prefent in gold ; politely excufing himfelf for,having brought it in,that form, on account that any other would have been trouble-fome, from the length of the way. Tie well knew, however, that an apology was nccdlefs, and that Ras Michael never faw any prefent in a more agreeable form than that of gold. 1 was not at the audience, nor do I know what palfc^l at it; only that, on his introduction, the kas was held up on his feet, and received him danding; they then both fat down upon the fame feat, after which they dined heartily together at Ozoro Edhcr's apartment, who came from Kofcam on purpofc to prepare their entertainment; and-they drank and converfed together till late at night. The fight of gold, and a thoufand horfe at the juncture, made Ras Michael as light and chearful as a young man of twervy live. No words concerning the government of Shoa pafled, nor any proclamation relative to the ftate of that province ; and this filence was equal to declare it independent, as it was intended, and indeed it had been con* ftdeped as fudh along time before. As I faw Amha Yafous eat raw beef like the Abylfmians, I aJked him if it was the oudom of other nations to the fmthward? He faid he believed fo, if the) were nj I Mahometans, ajad.inquired of me if if it was not likewife the practice among us. I imagine it prevails as far as the Gape of Good Hope. Another interview, which happened at Kahha, was much more extraordinary in itfelf, though of much lefs importance to the Hate. Guangoul, chief of the Galla of Angot, that is, of the eaflcrn Galla, came to pay his refpecf s to the king and Ras Michael; he had with him about 500 foot and 40 horfe: he brought with him a number of large horns for carrying the king's wine, and fome other fuch trifles. He was a little, thin, crofs-made man, of no apparent flrength or fwiftnefs, as far as could be conjectured; his legs and thighs being thin and fmall for his body, and his head large ; he was of a yellow, unwholefome colour, not black nor brown; he had long hair plaited and interwoven with the bowels of oxen, and fo knotted and twided together as to render it impoflible to diiiinguifh the hair from the bowels, which hung down in long firings, part before his bread and part behind his fhoulder, the mod extraordinary ringlets I had ever feen. He had likewife, a wreath of guts hung about his neck, and fe-veral rounds of the fame about his middle, whicn fcr-ved as a girdle, below which was a fhort cotton cloth dipt in butter, and all his body was wet, and running down with the fame ; he feemed to be about fifty years of age, with a confident and infolcnt fupcriority painted in his face. In his country it fecms,whcn he appears in date, the bead he rides upon is a cow. Fie was then in full drefs and ceremony, and mounted upon one, not of the largctl fort, but which had monftrous horns. He had no faddle on his co«r. He had fliort drawers, that did not reach the middle of nu thighs; his knees, feet, legs, and all his body were bire. N 2 He He had a fhield of a tingle hide, warped by the heat in feve-ral directions, and much in the fhape of a high-crowned, large, draw-hat, with which the fafhionable women in our own country fometimes difguife themfelves. He carried a fhort lance in his right hand, with an ill-made iron head, and a fhaft that feemed to be of thorn-tree, but altogether without ornament, which is feldom the cafe with the arms of barbarians. Whether it was neceffary for the poizing himfelf upon the fliarp ridge of the bead's back, or whether it was meant as graceful riding, I do not know, being quite Unflcilled in cowmanfliip ; but he leaned exceedingly backwards, pufhing his belly forwards, and holding his left arm and ftiield ftretched out on one fide of him, and his right arm and lance in the fame way on the other, like wings. The king was feated on his ivory chair, to receive him, ahnod In the middle of his tent; the day was very hot, and an infufferable dench of carrion foon made every one in the tent fenfible of the approach of this nady fovereign, even before they faw him. The king, when he perceived him coming, was fo druck with the whole figure and appearance, that he could not contain himfelf from an immoder* ate fit of laughter, which finding it impoffible to Aide, he rofc from his chair, and ran as hard as he could into another apartment behind the throne. The favagc got off from his cow at the door of the tent with all his tripes about him ; and, while we were admiring him as a monder, feeing the king's feat empty, he took it for his own, and down he fat upon the crimfon fdk eufhion, with the butter running from every part of him, A general cry of aftonifliment was made by every perfon: fon in the tent: he flarted up I believe without divining the caufe, and before he had time to recollect: himfelf, they fell all upon him, and with pufhes and blows drove this grcafy chieftain to the door of the tent, flaring with wild amazement, not knowing what was next to happen. It is high treafon, and punifliable by immediate death, to fit down upon the king's chair. Poor Guangoul owed his life to his ignorance. The king had beheld the whole fecne through the curtain; if he laughed heartily at the beginning, he laughed ten times more at the cataftrophc ; he came out laughing, and unable to fpeak. The cufluon was lifted and thrown away, and a yellow Indian fhaul fpread on the ivory ftool; and ever after, when it was placed, and the king not there, the dool was turned on its face upon the carpet to prevent fuch like accidents.. Guangoul, difappointcd of having an audience of the king, went to the Ras, where he was better received, but what paffed I know not. His troops, armed like himfelf, with fhields of no refidance, and hedge-flakes burnt and' fharpened at the end inflead of lances, were no acquifition to any party, efpecially in the prefent quarrel, where all the veteran troops in Abyflinia were nearly equally divided on oppolite fides ; befldes, the Shoa horfe had taken the eyes of people fo much, that they began to think little of any cavalry that was not in fome degree equipped like them. After the king returned to the palace,'great diverflon was made at Guangoul's appearance, in fo much that Ozoro Edhcr, who hated the very name of Galla, and of this *>ace in particular, infdlcd upon feeing a representation of Doho, accordingly, a dwarf belonging to Ras Michael, very very ugly, with a monflrous big head, but very fliarp and clever, and capable of acting his part, was brought to represent the perfon of Guangoul: a burnt flick and a bad llncld were provided ; but the great difficulty remaj d, how to perfuade Doho the dwarf to put on ihc raw guts about his neck and waifl, and, above all, to plait them in the hair, which he abfolutely refufed, both from religious and cleanly motives; as for the butter, it was no object ion, as all the A-byflinians anoint thcmfclves with it daily, after bathing. Here we wrerevcry near at a fland, all the ladies having in vain fupplicated him to fuller for their fakes a temporary pollution, with promifes that oceans of rofe and fecnted water fliould be poured upon him afterwards, to reflore his former iweet-nefs. Doho was a man who condantly fpent his time in reading fcripture, the acts of the councils, the works of St John Chryfoltom, arid other fuch books as they have among them. He remained inflexible : at lad I fuggcflcd that fe-veral hanks of cotton, dyed blue, red, and yellow, fliould be got from the weavers in the Mahometan town, and thefe oiled, greafed, and knotted properly, and iwiftcd among the hair, well-anointed with butter, would give a pretty accurate refemblancc of what we faw in the king's tent. All hands were immediately fet to work ; the cotton was provided ; Ozoro Kflhcrs fcrvants and flaves decked Doho to the life. I {potted his face with dibium, and others anointed him with butter : an old milk-cow was found, contrary to my expedation, that fullered a rider without much impatience, and in came Guangoul into a great hall in Ozoro £fthcr's apartment. Never was any thing better pcrfonatcd or better received ; the whole hall rcfounded with one cry of laughter; Doho, 2 encouraged encouraged by this and the perfect indifference and ftea-dinefs of his cow, began to a& his part with great humour and confidence: he was born in the neighbourhood of thefe very Galla, knew their manners, and fpoke their Janguage perfectly. Amha Yafous, Confu, Aylo brother to Engedan, fome fervants of the king, acted the part that we did in the tent the clay of the audience, that is, Rood on each fide of the king's chair: the cow was brought into the middle of the room, and Guangoul defcended with his lance and fhield in great date; a cufliion was not fpared, nor did Doho fpare the cufhion ; the butter (hewed-very, didinctly where he had been fitting : we all fell upon him and belaboured him heartily, and chaced him to the door. His fpecdy retreat was not counterfeited. Ozoro Altafh, Edher's filter, and a number of the ladies of the court, were prefent. Ozoro Efther declared fhe would fend fot the Ras, he had been in grea* good humour fince the arrival of Amha Yafous. I had not fcen him fince the recovery of his fon, and happened to be at the door next him ; . he took me by the hand, and laid, " Welleta Hawaryat (that is the name of his fon) is well, you arc very kind." Michael was edecmed the bed orator in his country, , and fpoke his own language, Tigran, with the utmod purity and elegance; yet in common converfation he was very fententious, two or three words at a time, but never obfeure; this he had contracted by a long practice of commanding armies, where he faw as inftantly and clearly, as he fpoke fhortly and didinctly. He bowed very civilly to the ladies, and pointed to me to fit down on the feat by him. Amha Yafous was Handing before him, I haflcned to fit down on the carpet at his feet, and he fecmed to recollect himfelf and" and placed Amha Yafous bcfide him: it was eafy to fee his mind was otherwife occupied, and as eafy to perceive by his look, that he gave me credit for my behaviour. When they were all fcated, " Well, fays he, in great good humour, what now, what is the matter ? what can I do for you, Yagoube ? are the women in your country as idle and fool-iffi as thefe ? has Ozoro Efther chofen a wife for you ? flie fhall give you your dinner: I will give her a por* tion ; and as you are a horfeman, the king, with Amha Yafous's leave, faid he bowing, fhall give you the command of the Shoa horfe; I have feen them ; the men I think are almoft as white as yourfelf." Amha Yafous bowed in return, and faid, " Sir, if the king beftows them fo worthily, I promife to bring another thoufand as good as thefe to join them after the rains, before next Epiphany."—" And I, fays Ozoro Efther, for my part, I have long had a wife for him, but this is not the prefent bufinefs, we know your time is precious, Guangoul is without, and defires an audience of you."—Poh ! fays the Ras, Guangoul is gone to Gufho, at Minziro, and there is like to be a pretty ftory : here are accounts come from Tigre, that he has committed great barbarities in his journey, laid wafte fome villages, killed the people, for not furnifhing him with provifions: here in Beleflen he alfo burnt a church and a village belonging to the Iteghe, and killed many poor people; I do not know what he means; I hope they will keep him where he is, and not fend him home again through Tigre. A communication of this kind, very uncommon from the Ras, occafioned a ferious appearance in the whole company ; but he had no fooner done with fpeaking, than in comes Doho upon his cow : neither man nor woman that 4 had had yet feen him, ever laughed fo heartily as the old Ras ; he humoured the thing entirely; welcomed Doho in Galla language, and faw the whole farce, fmiihed by his flight to the door, with the utmoft good humour. Then taking Amha Yafous with him, and feveral great officers who had come in the interim, he returned by a private paffage to his own apartments. As I mall have no occafron for further mention of this chieftain, I will here dnifh his ftory, though not in the order of time. Gufho and Powuflen had gained Guangoul, and perfuaded him to make an irruption with his Galla into the province of Tigre, to create a diverfion againil Michael, and, for that purpofe, they had fent him home nearly the way he had come through that province. From this encouragement he had begun to conduct himfelf dill worfe than formerly. Ras Michael, fufpecting what would happen, privately difpatched Ayto Confu after him with 600 horfe. That young foldier, happy in a command that highly gratified his mother, and guided by the cries of the people, followed with the utmofl diligence, and came up with him in the neighbourhood of Lada, and there, after little rcfiftance, Guangoul and his troops were cut to pieces, thofe that had efcaped being all dain by the cxafperated peafants. Confu returned* to Gondar the night of the fifth day, together with the bloody trophies of his conqucfl over Guangoul and his Galla, I have before mentioned that this chief had brought with him a quantity of large horns for the king's fcrvice. Some of this fort having been feen in India filled with civet, have given occafion to thofe travellers who faw them Vol. IV, O there there to fay, that the animal producing thcfc large horns was a carnivorous bull of a prodigious fize, inhabiting the interior parts of Africa. That no illuflration of this kind may be wanting, a copperplate of this curious bull is, I think, in fome of the firft volumes of the Philofophical Tranfactions. The origin of the tale is believed to be in Bernier or Thevcnot. It may, however, with great certainty, be relied upon, that no fuch animal exifts in Africa, nor probably in the whole creation. The animal furnifh-ing thofe monftrous horns is a cow or bull, which would be reckoned of a middling fize in England; its head and neck are larger and thicker in proportion, but not very remarkably fo. I have been told this animal was firft brought by the Galla from near the Line, where it rains continually, and the fun is little feen. This extraordinary fize of its horns proceeds from a difeafe that the cattle have in thofe countries, of which they die, and is probably derived from their pafturc and climate. Whenever the animal fhews fymptoms of this diforder, he is fet apart in the very bed and quicteft grazing-place, and never driven nor molcftcd from that moment. His value lies then in his horns, for his body becomes emaciated and lank in proportion as the horns grow large. At the lad period of his life the weight of his head is fo great that he is unable to lift it up, or at leaft for any fpace of time. The joints of his neck become callous at laft, fo that it is not any longer in his power to lift his head. In this fitua-tion he dies, with fcarcely flcfli covering his bones, and it is then the horns arc of the greatcd fize and value. I have feen horns that would contain as much as a common-fizcd iron-hooped water-pale, fuch as they make ufe of in the houfes houfes in England ; but the Galla, who have a ready market for thefe of all fizes, generally kill the bead when his horns will contain fomething lefs than fix gallons. Two of thefe horns, filled with wine or fpirits, are carried very com-modiouily upon a woman's back, dung over her fhoulders. I had two of the largefl fize dole from me that night Socinios, Confu, and Chremation plundered my houfe, nor could I ever recover them. I have feen them at Gondar fold for four ounces of gold, equal to ten pounds fterling, the pair. On the 17th of February came meftengers from Fafil, with the old language of propofals of fubmiflion and peace, and a repetition of his demand, that Welleta Selaflc mould be given him for a wife, and fent to him, at lead as far as Dingleber, where he would advance to meet her; exeufmg himfelf from coming to Gondar, becaufe the Ras had already broken his promife to him; for the condition of peace made with the Ras, when he was bcfieging the mountain, was, That if Michael fhould bring the king to the Tacazze, and furrender him there, and then return and content himfelf with the government of Tigre, without proceeding to Gondar, that Fafd fliould receive the king and conduct him to the capital, and be created Ras and governor in place of Michael. Fafil had punctually performed his part, and of this Michael had taken advantage, and had violated every article which he had ftipulatcd on the other fide ; and this was at leaft the alledged reafon why Fafil had refufed to come to Gondar. The fame evening arrived alfo meflengers from Gufho and PowulFen, declaring to Ras Michael, that, if he did not leave Gondar and return to Tigre, they would come •and burn the town. They profefled great duty to the king, 0 2 hut but charged the Ras with every fort of enormity, and upori his refufal fent him a defiance. The fame evening came an exprefs from Shoa, which mofl punctually brought the book I fo much wifhed for, containing the lives of the firft kings that lived at Shoa ; a fair and fine copy, wrote upon parchment in a large quarto fize, in the pure ancient language of Geez. The author was nearly contemporary with the annals which he writes. I fhewed it to the king, who till then had never feen it, and who only faid, I fear, Yagoube, you are carrying home thefe books only to make your kings laugh at ours. The fatisfaction I received upon the acquifition of this book was greatly diminifhed by the lofs of the donor, Amha Yafous, who fet out the 20th of February, attended with about a hundred men, his own fervants, and followed by the regret and the good willies of all that had known him, mine in particular, having been, from the firft time I faw him, very much attached to him. Before his departure he had two long conferences with the king upon the contents of the difpatches fent by his father from Shoa. The fubflance he frankly told me was, that lie did not intend to meddle with the quarrels of Ras Michael, nor thofe of Fafd ; that they fliould fettle thefe in their own way; but if either attempted any thing againd the king, fet up any ufurpers, as they had done in the perfon of Socinios, and continued fo far againd their allegiance to Tecla Haimanottt as to withhold his whole revenue, and not to pay him wherewithal to fupport his date, that he would coniider himfelf as protector of the royal family of Solomon, as the governors of Shoa had always been.— It It was believed very generally, by Amha Yafous coming in perfon, that a treaty between fome of the great men in both fides, begun at his inltancc, would bring every man that could mount a horfe from as far fouth as Gingiro, to over-run both the provinces of Begemder and Amhara, and either difplace the two governors, or at leall force them to their duty; and it was owing to this, in all probability, that Gutho acted with fuch moderation as he did in the campaign that foon followed. CHAP, *2 CHAP. V. Rebel Army approaches Gondar—King marches out of Gondar—Takes Pqft at Serbraxos—The Author returns to Gondar with Confu wounded, GENTLE fhowers of rain began now to fall, and to announce the approach of winter; nay, fome unufually fevere and copious had already fallen. Gufho and PowufTen of Amhara and Bcgemdcr, Kafmati Ayabdar governor of Fog-gora, Aylo fon of Ozoro Welleta Ifrael the queen's daughter, governor of Gojam, Woodage Afahel, with the troops of Maitfha, and Coque Abou Barea from Kuara, were at the head of all the forces they could raife about Emfras and Nabca, and the borders of the lake Tzana. A brother-in-law of Powuffen had brought a confiderable body of troops from Zaat and Dehannah, two clans of Lada, enemies to Guigarr, who had declared for Michael; and thefe were the bed horfe in the rebel army, fuperior to any in Begemder. 3 Tins This numerous army of Confederates were all ready, expecting the rain would make the Tacazze impaflable, and cut off Michael's retreat to Tigre. Fafd alone kept them in fufpenfe, who, with about 12,000 men, remained at Ibaba, profcfling to be at peace with Michael, in the mean time keeping all Maitfha quiet, and waiting for the coming of Welleta Yafous, and 20,000 Galla, whom he had fent for from the other fide of the Nile, intending, as he faid, to march on the arrival of this reinforcement, and join the king at Gondar. Although it may well be doubted if ever he intended all or any part of this, one thing was very certain, that he was fincere in his hatred to Gufho and Po-wuffen ; he never could forget their treachery in breaking their appointment and promife at Court-Ohha, and expofing him either to fight Michael fingly, or have his whole country burnt and deflroyed. Although Michael had, for thefe lad months, done every thing in his power to bring back to the king fuch people of confideration that poflefled the lands and eflatcs about Gondar, and were the mod refpect-able of their nobility for induence and riches, bred up a-bout court, and who did chiefly conflitute it; yet the cruelty, of his executions, his infatiablc greed of money and power, and the extreme facility with which he broke his mod facrcd engagements, had terrified them from putting thcmfelves into his hand ; though they did not raife men, or join any fide, but lived privately at a diftancc, yet their abfencc from about the king had the very word effect upon his affairs. A great defcrtion had likewife happened fince his coming among his old troops of Tigre, both of officers and foldiers. The execution of Guebra Denghel, and other two noblemen, had greatly alienated the minds of many of their countrymen and their connections; but, above all, his his breach of promife made before the mountain of Flara-mat, that he was to levy no taxes upon that province for feven years, (but which he was now doing with the great-eft rigour before one had expired) difcontented them all. The return of Welleta Michael and Kefla Yafous from Samen, with about 6000 men, had confiderably ftrength-ened his army ; added to this, 2000 more, who came voluntarily, from their love to Kefla Yafous, from Temben, where he was governor ; thefe were picked men, partly mufque-teers ; there was nothing equal to them in the army. Gusiio was advanced to Minziro. Powuffen had his head-quarters at Korreva, not above fixteen miles from Gondar. The whole plain to the lake was covered with troops. The weather was unfeafonably cold, and confider-ablc quantities of rain had fallen from the 23d of February to the 29th of March. The rebels had begun to lay wafte Dembea, and burnt all the villages in the plain from fouth to weft, making it like a defert between Michael and Fafil, as far as they dared venture to advance towards either. This they did to exafperate Michael, and draw him out from Gondar; for they had mofl of them great property in the town, and did not wifh to be obliged to fight him there. He bore this fight very impatiently, as well as the conftant complaints of people dying into the town from the depredations of the enemy, and ftripped of every thing. The king often afcended to the top of the tower of his palace, the only one to which there remains a flair, and there contemplated, with the grcateft difpleafure, the burning of his rich villages in Dembea. One day while he 1 was was here he fhewed an inftance of that quick penetration for which he was remarkable, and which, as a proof of this, I mail here mention. There is a large wafte fpacc on each fide of the palace where the market is kept, It had rained, and it was in the evening almoft deftitute of people; there were only two men at a confiderable dillance, who feemed to be in clofe converfation together, one of them apparently very much the worfe of liquor, the other had hold of the end of the fafh, or girdle, which was round the body of the drunk man; it is a narrow web of cotton cloth, which they wind eight or ten times about their waift. The king faid to me, Do ybu know, Yagoube, what thefe two men are about ? I anfwered, No. I faw the drunkard untwine one turn of his fafh, which the other was feeling and looking curioudy at, as if examining and doubting its gopdnefs. That man, fays the king, is robbing the drunkard of his fafh : go down two or three of you who run belt, and apprehend him, but hide yourfelves till he has committed the theft, and feize him as he paffes. The orders were quickly obeyed ; the drunkard unwound his fafh, by turning himfelf round and round, while the other feemed to be meafuring it by the length of his arm, from his elbow to his forefinger, and then gathering it up. This was done very deliberately till it was all unwound, and the far end loofe ; upon which the fellow, who was meafuring, gathering it in his arms, ran off as fad as he could, leaving the drunkard Handing motionlefs, apparently in great furprife and amazement. The thief was immediately feized and brought up to the king, who ordered him to be thrown over the tower. At Vol. IV, P my my intcrcefllon, and that of thofe about him, he was pardoned, and the drunkard's fafti was returned to him. Ever fince the middle of February, Ras Michael had re~ fblwd to march out, and give battle to the rebels encamped about Korreva, committing every fort of violence, and burning all the villages, houfes, and barns in Dembea, with the corn they contained more than what ferved for their prefent ufe; but the great fuperiority of the enemy in horfe had always made him delay his intention. Yasine had, indeed, fuccecded in his commiffion to Sennaar, as far as it regarded the horfes. He had found the Arabs encamped immediately upon the frontier at Ras el Feel, and had received from them very near 200 of one kind or other, of which 76 only anfwered the purpofe of mounting the king'.s black fervants; the others were dif-tributcd among the reft of the army that wanted them. But they had not been equally fuccefsful in purchadng their coats of mail, fourteen only of which had been brought with the horfes. In order to buy the reft, the meffenger continued his journey to Sennaar, and with him my fervant So-liman with my letters, to which, of confequencc, I had as yet no return. But what appeared at that time moft material to me, Fidcle Shekh of Atbara wrote to Yafine, " That, there was no fear but that I ihould be well received at Sennaar, where Naffer, a young king, had fuccecded his father^ whom he had depofed; but that the great difficulty was to pafs between Ras el Feel and Teawa, the place of his refi-dencc, and from thence to the banks of the river Dender, for that the Ganjar horfe of Kuara, and the Arabs their friends, were at war with the Arabs of Atbara, and had burnt "burnt all their crops and villages: that he fometimes did not think himfelf fafe in Teawa, and that a load of fait had not been fufTered to pafs for feveral months ; which, indeed, was the reafon why the Arabs of Atbara were come fo near Ras el Feel, and that the king's horfe were procured fo readily at the firfl coming." This traitor, however, added, " That if, by any means, 1 could advance to him at Teawa, I need not take any thought about the reft of the journey; and that it was better I Ihould come quietly and quickly, without writing to Sennaar beforehand : and he concluded with great profeflions of refpect. and frienddiip for me." It had been very cold, and more than ufual rainy, fince the beginning of February ; the 9th was a day of clofe rain ; and this, being earlier than common, very much difcou-raged the foldiers who were naked, and, therefore, very fen-fible of cold, or rain, and, as I have before faid, never can be brought to engage willingly, unlefs under the influence of a warm fun. At laft the cries of the people flying into Gondar, feek* ing protection from the cruelties of the rebels, determined the Ras to march out, and fet his all upon the fortune of a battle. The riik was not thought great, as he had been all his life in ufe to conquer; had a better army at that time than ever he commanded; the Begemder troops, too, in whom the rebels trufted moll, were but thofe which he and his men had beaten at Nefas Mufa, although led by a very brave and valiant officer, Mariam Barea. All this was true; but then, fince that period, thefe troops of Begemder had been conftantly led by himfelf, had been trained, and difciplined with the old troops of Tigre, and taught to conquer with P 2 them. them. Above all, they had been ufed to fee the effect 10B fire-arms, which they no longer feared: as formerly, bur boldly rudicd in upon the mufquetecrs, fometimes without giving them time to fire, or at lead before they had time to charge again, At lad, having previoufly called in all his out-pods, on the 13th of May he marched out of Gondar, taking with him the King and Abuna, as alfo Ozoro Edher, and Ozoro Akafh her lifter, and all the other ladies about court, who were in poffeifion of the great ftefs of the crown, and whom he obliged to perfonal attendance, as well as to bring the quota of troops they were bound to by their refpeetive. tenures, The king's army halted upon the fame ground they had done on their return to Gondar, They were then fuppofed to be near 20,000 foot, belonging to Tigre' and its dependencies, incomparably the bed troops of the empire, (1000 of which were armed with mufquets, fix times the number that all the reft of AbyfTmia could furnifh-, and, confidering they were all match-locks, very expert in the management of them. The red of the foot which joined them fince he pafled the Tacazze were about 10,000, befides 2coo of the king's houfehold, 500 o£ which were horfemen ; of thefe,. few fhort of 200 were his black fervants, armed with coats of mail, the horfes with plates of brafs on their cheeks and faces, with a fharp iron fpike of about five inches in length, which fluck out in the middle of their forehead, a very trou-blefome, ufelefs piece- of their armour; their bridles were iron chains; the body of the horfe covered with a kind of thin quilt It tiffed with cotton, with two openings made above above the flaps of the faddle, into which the horfeman pu£ his thighs and legs, and which covered him from his hip (where his fhirt of mail ended) down to a little above his ancle : his feet were covered with flippers of thin leather, without heels, and his flumps were of the Turkifh or Moorifh form, into which his whole foot entered, and, being hung very fhort, he could raife himfelf, and Hand as firmly as if he was upon plain ground. The faddles were in-the Moorifh form likewife, high before and behind; a flrong lace made fad to the coat of mail by the one end, the other palTed through a fmalL hole in the back of the faddle, kept it clofe down, fo that the back was never expofed by the coat of mail rifing over the hinder part of the faddle. Each* had a fmall ax in the furcingle of his faddle, and a. pike about fourteen feet long, the weapon with which he charged; it was made of very light wood, brought from the banks of the Nile, with a fmall four-edged head, and the butt end balanced by a long fpike of iron; this entered a leather cafe fadened: by a.thong to the faddle, and was reded fometimes below the thigh, and fometimes above, and guided by the right hand at the height the point was intended to drike at.. The horfeman's head was covered with a helmet of copper, or block tin, much like thofe of our light: horfe, with large creds of black horfe tail. The officers were diftinguifhed from the foldiers by locks of hair dyed yellow, interfperfed with the black. Upon the front of each helmet was a filver dar, at leaft a white-metal one, and before the face, down to the top of the nofe, a flap of iron chain, made in the fame manner as the coat of mail, but only lighter, which ferved as a vizier. This was the *&q& troublefome part of the whole, it was hot and heavy, and. and condantly fretted the check and nofe, when either the man or the horfe were in motion; and therefore I always fubftitured a black filk net, which concealed my colour better, and for the reft of my face I committed it to the care of Providence. This body of horfe was able to make their way through all the cavalry in Abyffinia, if they had been drawn up a-gainft them with equal fronts ; for every horfeman fat immoveable upon his faddle, and acted mod: powerfully by his weight alone, and was perfectly mafter of his perfon alfo by the breadth and fhortnefs of his ftirrups ; whereas the Abyflinian horfemen were placed moft difadvantageouf-ly, their head and body naked, their faddle fmall, and of no fupport to them, their ftirrup-leathcrs long, and no ftirrups to put their foot in; but being conftantly afraid of their horfe falling upon them, the only hold which they had was the outftde of an iron ring, which they grafped between their great and fecond toe, fo that they had no ftrength from their ftirrups, whilft their foot was always fwelled, and their toes fore and galled. Of the thoufand Shoa horfe about 60 had deferted; the reft were all in good order, each armed with their lances about ten feet long, and two light javelins, their fhafts being of cane, which they threw at a great diftanCfc ; the lance they never loofed out of their hand ; as for their ftirrups and faddle, they were of the fame bad conftruction as thofe of the Abyfnnians in general, and this reduced them nearly to a footing with them. Tins The horfemen of the king's army were about 7000, moft-ly very indifferent troops ; fo that his whole mufler was nearly 7000 mufqueteers, 25,000 foot, armed with lances and fhields, and about 7500 horfemen ; in round numbers about 40,000 men. It is not pofflble, I believe, to know, with greater precilion, the number, fuch is the confufion of barbarous armies on thefe occafions, and fuch the inclination of their leaders to magnify and increafe their quotas. Befides thefe, Ayto Confu and Sanuda were left with about 600 men each, to protect Gondar from flying, pillaging parties, and to keep the communication open between the army and the capital, from whence the provifions were to be fupplied. This army was furnifhed with a number of excellent officers, veterans of noble families, who had fpent their whole life in war, which we may fay, for thefe laft 400 years, has never ceafed to lay defolate this unhappy country ; the principal were Ras Michael, who, arrived at the age of feventy-four, had paffed the laft 50 years of his life in a courfe of continued victories, Atfliam Georgis, and Guebra Chriftos, uncles by the mother's dde to the king; Kefla Yafous, in the full vigour of life, who, though unhappily born in a country plunged in ignorance, and where there is no education, poffeffed every quality that became a man, whether afoldier, ftatefman, citizen, or friend ; Welleta Michael, mailer of the houfchold to the king; Billeta-na Gueta Tecla ; Bafha Hezekias, and Guebra Mafcal, two principal officers of his mufquctry, and a great number of others of equal merit, known better in the camp than at the court; Aylo, and Engedan, two fons of Kafmati Ffhte ; Ayto Confu, fon of Ozoro Efther, all young men, employed gene- 4 rauT rally in cnterprifes, and growing every day more and more into reputation. It is impofliblc fo much as to guefs at the number of the enemy, they were always very numerous, but eonftantly changing. It was faid, that Begemder and Lafta had at one time 30,000 horfemen ; I mould believe this number greatly exaggerated, from what I heard afterwards ; and that the whole cavalry in their army did not exceed what it was at the battle of Serbraxos. I fuppofc indeed, that, together with their foot, they did not much exceed that number, tho* they were at times magnified to 50 and 60,000, mod of them very bad troops, continually deferting, excepting about 4000 men belonging to Gufho, from Amhara, who likewife brought about 100 match-locks, and befides thefe there were fcarce-ly any in the rebel army. I mud not, however, forget 200 horfemen,Edjovv Galla, fervants and relations of the late king joas, who behaved in the mod gallant and undaunted manner, and upon all occafions fet a noble example to the red of the army. Ras Michael himfelf led the van; the king the center, with Guebra Mafcal, and a confiderable body of mufqueteers of Tigre ; he had no horfe but thofe of his own houfehold. The rear was commanded by Welleta Michael, and Tecla: how difpofed, or of what troops conditutcd 1 know not, for the front, center, and rear were underllood to march in order, but it was often impofliblc to difcern any fuch di-vifions ; we were often all in confufion, fometimes we were in the middle of the front, fometimes joined and mixed with the rear; all our officers had left their command, and were crowding about Ras Michael and the king; women 2 bearing bearing provifions, horns of liquor, and mills for grinding corn, upon their backs; idle women of all forts, half dead with fear, crying and roaring, mounted upon mules; and men driving mules loaded with baggage, mingled with the troops, and pading through in all directions, prefented fuch a tumultuous appearance that it furpalTed all defcription. There were above 10,000 women accompanying the army: the Ras had about 50 loaded with bouza, and the king I fuppofe near as many. The fight threw me for a moment into low fpirits. I know not if the king faw it. I was perfectly filent, when he cried, Well, what do you fay to us now, Yagoube ? I anfwered, Is this the order in which your majedy means to engage ? He laughed, and faid, Aye; why not, you will fee. If that is fo, I replied, I only hope it is the enemy's cudom as well as your majefty's to be in no better order. The king was going to anfwer me, when Guebra Mafcal, who was jud beiide him, criedout,Thisisa bufinefsyou know nothing about,Yagoube; go to your Felac (quadrant) and your fortune-telling, if you are afraid ; we have no need of you, nor your advice to-day. Refpect for theprefenceof the king, which you fcem to be void of, faid I, hindersmefrom anfwering you asl otherwifc would have done ; but be alfured, in which ever army they were to-day, they are not men like Guebra Mafcal whom I fliould be afraid of. The king looked at him much difpleafed, and, I believe, faid fame thing favourable of me; what it was I did not didinctly hear. It was now about 10 o'clock, when, marching clofe along the foot of the hills, we arrived at Tcdda. The burying-place of Flatze Hannes I. fon of Facilidas, and father of Ya~ Vol. IV. fous fous the Great, was fcarce a quarter of a mile to the S. \V. of us, and the church of St George a little more on the eaft, when orders came from the Ras for us to encamp on the fide of the hill, which we accordingly did, and were prefemly in better order than we were when marching. The Ras, who had pafled the river of Tedda, encamped on the fouth fide of it. It happened that our two bodies, the front and center, were at that time treading upon one another's heels; but the rear, from fome accident, was confiderably behind, and part of it had fcarce pafled the Mogetch. 1 Both the burying-place, and church near it, were planted thick round with Cyprus and cedar trees. Juft a little before the Ras ordered us to encamp, a meflenger arrived from Netcho, (the Fit-Auraris) that lie had that morning met the Fit-Auraris of Begemder on this fide of the river Mariam ; that he had killed the Fit-Auraris himfelf, (a man of Lada) with 37 of his men, and driven them back : he added, that he intended to fall back himfelf upon the Ras's army, unlefs ftopt by contrary orders ; thefe the Ras did not fend, being defirous that he Ihould join him, as he foon after did, without being purfued : he brought word that the army of the rebels was near at hand, between Korreva and the lake; that Powuflen's head-quarters were at Korrevaj and that he had heard Gufho had pufhed on advanced pods, as far as the church of Mariam ; but this he did not know for certain, being only the information of a dying man. Ras Michael immediately detached Guebra Mafcal, and another officer, with 400 men to take poffef-fion of the fepulchre and the church at Tedda, and conceal themfclvcs among the cedar-trees. We We had not encamped long, before the rear came in fight. Confu, fon of Ozoro Efther, whom the Ras had left to guard Gondar, hearing how near the enemy was, and the probability of a battle that day, had left his port, and joined Yafine, with the horfe of Ras el Feel, that were in the rear; foon after this junction, Afahel Woodage, with about 400 men, partly Edjow Galla, (the late king Joas's houfehold) partly Maidha, came up from the Dembea fide of the lake Tzana, and began to harrafs the rear, marching in great confufion. Confu, though fomething fuperior in number, was thought to be inferior in the goodnefs of troops by much more than the difference; but the event proved the contrary, for he charged Woodage Afahel fo forcibly, that he obliged him to quit our rear, and retire acrofs the plain at a pace, which if not a flight, did very much re-femble it. Ayto Confu pre fled vigoroufly upon him, till, being now clear of the red of the army, and in the fair open plain, Woodage wheeled fhortly about, and fhewed by his countenance that it was not to avoid Ayto Confu, but Ras Michael's mufquetry, that he retreated to a greater diftance; both fides dopt to breathe their horfes for fome minutes ; but it was plain afterwards, Afahel Woodage, an old foldier, truiled much to the known valour of his troops, and wilhed to ftrike a blow of confequence in prefence of his old enemy the Ras, F.as Michael was at the door of his tent then playing at dams, or drafts, as was his cuftom, and Ozoro Efther was trembling to fee her fon on the point of being furrounded by mercilefs (j alia, the nation who mod of all fhe detefted, and who had every caufe to hate her. All the young men, (Confu's friends) with their lances in their hands, and rca- Q^2 dy dy to mount on horfeback, befeeched the Ras to allow them to go down into the plain to the adidance of Confu; but the old general, without leaving off his game, faid, " I do ftridlly forbid one of you to flir; Confu has broke my orders to-day, and brought himfelf into a fcrape by his own folly; let me fee him get out of it by his courage and conduct, and thereby fet the army a better example than he yet fias done."—" Sir, faid I, at lead dation fome mufquetry on the fmall hill, at the edge of the plain, that, if Confu is beaten, I may not have the mortification of feeing Yafine, and the new troops of Ras el Feel, (who were in their proper pod) and have all my baggage and provifions, maffacred before my eyes by thefe cowardly barbarians." I fpoke this in the utmod anguifh, when the Ras lifted up his head with a ghadly kind of laugh, and laid, " Right, well do fo, Yagoube." Though this was but an imperfect permillion, I ran down to the dation with fuch hade that I fell twice in my way, and was confiderably hurt, for the ground was rocky, and the grafs dippery.. Although I had only waved my cloak, and cried come on firs, a large number of matchlocks of Ozoro Edhcr's, and the king's, hadencd immediately to the ground. Con* fu by this time had charged, and after a ftout refiftance beat Woodage back into the plain; Woodage, however, again faced about, and after fome red dance, Confu in his turn was driven back in evident diforder, and pufhed almod in upon the pod, where our foldiers had made ready their mufquets, to fire if they came a dep nearer. At this inflant a body of about 30 or 40 horfe (the commander we afterwards knew to be Ayto Engedan) came up full gallop from the right, and flopt the Galla in their purfuit. Confu's men rallied rallied upon this aflidance, and Afahel Woodage retired ina dire tion palling clofe under the fepulchre, Engedan and Confu keeping at a moderate pace on his left between them and the army, and forcing them down, as it were, to the trap they knew was laid for them. They were yet a long (hot from the cedars that furroundjd the fepulchre, when a volley was difcharged at them from among the trees, where Michael had poded his r.00 men, which, though it did little or no execution, terrided Woodage AfalielS men fo much, that Confu and Engedan, charging in that imtant as upon a fignal, they all difperfed through different parts of the field, and their leader after them: Joas's Edjow, indeed, would not fall back a flep upon the volley, but, after an ob-flinate red dance, they were broken by fuperior numbers, and forced to retreat before an enemy, fo overcome with fatigue and wounds, as to be unable to purfue them. The whole of this engagement laded near an hour by my watch. One hundred and thirteen of Woodage Afahcl's men were dain upon the fpot, and their bloody trophies brought and thrown before the king. On Confu's tide about 70 were killed and wounded; he himfelf received two wounds, one a large flefh-wound in the hip, the other more flight upon the head, both of them at the very beginning of, the engagement. Notwithstanding the natural hardhefs of his heart, and that the misfortune which had happened was in immediate difobedience of orders, Ras Michael fhewed great fenfibility at hearing Confu was wounded ; he came immediately to fee him, a vifit not according to etiquette, and gave him a dignter reproof than was expected for leaving his his poft in the town, as well as for his fighting without his orders. Confu, with great fubmiflion and addrefs at the fame time, excufed his leaving his poft, from the repeated information he had received that a decifive battle was to be fought that day, and knowing the Ras's want of horfe, he could not ftay at Gondar, and keep his idle, when the fate of fo kind a father, (as the Ras had been) and that of a mother, to whom he owed every thing, was depending. He faid it would be more agreeable to him to die by the hands of the executioner of the camp, as an example for difobedtencc of orders, than furvive with the reflection that he had been voluntarily abfent from fuch an occafion. As for engaging with Afahel Woodage that day, he faid he had no intention of that kind; that he knew not who he was when he attacked him, and only endeavoured to hinder him from harrafling the rear of the army, and deftroy-ing the provifions: That when he charged him firft, Wood-age was among the women, loaded with bouza, flour, and fpirits, which were coming to the Ras, and great part of which he had intercepted, as the Ras would find. Michael could not help laughing at this laft part of the excufe, but went away, and, in his converfation that evening, gave Confu the higheft praifes for his conduct and bravery, but , faid nothing of his fault. Engedan was next arraigned for fighting without orders. He, too, anfwered with great humility, That when he faw the infantry run down the hill, with their matches lighted, he thought it was the Ras's intention to relieve Confu by the moil effectual means poflible; but at any rate he could never, with arms in his hands, ftand looking on, while his coufin-german and companion wa:> mailacred by Galla. A All All ended well. I he truth is, Michael never would find fault with a man that fought, however imprudently he fought the occafion: courage was to him in place of charity ; it covered a multitude of lins. Ozoro Esther, in the deeped concern, had attended her fon from the moment of his arrival, and had feen his wound drefled and fwathedup. A large gaping flefh-wound (fuch as his was) frightens ignorant people more than the fmall orifice made by a (hot, which breaks bones and endangers life. Such was Ozoro Efther's apprehenfion ; and every minute fhe inquired of me if I thought it was polli-ble he could recover. I had not quitted him fince he had got off his horfe. I advifed him by all means to go in a-litter to Gondar, either carried by men or mules; but no perfuafion, nor confideration, would induce him to go o-therwife than on a mule, with his horfe harneiled and led by him. EvrRY thing was accordingly prepared, when I received a meflage from the Ras to wait upon him. I immediately went to his tent, and found him with two dwarf boys only, who were fanning the flies from his face. " Ozoro Eflher wilhes, fays he, that you would fee Confu fafe to Gondar,. and bring us word to-morrow how he is; and you mud day with him altogether, if he is in danger,"—" if lie has no fever, faid I, he is in no danger. If the king and you"—He then Interrupted me,—" The king, and I, and every one, wiihes you to attend Confu." I bowed, and went away without reply. When I was got to the door lie cried after me, " Don't be afraid, you will be in time enough to fee every thtng; thing ; neither they nor I wifh an engagement but at Ser-braxos." I did not underfland the meaning of the fpeech, but went away without reply flraight to the king's tent; and I was jufl going to fpeak when he flopt me, by crying, " Go, go, for God's fake! Ozoro Efther has been here almoft out of her fenfes." I went on this to her tent, where I found her fitting by Confu and drowned in tears, which at times were interrupted by fits of feeming didraction. He began to feel the lofs of blood, which would have made me wifh not to move him ; but there was no flaying here for dek people ; and fo violent a fpirit had fprcad through the army, upon Nctcho's fuccefs and Confu's victory, that one and all infilled upon fighting the next day ; and feveral of my friends, who knew where I was going, fliook hands with me at my pafling them, faying, " Farewell, Yagoube ; we are forry to lofe you, but all will be over before you come back." I now infilled more than ever upon Confu's going in a litter,, and fetting out immediately, which was accordingly complied wiih. Ozoro Efther had dinner, or rather fup-per, ready in a moment, and I had great need of it, having fcarcely tailed any thing for two clays. While I was eating, Ozoro Efther could hot flop the effufions of her gratitude for the care I had again taken of Confu. " I knew, lays die, you would have refufed me, if I had endeavoured to perfuade you to go away from the camp, when there are fuch fair expectations, you may be knocked on the head to-morrow ; and therefore I applied to the Ras by force to bend that rafh, proud fpirit of yours, which one day will be the occafion of your death."—" Madam, faid I, you do 3 me me injuflice if you will not believe that I had rather obey your commands than thofe of any general upon earth: But, pray, what is the meaning of the Ras's fpeech to me about both armies wifhing to fight at Serbraxos * ? Where is this Serbraxos ?"—" Why, fays fhe, here, on a hill jufl by ; the Begemder people have a prophecy, that one of their governors is to fight a king at Serbraxos, to defeat him, and flay him there: in his place is to fucceed another king, whofe name is Theodorus, and in whofe reign all Abyfli-nia is to be free from war, or from any trouble, ficknefs, or famine ; that the Galla, Shangalla, and Mahometans are all to be deflroyed, and the empire of Abyflinia to be extended as far as Jerufalem."—" All this deftruction and conqueft without war! That will be curious indeed. 1 think I could wilh to fee this Theodorus," faid I, laughing. " See him you will, replied Ozoro Efther ; peace, happinefs, and plenty will laft all his reign, and a thoufand years afterwards. Enoch and Eiias will rife again, and will fight and deftroy Gog and Magog, and all this without any war."—" On which I again faid, that mud be cleverly managed. And now, why does Ras Michael choofe to fight at Serbraxos ? I do not think he is defirous to pay his court to the king Theodorus, or any king brought him by Begemder."— " Why, fays flie, all the hermits and holy men on our fide, that can prophecy, have allured him he is to beat the rebels this month at Serbraxos; and a very holy man, a hermit from Waldubba, came to him at Gondar, and obliged him to march out againd his will, by telling him this prophecy, which he knows to be true, as the man is not hkc Vol. IV, R common • Serbraxos, abbreviation for Scrba Chriftos, the Crofs of Chrift. common prophets, but one who never ate any thing but roots, or drank other liquor than water, iince the day of his nativity. Such a man as this, you know, Yagoube, cannot lie," "And I, fays Ayto Confu, being a prophet that hath ate beef and drunk bouza ever fince my nativity, whenever I could not get wine or brandy, and who give my fhare of water freely to the faints of Waldubba, as a proper reward for the lies they tell, I do prophecy, that there are now two thoufand men eating their fupper within fight of Serbraxos, who will never fee it nearer, but will all be flain in a battle fought at this place to-morrow, at which time Yagoube fhall be feafling with me at Gondar, without caring a fig for king Theodorus and his plenty."—" A bleffed pro^ phct you!" fays Ozoro*Efther. At this inftant the fervants at the door informed us there was fcarce light to fee the way down the hill, and we got our wounded prophet, without much difficulty or complaint, into the litter. A number of men fupported him down the hill, and about 50 of his own horfe attended. I defired him to feel often the bandage if his wound bled ; and, finding it did not, I rode on horfeback clofe by his fide. For fome time, not hearing him ftir or fpeak, I thought he was afleep, or had fainted; on which I ftopt the litter, felt his pulfe, and afked him if he was dofing ? He faid, No ; he was thinking of all the lies his mother had been telling me : but there is one thing flie did not care to tell you, Yagoube, fhe^fays you laugh at thefe ftories; but there is a fpirit who always appears to Michael and allures him of victory. The devil, faid I, probably ^for what good arifes from all thefe victories ? arc they not the ruin of innocent people, and of the country ? No, replied Confu, it is St Michael chad the archangel; he faw him juft before he furprifed the mountain Haramat, but neither at Gondar, nor fince he pafled the Tacazze, and this makes him forrowful. The fpirit has been afraid to catch cold, faid I, by wetting his feet in that cold river, I doubt fo, anfwered Confu ; but the liar of a monk, who my mother fuppofes never eats nor drinks, told him he was to fee him at Serbraxos. At this time we heard the noife of horfes, and could dif-cern (as we thought) three men that pafled the bridge of Mogetch briikly before us. As they feemed to avoid us, fix or e^ght of Confu's men purfued them at full gallop, but loll them in the darknefs. They, however, were found to be foldiers of Kafmati Sanuda, who hearing Woodage Afahel had been engaged with Ayto Confu, had come out with the unworthy purpofe of collecting fome filthy trophies, by mangling the dead or wounded, though thefe muft have been their own companions, the foldiers of Ayto Confu, who had been flain ; for the whole of Woodage AfahePs men had already undergone what Strates emphatically called the operation, by the knives of Confu's foldiers. We now arrived at Kofcam without any adventure, and Confu was laid to repole, after taking a little food : in obedience to the orders of Ozoro Either, I lay down by him in the fame apartment. Early next morning I was fent for by a fervant of Ozoro Efther, to attend Welleta Selaflc, who I was told was at the point of death. I repaired immediately to the houfe of Ras Michael, where flie then was, but found her without pofli-bility of recovery, having already loft her fpeech. She expired a few minutes afterwards, apparently in violent ago- R 2 nies. nies. The caufe was never properly known; fome attributed it to the jealoufy of Ozoro Either, others allcdgcd that fhe had taken poifon from apprehenfion of falling into the hands of Ras Michael: whatever was the truth, her fervants certainly told me, that fhe had confeffed fire had taken poifon, and not till the pain became violent, and then fhe turned afraid, would fhe confent to have an exprefs fent to Ozoro Efther, to bring me from the camp. I had unluckily left it before to attend Ayto Confu, neither is it probable I could have been of any fervice, as the poifon flie had taken was arfenic. This accident detained me that whole day, fo that, inftead of returning to the army, I went to Ayto Confu at Kofcam, where I found another meffenger in fearch of me. The king's Mahometan was returned from Sennaar, and with him Soliman my fervant, who brought me anfwers to the letters I had written ; they had come by Beyla to Ras el Feel, by Sim Sim, and the weftern defcrts, the way to Teawa being much infefted by gangs of Arabs, and Ganjar horfe, who murdered every body they found in their way. They brought with them only twelve horfes, eighteen coats of mail, and about thirty libd*; thefe were moftly returns made by the principal members of government to the prefents the king had fent them, for every body at Sennaar now fet too great a value upon the armour, and horfes, to part ea-fdy with them, on account of the unfettled ftatc of the times, the hiftory of which we fhall give afterwards. My * Thefe arc leather coats quilted with cotton, nfed inftead of coats of mail: both man and horfe are covered with them, and they give to both a wondrous appearance. My letters informed me that the whole kingdom of Sennaar was in arms, that Naffer (who had depofcd his father by the help of two great brothers, Mahomet Abou Ca-lec, and Adelan) was upon the point of truiting his life and kingdom to the event of a battle with thefe two officers. I was, moreover, conjured, with all the carnednefs, as I thought, of a truly honed man, that I would by no means undertake the journey I intended ; that to come from Ras el Feel to Sennaar, was, for a white man like me, next to an abfolute impoflibility, connecting the danger of the way with the great hardfhips from the excedive heat of the climate, and want of food and water; that even arrived at Sennaar, I fliould be in the utmofl: danger from the foldiery, and the king's Haves, under no fubordination or government ; and that, even if I was happy enough to efcape thefe, the word dill remained, and no human power could convoy or protect me, in my remaining journey to Egypt through the great defert. I was therefore begged to lay all fuch intention afide as impofliblc, and either day where I was, or return by Tigre, Mafuah, and Arabia, the way by which I firft entered Abyflinia. this was the fevered of all blows to me, and threw me for fome time into the low-eft defpondency, but it did not change my refolution, which was already taken, not to turn to the right or the left, but either compleat my journey to Syene, the frontier of Egypt, by Sennaar, and Nubia, or perilh in the attempt. ' I now refolved to proceed immediately to the camp, taking twenty horfe from Sanuda, and twenty from Confu, to cfcort the coats of mail and horfes from Sennaar. I fet out that evening with Mahomet the king's fervant, by the toad of Sema Confu, and arrived about nine o'clock in the camp,, camp, without any adventure, bringing the news of Welleta Selaffe's death, which feemed to caufe neither furprife nor forrow, and was never after fpoken of either by the Ras or Ozoro Efther; but very great rejoicings were made at the good accounts of Ayto Confu, with very kind expreflions of me, both from the Ras and Ozoro Ed her. Before he went to bed, the king had examined Mahomet, and drawn from him the true date of the kingdom of Sennaar; he then fent for me, and ordered me to deliver him my letters, which I did, interpreting them to him, word for word. He faid, however, but little at this time, as he thought that that door, being fo effectually fhut againft me, lefs could be urged againd the fafer, and more known road through Tigre, which, of courfe, it was prefumed I mould more eagerly embrace ; he kept my letters, and ordered me to choofe two of the horfes for myfelf, which I did, one of them near feventeen hands high, I fuppofe one of the mod powerful horfes in the world. The reft he diftributed a-niong the black troops; the fame he did with the coats of mail. I found the army in great fpirits, but ftill the ftory of fighting only at Serbraxos feemed to be obftinately per-fifted in. I afked Ozoro Efther if St Michael had yet appeared to the Ras; flie anfwered, " Hufli! for God's fake, don't make a joke of this, one word of this kind repeated to him would prevent your ever receiving a favour from Michael. It happened that, the day after I had attended Ayto Confu to Gondar, Ras Michael fent fome foldiers into Dembea to forage, thefe had been intercepted by a party polled on purpofe by Kafmati Ayabdar and Guflio, confiding of Ed-jow Galla, with fome horfe from Foggora and Amhara. An 3 engagement engagement happened pretty much in the fame place and manner as that with Woodage Afahel and Ayto Confu, in full view of the camp, and afliltancc was fent on both fides to the refpective parties. The troops commanded by Aylo, brother of Engedan, and Guebra Mafcal, were beaten back almoft clofe to the camp, by the horfe led by the Edjow Galla, though brave and veteran foldiers, while Ras Michael ordered Yafine and his 200 from Ras el Feel, (all with their libds on) to charge the Galla, now advanced very near. Each horfe had a number of brafs bells at his neck, and they no fooner appeared than the whole cavalry of the enemy, darting at the hideous figure and noife, fell into con-fulion, and, being clofely preffed with violent blows of their great fwords, no longer difputed the ground, but left the field on the gallop. A beautiful grey horfe of Guuio's, fu-perbly ornamented with gold and filvcr, and having a very rich broad-fword hanging at his faddle, and a pole-ax on the other dde under the furcinglc, was taken by fome foldiers of Ras el Feel, who fpread the report indantly that Guflro was dain. Immediately on this, orders were given for the whole army to defcend into the plain, which they did with great alacrity, forming in order of battle, though neither the king nor Ras Michael left the camp, nor did any adverfary appear; and the troops, content with this bravado, returned again in great fpirits to the camp. This is the account I heard of that day's fkirmifh, for I was not prefent there, being at Gondar with Ayto Confu. In the evening of that very day arrived a meffenger from Gufho, telling Ras Michael, that a young boy, a nephew of his, had, without his knowledge, gone to fee the engagement, and had taken with him his favourite horfe, who* being being frightened at the Arabs with their libds, had thrown him, after which he had run oil and left the horfe among the enemy. He begged to have his horfe reftored at any price, if the man that had taken him was allowed to fell him. He at the fame time fent a prefent of a large quantity of fruit and frefli fifh from the lake. The meflenger was a pried well known by Ras Michael, and warmly attached to the king, and it was thought came with an errand of more confequence than either about the horfe or the fifli. The Ras fent him for his anfwer to the King, who told him, the horfe being taken by the troops of Ras el Feel, belonged to me, and with me he mud: make his bargain : that I was at Gondar, and my return uncertain ; but that the next day he might have my anfwer. This was the better to conceal the priefl's real buiinefs, for the King and Ras knew how they were to difpofe of the horfe ; at lead they certainly knew I was not to return him without their orders. The morning after my arrival this fame pried came to me with a meffage from Gufho, defiring I would fend him his horfe, as a proof of the friendfhip which he faid had always fubfifled between us, at the fame time offering me any fum of money that I might have promifed to content the foldiers who took him. As I had before obtained leave from Ras Michael to rcdore the horfe, fo I did it with the very bed grace poflible, fending Yafine himfelf, chief of the troops of Ras el Feel, with the meflage to Gufho, that I reckoned myfelf exceedingly happy in having that opportunity of obliging him, and of flie wing the value I had ever let upon his friendfhip:; that he very well knew the little regard I had for money, and that the foldicr who took the i horfe horfe was my fervant, and had already been abundantly fa-tisficd. I defired Yafine to add, that I hoped, in order to a continuation of that friendfhip, he would avoid, in his own particular command, or in that of his relations, attacking where the king was in perfon, becaufe it was my indifpen-fible duty to be there, and that his nephew might not efcape with the lofs of a horfe, if he again happened to be engaged with the Moorifh troops, who, though under my command, were Mahometans, ftrangers to the language, and to whom it was impoflible for me to convey any diftinction of perfons, Gufho was exceedingly fenfible of this civil return of the horfe; he cloathed Yafme magnificently, made him a prefent of another horfe, and fent a very flattering meflage by him to me. 0* VP Vol. IV. S CHAR CHAP. VI. Michael attempts to enter Begemder—Firjl Battle of Serbraxos—The Rebets offer Battle to the King in the Plain—Armies feparated by at violent Storm* YASIN E had fcarcely returned to the camp when all the tents were ftruck, and the army on its march. The Ras and Guebra Mafcal led the van, the king and Guebra Chrif-tos the center, Kafmati Kefla Yafous the rear; Netcho the Eit-Auraris being about half an hour's march before us„ we proceeded along the plain without interruption; Ayto Engedan, with a fmall body of horfe, was covering the king's right flank at fome diftance. The church of Serbraxos was on our left upon the fide of a hill, and we expected to fee the Eit-Auraris take up his ground for encamping there, as it was the field of action determined upon by both parties. The Eit-Auraris, however, firft, and then Ras Michael with the van, pafled below Serbraxos at fo brifk a pace that wc in the center found it difficult to keep up with them. 4 A LONd FIRST BATTLE. Explanation. 1. King's palace and high walls furround-ing it. 2. Afhoa, public plice where the troops aficmble, and gun-powder is fold, and where public executions are made. 3. Hamar Noh, Noah's Ark, a church. 4. A clofe quarter over a precipice on the Weft, to which the merchants carry their effects upon hidden revolutions, cfpccially thefe that have Hour and provi lions. 5. Abbo, where the RornUh pricfts were flowed and lye unburicd. 6. Debra Berhan, famous church upon, the higticft part of the hill over the Angrab. 7. Riggobce Ber, or Pigeons Pafs, a rocky part of the town, fortified in time of troubles. 8. Abbo, great ftreet, called from the church and faint of that name. 9. Mahometan town on the river Kaha. 10. King's palace on the river Kaha. 11. Erook of St Raphael. 12. The river Angrab. A The centre commanded by the king and Guebra Chriftos encamped on the South of the hill Serbraxos. B Ras Michael, who leads the van, encamped upon the South-Eaft, and higher!: part of the hill. C Kefla Yafous, who commands the rear encamped upon the North-Weft. DRas Michael marching from his camp at Serbraxos, is ftopt at the mouth of the valley, and engages Powuflin and the troops of Begemder at E. E The rebel troops of Begemder engaging Ras Michael. F Ayto Engedan with a thoufand men marches from the King's cam]) to reinforce Michael at the mouth of the valley. G »'own (Ten's camp at Correva. H A reinforcement marches from Pow-ufien's cam] , -Kid joins the rebels engaged with Michael at E. I Ras Michael beat back into the valley, retires under cover of hie mufketry at K and L, which ftop the rebels advancing. M Kella Yafous joins the king, marches to the head of the valley, wheels to the right, and faces to the weftward. N The king's horfe upon the ford of the Mariam facing weftward. OO Two bodies of the king's mufketry placed to defend the ford of the Mariam. P Ayabdar's army encamped. Q_C)^ Ayabdar's army marches from the camp, and halts a fmall diftance from the king's horfe at NN, but retreats to SS without attacking them. All but the Edjow Galla, who remain at T, and are all cut to pieces by the king's horfe, and the muiketry on the hill. THE SOU R C E O F T II E N I Ll. 139 A long valley, having the mountains of Begemder on the fouth, or fartheil end, was what the Ras had now entered* and he flattered himfelf, by a forced march, to arrive at thofe mountains. When once in Begemder, he knew that lie nor only mould occafion a revolt among the troops of Povvuflcrt, (many of whom had followed him by force rather than inclination) but likewife he was allured that he mould be met by many powerful noblemen and friends to'the king, both of Lafla and Begemder, whom Powuflen dared not force to follow him, and who had ftaid at home; by this means, he conceived his army would be fo much increafed that he -foon mould bring the rebels to reafon. The river Mariam runs along the well fide of this valley, fliallow, but brifk and clear, and the water excellent, while a fmall brook, called Deg-Ohha, (that is, the water of honour, or of worth) falling from the mountains on the eaif, runs clofe by the bottom of the hill of Serbraxos, where it joins the Mariam. The center of the army was juft entering from the plain into the valley, and the king's horfe pafTing Deg-Ohha, when we heard a firing in the front, which we guefFed to be from the Fit-Auraris; foon after followed a repeated firing from the van, engaged about a fhort two miles diftancc, though a long even hill in the midft of the valley, and its windings, hindered us from feeing them. G uebra Christos Immediately made his difpofition; he placed his horfe, and foot in the intervals of the horfe, in the middle of the valley ; his mufquetry on the right and left, the former upon the fkirts of the hill already mentioned, to run along the valley ; the latter up the fkirts of the hill of S 2 Serbraxos. Serbraxos. Orders very foon arrived from Ras Michael,, which did not alter the difpolition ; and Kefla Yafous with the rear arriving at the fame time, jufl joined and doubled the feveral polls as they had been taken ; our polition was to the utmoil of our wiih ; but it had not been, fo with Michael, for he no-fooner had got into the plain, where he had the hills no longer cither on his right or left, than he was attacked by Powuflen, with the whole force of Begenir der, who cut off the troops of his Fit-Auraris to^a man, hc^ and two or, three common foldiers, only efcaping. This was owing to Michael's retreating inllcad of fupporting him ; for he had fcarcely given time for Powuflen to come up with his horfe, who fought more defperately than was their-ulual cuflora, than he himfelf again took poflefuon.of the-entrance of the valley, and lined the hill on both fides with fire-arms. Avery general and fharp fire from Guebra Mafcal, and the mufquetry, (who had occupied the fouth end of the long hill) foon obliged Powuflen to leave Michael's cavalry, which, he would elfe have inevitably de-flroyed, and flieUer himfelf in the plain from the violent: effect of the lhot, which rained upon him alternately from the hills on each fide of the valley.. At this time we were in the greater! anxiety, from the report of the mufqucts always coming nearer us, though* by the contrary winds, the fmoke was carried from us. The day was far advanced, and excellively hot: the foot foldiersi were bufy in giving our horfes drink out of our own helmets, which they filled from Dcg-Ohha. All the troops were impatient, however, to come to an act:ion upon that ground. At this time an officer from Michael came to &efla Yafous, who was on horfeback near the king, order* irrg him to fend a body of frefli horfe to fupport the cavalry of his diviiion, with an intention, if poflible, to bring on a general engagement. In the mean time lie ordered Kefla Yafotis to keep firm, as he then was, in the poft of Scr-.braxos, and not to advance till he was fure that Gufho and Ayabdar had left their ground, joined Powuffcn, and were engaged with him at the fouth end of the valley. Thefe inilructions were perfectly underflood by that faga-eious and veteran general. He detached 500 Shoa, with near the fame number of horfe belonging to Engedan, and commanded by him, and thefe, joined to the cavalry already in the van, again attempting to pafs the plain, were attacked by Powuflen and the troops of Begemder, who had been likewife reinforced, and after an obllinate engagement they had retired into the mouth of the valley, not from being actually beaten, but by direction of Ras Michael, in order to bring the enemy purfuing them under the fire of the mufquetry, on each fide of the entrance of the valley. I was exceedingly curious to have feen this engagement,, and I begged Kefla Yafous to fpeak to the king to permit me to go fmgly with Engedan. To this, however, 1 had a flat refufal, not without fome marks of peevifhnefs and difplea-fure, which Kefla Yafous qualified by faying,14 Don't be dif-mayedj. you mail feeand in that inilant the word was given to march to the right, whilll the troops left the valley between the long hill and,the mountains, and took poll on the fide of the river Mariam, with their faces fronting the weft. The mufquetry was placed upon the eminences to the north and fouth, as if to defend the ford of the river, thro' which the entrance, was, to the north end of the valley. Michael^ Chad, in the mean time, had, by the feigned retreat of his cavalry, decoyed the Begemder troops within reach of the mufquetry, and they were again put in diforder by the discharge on each fide of the hill, without being able to advance a Rep further; after which he ordered fome tents to be pitched upon the hill on his right, as if intending to encamp there. Kasmati Ayabdar, who commanded the left wing of the rebels, imagining that the whole army had advanced to the fouth of the valley with Ras Michael, thought this was an opportunity of furrounding the king's troops, and cutting them off from their camp and flrong poll upon the hill of Serbraxos; with this intention he advanced rapidly to the ford of the river Mariam, thinking to take poll on the hill which was to our rear, being that of Serbraxos. When he advanced, however, near that river, and faw the king and his cavalry drawn up on the banks of it, his heart failed him, and he halted within a fhort quarter of a mile of our troops. In order to decoy and make him more confident, Kefla Yafous ordered the horfe to retreat and crofs the river as fall as they could, with an appearance of confu lion, that he might draw their horfe within reach of our mufquetry planted upon every eminence. The king fhewed great reluctance at this manoeuvre, however wife. He repeated very peevifhly, W'iat is this ! What is this ! Am I retiring before rebels?—-Neither did this flratagcm fuccecd but in part, for Ayabdar, either diflrufting the trap laid for him, or afraid to enter into an engagement with the king, advanced but a few paces, and again halted, apparently not decided what he was to do. The THE SOURCE OV THE NILE. The Edjow Galla alone advanced to the very brink of the river, and when the mufquetry began to be fired at them* which would probably quickly have put them into confu-fion, the king, loiing all patience, ordered the black horfe, and all the heavy-armed troops, to charge them, which was inftantly executed with the grcatcfl fpeed; the Galla were all borne down, with little or no refiftance, by the length of our pikes, and the fuperior weight of our horfes, and thofe that were not flain were fcattcrcd over the plain. But a greater misfortune befel us from our friends than from our enemies, as a volley of fhot was poured upon us from Serbraxos hill, on the right hand, which killed feven men, notwithstanding their coats of mail. The king himfelf was in great danger, being in the middle of the engagement, and unarmed; young prince George, who fought by his fide, was (hot in the thumb of his left hand. Kefla Yafous, who faw the danger the king was in, riding about, holding out his hand and crying not to fire, was fhot through the hair, the ball juft grazing his head above the ear, and another wounding his horfe juft above his thigh, but fo flightly, that it was afterwards extracted by a fervant's fingers* Ayabdar, after the lofs of his Edjow Galla, retreated to the camp, amidft the curfes and imprecations of the armyr who, not informed of the king's ftrength, thought the war might have been ended by a proper exertion and perfeve-rance in his part that day. Gufho his nephew, who had ftaid to guard the camp, but who had reinforced Powuflen and Ayabdar each of them with a part of his troops, fpoke of his uncle in the bitterefl terms of reproach, continually calling him dotard and coward, and declaring him incapa* blc hie of command or fervicc. Whether this was really his opinion, or only faid with a view of forwarding a fcheme already laid, I will not fay ; but certainly it was the foundation of a quarrel which, by its confcquenccs, did greatly weaken the rebels, and contributed much afterwards to maintain the king upon the throne ; for Gufho, who, upon the defeat of Ras Michael, was de(lined by all parties to take the lead, was as lavilli in praifes of Powuflen for his behaviour that day, as he was bitter in condemning his uncle, which created a violent mifunderftanding between thefe two chiefs, infomuch that Afahel Woodage, with his troops of Maitlha, left Ayabdar, and joined Powuflen. Confu, moreover, fon of Bafha Eufebius, and brother to Guebra Mehedin, who had fruftrated my firft attempt to difcover the fource of the Nile, endeavouring to promote a revolt a-mong the troops of Foggora, to which he belonged, was put in irons by Ayabdar, from which he was but too foon releafed to meet, a few days afterwards, a fate that put an end to his profligacy and follies. Powussen in this conflict had retreated, if not beaten, with a confiderable lofs ; nine hundred of his.bell troops were faid to have been flain that day, and a great many more wounded, moll of whom (thofe I mean that had gun-mot wounds) died from the want of furgeons, and the ignorance of thofe who undertook to cure them. On the part of Michael about 300 men, all of the cavalry, were faid to have perilhed that day, including the troops of Netcho the Fit-Auraris. Of the king's divifion about twenty three were killed, feven of thefe being his guards, I believe moflly by the unfortunate fire of his troops, arifmg from his own impatience in attacking the Galla unadvifedly, of whom about 2 fixty fixty were left upon the field, all flain in the attack, for they were not purfued, but joined their main body immediate- Ras Michael fell back upon the army, which had encamped on the hill of Serbraxos ; and it now was believed more than before, that the fate of the empire was to be determined on that fpot. Another thing, however, appeared plain, that whatever belief Michael pretended in the prophecy, he would not have preferred fighting at Serbraxos, if he could by any means have given the rebels the flip, and marched his army into Begemder. The king was exceedingly pleafed at the part he had taken that day ; it was the firft time he was engaged in perfon, nor did any body venture to condemn it; he flicwed, indeed, very little concern at his brother's wound, which was only a flight one in the flefhy part of his thumb, nor did the young prince trouble himfelf much about it; on the contrary, when I went todrefs and bind it up, he faid to me, I wifh, Yagoube, the fhot had carried the thumb off altogether, it would have made me incapable of fuccecding to the throne, and they would not then fend me to the hill of Wechne. The king, upon hearing this, faid with a fmile, George forgets that Hatzc Hannes, my father and his, was called to the throne many years after his whole hand had been cut off. Every one agreed that Ras Michael had that day fhewn a degree of intrepidity and military fkill fuperior to any thing which had appeared in many former engagements in which he had commanded. No fooner had he refrefhed himfelf "with a meal, than he called a council of his officers, which halted great part of the evening, notwithHanding the fatigue he had undergone throughout the day. Vol. IV. T This Tins was the firfl battle of Serbraxos, which, though it contained nothing decifive, had Hill two very material con-fequcnccs, as it fo daunted the fpirits of the Begemder horfe, that many chiefs of that country withdrew their troops, and went home, whilft fuch difcord was fown among the leaders, that I believe they never fincerely trufled one another afterwards ; Gufho and Ayabdar, in particular, were known to correfpond with the king daily. On the morrow after the battle, three meffengers arrived1 from Gufho, Powuflen, and Ayabdar, and each had a fcpa-rate audience of the King and Ras, before whom they all* three feverally declared, that their mailers defired to continue in allegiance to him their king, Tecla Haimanout, but under this condition only, that Ras Michael fliould be fent to his government of Tigre, never more to return. They endeavoured to perfuade the king alfo to take the fenfe of his ami)', the majority of which, they aliened, were ready to abandon him. If Michael fliould agree to return to Tigre, they offered to carry the king to Gondar, place him in his palace, and allow him to choofe his own minifters, and govern for the future after his own ideas. This, indeed, was the univei fal wifh, and I did not fee what Ras Michael could have done, had he adopted it; but fear, or gratitude, or both, retrained the young king from fuch a meafure ; and the meffengers left him after a plain declaration, That they had' endeavoured all in their power to lave him, and he muft now abide the conferences, for they wafhed their hands: of them. The rains were now become more frequent, and an epidemical fever had fhewn itfelf in the rebel army on the. x . plain 5 plain ; every conlkleration, therefore, feemed to pcrfuade a fpeedy decifion, but the confequences of the laft engagement feemed to have damped the fpirit of the rebels, without having much raifed that of the king's army. In fact, the days were dark and wet, and the nights cold, circumftan^ ces in which no Abyflinian choofes to fight. The army was thinly cloathed, or not cloathed at all, and encamped on high ground, where fuel, though it had not failed them yet, mud foon have done fo. An accident that happened this night had nearly brought about a revolution which the wifeft heads had labourer! for many years in vain, Ras Michael had retired to bed at his ordinary time, fomewhat before eleven o'clock, and a lamp was left burning as ufual in his tent, for he was afraid of Jpirits. Fie was juft fallen afleep, when he felt a man's arm reach into the bed over him, which he immediately feized hold of, crying to his attendants, at the fame time, for help. Thofe that ran firft into the tent threw down the lamp and put out the light, fo that the man would have efcaped, had not the people behind got about him, and endeavoured to hold him down, while entangled in, and ilruggling with the cords of the tent. The firft perfon that feized him was a favourite fervant of the Ras, a young man named Laeca Mariam, of a good family in Tigre ; he, not perceiving his danger for want of light, received a flab with a broad knife, which pierced his heart, fo that he fell without fpeaking a word. Numbers immediately fecurcd the aflafhn, who was found to have dropt one knife within the Ras's tent, with which he had attempted at full to have ftabbed him \ but he was found to have another knife, two-edged, and fharp in the point, fixed along his arm, with T 2 which. which he had (tabbed Laeca Mariam. This wretch was a native of a very barbarous nation near Shoa, S. E. of Go-jam. The name of their country is Gurague. They are Troglodytes, and all robbers : their conltant occupation is attending the AbyfTinian camps, and Healing horfes, mules, or whatever they can get, which they do in a very lingular manner. They all wear their hair very fhort, ftrip themfelves flark-naked, and befmear themfelves from head to foot with butter, or fome fort of greafe, whilft, along the outfide of their arm, they tye a long, flraight, two-edged, fharp-pointed knife, the handle reaching into the palm of their hand, and about four inches of the blade above the knob of their elbow, fo that the whole blade is fafe and inoffenfive when the arm is extended, but when it is bent, about four inches projects, and is bare, beyond the elbow joint; this being all prepared, they take a leafy faggot, fuch as the gatherers of fuel bring to the camp, which they fallen to their middle by a firing or withy, fpreading it over to conceal or cover all their back, and then drawing in their legs, they lie down, in all appearance, as a faggot, and in the part of the camp they intend to rob, crawling flowly in the dark when they think they are unperceived, and lying Hill when there is any noife or movement near them: In cafe they find themfelves difcovered, they flip the faggot and run; and whatever part of them you feize efcapes your fingers by reafon of the greafe. If you endeavour to clafp them, however, which is the only way left, the Gurague bends his elbow and flrikes you with his knife, and you are mortally wounded, as was the cafe with Laeca Mariam. This This affaflin was no fooner fecured and difarmcd, than a noofe, with a running knot, was flipt round his neck, and his hands tied behind his back, in which manner he was carried before Ras Michael, who fat upon a ftool at fome diftance from his tent, after every part of it had been fcarched. The fellow at firft refufed to fpeak, but, being threatened with torture, anfwered, in his own language, which I did not underftand. Fie was afked, who had employed him to attempt that affaflination ? He faid, The rebels ; and named Gufho and Powuflen : he then varied, and faid the Iteghe employed him. Before he was fent a-way he contradicted all this, and declared, that Flagos, his brother, had employed him ; and that he was then actually in the camp, with four others, who were determined to murder the Ras and Guebra Mafcal, whatever it mould colt them, A search was on this ordered through all the camp, but no ft ranger found, excepting one of the fame nation, who had planted himfelf and his faggot near the tent of the A-buna; and who being feized, examined, and promifed pardon, declared himfelf abfolutely ignorant of any fcheme but robbing, for which purpofc three of them, he faid, had come into the camp together; one of them had ftolen two mules the night before, and gone off, and that he was that night intending to take away two of the Abuna's mules; and he fuppofed his companion had the fame intention with regard to the Ras; but as to murder, or any other plot, he knew nothing of it. Being put flightly to the torture, he perfiftec,} in his declaration ; and when interrogated, declared, that they all three had come from Gurague with Amha Yafous, to load and unload his baggage, and take care of of his beafts: that none of them had been at Gondar before the attempt, except the aftaffm, who had formerly lived there fome years, but whether with Hagos, or any other, he did not know, nor did he ever hear him pronounce the name of Hagos, nor fee any ftranger, whom he did not know, converfe with him : that they all three had lain the laft night at the church of Serbraxos : but he further declared, that the perfon apprehended fpoke the Amjraric language as well as his own, contrary to what the villain had all along pretended. This declaration, which I heard from the king's fecretary, word for word as it was given, threw all the council into great confufion, the more fo, that, being gently talked to, and food given him after his examination^ night theaffallinhad again repeated what he before faid about Gufho, and that Fafil, too, was acccflpry to the attempt. And what made this labyrinth of lies Mill more intricate was, that it was certainly known that Hagos, his brother, had conftantly lived with Coque Abou Karea, in Kuara, from the time Ras Michael had put his brother to death at Gondar. It was intended therefore to try the effecT: of further torture in the morning, to make him confefs the truth. His guard, however, having fallen aflecp, or gone out of the tent, he was found ftrangled by the running noofe that was left round his neck ; nor was any further light ever thrown upon this affair at any time after; but it was generally believed the attempt had been made at the infligation of fome connection of the Iteghc, and there were fome who went fo far as to name Welleta Ifracl, Early Early in the morning fome prieMs came from Powuf-fen, Ayabdar, and Gufho, to take the moll folemn oaths before the Abuna, that they never had the fmallefl; knowledge of what the afTailin had laid to their charge ; and they took upon themfelves fentence of excommunication, which the Abuna then pronounced conditionally, if they had directly, or indirectly, been principal or acceflbry, or known, or been confulted, in any manner whatever, as to the designs of that aflaflin. Several principal officers of the rebels, moreover, who had left Gondar and gone over to Fafil, and' who were there in Gufho's camp, came over to congratulate with Ras Michael upon his efcape, fo that, for a moment, one would have thought the whole country interclted in faving him whom all were actually in arms at that in-ftant to deflroy. What furprifed me mod of all, probable as the thing might feem to be, not one man in the camp, from the Ras and King downward, fecmed to think that this attempt of the Gurague had been in any fhapc the-plot of the rebels; and yet, in old times, murder by treafon mull have been very frequent in his kingdom, as appears by their cuftoms preferved to this day ; no perfon, be their ftation, connection, or friendfhip what it will, can oiler any one meat or drink without tailing it before them. Proposals of peace followed this friendly intcrcourfc,. but the condition being always that Michael ihould depart to Tigre, which he thought was but in other terms a pro* pofal to deflroy him, thefe friendly overtures ended in defiance and protellation, That to him alone was owing the effufion of human blood, and the ruin of his country, which: ^as immediately to follow. It was the 17th of May, at night, the attempt had been made on the Ras's life; and the 18th was fpent in excommunication before the Abuna ; and, in the evening, Michael received intelligence, that Ayto Tesfos, from the mountains of Samcn, and Heraclius and Samuel Mammo, from Wal-kayt and Tzegade, were both preparing to join the rebels with a confiderable force. We were now arrived at the fatal field of Serbraxos, as we had endeavoured to pafs it, but in vain ; nothing now remained but to try to which fide the devil (the father of lies) had been forced to tell the truth, or whether he had yet told it to either. Darion, a principal man of Beleflen, and Guigarr of Laita, joined the Ras's army about noon, bringing with them 1200 men, chiefly horfemen, good troops, and they were joyfully received. A council was held with all the great officers that evening, and the order of battle fixed upon for next day. Kefla Yafous, with the belt of the foot from Tigre, with the king's houfehold troops, the Shoa horfe, and the Moors of Ras el Feel, with their libds, (in all not amounting to 10,000 men, but the flower of the army) compofed the left wing, in the center of which was the king in perfon, the heavy-armed black horfe before, him, and the officers and nobility furroundinghim : Guebra Chriflos, and Kafmati Tesfos of Sire, commanded the center, in which was Darion and Guigarr's cavalry, for the Fail a men, though of different fides, could never be prevailed upon to fight againfl one another, fo inilead of being with the king againfl Bcgemdcr and Laita, they were placed in the center againfl Gufho and Amhara. The right of the king's army was commanded by Welleta Michael and Billetana Gucta Tecla, oppofed to the left wing of the rebels under Kafmati Ayabdar, who 4 had the left wing of the rebels, under Kafmati Ayabdar, who had lately received large reinforcements from Gojam, by means of the Iteghe, who well knew him to be an inveterate enemy to Ras Michael, and one who would never make peace with him. ■ I have often heard it obferved by officers of fkill and experience, that nothing is more difficult to defcribe than a battle, and that as many descriptions as are given of it, they generally difagrce, and feem as many different battles. To this I fhall add, that I find as great difficulty in giving an idea of the ground on which a battle was fought, which perhaps is not the cafe with profeffional men ; and though I defcribe nothing but what I faw, and what my horfe pal£ ed over, ftill I very much doubt if I can make myfelf intelligible to my readers. The hill of Serbraxos was neither very high nor fteep, unlefs on the north and eaft, where it was almoft a precipice. It was not a mountain joined with others, as the bed of a torrent, that ran very rapidly from Beleffen fouth of Mariam-Ohha, divided it from thefe mountains. The weft fide of it Hoped gently to a large plain, which extended to the brink of the lake Tzana, and upon this our rear was encamped. The S. W. fide of this hill was like the former, and about half a mile from it came an elbow of the river Mariam, fo called from a church in the plain: on this fide of the hill our center was encamped with the king, Abuna, and the princeffes ; whilft on the fouth face (which looked down a valley) was Ras Michael and the van of the army: the hill here was confiderably ftceper, and I have already faid ended with the precipice on the north. Along the bottom of this fouth face of the hill lay the fmall ftream called Deg-Ohha, which flood in pools, Vol. IV. U and and was the fafeft and readieil fupply for the army, as, being perfectly under command of our mufquets, where our horfes could water without danger; immediately fouth from this ran a valley full half a mile broad, which ended in a large plain about two miles 01F. The valley where Michael and the van firft engaged, was. formed by the hills of Beleflen on the eaft, and the river Mariam on the weft, and near the middle of the valley there was a low and flat-topt hill, not above 30 yards in height, which did not join with the hill of Serbraxos. Between them there was an opening of about 100 yards, through which ran Deg-Ohha, to the ford of the river Mariam, from which you afcended in a direction nearly N, W. up into the plain which reached to the lake Tzana. On the fouth end of this hill, as I have faid, which might have been about two miles in length, the banks of the Mariam are very high, and the river ftands in large deep pools, with banks of fand between them. Where this hill ends to the right is another ford of the river Mariam, where a deep and narrow fand y road goes winding up the* banks, in a direction N. W. like the former, and leads to the fame plain bordering on the lake Tzana: fo that the plain of the valley where the Mariam runs, which is bordered, by the foot of the mountains of Beleflen, and continues along the plain fouth to Tangoure, is near 200 feet lower than the plain that extends on the fide of the lake Tzana. Nor is there a convenient accefs from the plain to the valley, at leaft that i faw, by reafon of the height and fteepnefs of the banks of the Mariam, excepting thefe two already mentioned ; one ■ between the extremity of the long even hill, and flope of the mountain on the north, and the other on the fouth, through through the winding fandy road up the fleep banks of the river, by the fouth end of that low hill, as I have already faid. At thefe two places are the two fords of the river, which continue paffable even in the rainy feafon, and the water at that time Hands in pools below it, till feveral miles further it joins the Zingetch Gomara, a larger ftream than itfclf, whofe banks are low, and where the fir earn is fordable alfo; but the banks of the river Mariam continue fleep, and run in a fouthern direction. In this valley, at the fouth end of this hill near the ford was the engagement between Michael with the van, and the Begemder troops, on the 16th; at the ford on the north end of this hill, in the fame valley, was the fight between the light troops and Kafmati Ayabdar, and the king in perfon, the very fame day ; fo that the valley was perfectly known by the em-my, and as they had few or no mufquetry, was wifely conlidered as not fit ground for their purpofes being narrow and commanded by hills everywhere. On the 19th of May, word was brought that the whole rebel army was in motion, and before eight o'clock (reckoned in Abyflinia an early hour for fuch bufinefs) a great cloud of dull was feen rifing on the right of the rebels towards Korreva, and this was the moment the Begemder troops got on horfeback in the dufty plain; foon after we heard their kettle-drums, and about nine o'clock we faw the whole troops of Begemder appear, drawn up at fuch a diflance in the plain, above die road up the fleep bank of the Mariam, as to leave great room for us to form with the road on our left, and a little on our rear; Michael eafi-ly divined Powuffen's intention, which was to beat us back &y a fuperior force of horfe, and then making a num- U 2 bcr ber of troops glide below unfeen, along the river in the valley, take poffeflion of the round hill, at the north ford of Mariam, and cut off our retreat to our camp at Serbraxos ; the Ras immediately difpatched fome lingle horfemen to take a view of the enemy more nearly, and report what their numbers were, and where Gufho and Ayabdar were ported, for we could dillinguifh the colour of the horfes, and all the movements of the Begemder troops, not being much above three miles diftance, yet we did not know whether they were alone, or whether one or more of the other generals were with them: we faw indeed Powuffen's ftandards, but they were fo weather-beaten and faded, that we could not diftinguifh their real colours, which were blue and yellow. The king's whole army was defcending into the valley, and palling over the ford of the Mariam, to the plain above where Kefla Yafous was riding to and fro with great car-nellnefs, encouraging his troops. In a very fhort time the left was formed ; the Ras, having given all his orders, and taken to himfelf the charge of the camp and the referve, fat down, as was ufual, to play at drafts with the black fervants. The army was now all in the plain, when the fcouts arrived, and brought word that Gufho and Ayabdar had both taken their ground, not directly in a ftraight line from Powuflen, fquare with the lake, but as it were diagonally declining more to the fouthward, fo that the mofl advanced, or neareft to us, were the troops of Begemder ; and this was probably done, in order that, our backs being more turned to the lake, we might be eafier cut off from our camp, and furroundedin the plain,between their army and the Tzana; if Powuflen was fo fortunate as to beat the king and the left; but this difpofition of thefe troops was out of our fight, fight, being down nearer the lake. Nor is it to be underflood that I mean here to give any account of their movements, or of any other, unlefs thofe of the left wing under the king, where I was myfelf engaged. Several fpies came into Ras Michael at this time, and they, and the horfemen that had been fent on the fervice, all agreed, that in the center of the Begemder horfe a large red ftandard was difplayed, with a number of kettle drums beating before it, which the Ras no fooner heard, than giving his draft-board a kick with his foot, he overturned the whole game, and afforded, at leafl, a bad omen of the future engagement. He then called for Kefla Yafous, and Guebra Mafcal, and having conferred with them both, he detatched Guebra Mafcal with five hundred mufqueteers to take poffefTion of the hill in the valley below, and coaft along the left flank of our left without appearing in fight. The day had been exceeding clofe, feeming to threaten violent thunder, and we were now come fo near as to lee diftinclly the large red ftandard, which being pointed out to the king, he faid, fmiling with a very chearful countenance, " Aye, aye, now we fhall foon fee what miracle king Theodorus will work." The clouds had been gathering ever fince we went down the hill, and fome big drops of rain had fallen. The foldiers were now covering their lighted matches, for fear of more, when firft a mofl violent ftorm of thunder, lightening, and rain began, then a tempcll of rain and wind, and laft a dead calm, with fuch a heavy fhower that I fcarce ever faw. the like even in the rainy feafbn. H A3> .Had I been commander of the Begemder troops that day^ this fliower fhould have been the fignal of charging; for all the king's fire-arms were ufclefs, and the matches wet; but the Begemder horfe feemed mofl xtneafy under the fall of rain; they began to be unmanageable, and turn tail to the wind, which now arofe and was directly in their face;,, and in a few minutes they wheeled about, and retired to their camp. The king halted on the ground where he was, ordered the kettle-drums to beat, and the trumpets to found; and having continued half an hour till the heavy mower began, he fell back as did the whole army, and retired to the camp. When he got up the hill, and pafled the brow where Ras Michael was fitting with fome ilaves, who held up a piece of fail-cloth over his head to keep off the rain, the fervants raifed the Ras upon his feet; without any previous falutation, he then afked the king what he had done with king Theodorus ? and was anfwered, " Begemder brought him, and Begemder took him away, we faw nothing but his flag." Lafta carried his flag, fays one of the nobility. He is a peaceable prince, fays the king; yet he begins with fighting, but he will make amends afterwards, if he governs this country in peace a thoufand years. If he does that, fays the Ras, Powuffen is to die at the next battle, for the thoufand years peace will never begin, as long as he is alive. CHAP. CHAP. VIL King offers Battle th the Rebels in the Plain—Defcription of the Second Battle of Serbraxos—Rafh Cbndutl, and narrow Efcapc of the King —Both Armies keep the Ground, THE whole evening of the 19th of May was fpent in feftivity and joy ; a prophet from fome part in Dembea had foretold the defeat of king fheodorus, and what was much more interefting, two large droves of cattle, the one from Beleflen, near Mariam-Ohha, the other from Dembea, were driven that day into the camp. Ras Mi'chaeJ9.> who knew the value of to-morrow, fpared nothing that might refrefh the troops this day. The king and he, Ozoro Efther, and Ozoro Alt am, Kefla Yafous, and the Abuna himfelf, gave each of them entertainments to the principal officers of the army, and all thofe who were likely to bear the burden of the enfuing conflict. The foldiers were iri great fpirit, but it was now very generally known that the 2- offi'cexau officers were moflly difaffected, engaged in private treaties, and in daily expectation of peace. A very fhort council was held at the king's tent; all that could be refolvcd upon had been already fixed the day before, and little had happened fince to occafion any alteration. All the young nobility were, as ufual, at Ozoro Efther's. It was with infinite pity I heard them thought-lefsly praying for a warm and fair day to-morrow, the evening of which many of them were never to fee. Besides the ftores that Ozoro Efther always was provided with, the king had fent her two live cattle, wine, brandy, and hydromel; and what was a very unufual conde-fcenfion, the Ras, immediately after council, came into the tent, and brought with him a frefh fupply. He wTas very gracious and affable, faid a number of kind things to everybody, and afked me particularly how we drank in England? I explained to him as well as I could the nature of our toafts, and drinking to the health of our miftreffes by their names in bumpers; that our foldiers toafts on fuch a night as that, if the general honoured them as he did us now with his company, would be, A fair morning, and fpeedy fight of our enemy. He comprehended it all very eafily, and when I faw he did fo, I afked if I fliould give my toaft ? and he and all the company joining in a loud cry of approbation, I filled a horn with wine, and Handing up, for he had forced us all to be feated, I drank, Long life to the king, health, happinefs, and victory, to you, Sir, and a fpeedy fight of king Theodorus. A violent fhout of appiaufe followed. 3 He He himfelf (the fobcrefi of men) would drink his horn full, which he did, with many interruptions from immoderate fits of laughter ; the horn went quickly round, and I ventured to prophecy, that, in the thoufand years he is to reign, Theodorus will never again be fo chcarfully toafled. The Ras then turning to me faid, I wifh I had 5000 of your countrymen, Yagoube, to-morrow, fuch as you are, or fuch as you have defcribed them. I anfwered. Would you had one thoufand, and I had twenty lives flaked upon the iffuc. Ayto Engedan upon this got up, and pafling acrofs the tent in a very graceful manner, kifled the Ras's hand, faying, Do not make us think you undervalue, ordiftrufl yourchildren, by forming fuch a wifh : Yagoube is one of us, he is our brother, and he fhall fee and judge to-morrow, if we, your own fons, are not able to fight your battle without the aid of any foreigners. Tears, on this, came into the old man's eyes, who took Engedan in his arms, and kiffed him ; then recommending to us not to fit up late, he withdrew. A great deal of buffoonery followed about toafts, and foon after arrived two officers from the king, defiring to know what was the reafon of that violent outcry ? by which he meant: the fhout when we drank the toail. Ozoro Efther anfwered, We were all turned traitors, and were drinking the health of king Theodorus. But it was afterwards thought proper to explain the whole matter before the meffengers went back, and make them drink the toaft alfo. Tecla Mariam had not fpoken much, her father having fent for her at that time to the king. Before lhc departed, 1 begged Ozoro Either to apologifc for me, that I had ab-fented myfelf, and had not waited upon her in the morn- Vol. IV. X in? ing. I intrcated her to continue her kind partiality to me the next day, and to judge for ever of the elleem I had for her by my then behaviour. She promifed to do fo with the utmofl complacency and fweetnefs, and departed. Soon after this, a fervant arrived from Ras Michael, with a magnificent faddle and bridle as a prefent to Engedan. This man told us that a meffenger had come from Waragna Fafil, defiring a place might be marked out for him to encamp, for he was to join the king early in the morning ; but nobody gave any credit to this, nor did he, as far as I ever heard, advance a foot nearer the camp. The meffenger commanded us all, moreover, to go to bed, which we immediately complied with. I only went to the king's tent, where the company was difperfing, and killed his hand, after which I retked. In my way home to my tent, I faw a faggot lying in the Way, when the flory of the Gurague came prefently into my mind. I ordered fome foldiers to feparate. it with their lances ; but it had been brought for fuel, at leafl no Gurague was there*, I was no fooner laid upon my bed, than I fell into a profound fleep, which continued uninterrupted till five o'clock in the morning of the 20th. I had fpared myfelf induftri-oufly in laft night's caroufal, for fear of contributing to a re-lapfe into defpondency in the morning ; but I found all within ferene and compofed as it fliould be, and entirely re-figncd to what was decreed, I was perfectly fatisficd, that the advancing or retarding the day of my death was not in the power of the army of Begemder.. 1 then vifited all the horfes and the black foldiers, and ordered two or three of them, who were not perfectly recovered from their hurts, to to flay in the camp. I afterwards wcilt to the king's tent, who was not yet up ; and the very inftant after, the Ras's firft drum beat, and the king rofe ; foon after which, the fecond drum was heard for the foldiers to go to break fall. I went into the king's tent to kifs his hand, and receive his orders. He told me they were fpecdily then going to hreak-falt within, to which meal I was engaged at Ozoro Eflhcr's. He anfwered, Make hade then, for 1 am refolved to be 011 the field before king Theodorus to-day. I am his fenior, and Ihould fhew him the example. Fie feemed more than ordinary gay and in fpirits. I finished my breakfaft in a few minutes, and took a grateful, but chearful leave of Ozoro Ell her, and received many acknowledgements, and kind expreflions, both from her and Tecla Mariam, who did not fail to be there accord-trig to appointment. The day was clear, the fun warm, and the army defcended into the plain with great alacrity, in the fame order as the day before. Guebra Mafcal, with his mufqueteers, took poHellion of the long hill in the valley, and coalled the left flank of our left wing, the river Mariam and its high banks being only between us. The king took his poft, with the winding road aforementioned (up the fleep banks of the Mariam) clofe on his left. Guebra Mafcal having come to the fouth end of the hill below, marched brifkly up the road, and then advanced about 200 yards, making his men lye down at the brink of the hill next the plain, among bent graft, and thin tall fhrubs like Spaniih broom, fo as to be perfectly out of fight; his line was at right angles with our front, fo that his fire mull . enfilade the whole front of our line. X : If If not very ufeful, yet it may, however, be thought curious, to know the difpofition of a barbarous army ready to engage in a pitched battle as this was. Kefla Yafous, who commanded the left-wing under the king, placed his cavalry in a line to the opening of the road down into the valley; between every two mufquets were men armed with lances and fhiclds ; then, at a particular diftance, clofe before this line of horfe, was a body of lances, and mufquets, or fomctimcs either of them, in feveral lines, or, as they appeared, a round body of foldiers, Handing together without any order at all; then another line of horfe, with men between, alternately as before ; then another round corps o£ lances and mufquets, advanced juft before the line of horfe,, and fo on to the end of the divifion. I know nothing of the difpofition of the i*eft of the army, nor the ground they were engaged on ; that where we flood was as perfect a plain as that commonly chofen to run races upon, and fo I believe wras the reft, only Hoping more to the lake Tzana, The king's infantry was drawn up in one line, having a mufqucteer between every two men, with lances and iliields* Immediately in the center was the black horfe, and the Moors of Ras el Feel, with their libds, difpofed on each of their flanks. Immediately behind thefe was the king in perfon, with a large body of young nobility and great officers of ftate, about him. On the right and left flank of the line, a little in the rear, were all the reft of the king's horfe, divided into two large bodies, Guebra Mafcal hid in the bank on our left at right angles with the line, enfilading, as I have already SECOND BATTLE, Explanation. U Gondar. 3- King's palace on the River Kahn. 2; King's palace. 4. Mahometan town on the River Kalu* A The king marches from his camp to F by the road D and E. GG The two bodies of horfe. I1H Line of infantry, mufkets, and lances alternately, I Guebra Mafcal in ambufh, in the face of the banks cf the Mariam, among the bufhes. kk PowufTcn's march from his camp at Corrcva. LL Powuffen's firft appearance in diforder. MM Powuffen's line formed in the front of the king. NN The army of Begemder galloping to charge the king, receive a clofe tire from Guebra Mafcal hid in the bank at I, and immediately after from the king's line HH. OO Part of the army of Begemder wheeling to the left, and flying over the plain in diforder. PP The king, with his rcferve following the right of the Begemder horfe. QC^The righ; of the Begemder horfe purfucd by the king, having rallied. RR The Begemder horfe turn fhort furround the king at SS, and drive him to the1 edge of the Bank. T The king efcaping down the, bank, croffes between the pools of the River Mariam, and enters the valley. V The king arrived in the valley, is joined by the foot that ran fcattered down by the bank. W Engedan detached front the camp by Ras Michael, joins the lung. X Mufketcers detached by Michael, take poll on the fouth fide of the long bill. Y Part of the king's mufketry pofted on a rocky ground on the fouth lide of the valley. Z The king's troops under Kefla Yafotw filing down the narrow road from the plain above into the valley, with the heavy armed horfe behind him. a Guebra Mafcal drawn up at the foot of the bank9, makes way by his fire fov the black horfe to take poll: in the king's front.. already faid, the whole line of our infantry; this will be eafily underflood by confulting the plan where H FI, G G, F, and I, reprefent the difpofition that I have now def-cribed. It was full half an hour after the king had formed before the army of Begemder made any motion. The Ras firft faw them from the hill, and made a fignal, by beating his drums and blowing his trumpets ; this was immediately anfwered by all the drums and trumpets of the left wing, and for the fpace of a minute, a thick cloud of dull (like the fmoke of a large city on fire) appeared on the fide of Korrcva, occafioned, as the day before, by the Begemder troops mounting on horfeback ; the ground where they were encamped being trodden into powder, by fuch a number of men and horfe palling over it fo often, and now raifed by the motion of the horfes feet, was whirled round by a very moderate breeze, that blew fleadily ; it every minute increafed in darknefs, and aflumed various Ihapes and forms, of towers caftles, and battlements, as fancy fuggefted. In the middle, of this great cloud we began to perceive indiftinclly part of the horfemen, then a much greater number, and the figure of the horfes more accurately defined, which came moving majeftically upon us, fometimes partially feen, at other times concealed by being wrapt up in clouds and darknefs; the whole made a moll extraordinary, but truly piclurefque appearance. I was fo ftruck with this, that I could not help faying to Billetana Gueta Ammonios, who commanded the horfe ^nder me, Is not that a glorious fight Ammcnios ! who, thai: that was a king, would not be fond of war? David, however, curies thofe that delight in war, lays Ammonios. Therefore, replied T, there mull be pleafure in it, or elfe no body would fall into a fin that was difagrecable in itfelf, and at the lame time forbidden by God. Well, well, replied Ammonios, this is not a time for argument, fee what a glorious fpectaele we fhall all be before fun fet. At this time PowulTen's whole army was diftinclly feen; they came riding backwards and forwards with great vio* lence, more as if they were diverting themfelves, than advancing to attack an enemy, of our confequence, that was waiting them. They feemed like two wings, and a main body, each nearly equal in numbers, as far as I could guefs, and are defcribed in the plan by the letters LL, but they were fometimes all in one croud together, and in fuch perpetual motion, that it was impoilible to afcertain their pvecife form. Four men, upon unruly, high-mettled, or at leaft ill-broke horfes, rode galloping a fmall fpace before, convcr-fing together, as if making their obfervations upon us: they were now arrived at about fix hundred yards diftance, but it was not a time to make accurate calculation ; they then made a ftop, and began extending the left of their line to the weftward, as defcribed by M M. I fuppofe, too, their horfes needed to breathe a little, after they had fo imprudently blown them to no purpofe. In the middle of their cavalry, or rather a little more towards their fight, than oppofite to the place where the king was, a large red flag was feen to rife, and was faluted I by 5y the drums and trumpets of their whole army. An accident happened at this moment, which endangered the difcovcry of the hidden part of our difpofition, and which would thereby have dellroyed the fanguinc hopes we had of victory, and endangered the fafety of the whole army. Upon diiplaying the red flag, two mufquets were fired from the poll in the face of the hill where Guebra Mafcal lay in ambulh. Luckily, at that very inflant, all the king's drums beat, and trumpets founded, a kind of mock alarm, (fuch as the poilure - mailers and mountebanks ufe,) in ridicule of king Theodorus, and his red flag then flying before us. Immediately upon this, as on a fignal for battle, the whole army of Begemder fet out full gallop, to charge, as at N N, and a long hundred yards before they joined, they received, through the very depth of their fquadron, a clofe well- directed fire from the whole mufquetry of Guebra Mafcal, and from the king's line an inflant after, which put them into the utmofl confufion, fo that they in part came reeling down upon our line, half wheeled about to the left, as men that had loll their way, with their right, that is, their naked fides cxpofed as they turned, their fhields being m their left. The fire from Guebra Mafcal was the fignal for our line to charge, and the heavy-armed horfemen, with their pikes, broke thro' them with little reuflance,. the line in the mean while, with hbrffcand foot, ciofed with them, after the mufquets had given them their fire, and then ilaid behind to recharge. Part of their left did not engage at all, but wheeled about, and fled fouthward over the plain. While their army was thus feparated into two divisions,* both in great confufion, the king, with his refcrve, fell fu-rioully upon them ; and being followed by all the reft of the horfe, they pufhed the right divifion (where Powuflen was in perfon) along the plain, but thefe retired, fighting very obftinately, and often rallying. Kefla Yafous faw the great danger to which the king would quickly be expofed by pur-fuing the troops of Begemder fo far at a diftance from his foot, and that they would foon turn upon and overpower him with numbers, and then furround him. He therefore, with great prefence of mind, provided for his retreat. He drew up the heavy-armed horfe which could not gallop, the Moors of Ras el Feel, and the foot which were left behind, and which had now recharged their firelocks before the narrow road, and ordered Guebra Mafcal to refumc his ftation. He then twice, with great earner! nefs, cried in a loud voice to the foldiers, The king's fafety depends upon you,~Stand firm, or all is loft. After which, he galloped, with a fmall body of horfe, to join the king, clofely engaged at a considerable diftance: The foot that had purfued, or were fcattered, now came in by tens and twelves, and joined the heavy-armed horfe, fo that we began again to fhew a very good countenance. Among thefe, a common foldicr of the king's houfehold, buficd in the vile practice of mangling and fpoiling the dead, found the red colours of king Theodorus lying upon the field, which he delivered me, upon promife of a reward, and which I gave a fervant of my own to keep till after the engagement. At this infh nt Guebra Mafcal came up from below the bank, leaping and flourifhing his gun about his head, and crying, juft before my horfe, " Now, Yagoube, ftand firm, if i you you are a man." " Look at me, you drunken Have, faid I, armed, or unarmed, and fay, it is not a boafl if I count myfelf at all times a better man than you. Away to your hiding - hole again, and for your life appear within my reach. Away! you are not now, as the other day, before the king." The man cried out in a tranfport of impatience, " By G~d, you don't know what I mean ; but here they all come, Hand firm, if you are men ;" and faying this, he ran nimbly oil, and hid himfelf below the bank, with his lighted match in one hand, and all ready. It is proper, for connection's fake, though I did not myfelf fee it, to relate what had happened to the king, who had purfued the Begemder horfe to a very confide] able diitance, and was then at S S in the plan, when the whole army of the rebels that had not engaged, obferving the refinance made by Powuffen, and part of thedivffion which they had left, turned fuddenly back from their flight, and at R R nearly furrounded the king and his cavalry, whom they had now driven to the very edge of the ileepeit part of the bank of the Mariam. Kefla Yafous's arrival, indeed, and his exerting himfelf to the utmofl, fighting with his own hand like any common foldier, had brought fome relief; yet as frefh horfe came in, there can be little doubt at the end, that the king mull have been ciiher flain or taken prifoner, if Sertza Denghel, a young man of Amhara, a relation of Gulho, and who had a fmall poll in the palace, had not difmounted, and offered to lead the king's horfe down the lleepefl of the banks into the river. To this, however, he received an abfolute rcfufal. " I fhall die here this day, fays the king, but while I have a man left, will never turn my back upon the rebels." Sertza Denghel hearing Vol. IV. Y this this vain difcourfe, and feeing no time was to be loft, took hold of the bridle by force, at T, and happily led the horfe along one of the fheep-paths, ilanting down the declivity of the bank. The king having in vain threatened difpleafure, and even death, with the butt-end of his lance, in defpair, flruck Sertza Denghel in the mouth, and beat out all his fore-teeth. A bank of gravel, like a bridge, feparated two deep pools, in the river Mariam, over which the king efca-ped, though with difficulty, the ground being foul with quick fand. All the foot that had remained about the king ran down the bank, where the Begemder horfe could not pur-fue them, and joined him in the valley, where he made the belt of his way towards the fouth fide of the long low hill, by the winding road, on the fide of which, and juft above him, was placed Guebra Mafcal. Ras Michael, who faw the dangerous fituation and efcape of the king, and who had kept Ayto Engedan near for fome fuch purpofes, difpatched him with a confidcrable body of horfe, along the low hill, ordering him immediately to join the king, and cover his retreat; he likewife detached a confidcrable body of mufqueteers, and mounted for the greater fpeed upon mules, who were directed to take poft upon the fouth end of the round hill, below the winding road, while another party poiieffed themfelves of fome rocky ground on the fouth fide of the valley. This command was as foon executed as given. Ayto Engedan joined the king, who had loft all his kettle-drums but one, now beating before him, and upon his arrival at the entrance of the valley, the king, at V, turned his face to the enemy, having the mufquetry, at X and Y, newly arrived from the camp on his right and left. Ketla Ketla Yasous was immediately acquainted with the king's cfcape, and, knowing the confequcncc of protracting time, renewed the engagement with fomuch vigour, that he puflied the horfe of Begemder to fome fmall.diilance back into the plain. PowufFen, whofe only view was to take the king prifoncr, and wreft the pofTelTion of his perfon, and with that his authority from Ras Michael, was much dif-concerted at the unexpected way by which the king ef-caped ; he after this halted a little for council, then divided his troops, with one part of which he rcfolved to go down the winding road, and with the other to pafs at the junction of the rivers, and enter the valley in that direction, in order to overtake the king, and intercept him in his way to the camp, in cafe any thing obflructcd his palling the winding road. Kclla Yafous took advantage of this movement, and with his horfe made his way to join the heavy-armed troops, and thofe who had joined the line, Handing clofely and firmly where they were Rationed. The firfl perfon that appeared was Kefla Yafous, and the horfe with him, ftrctching out his hand, (his face being all befmeared with blood, for he was wounded in his forehead) he cried as loud as he could, Stand firm, the king is fafe in the valley. Fie had fcarce faced about, and joined the line, when the enemy approached at a briik gallop. The Begemder horfe were defer than ufual, and deeper than the front was broad; they refemblcd therefore an oblong fquare, if they refemblcd any thing; but the truth is, they were all in diforder, and their figure, never regular, changed every moment; the right of their front (which was not equal to ours) was finally placed againfl the road, being clofe by Guebra Mafcal's poll, whofe men were much increafed in Y 2 number $ number ; they received the difchargc of his whole mufquetry in two vollies, fo near that I fcarce believe there was one fhot that did not take place on man or horfe. A great cry from the bank at the fame time added to their panic, which was anfwered by the king's troops, who immediately charged them as before, as they wheeled half round to the left. They were purfued, for a fmall diftance, by fome of the troops that had not engaged in the morning, and it was eafy to perceive their diforder was real, and that they were not likely to rally. By this laft difcharge, Powuflen was flightly wounded, and his men were plainly feen hurrying him oil'the field. In the very inflant the rebels turned their backs, Kefla Yafous ordered all the troops, horfe and foot, to file off down the narrow road into the valley, behind the heavy-armed horfe, who kept their ground before the road, and there to join the king. . For my part, I thought the affair was over, when, laft of all, we, too, with our heavy horfes, defcended the road, where we found Guebra Mafcal, (whofe activity was above all praife) drawn up on our right along the foot of the bank, (with a large pool of water in his front) flanking the valley, the king drawn up in the narroweft part of it, and juft engaged with the troops of Lafta and Begemder, that had gone round by the junction of the rivers, thefe had loft, as we afterwards heard, much time in giving their horfes water, they were, however, the more refrefhed when they did come, and though they had received a fire from the troops on the round hill, and from thofe poited on the rocky ground, on the other fide of the valley, they had beat the king and Engedan back, and wounded him in the thigh. Ax At this time the Koccob horfe, and Yafmc with his Moors (who had the charge of the road above till all the troops were gone) arrived, being as it were ihut out from the army, who were engaged at the other fide of the hill Kefla Yafous, after defcending through the winding road into the valley, ordered Guebra Mafcal to pafs the pool, and ft and at the bottom of the winding road, for fear the enemy ihould enter at the valley on the king's right, where the river ran, and fo cut us off from our camp. This fpace he was then occupying when Yafine, firft, and. afterwards, our black horfe, arrived. He had, it feems, cried out to me before from the fide of the pool, but I had not then heard him. He now, however, repeated, Where are you going, Yagoube ? To die, faid I, furlily; it is the bufinefs of the day. He then added, Keila Yafous has crofTed over behind Balha Hezekias, and fallen into the king's rear. You know well, faid I, our poll is in his front. Then follow me, cried Mafcal, for by G- -d 1 fay you fhall not take one flep to-day, but I will go five before you. So faying, he advanced very nattily, and when he faw the Bcgemdcr colours retreating before the king, he poured in a volley, which, though at a confidcrable diftance, turned all to a perfect flight. We entered upon the fmoke, juft' before the Shoa horfe, with no lofs, and very little refiftance, and came juit into the place which we occupied in the morning. Though the flight of the rebels was apparently real, Kefla Yafous would not fufTer a purfuit into the plain, but advancing fngly before us, began to form immediately; the nrufquetry were planted on each fide of the valley as far up the hill as to be out of reach of the horfe, and the refl of the infantry in the plain; Bafha Hczekias was on the round hill jufl behind the center, where the king had placed himfelf, and Guebra Mafcal nearly where he flood before. The army now made an appearance of a large fection of an amphitheatre. I obferved the king had pulled off the diadem, or white fillet he wears for diftinctlon, and was very intent upon renewing the engagement: the Begemder troops were forming, with great alertnefs, about half a mile below, being reinforced from time to time. The king ordered his drums to beat, and his trumpets to found, to inform the enemy he was ready; but they did not anfwer, or advance: foon after (it being near three o'clock) the weather became , overcaft, and cold, on which the troops of Begemder beat a retreat ; the king, very foon after, did the fame, and returned to the camp without further moleflation ; only that coming near a rock which projected into the valley, (not far diflant from the camp) a multitude of pcafants belonging to Mariam-Ohha, threw down a mower of Hones from their hands and flings, which hurt feveral. The king ordered them to be fired at, though they were a great diftance off, and palled on: but Guebra Mafcal commanding about fifty men to run brifkly up the hill, on each fide of the rock, gave them two difcharges at a lefs diftance, which killed or wounded many, and made the reft difappear in a moment. I doubt that my reader will be more than fufficiently tired with the detail of this fecond battle of Serbraxos; but, as it was a very remarkable incident in my life, I could not omit it as far as I faw it myfelf, and fupprefiing any one part of it would have involved the reft in a confuiion, with which 3 I fear I fear it may be flill too juflly charged. I therefore fhall only fay for connection's fake, that Gufho and Guebra Chri-flos, in the center, were but partially engaged, and Kafmati Tesfos of Sire, fecond commander for the king, in that di-vifion, wounded, and taken prifoner. Guebra Chriflos, the king's uncle, was flain, (as it was believed) by a fhot of his own men; few other lives of note were loll on either fide, in that divifion. The king's troops fell back under the hill of Serbraxos, where Michael was, and, though followed by Gufho, were no further attacked by him. Hut on the right, Billetana Gucta Tecla, and Welleta Michael, after a very oh-flinate and bloody engagement, were beaten by Kafmati Ayabdar, and forced acrofs the river Mogetch, where, having rallied and polled themfelves flrongly, it was not . thought proper to attempt to force them, and they all joined the camp foon after the king, but with very great lofs. This battle, though it was rather a victory than a defeat, had, however, upon the king's affairs, all the bad confe-quenccs of the latter, nor was there any thinking man who had confidence in them from that day forward. Near 3000 men perifhed on the king's fide, a great proportion of whom was of the left wing, which he commanded; near 1S0 young men, of the greatefl hopes and noblefl families in the kingdom, were among that number; Guebra Chriflos was in all refpects a truly national lofs. Kefla Yafous was twice wounded, but not dangeroufly, befides a multitude of others of the firft rank, among whom was Ayto Engedan, who by proper care foon recovered alfo, but in the mean time was fent to Gondar, to his coufin Ayto Corfu. On our fide, too, a fon of Lika Nctcho, and a fon of Nc-brit Tecla, were both flain.—Providence fecmed now to have begun begun to require fatisfacraon for tire blood of the late king Joas, in the ihedding of which thefe two were particularly-concerned. Among the flain were our friends the Bahama-gafh and his fon, who died valiantly lighting before the king at the time he cfcaped down the bank into the valley. But what ferved as comfort to the king, was the flill heavier lofs fullained by the enemy, who, by their own accounts that day, lofl above 9000 men, feven thoufand of whom were from the troops of Begemder and Lafla, writh which the king was engaged. For my own part, I cannot believe, but that both thefe accounts are much exaggerated ; the great proportion that died of thofe that were wounded mufl have greatly fwclled the lofs of the rebels, becaufe mofl gun-lhot wounds, efpccially if bones are broken, mortify, and prove mortal. Among the flain, on the part of Begemder, were two chiefs of Laita, and two relations of Powuflen, (a brother-in-law and his ion] they were both fhot, bearing the banner of king Theodorus. The unworthy Confu, brother to Guebra Mehedin, and nephew to the Iteghe, whom I have often mentioned, had cfcaped, indeed, from Kafmati Ayabdar, who had given orders to confine him, to die a rebel this day among the troops of Bcgemdcr. The king being wafhed and dreifed, and having dined, received a compliment from Ras Michael, who fent him a prefent of fruit, and a thoufand ounces of gold. There began then the filthieft of all ceremonies that ever difgraccd any nation filling themfelves Chriflians; a ceremony that cannot be put in terms fufficiently decent for modeft ears, without adapting the chafle language of fcripturc, which, 2 when when ncceflity obliges to treat of grofs fubjecls, always makes choice of the leafl offenfive language. All thofe, whether women or men, who have fiefs of the crown, are obliged to furnifh certain numbers of horfe and foot. The women were feldom obliged, to perfonal attendance, till Ras Michael made it a rule, in order to compofe a court or company for Ozoro Either. At the end of a day of battle each chief is obliged to lit at the door of his tent, and each of his followers, who has flain a man, prefents himfelf in his turn, armed as in fight, with the bloody forefkin of the man whom he has flain hanging upon the wrift of his right hand. In this, too, he holds his lance, brandifhing it over his mailer, or millrefs, as if he intended to flrike ; and repeating in a feeming rage, a rant of non-fenfe, which admits of no variation, " I am John the fon of George, the fon of William, the fon of Thomas ; I am the rider upon the brown horfe ; I faved your father's life at fuch a battle ; where would you have been if I had not fought for you to-day ? you give me no encouragement, no cloaths, nor money; you do not deferve fuch a fervant as I ;" and with that he throws his bloody fpoils upon the ground before his fuperior. Another comes afterwards, in his turn, and does the fame ; and, if he has killed more than one man, fo many more times he returns, always repeating the fame nonfenfe, with the fame geflures. I believe there was a heap of above 400 that day, before Ozoro Fflher; and it was monflrous to fee the young and beautiful Tecla Mariam fitting upon a flool prefiding at fo filthy a ceremony; nor was fhe without furprife, fuch is the force of cuflcm, that no compliment of that kind was paid on my part; and flill Vol. IV. Z more more fo, that I could not be even prefent at fo horrid and bloody an exhibition. The fuperiors appear at this time with their heads covered as before their vaifals ; their mouth, too, is hid, and nothing is feen but their eyes : this does not proceed from modeity, but is a token of fupcriority, of which, covering or urtcovering the head is a very fpecial demonflration. After this ceremony is over each man takes his bloody conqueft, and retires to prepare it in the fame manner the Indians do their fcalps. To conclude this beailly account, the whole army, on their return to Gondar, on a particular day of review, throws them before the king, and leaves them at the gate of the palace. It is in fearch of thefe, and the unburi-ed bodies of criminals, that the hyaenas come in fuch num-hers to the ftreets, where it is dangerous, even when armedv ro walk after dark. This inhuman ceremony being over, alfo the care of the wounded, which indeed precedes every thing, the king received all thofe of the nobility who had diftinguifhed themfelves that day; the tent was crowded, and he was in great fpirits at the flaughter that had been made, which unbecoming pleafure he never could difguife. He mentioned the death of his uncle Guebra Chriflos with a degree of chcarfulncfs, prefuming, that when fuch a man died on his fide, man}' of that rank and merit mull have fallen on the other. Villages, appointments, and promotions, gold, promifes, and prefents of every kind, had been liberally bellowed upon thofe who had prefented themfelves, and who had merited reward that day by their behaviour. The king had been furnilhcd with means from the Ras, and according cording to his natural inclination (especially towards foldiers) he had bellowed them liberally, and I believe impartially. Guebra Mafcal had not appeared; he was waiting upon his uncle Ras Michael, looking after his own in-terefl, to which no AbylTinian is blind, and expofing thofe bloody fpoils, which I have jufl mentioned, to the Ras, his uncle and general, I had been abfent from another motive, the attendance on my friend Engedan, to whofe tent I had removed my bed, as he complained of great pain in his wound, and I had likewife obtained leave of the Ras to fhift my tent near that of his, and leave the care of the king's horfe to Laeca Mariam, an old Have and confidential fervant of the king. As thefe men were the king's menial fcrvants in his palace, a number of them (about a fourth) (laid at Gondar with the horfes, and few more than 100 to 120 could now be mullered, from about 200 or 204 which they at firll were : the arranging of this, attendance upon Ayto Engedan,and fe-veral delays in getting accefs to the Ras, who had all his troops of Tigre round him, made it palt eight o'clock in the evening before 1 could fee the king after he entered the camp ; he had many times fent in fearch of Sertza Denghel, but no fuch perfon could be found ; he had been feen bravely fighting by Engedan's fide in the entrance of the valley, when that young nobleman was wounded, and he had retired with him from the field, but nobody could give am account of him, and the king, by his repeated inquiries after him, {hewed more anxiety, from the fuppofition he was loll, than he had done for Guebra Chriflos his uncle, £ 2 or or all the men that had fallen that day; I had feen him in Ayto Engedan's tent, fitting behind his bed, in the darktft place of it; both his lips, nofe, and chin were violently cut, his whole fore teeth beat out, and both his cheeks greatly fwcllcd. I had given him what relief I could, nor was there any thing dangerous in his wounds ; but the affront of receiving the blow from the king, when he was doing a mofl meritorious act of duty, (the faving him from death, or the hands of the rebels), had made fuch an impreffion upon a noble mind, that as foon as he arrived in Engedan's tent, he had ordered his hair to be cut off, put a white cap, or monk's cowl upon his head, and by a vow dedicated himfelf to a monaflic life. In vain the king flattered, rewarded, and threatened him afterwards, and went fo far as to make the Abuna menace him with excommunication if he per filled in his refolution any longer. After this I carried him, as we fhall fee, by the king's defire, to Gufho, in his camp, and intcrelled him alfo to perfuade Sertza Denghel to renounce his rafli vow: no confideration could however prevail, for, like a private monk, he lived at home in the village which belonged to him in patrimony, and, tho' he often came to court, never flept or ate in the palace, the excufe being, when defircd to flay dinner, that he had no teeth. He conflantly flept at my houfe, fomctimcs chearful, but very feldom fo. He was a young man of excellent underflanding, and particularly turned to the fludy of religion ; he was well read in all the books of his own country, and very defircus of being inflructed in ours ; he had the very worfl opinion of his own priefts, and his principal defire (if it had been poflible) was to go with me to die, and to be buried in Jcrufalem, CHAP, CHAP. VIII. King rewards his Officers—The Author again perfccutcd by Guebra Mafcal—Great Di/pleafure of the King—The Author and Guebra Mfcal are reconciled and rewarded—Third Battle of Serbraxos, AFTER the engagement, as every body had accefs to the king's prcfence, I did not choofe to force my way through the crowd, but went round through the more private entry, by the bed-chamber, when I placed myfelf behind the king's chair. As foon as he faw me, he faid, with great benignity, " I have not inquired nor fent for you, be-caufe I knew you would be necefTarily bufied among thofe of your friends, who have been wounded to-day ; you arc yourfelf, befides, hurt: how are you?" I anfwered, " that I was not hurt to-day, but, though often in danger, had cfcaped without any other harm than excemve fatigue occafloncd by heat and weight of my coat of mail, and that one of my horfes was killed under Ammonios." • Ethers I then took the red colours from the fervant behind me, and going to the carpet fpread before the king, laid them at his feet, faying, " So may all your majcfly's enemies fall, as this arch rebel (the bearer of this) has fallen to-day ;" a great murmur was immediately raifed upon feeing thefe colours, and the king cried out with the utmoil impatience, " Has he fallen into your hands, Yagoube ? who was he, where did you meet him, or where did you flay him?" ** Sir, faid I, it was not my fortune to meet him to-day, nor did I flay him. I am no king-killer; it is a fin, I thank God, from which my anceflors are all free; yet, had Providence thrown in my way a king like this, I believe I might have overcome my fcruples. He was killed, as I fuppofe, by a fhot of Guebra Mafcal, on the flank of our line; a foldier picked up the colours on the field, and brought them to me in hopes of reward, while you was engaged with the troops of Begemder, near the bank ; but the merit of his death is with Guebra Mafcal. I do him this juftice, the rather becaufe he is the only man in your majelty's army who bears me ill-will, or has been my conflant enemy, for what reafon I know not; but God forbid, that on this, or any perfonal account, I mould not bear witnefs to the truth : this day, my fortune has been to be near him during the whole of it, and I fay it from certain infpection, that to the bravery and activity of Guebra Mafcal every man in your left wing owes his life or liberty."—" He is a fhame and difgrace to his family, fays the king's fecretary, who was Handing by him, if after this he can be your enemy."—" It mufl beamiftakc, fays the king's pried (Kiis Hatzc), for this mould atone for it, though Yagoube had flain liis brother." While While this converfation was going on, an extraordinary buttle was obferved in the crowd, and this unquiet genius puihing through it with great violence, his goat's lkin upon his moulders, and covered with dull and fweat, in the fame manner he came from the field ; he had heard I was gone to the king's tent with the red flag, and not doubting I was to complain of him, or praife myfelf at his expence, had directly followed me, without giving himfelf time.to make the leall inquiry. He threw himfelf fuddenly, with his face to the ground, before the throne, and rifing as quickly, and in violent agitation, he faid to the king, or rather bellowed, very indecently, "It is a lie Yagoube is telling; he does not fay the truth; I meant him no harm but good to day, and he did not underfland my language. I don't fay Yagoube is not as good a man as any of us, but it is a lie he has been telling now, and I will prove it." A general Ulcnce followed this wild rhapfody; the king was furprifed, and very gravely faid, 1 am forry, for your fake, if it is a lie ; for my part, I was rafh enough to believe it was true. Guebra Mafcal was flill going to make bad worfe, by fome abfurd reply, when the fecrctary, and one or two of his friends, hauled him out behind the throne to one of the apartments within, not without fome refiilance, every one fuppofing, and many faying, he was drunk ; the king was file nr., but appeared exceedingly difpleafed, wheh 1 fell upon the ground before him, (a form of a Iking leave to fpeak upOn any particular fubject.) and riling faid, Sir, With great fubmiflion, it is not, I apprehend, true, that Gue-1 r. Mafcal is drunk, as fome have rafhly faid now in your P1'.nee; we have all ate and drank, and changed our cioathing fince the battle ; but this man, who has been on 4 foot foot fince five in the morning, and engaged all day, has not, I believe, ate or drank as yet; certainly he has not waflied himfelf, or changed his habit, but has been taking care of his wounded men, and has prefentcd himfelf now as he came from the field, under the unjufl fufpicion I was doing him wrong. L then repeated what had happened at the bank when the king was purfuing the troops of Begemder. Now I underftand him, fays the king, but Rill he is wrong, and this is not the firit inikmcc I have feen, when there was no fuch miflakc. At this time a meffenger came to call me from within. The king divined the reafbn of fending, and faid, No, he mall not go to Guebra Mafcal; I will not fuller this. Go, fays he to one of his fervants that flood near him, defire the Ras to call Guebra Mafcal, and afk him what this brutality means ? I have feen two inftances of his mifbehavi-our already, and wifh not to be provoked by a third. At this inflant came Kefla Yafous, with his left hand bound up, and a broad leaf like that of a plane upon his forehead. After the ufual falutation, and a kind of joke of the king's on his being wounded, I afked him if he would retire and let me drefs his forehead ? which he mewing inclination to do, the king faid, Aye, go, and afk Guebra Mafcal why he quarrels with his bell friends, and prevents me from rewarding him as he otherwife would have de-ferved. I went out with Kefla Yafous, being very defi-rous this affair mould not go to the Ras, and we found Guebra Mafcal in appearance in extreme agony and dc-fpair. The whole ftory was told diftinctly to Kefla Yafous, who took it up in the mod judicious manner. He faid he had been detained at his tern, but had come to the king's pre-fence exprefsly to give Guebra Mafcal the juft praife he deferved for his behaviour that day: that he was very happy that I, who was near him all the action, and was a Granger, and unprejudiced (as he might be thought not to be) had done it fo juflly and fo handfomely. At the fame time he could not help faying, that the quarrel with Yagoube in the palace, the taunting ljpeech made without provocation in the king's prefence on the march, his apoftrophc in the field, and the abrupt manner in which he ignorantly broke in upon die converfation before the king, interrupting and contradicting his own commendations, mewed a diftem-pered mind, and that he acted from a bad motive, which, if inquired into, would inevitably ruin him, both with King and Ras ; and he had heard indeed it already had done with the former. Guebra Mascal, now crying like a child, condemned himfelf for a malicious madman in the two firfl inftances; but fwore, that on the field he had no intention but to favc me, if occafion threw it in his way ; for which purpofc alone it was he had cried out to me to ftand firm, for the troops of Begemder were coming upon us, hut that I did net un-derfland his meaning. Guebra \bdcal advances nothing but truth, faid I, to Kefla Yafous; I did not perfectly under-ftand him to-day in the field, as he fpoke in his own language of Tigre, and (la miners greatly, nor did I diftinctly comprehend what he faid acrofs the pool, for the fame reafon, and the confufion we were in : 1 maii however mofl rcaddv confefs my obligation to him, for the opportunity Vol. IV. A a he he gave me to join the king. I am a ftrangcr, and liable to err, whin!, for the fame rcafbn, I am entitled to all your protections and forgivennefs. I am, moreover, the king's itranger, and as fuch, entitled to fomething more as long as-I conduct: myfelf with propriety to every one. I have never f, ken a word but in GuebraMafcal's praife, and in this I have done him no more than juilice; his impatience perverted what I had faid; but the real truth, as I fpoke it, remains in the ears of the king and of thofe that were by-ftanders, to whom I appeal.. Every thing went after this in the manner that was to be wifhed. Guebra Mafcal and I vowed eternal friendfhip to each other, of which Kefla Yafous profefled himfelf the guarantee. All this paifed while I was binding up his head; he went again to the king. For my own parr, tired to death, low in fpirits, and curfing the hour that brought me to fuch a country, I almoil regretted I had not died that day in the field of Serbraxos. I went to bed, in Ayto Engedan's tent, refuting to go to Ozoro Ffther, who had fent for me. I could not help lamenting how well my apprehenfions had been verified, that fome of our companions at laft night's flipper^, fo anxious for the appearance of morning, mould never fee its evening. Four of them, all young men, and of great hopes, were then lying dead and mangled on the field ; two others befides Engedan had been alfo wounded. I had, however, a found and refrefhing fleep. I think madnefs would have been the confequence, if this ncceffary refrefhment had failed me ; fuch was the horror I had conceived of my prefent fitiuuion, On > On the 21ft, Engedan was conveyed in a litter to Gondar; and early in the morning of that day arrived an officer from Fowuffen, together with three or four prieils. He brought with him twenty or thirty kettle-drums belonging to the king, with their mules, and as many of the drummers as were alive. The errand was fliam propofals of peace, as ufual^ and great profeffions of allegiance to the king. As Powuffen's attack, however, that day, had fomething very perfon-al in it, and that the ftory of Theodorus was founded upon a fuppoiition that the king was to be flain on the field of Serbraxos, little anfwer was returned, only the red flag was fent back with a meflage, That perhaps, from the good fortune that had attended it, Powuflen might wifh to keep it for Theodorus his fuccefFor, but it was never after feen or heard of. Gusho likewife, and Ayabdar, fent a kind of cmbaffy to inquire after the king's health and fafety ; they wifhed him, in terms of the greateff. refpeel, not to expofe himfelf in the field as lie had done in the laft battle, or at lead, if hechofe to command his troops in perfon, that he fliould diflinguifh himfelf by fome horfe, or drefs, as his prcdeceflbrs ufed to do; and they concluded with fevei e reflections on Michael, as not fufFiciently attentive to the fafety of his fovereign. Gracious meilages were returned to thefe two, and they all were difmiifed with the ufual prefents of clothes and money. About eleven o'clock in the forenoon I received an order from the Ras to attend him, and, as I thought it was about the affair of Guebra Mafcal, 1 went very unwillingly. I was confirmed in this by feeingdiim waiting with many A a 2 of t of his friends without the tent, and Rill more fo upon our being called in together: the Ras was converting low to two prieils, who by their drels icemed to have come lately from Gondar; he paid little regard to either of us, but nodded, and afked in Tigre how we did ? Three or four fervant3, however, brought out new tine cotton clothes, which they put upon us both ; and, upon another nod, feveral officers and priefts, and a number of other people, conducted us to the king, though ft ill, as the Ras had fcarcely fpoken to us, I wondered how this fliould end. After flaying a little we were both introduced; the Likaontes, or judges, fome prietis, and my friend the fecretary, flood about the king,, who fat in the middle of his cent upon the flool Guangoul had fat down upon; the fecretary held fomething in his lap, and, upon Guebra Mafcal's firft kneeling, bound a white fillet like a ribband round his forehead, upon which were written in black and red ink, M& ambajfa'am Nhsefct Solomon am Ncgadi- J'ude, " The lion of the tribe of judah of the race of? Solomon has overcome." The fecretary then declared his inveiliture ; the king had given him in lief, or for military fervice for ever, three large villages in Dembea, which he named, and this was proclaimed afterwards by beat of drum at the door of the tent. The king then likewife prefented> him with a gold knife, upon which he kilfed tire ground, and arofe. It was my rum *iext to kneeT before the king. Whether there was any thing particular in my countenance, or what fancy came into h- head I k'.ow nor, but when I looked iianin the face he couM ieaice refrain from lawgh-fog. I le bad a 1 ge. chain of <-u '. with very maffy links, which he doubled twice, and then put it over my reek, while- while the fecretary faid, " Yagoube, the king does you this great honour, not as payment of pail fervices, but as a pledge that he will reward them if you will put it in his power." Upon this I kilTed the ground, and we were both reconducted to the Ras, with our infignia ; and, having killed the ground before him, and then his hands, we both had leave to retire. He feemed very bufy with people arrived from without; he only lifted up his head, fmiled, and faid, Well, are you friends now ? We both bowed without anfwer, and left the tent. The chain comlfted of 184 links, each of them weighing 3rTdwts of fine gold. It was with the utmofl reluctance that, being in want of every thing,. I fold great part of this honourable diilmction at Sennaar in my return home; the remaining part is ilill in my pofleiiion. It is hoped my fucceffors will never have the fame excufe 1 had, for further diminilliing this honourable monument which I have left them- About a few hours after this, a-much more intereuing fpe Rock) one of the big-heft of the mountains of Samen, where he-man* amed'a large number of troops, with winch he everuvved 1 h$ wh§& n< Jgh-louring country, and made ptrpctur,. iiuo fig-re. Ene- my my as he was to Ras Michael, he would not venture to take an a&ive part again ft him, till the king's affairs were plainly going to ruin. I have already mentioned, that the laft thing Michael did was to fend Kefla Yafous, Bafha He-zekias,and Welleta Michael, to difpoffefs him of his ftrong-hold if poftlble, and in this they had failed. But now that Tesfos faw there was no probability that Michael Ihould be able to retreat to Tigre, he came at lalt to join Gulho, bringing with him only about a thoufand men, having left all his polls guarded againft furprife, and llrong enough to cut oifall recruits arriving from Tigre. Nothing that had yet happened ever had fo bad effect upon Michael's men as this appearance of Tesfos. It was a little before mid-day when his army appeared, and from the hills above marched down towards the valley below us, not two mufquet-ihoi from our camp. Though Samen is really on the weft of the Tacazze, and confequently in the Amharic divifion of this country, yet, •on account of its vicinity to Tigre, the language and cuf-tonis are moftly the fame with thofe of that province. There is a march peculiar to the troops of Tigre, which, when the drums of Tesfos beat at palling, a defpondency feemed to fall on all the Tigran foldiers, greater than if ten thoufand men of Amhara had joined the rebels. It was a line day, and the troops, fpread abroad upon the face of the hill, not only ihewed more in number than they really were, but alfo morcfecurity than they were, in point of prudence, warranted to do, when at fo fmall a diftance i om fuch an army as ours. A Tesfos Tesfos took a poll very likely to diftrefs us, as he Jiac1 more than 300 mufquetry with him. He fat down with horfe and foot in the middle of the valley be Fore us, with part of his mufquetry polled upon the Hurts of the mountain Beleflen on one fide, and part on, the top of that long, even hill, dividing the valley from the river Mariam. Over his camp, lhXe a citadel, is the rock that projects into the valley, from which the peafants of Mariam-Ohha had thrown the flones when we were returning to our camp after the la/l battle. Upon this rock Tesfos had placed a multitude of women and fervants, who began to build ilraw-huts for themfelves, as if they intended to flay there for fome time, though there was Hill plenty of the female lex below with the camp. Indeed, I never remember to have feen fo many women in proportion to any army whatever, no not even in our own.. Ip Tesfos had been long in coming, he was refolved, now he was come, to make up for his loft time, as he was not a mile and a half from our camp, and could fee our horfes, go down to water, either at Deg-Ohha or Mariam ; that lame day at two o'clock, his horfe attacked our men at watering, killed fome fervants, and took feveral horfes. This behaviour of Tesfos was taken as a defiance to Kefla Yafous in particular, and to the army in general. There was no perfon in the whole army, of any rank whatever, fo generally beloved as Kefla Yafous; he was looked upon by the foldiers as their father. He was named by the Ras to the government of Samen, but had failed, as we have already ftated, in difpofleffing Ayto Tesfos, whofe diforderly march at broad mid-day, fo near our army, the z often tatious-: often tat ious beating of the Tigran march upon his kettledrum as he pafled, and his taking poll fo near, were all con-fidered as meriting chafttfement. That general, however, though very fenfible of this bravado, did not venture to fuggeft any thing in the prefent fituation of the army, but all his friends propofed it to him, that fome reproof fliould be given to Tesfos, if it was only to raife the drooping fpirits of the troops of Tigre, Accordingly 400 horfe, and about 500 foot, armed with lances and Ihidds only, without mufquetry for fear of alarm, were ordered to be ready as foon as it was perfectly dark, that is, between feven and eight o'clock. Tesfos liaving waited the coming of his baggage, and arranged his little camp to his liking, was feen to mount, with about 300 horfe, to go to the camp of Gufho or Powuf-fen a little before fun-fet, at which time Kefla Yafous was diflributing plenty of meat to the foldiers. About eight o'clock they defcended the hill unperceived even by part of our camp. Kefla Yafous was governor of Temben (a province on the S. W. of Tigre) immediately joining to Samen, and the language and dialect was the fame. The foot were ordered to take the lead, fcawcred in a manner not to give alarm, and the horfe were to pafs by the back of the low, even hill, in the other vaMey, along the banks of the river Mariam, clofe to the water, in order to cut off the retreat to the plain. A great part of the Samen foldiers were afleep, urn iI ft a number of the mules that had been loaded were ftraggling up and down, and fome of them returning to the camp. The Temben troops had now inlinuated themfelves among the tents, efpecially on the fide of the hilL 1 The The firft circumftancc that gave alarm was the appearance of the horfe, bat they were not taken for an enemy, but for Ayto Tesfos returning. Kefla Yafous now gave the fignal to charge, by beating a kettle-drum, and every foldicr fell upon the enemy neareft him. It is impofliblc to defcribe the confufion that followed, nor was it eafy to diftinguifli enemies from friends, cfpecially for us on horfe-back; only thofe that fled were reckoned enemies. The greateft execution done by the horfe was breaking the jars of honey, butter, beer, wine, and flour, and gathering as many mules together as poflible to drive them away. Few of the enemy came our way towards the plain, but mod fled up the hill: in an inftant the ftraw huts upon the rock were fet on fire, and Kefla Yafous had ordered rather to deflroy the provifions than the men, fince there was no refiftance. I paired a large tent, which I judged to be that of Ayto Tesfos, which our people immediately cut open ; but, inilead of an officer of confluence, we faw, by the light of a lamp, three or four naked men and women, totally overpowered with drink and fleep, lying hclplefs, like fo many hogs, upon the ground, utterly unconfeious of what was pa/ling about them. Upon a large tin platter, on a bench, lay one of the large horns, perfectly drained of the fpirits that it had contained ; it was one of the moll beautiful, for fliapc and colour, I ever had feen, though not one of the largefl. This horn was all my booty that night. Upon my return to Britain, it was afked of me by Sir Thomas Dundas of Carfc, to fcrve for a bugle-horn to the Fauconbcrg regiment, to which, as being part urn fanguine, it was very properly adapted. That regiment being difbanded foon after, I know not further what came Vol. IV. B b of of it; it is probably placed in fome public collection, or at leaf! ought to be. The fire increafing on the hill, and feveral mufquets having been heard, it was plain the enemy, in all the camps, were alarmed, and our further ilay became every moment more dangerous. Kefla Yafous now beat a retreat, and fent the horfemen all round to force the foot to make the bell of their way back, ordering alfo all mules taken to be ham-flringed and left, not to retard our return. Trumpets and drums were heard from our camp, to warn us not to Ray, as it was not doubted but mifchief would follow, and accordingly we were fcarce arrived, within the limits of our camp when we heard the found of horfe in the valley. Michael, always watchful upon every accident, no fooner faw the fires lighted on the hill, than he ordered Guebra Mafcal to place a good body of mufqueteers about half way down the hill, as near as pof-fjble to the ford of Mariam, thinking it probable that the enemy would enter at both ends of the long hill, in order to furround thofe who were deflroying their camp, which they accordingly did, whilil thofe of our people, who had taken to drinking, fell into the hands of the troops that came by the lower road, and were all put to death. Thofe that reached the upper ford ferved to afford us a fevcre revenge, for Guebra Mafcal, after having feen them pafs between him and the river, though it was a dark and very windy night, gueffed very luckily their pofition, and gave them fo happy a fire, that moil of thofe who were not II a in flain returned back without feeing Ayto Tesfos's camp, being afraid that fome other trap might flill be in their way. In the morning of the 22d, we found that the flain were men of Begemder and Laila. Tesfos, it feems, had been in Powuffen's camp when he faw the fire lighted on the hill, and thence had provided an additional number of troops to attack Kefla Yafous before he had done his bufincis, but in this he mifcarried. Tesfos's party was thus.totally deflroyed and difperfed, his mules ftaughtered, and his provifions fpoiled. About thirty of Kefla Yafous's infantry, however, loft their lives by Haying behind, and intoxicating themfelves with liquor. Of the horfe, not a man was either killed or wounded. I was the only unfortunate perfon ; and Providence had feemed to warn me of my danger the day before, for pafling then that rock which projected into the valley, the fire giving perfect light, the multitude afFembled above, and prepared for that purpofe, poured down upon us fuch a fhower of arrows, Hones, billets of wood, and broken jars, as is not to be imagined. Of thefe a ftone gave me a very violent blow upon my left arm, while a fmall fragment of the bottom of a jar, or pitcher, ftruck me on the creft of my helmet, and occafioned fuch a concufiion as to deprive me for a time of all recollection, fo that, when lying in my tent at no great diftance, I did not remember to have heard Guebra Mafcai's difchargc. I certainly had fome prefaging that mifchief was to happen me, for pafling that rock, juft before we entered Tesfos's camp, I defired Tecla, when I returned, to allow fifty men to proceed up the hill and cut thofe people in pieces who had ftationed themfelves fo inconveniently; but he would not confent, being defirous B b 2 to to return without lofs of time, and before the enemy knew the calamity that had befallen them. Ayto Tesfos now became a little more humble, retreated to the fouth end of the lung hill, till b ing joined, next day the 2 ^d, by his neighbours, Samuel Mam mo of Tzegade, and Heraclius of Walkayt, who had a very large force, he again removed nearer us, about half a mile farther than his firft poiition, and extended his camp quite acrofs the valley, from the foot of the hill to the river Mariam, keeping his head-quarters on the top of the long, even hill, lb often mentioned. Mammo and Heraclius had pafled by Gondar, and, being much fuperior in number, had taken Sanuda, Ayto Confu, and Ayto Engedan prifoners, and, though the two laft were wounded, carried them to Gufho's camp, I need not trouble the reader with the attention fliewed me upon my accident; all that was great and noble at court, from the king downwards, feemed to be as fenfiblc of it as if it had happened to one of their own family ; the Ras very particularly fo; and I muft own, above all, Guebra Mafcal fhewed himfelf a fincere convert, by a concern and friendfhip that had every mark of fincerity. Ozoro Efther was feveral times the next day at my tent, and with her the beautiful Tecla Mariam, whofe fympathy and kindnefs would more than have compenfated a greater misfortune ; for, faving that it had occafioncd an inflammation in my eyes, the hurt was of the llightcft kind. Many people came to-day from the feveral camps with propofals of peace, which ended in nothing, though it was vifiblc vifible enough to every one that a treaty of fome kind was not only on foot, but already far advanced. In the evening a party of 400 foot and 50 horfe, which went to Dembea to forage for the king, was furprifed by Coque Abou Barea, and cut to pieces ; after which that general encamped with Gufho, and brought with him about 3000 men. Provisions were now become fcarce in the camp, aid there was a profpect that they would be every day fcareer ; and, what was flill worfe, Deg-Ohha, which long had flood in pools, was now almoil dry, and, from the frequent ufe made of it by the number of beafb, began to have both an offenfive fmell and tafte; whilft, every time we attempted to water at the Mariam river, a battle was to be fought with Tesfos's horfe in the valley. On the other hand, an epidemical fever raged in the rebels camp on the plain, cfpecial-ly in that of Gufho and Ayabdar. The rain, moreover, was now coming on daily, and fomething dccilivc became lie-ceffary for all parties. On the 24th, in the morning, a mefTage arrived from Gufho to the king, defiring I might have liberty to come and bring medicines with me, for his whole family were ill of the fever. The king anfwered, that I had been wounded in the head, and was ill; nor did he believe I could be able to come; but, if 1 was, he mould fend me in the morning. A little before noon the drums in the plain beat to arms. Heraclius, Mammo, and Tesfos on the fide of the valley, Coque Abou Barca and Afahel Woodage on the fide of the plain, with frefli troops, had obtained leave from Gufho Gullio and Powuflen to try to ilorm our camp, without any afliflance from the main army, in order to bring the whole to a fpeedy conclufion. There had been a time when fuch an undertaking would not have been thought a prudent one to much better men than any of thofe who now were parties in it; but our fpirit* were greatly fallen, our number, too, much decreafed ; above all, a relaxation of discipline (and defertion, the confequence of it) began to prevail a-mong us to an alarming degree. This was generally faid to be owing to the defpondency of the Tigre troops upon the arrival of Tesfos ; but it required little penetration to difcern, that all forts of men were weary of conftant fighting and hardships, for no other end but unjuflly maintaining Michael in a poll in which he governed at discretion, to the terror of the whole kingdom, and ruin of the confti-tution. The hill of Serbraxos, when we firft took poft on it, was rugged and uneven, full of acacia and other ill-thriving trees, and various flumps of thefe had been broken by the wind, or undermined by the torrents. The great need the foldiers had of fuel to roall the miferable pittance of barley, (which was all their food) had cleared away thefe incumbrances from the fide of the hill, and the conftant re-fort of men going up and down, had rendered the furface perfectly fmooth and flippery ; fo that our camp did not appear as placed fo high, nor nearly fo inacceflible as it was at firft. For this reafon, Ras Michael had ordered the foldiers to gather all the ftones on the hill, and range them in fmall walls, at proper places, in a kind of zig-zag, under which the foldiers lay concealed, and with their fire arms protected the mules which went down to drink, Michael 4 had THIRD BATT I/E. Explai A The center commanded by the king in perlon. B The Tan encamped under Ras Michael. C The rear encamped, Guebra Chriftos being flain, commanded by feveral officers. DD Woodage Afahel marching up towards the hill to attack the king's camp. E Ayto Tesfos of Samen making a lodgement in the bank, or fide of the hill, under the van, to favour the attack of Woodage Afahel. F Coque Abou Barea making a mock attack on the rear to create a divertion in favour of Woodage Afahel. G Servants of Tesfos, his camp and rebellious pcafants of Mariam Ohha on a high rock. \ had lined all thefe little fortifications with mufquetry, from the bottom of the hill to the door of his. tent and the king's. About noon the hill was affaulted on all fides that were accellible, and the ancient fpirit of the troops feemed to revive upon feeing the enemy were the aggrelFors. Without any aid of mufquetry, the king's foot repulfed Coque Abou Barea, and drove him from the hill into the plain, without any confidcrable Hand on his part; the fame fuc-cefs followed againfl Mammo and Heraclius; they were chafed down the hill, and feveral of their men purfued and flain on the plain ; but a large reinforcement coming from the camp, the king's troops were driven up the hill again, and Tesfos, with his mufquetry, had made a lodgment in a pit on the low fide of one of thefe Hone-walls Ras Michael had built for his own defence, from which he fired with great effect, and the king's troops were obliged to fall back to the brow of the hill immediately below the tent, and that of the Ras's. In a moment appeared Woodage Afahel, with a large body of horfe, fupported likewife with a confidcrable number of foot. This was the mofl acccflible part of the hill, and under the cover of Tesfos's continued fire: they mounted it with great gallantry, the troops above expecting them with their irons fixed at a proper elevation in the ground; for it muff be here explained, that no A-byflinian foldier in battle refts his gun upon his hand, as every one is provided with a flick about four feet long, which hath hooks, or refls, on alternate intervals on each fide, and which he flicks in the ground before him, and refls the muzzle of his gun upon it, according to the height of the object he is to aim at; and here is difcovered the fa.i- tai tal and mofl unreafonable effect of fear in thefe troops, who have not the knowledge or practice of fire-arms, and are a-bout to charge, for as foon as they hear this noife of planting the fticks, (which is fomewhat louder than that of our men cocking their mufquets) they halt immediately, and give the faireft opportunity to their enemies to take aim ; and, after thus fuffcring from a well-directed fire, they fall into confu-lion, and run, leaving the mufquetry time to re-charge. This is as if they voluntarily devoted themfelves to deftruction ; for if, either upon hearing the noife of fetting the fticks in the ground, or before or after they have received the fire, the horfe were to charge thefe mufqueteers, having no bayonets, at the gallop, they muft be cut to pieces every time they were attacked by cavalry ; the contrary of which is always the cafe. Woodage Asaiiel had now advanced within about thirty yards of the mufquetry that were expecting him, when unluckily the hill became more fleep, and Ayto Tesfos (for fome reafon not then known) ceafed firing. The king was now clofe to the very brow of the hill, nor could any one pcrfuade him to keep at a greater diftance. I was not far from him, and had no fort of doubt but that I fliould prc-fently fee the whole body of the enemy deftroyed by the fire awaiting them, and blown into the air. Woodage Afahel was very confpicuous by a red fdlet, or bandage, wrapt about his head, the two ends hanging over his ears, whilft he was waving with his hands for the troops below to follow brifkly, and fupport thofe near him, who were impeded by the roughnefs and mofiy quality of the ground. At this inilant the king's troops fired, and I expected to fee the enemy ftrewed dead along the face of the hill. Indeed we 3 faw faw them fpeedily difappcar, but like living men, riding and running down the declivity fo as even to excite laughter. Woodage Afahel* with two men only, bravely gained the top of the mountain, and, as he paffed the king's tent, pulled ofF his red fillet, making a f as of fainting it, and then galloped through the midd-the camp. He was now defcending unhurr upon the k where Abou Barea had been engaged and beaten, when Sebaflos, a Greek, the king's cook, feventy-five years ot age, of whom I have already fpoken in the campaign of Maitfha, lying behind a ffone, with his gun in his hand., feeing the troops engage below, fired at him as he palled: the ball took place in the left fide of his belly. Fie was feen (looping forward upon the tore of hi* faddle, with fome men fupporting him on each fide, in his way to hi* tent, where he died in the evening, having, by his behaviour that day, deferved a better fate. Sebaflos reported this feat of his to the king, but it was not believed, till a confirmation of the fact came in the evening, when Sebaflos was cloatned, and received a reward from the king. Tesfos had been obferved not to fire fince Woodage Afahel gained the fleep part of the hill, and it was thought it was from fear of galling his friends ; but it was foon known to be owing to another'caufe. Kefla Yafous had ordered two of his nephews to take a body of troops, with lances and fhields only, and thefe were to go round the Ras's tent, and down the fide of the hill, till they were even with Tesfos behind the fcrecn where he lay. Thefe two young men, proud of the fole command which they had then received for the firfl time, executed it with great alacrity ; and tho* they were ordered by their uncle to watch the time when Vol, IV, Cc Tesfos Tesfos had fired, and then to run in upon him, they di "lain-ed that precaution, but coming fpeedily upon him, part of them threw down the ftoncs under which lie was concealed, and part attacked him in the hollow, and, whIk much intent upon the fuccefs of Woodage Afahel, he was in a moment overpowered and cUflodgcd; arid, being twice wounded, with great difficulty he efeaped. Seventeen of his match-locks were brought into the camp, and with them a man of great family in Samen, a relation or friend of Kefla Yafous. This perfon, after having been regaled with the bell that was in the camp, and cloathed anew after their cuftom, was fent back the fame night to Ayto Tesfos, with this fhort meflage, " Tesfos had " better be upon his rock again, if my boys can beat him *? upon the plain at broad noon-day." Coque Abou Barea, after having attempted feveral times to afcend the hill, was beaten back as often, and obliged to dcfiil. On the king's fide only eleven men were killed. The lofs of the enemy was varioufly reported. Sixty-three men only, and feveral horfes of thofe with Woodage Afahel, were left upon the fide of the hill, after the fire of near 1000 mufquets—fo contemptible is the mofl dangerous weapon in an ignorant and timid hand. That night the body of mufqueteers called Latla, part of the king's houfehold, (in number about 300 men) deferted in a body. One of the worft con-fcquences of that day's engagement was, that the enemy, when in pofleflion of the foot of the hill, had thrown a great number of dead bodies, both of men and beails, into Deg-Ohha, which therefore now was aband ned altogether by our troops. To make up for this, Kas Michael, that very evening, advanced zcco men upon the end of the long long hill, immediately below him, which poft was never molefted after, fo that our beafts had water in greater plenty and fafety than when they -were at a lefs confidcrable diftance. Below the north-weft fide of the hill, where it was a fleep precipice, two or three pools of water were found retaining all their original purity, out of the reach or knowledge of the enemy, in the bed of the torrent which fur-rounded the north fide of the mountain : the defcent was very difficult for beafts, but thither I went feveral times on foot, and bathed myfelf, efpecially my head, in very cold water, which greatly flrcngthened my eyes, much weakened from the blow I had received. £3 C c 2 CHAP, CHAP. IX. Interview with Gufho in his Tent—Converjlition and interejling IntellU gencc there—Return to the Camp—King's Army returns to Gortdar~~ Great Confufion in that Night's March* . /*\N the 25th of May, early in the morning, I went to V-/ Gufho. When I arrived near his tent I dismounted my mule, and, as the king had commanded me, bared myfelf to below the breafls, the fign of being bearer of the king's orders. Four men were now fent from the tent, , who, two and two, fupported each arm, and introduced me in this Hate immediately to Gufho. He was fitting on a kind of bed, covered with fcarlet cloth, and edged with a deep gold fringe. As foon as I came near him, I began, " Hear what the king fays to you." In a moment he rofe, and, flripping himfelf bare to the waifl, he bowed with his forehead on the fcarlet cloth, but did not, as was his duty, Hand on the ground, and touch it with his forehead, tho* there there was a good Perfian carper, as pride and newly-ac^ quired independence had rcleafed him from thole forms,, in the obfervance of which he had been brought up from his childhood. On feeing him attentive, I continued, " The king fends you word by me, and I declare to you from my own ikill as a phylician, that the fever now amongft you will foon become mortal; as the rains increafe, you will die; eonfe-quently, being out of your allegiance, God only knows what will happen to you afterwards. The king therefore wifhes you to preferve your health, by going home to Amhara, taking Powalien, and all the reft along witfi you who are ill likewife, and the fooner the better, a; he heartily wifhes to be rid of you all at once, without your leaving any of your friends behind you." It was with difficulty I kept my gravity in the courfe of my harangue ; it did not feem to be lefs fo on his part, as at the end he broke out in a great fit of laughter. w Aye, Aye, Yagoube, fays he, I fee you are ftill the old man ; but tell the king from me, that if I were to do what you juft now defire of me, it was then I mould be afraid to die, it was then I fliould be out of my duty ; allure the king, continued Gufho, I will do him better fcrvice. Were I to go home and leave Michael with him, I, who am no phylician, declare, the Ras would prove in the end a much more dangerous difeafe to him than all the fevers in Dembea." I then introduced his relation, Tecla Mariam, who flood; with the people behind ; and, as he had on his monk's drefs, Gufho at ftril did not know him. He had been well informed, however, of his having laved the king, and of the blow that he had received from him. He faid every thing in % commendation i commendation of the'young man, and his honourable action, adding, that the preservation of kings was a gift of Providence particularly reierved for the people of Amhara. He then ordered new cloaths to be brought and put upon Tecla Mariam, who fcrupled to takeoff his cowl; on which Gufho violently tore it from his head, dallied it on the floor, ■flamped twice on it with his foot, and then threw it behind the back of the Ibfa. At parting, GuCho ordered him five ounces of gold, a large prefent for one that loved money as Gufho did, commanding him flrictly to return to his duty and profeflion, and ordering me to carry him to the king, and fee him reinftated in his office in the palace. I then defircd his permifhon to vifit the fick, and left ipecacuanha and bark with Antonio, (his Greek fervant,) and directions how to adminifler them. One of his nephews, (Ayto Adereflbn) the young man who had loflGufho's horfe, had the fmall-pox, upon which I warned Gufho ferioufly of the danger to which he expofed all his army if that difeafe broke out amongft them, and advifed him to fend his nephew forthwith to the church of Mariam, under the care of the priells, which he did accordingly. The tent being cleared, he afked me if I had feen Welleta Sclafie ; if 1 was with her when fhe died ; and who was faid to have poifoned her, Ras Michael orherfelf, or if I had ever heard that it was Ozoro Efther ? I told him her friends had fent for me from the camp, but milled me, not know-in;.; 1 w:is at Kofcam with Ayto Confu, who had been wounded ; but that I could have been of little fervice to her if they had found me fooner: That flie had fcarce any figns of life when I entered her room, and died foon after: That fhe confefted fhe had taken arfenic herfelf, and named named a black fervant of hers, a Mahometan, from whom Hie had bought it; and the reafon was, her fears that her grandfather, Ras Michael, whom the had always looked upon as the murderer of her father, fliould force her when he returned to Gondar. He feemed exceedingly attentive to all I faid, and mufed for a couple of minutes after I had done fpeaking. A plentiful breakfaft was then brought us, and many of his officers fat down to it. I obferved likewife fome people of Gondar, who had formerly fled to Fafil at Michael's firft coming. He faid he wifhed me to bleed him before I went away, which I affured him I would by no means do, for if he was well, as I then faw he was, the uimecellary bleeding him might occafion ficknefs; and, if he was dan-geroufly ill, he might die, when the blame would be laid Upon me, and expofe me to mifchief afterwards. " No, fays he, I could certainly truft you, nor would any of my people believe any harm of you ; but I am glad to fee you fo prudent, and that you have a care of my life, for the reafon I lliall give you afterwards." I bowed, and lie made me then tell him all that palled in my vifit to Fafil, which I did, without concealing any circumdance. All the company laughed, and he more than any, only faxing, u Faiil, Falil, thou waft born a Galla, and a Galla thou fliaIt die." Breakfast being over, the tent was cleared, and we were again left alone, when he put on a very ienous countenance. " You know, fays he, you are my old acquaintance. I faw you with Michael after the battle of Fagitta, as alfo the prefents you brought, and heard the letters read, both thofe that came from Mctical Aga, and thofe of 1 Ali Ali Bey from Cairo. All the Greeks here who have confi-derable polls, and are proud and vain enough, have yet declared to us feveral times, (as Antonio my fervant did to me laft night) that, in their own country, the heft of them are not higher in rank than your fervants ; and that thofe who hitherto have come into this country were no better. We know then, and the king is fenfible, that in your own country you are equal to the belt of us, and perhaps fu-perior, and as fuch, even in thefe bad times, you have been treated. Now, this being the cafe, you are wrong to ex-pofe yourfelf like a common fotdier. We all know, and have feen, that you arc a better horfeman, and (hoot better than we ; vonr gun carries farther, becaufe you ufe leaden bullets ; fo far is well; but then you fhould manage this, fo as never to act. alone, or from any thing that can have the appearance of a private motive*." " Sir, faid I, you know that when I firft came recommended, as you fay, into this country, Ayto Aylo, the moll peaceable, as well as the wifeft man in it, the Ras, and I believe yourfelf, but certainly many able and confidcrable men who were fo good as to patronize me, did then advife the putting nie into the king's fervice and houfehold, as the only means of keeping me from robbery and lnfult, You faid that I could not be fafe One inflant after the king left Gondar, being a fingle man, who was fuppofed to ha\e brought money with him ; that therefore I mult connect: myfelf with young noblemen, officers of confequence about court, whofe authority and friendfhip would keep illdifpofed people in awe. The king obferving in me a facility of managing * He meant, from the inlliji^uon of Ozoro £fth«. managing my horfe and arms, with which, until that time, he had been unacquainted, placed me about his perfon, both in the palace and in the field, for his own amufe-mcnt, and I may fay inftruct ion, and for my fafety; and this advice has proved fo good, that 1 have never once deviated from it but my life has been in danger. The firft attempt I made to go to the cataract, Guebra Mehedin way-laid and intended to murder me. When the king was in Tigre, Woodage Afahel dcfigncd to do me the fame favour by the Galla he fent from Samfcen; and fo did Coque Abou Barea at Dcgwaila, by the hands of Welleta Selaffe. No fafety, therefore, then remained to me but in adhering clofely to the king, as I have ever fince done, and was ad-vifed from the firft to do, which indifpcnfibly brought me to Serbraxos, or wherever he was in perfon. You cannot think it is from a motive of choice that a white man like myfelf runs the rifk of lofing his life, or limbs, fo far from home, and where there is fo little medical aififtance, in a war where he has no motive that can 'Concern him." *{ Do not miftake mc, Yagoube, fays Gufho, your behaviour at Sebraxos docs you honour, and will never make you an enemy, fo docs the like affair with Kella Yafous ; there is no man you can fo properly connect: yourfelf with as Kella Yafous; all 1 wanted to obfervc to you is, that it is faid Woodage Afahel would have cfcaped fafely from the mountain if you had not Ihot him, and th.u yours was the only mufquet that was fired at him; which is thought invidious in you, being a ftranger, as lie is the head of the Edjow Galla, the late king's guards; they may yet return to Gondar, and will look upon you as their enemy, becaufe Vol. IV4 D d a leaden a leaden bullet was found in Woodage Afahel's body fired at him by you."—" Sir, faid I, it is very feldom a man in fuch a cafe as this can have the power of vindicating himfelf to conviction, but that I now happily can do. All the Greeks in the king's army, their fons and families, all Mahometans, who have been in Arabia, India, or Egypt, ufe leaden bullets. The man who fhot Woodage Afahel is well known to you. He is the king'., old cook, Sebaflos, a man pafl fe-venty, who could not be able to kill a fhecp till fomebody firft tied its legs. He himfelf informed the king of what he had done, and brought witneffes in the ufual form, claiming a reward for his action, which he obtained. It was laid that I, too, killed the man who carried the red flag of Theodorus at Serbraxos, though no leaden bullet, I believe, wras found in him. A foldicr picked up this flag upon the field, and brought it to me. I paid him, indeed, for his pains ; and, when I prefented the flag to the king, told him what I had feen, that the bearer of it had fallen by a fhot from Guebra Mafcal. I had not a gun in my hand all that day at Serbraxos, nor all that other day when Woodage Afahel was flain. I law him pafs within lefs than ten yards where I was Handing behind the king, in great health and fpirits, with two other attendants; but, fo far from firing at him, I was very anxious in my own mind that he fliould get as lately out of the camp as he had gallantly, though imprudently, forced himfelf into it. It is not a cuflom known in ray country for officers to be employed to pick out diflinguifhcd men at fuch advantage, nor would it be confidcred there as much better than murder: certainly no honour would accrue from it. But when means are nccellary to keep officers of the enemy at a proper diftance, tance, for confequences that might other wife follow, there arc common foldiers chofen for that purpofe, and for which they arc not the more efteemcd. This, however, I will con-fefs to you, that when either the king's horfes or mine went down to Deg-Ohha to water, and never but then, I fat upon the rock above, and did all in my power to protect: them, and the men who were with them, and to terrify the enemy who came to moleft them, by lhewing the extenlive range of our rifle guns ; and that very day when Ayto Tesfos arrived, fome of his troops having driven off the mules, among which were two of mine, I did, I confefs, with my own hand moot four of them from the rock, and at laft obliged the reft to keep at a greater diftance ; but as for Woodage Afahel, I difown having had arms in my hand the day he entered the camp, or having been abfent, till late in the evening, from the king's perfon." Now, all this is very well, continued Gufho; who killed Theodorus, or the man at Serbraxos; who killed Ayto Tesfos's men, is no object, of inquiry ; Deg-Ohha was within the line of the king's camp, and they that wanted to deprive him of this pofteflion, or the ufe of it, did it at their peril. If you had fhot Ayto Tesfos himfelf, attempting to deprive you of water for the camp, no man in all Amhara would have faid you did wrong; but I am very much pleafed with what you tell me of Woodage Afahel. The fhort, yellow man, who breakfafted with you, was one of thofe two who accompanied Woodage Afahel when he was fhot, and is a friend of mine ; he brought word that he was killed by a frank, and the leaden bullet fix'd it upon you." D d 2 This Tins man was now immediately called for. He went by the nickname of Goal, or the Giant, from his fmall lize and debility of body. " Is this your man, fays Gufho, who fhot Woodage Afahel on the hill ?" " O, by no means, fays Goul; he was an old man with a long grey beard, and a white cloth round his head. This man I know well. I faw him with Fafd. This is Yagoube, the king's friend; he would not do fuch a thing." " No, certainly he would not, fays Gufho, and fo mind that you tell Woodage Afahcl's friends." Upon this he withdrew. And now, faysGuiho, talk no more upon this affair, I will take the rcfl upon myfelf. Fit ere is a fervant of Metical Aga's now in the camp, fent over by defire of your friends and countrymen * at Jidda, to know if you are alive and well. He has alfo a meflage to the king, and perilaps I may fend him to the camp to-morrow, but more probably defer it till we meet at Gondar. Mean time, remember my injunction to you, to keep clofe by the perfon of the king, and then no accident can befal you. in the confufion that will foon happen. I thanked him for his friendly advice, which I promifed to-follow. I then aiked for Ayto Confu and Engedan, as alfo for Metical Aga's fervant, but he anfwered, 1 could not then fee them. He hat! now in his hand fome filk paper, in which they generally wrap their ingots of gold, and he was preparing to flip this into my hand at parting, in the fame manner we do the fee of a phylician in Europe. " You forget, faid I, what you mentioned in the morning, that I am no cafl- * Captain, Thomas Price of tfas Lyon of Boir.hay, eaft-away, no Greek nor Armenian fervant, but perhaps of equal rank to yourfelves: if I wanted money, Metical Aga's fervant would procure it for me upon demand. It is your wife and two daughters who are ill; and when you mall hereafter be great, and governing every thing at Gondar, I will by them put you in mind of any piece of friendfhip I may Hand in need of at your hand ; and you fhall grant it.**—" You are a good prophet, Yagoube, fays he ; and fo I mall; but remember my advice ; I know you are a friend of Ozoro Either, but fhe cannot protect: you ; Uzoro Akafh* may: the belt of all is to keep clofe to the king, to defend yourfelf if any body molells you on your way to Gondar, and leave the reft to me. An officer was now appointed to conduct me acrofs the plain, and feveral fcrvants laden with fifli and fruit. About a hundred yards from the tent, a man muffled up met me, whom I found to be a fervant of Engedan. " Your army will difband, fays he to me, in a low tone of voice ; keep by the king, or Aylo my mailer's brother, and he will bring you over here." Having left him, we continued a-crofs the plain, and faw feveral fmall parties of Lout pa-troling, but they came not near us. My conductor laid they were Galla, waiting for fome opportunity to do mifch ■•.■£. He told me that Ozoro Welleta Ifrael, a/nil his fon Aylo, had joined their army that day with io,coo men from Go-jam, to no purpoie at all, continued he, bin thai of eating up the country. But your friend the itegle could not fee Ras Michael fall without giving him a ihuvc, though flic * Kcr daughter was married to PowuT.n. flic has Raid till the very laft day before fhe ventured, for fear of accidents. Gufho's men fet the filh down at the advanced guard, and returned with the officer who had attended me, while 1 went towards the king's tent, mufing what all this might mean, what power was to carry us to Gondar, diiband the army, depofe Michael, and not hurt the king. I found the king had not been well, and had taken warm water to vomit, a remedy I advifed him fometimes to make ufe of, not choofing to venture on all occafions to give him medicines, and he was then quiet. I therefore went to Ras Michael, who was alone, and feemingly much chagrined. He interrogated me ftrici-ly as to what palfed between me and Gufho. I told him the difcourfe about Woodage Aland's death, and about Fafil; then about the fick family I had feen, the offer of money, the fifli, &c. The fame I repeated when I went back to the king, but nothing about our meeting at Gondar. I begged, however, as he flill complained a little of his head, that he would fee nobody that night, but lie down and compofe himfelf, allowing me to wait in the fecretary's apartment till he fliould awake. I thought he embraced this propofal willingly, Ozoro Efther having had a long conference with him the night before* I do not imagine the ftate of the realm had much Chare in their converfation. After he was laid down, I went and found Azagc Kyrillos, and with him the beautiful daughter of Tecla Mariam, who was juft dreffed to go to Ozoro Efther's. She faid fhe would either take me along with her to Ozoro Efther's, or flay, and the king would fend us fuppcr at her father's. I excufed myfelf from cither, on account of the king's indifpoiition, and my bufinefs with 3 her her father, who, guefling by my countenance I had fome-thing material to communicate, fent her on her vifit, and fo we were left alone. As he was a man with whom I had always lived in the moll confidential friendfhip, and knew the fame fubfillcd between him and the king, I made no fcruple to tell him, word for word, what I had heard from Guiho, and V nge-dan's fervant. He faid, without any feeming furprifc, Whyr we arc all worn out, but flate all this to the king. Soon after, came in the Have who had the charge of the king's bed-chamber, and told the fecretary that the king found himfelf well, only wanted to know wdiat he fliould drink. I ordered him fome water, with fome ripe tamarinds, a liquor he ufually took in time of Lent. See him /and advife him yourfelf, fays the fecretary. I accordingly went in, and told the king the whole llory. He feemed to be in. great agitation, repeating frequently, " O God ! O God! O Guebra Mcnfus Kedus*!"—" Who is this Guebra Menfus Kedus ?" faid I afterwards to Tecla Mariam, who in his heart believed in him no more than 1 did. " Why, anfwered he gravely, he is a great taint, who never ate or drank from his mother's womb till his death, faid mafs at Jcrufa-lem every day, and came home at night in form of a ftork." i—" But a bad regimen his, faid I, for fuch violent excrcife." '—" That is not all, fays Tecla Mariam, he fought with the devil once in Tigre, and threw him over the rock Amba Sa-lam, and killed him."—"I wilh you joy, faid I, this is good news indeed." All this converfation had pafled in half a whifper. • Servant of the Holy Ghoft. whifper. The king was quiet; but, hearing mc fay the laft words, he ftarted, and cried, " What joy, what good news, Yagoube ?"—" Why, faid I, Sir, it is only Tecla Mariam informing me that the devil is dead, which is good news, at leaft to mc, who always dreaded falling into his clutches."—" Aye, fays the king, the monks fay fo ; it mull have been long ago; but the faint was furely a holy man/1 Though the king was violently agitated, yet he neither faid that he did or did not underftand what was meant by Gufho and Engedan, but only ordered me home immediately, faying, u As you value your life, open not your mouth to man or woman, nor feem to take particular care about any thing, more than you did before; truft all in the hands of the Virgin Mary, and Guebra Menfus Kedus." I needed no incitement to go to my tent, where I went immediately to bed. I cannot fay but I had a ray of hope that Providence had begun the means which were to extricate me out of the difficulties of my prefent fituation, better and fooncr than I had before imagined; I therefore fell foon into a profound flccp, fatisficd that I mould be quickly called if any thing ailed the king. The lights were now all put out, and, except the cry of the guards going their rounds, very little noife in the camp, confidering the vafl number of people it contained, I was in a profound fleep when Francifco, a Greek fervant of the Ras, a brave and veteran foldier, but given a little to drink, came bawling into my tent, " It is madnefs to ilecp at this time."—"I am hire, faid 1, very calmly, I mould be mad if I was not to fleep. Why, when would you have me to take my reft? and what i is is the matter ?"—" Get up, cries he, quickly, for wc fhall all be cut to pieces in a minute."—"Then hang me, faid I, if* I don't lie ftill, for if I have no longer to live, it is not worth while to drefs."—" Fafd (continued he) has furprifed the camp, and gives no quarter."—" Fafd J faid I, impofliblc: but go to the guard commanded by Laeca Mariam, and if ftie has a horfe ready faddled bring him to me." On this Francifco catched*up a lance and fhield that were in my tent, for fear of danger in the way, and ran off. In a minute he returned to afk the word, " Googue, faid i, is the parole, (it fignifies Owl.) A curfe upon his father, fays, he, (meaning the owl's father), and a curfe upon their fathers who gave fuch unlucky words for the parole at night; no wonder misfortunes happen, fays he, in Greek: he then returned to the guard under Laeca Mariam. In the mean time, furveying the camp around, I could not help doubting the truth of this alarm; for not a foul was ftirring about Kefla Yafous's tent, and the light fcarcclyburn-ing. On the other hand, however, there feemed feveral in the tent of the Ras, and people moving about it, though the Tigre guard around were quiet, who, 1 knew well, would have been alarmed by the motion of a moufe. 'There was, however, flill alight, and an unufual noife in the upper end of the camp to the N. E. Francifco now returned from the king's tent, and, without my fpeaking to him, faid, in a great paflion, " Thofe black fellows are all become mad ; you don't keep them in any fort of order." Has Laeca Mariam got ready a horfe for me, faid I; where is he ?"—" Wren I delivered your orders, replied Francifco, to have a horfe ready for you, he faid there were fifty, but did not fuppofe you intended galloping to-night." Fran- VoulV. Ee cifeo cifco continued, " I told him Fafil was in the camp; at which he laughed outright, faid I was drunk, and wondered you had given me the parole with a curfe upon its father ; a great catch this word, to be fure, it will make me rich." " I am afraid, faid I, friend, Laeca Mariam hath Rated the truth ; at leaft I never heard of an army cut to pieces fo very quietly as ours is." While I was fpeaking, the flambeaux at the Ras's tent were all fuddenly lighted, which was likewife done by Kefla Yafous, all the general officers, and laftly from the king's tent. This is a kind of torch, or flambeau, ufed by the janizary Aga, at Cairo and Conflan-tinoplc, when he patroles the ftreets ; in the night-time it is lighted, but the fire does not appear till you whirl, it three or four times round your head, and then it burfts out into a bright flame. Michael had fixteen always on the guard, ever fince the attempt upon his life by the Gurague. In a moment all the camp was lighted, and the people awakened, whilfl, as nobody knew the reafon, the tumult, increafed. Francifco, with great exultation, upon feeing the Ras's torches lighted, cried, " See who is drunk now ; where arc your jokes ? this will be a fine night, and nobody is armed." " Sir, faid I, you faw Laeca Mariam and his guard armed ; fo is every other guard in the camp as much as ever ; and you may thank God you have my fer-vant's lance and fhield, fo you are armed. I may drink coffee, though I very much fear there may be fome embroil cm foot, of which you may be yourfelf part of the occafion,: Go, however, to the Ras's tent, and afk if he has any orders, for me." In fhort, we foon after found that the caufe of all this diftiufiance was, that fome part of i esfos's men had come to the back of the camp and attempted to recover the mules which which had been taken frcTm them; and-'they had fuccecded in part, when they were discovered, purfued, and fome of the mules retaken. At the fight of armed men running up and down the hill, an alarm fpread that nobody knew the occafion of, till the Ras caufed the mule-keeper to be baf-tinado'd in the morning. That day, the 26th, we received advice, that the Edjow Galla, and fome other horfe of the fame diftricl, had maffacred all the people they met on their way to and from Gondar, and that a body of troops had marched into the town, which threatened to fet it on fire if any more provifions were fent to the camp. We were now without food or water; a great council was therefore held, in-which it was agreed to decamp the 48th in the night, and return to Gondar on the 29th, in the morning. A prefent of frefh provifions had been fent to Ras Michael, and, in one of the bafkets, a number of torches. A melTage was alfo delivered from Gufho, " That as he was informed the Ras intended travelling in the night, that therefore he had fent him ilore of torches, left he fliould miltake his way to Gondar by having burnt all he had by him in the laft night's alarm about Fafil," He declared, moreover, in name of all the Confederates, that it was their refolution not to moleft him in his march; that the whole kingdom was in alliance with them to favc the effufion of blood, now abfolutely unnecefTary, and to meet and treat with him at Gondar. Upon receipt of this meffage, with the torches, the Ras flew into a mofl furious paftion. He called for Kefla Yafous and Guebra Mafcal, and fharply upbraided them with having betrayed him to his enemies. Fie gave orders to E e a the the troops to refrefh themfelves, for he was that day rcfbl-ved to try the fortune of another battle. To this, however;. it was replied, by all the principal officers, That the army was ilarving, therefore a refrefh ment at this time was out of the queflion, and that fighting was as much fo ; for Gu» fho, having fent to the Abuna and to the King, had folemn-ly excommunicated his whole army if any harm was offered to them in perfon or baggage, if they marched direct^ ly back to Gondar that night, as they had of their own accord before intended ; and that the army was refolved, therefore, as one man, to return; and, if. the Ras did.not agree to it, there was great fear they would difband in the night, and leave him in the hands of the enemy, without terms. The Ras was now obliged to make a virtue of neceility; and it was given in orders, that the army fliould be ready to decamp at eight in the evening, but nobody fhould ftrike their tent before that hour on pain of death. The old general was alhamed to be feen for the firft time flying be* fpre his enemies. t It was plain to be read in everybody's countenance,. that this refolution was agreeable to them all. I confefs,, however, that I thought the meafure a very dangerous one, confidering how much blood the king's army had fo lately fpilt, and the ordinary prejudices univerfally adopted in that country, allowing to every individual the right of retaliation. Before I ftruck my tent, I called Yafine to me, and told him that Ayto Confu, being wounded and a pri-foneiv myfelf neceffarily obliged to attend, the king, and ; the event of that night's retreat unknown to any body, I thought he could do neither himfelf nor me any further fervice by flaying,where he was; that therefore, fo long as the the road to Azazo was open to him, he ihould march thro* Dembea, as if going to Fafil, then turn on the right behind the hills of Kofcam, and make the bed of his way to Ras el Feel, in which government he Ihould maintain the flric-teft difcipline, and be particularly careful of the intrigues of Abd el Jclcel, the former governor, whofe application I Ihould defeat if I had any interelt, or if the king remain-cd, both which I thought very improbable. I annexed, moreover, this condition, that on his part he Ihould be active and unwearied in procuring information concerning theproperefl way of my attempting to reach Sennaar ; 1 enjoined him alfo to be very circumilantial in all the advices which he fent to me at Gondar; that they fliould be written in Arabic, and fent directly to me by my black fervant Soliman,who was with him, and told him that I myfelf Ihould join him as foon as poflible. Yafine, with tears in his eyes, protefled againfl leaving me in the dangerous fituation of that night ; he faid we fhould be all cut to pieces as foon as we were in the plain, and that there was not a man of the troops under him who would not rather die with me, than abandon me to be murdered by the hands of thefe faithlefs Chriflian dogs, who never were to be bound by oatli or pro-mife. He faid, it would be incomparably fafer, as they were all under my command, that I fliould put myfelf at their head, and continue my march to Ras el Feci, where, if 1 was once arrived, Ayto Confu's troops, being behind me at Tcherkin, (that is, between me and Gondar), I might, at my own leifure, folicit a fafe conduct to Sen* naar. I confess this propofal at firfl flruck me as extremely fea* uble.j but reflecting on my folemn promife to the king, not to» to leave him without his direct permillion, that Gufho had allured mc of fafety if I kept clofe to his perfon, that it would be a breach of trufl to leave my Greek fervant unprovided at Gondar, and that forfaking my inftruments would have the effect of making my return through the de-fert imperfect,—I rejefted this propofal, anddifmiffed Yafine, with orders to adhere inviolably to the inflructions I had given him. As for the king himfelf, his countenance was not changed, nor did he fay to me one word that day in confidence, whether he did or did not intend to return to Gondar. As no body knew what conditions were made, or whether any were really made at all, fear kept the common foldiers under obedience till it was night. The firft who began to file off, it being near dark, were the women, who carried the mills, jars, and the heavy burdens; thefe were in great numbers. Soon after, the foldiers were in motion, and the Ras and the King's tents were flruck juft as it was night; darknefs freed the whole army from obedience to orders, and a confufion, never to be forgot or defcribed, prcfently followed, every body making the beft of their way to get fafe down the hill. At firft fetting out I kept clofe by the king ; but, without treading upon, or riding over a number of people, I could not keep my place. 1 was now, for the firft time, on one of the ftrong black horfes that came laft from Sennaar, given me by the king, and he was fo impatient and fretful at being preffed on by the crowd of men and beafts, that there was no keeping him within any fort of bounds. The defcent of the hill had become very flip-4 * pery, pery, and men, horfes, and mules were rolling promifcuouf-ly over one another. I resolved to try for myfelf fome other way that might fee lefs thronged. I went to the place where Woodage A-fahel defcended when he was (hot by Sebaflos; but the ground there was more uneven, and fully as much crowded. I then croffed the road to the eaftward, where the Ras's tent flood, and where Kefla Yafous*& two nephews had gone round to diflodge Ayto Tesfos : there was a confiderable number of people even here, but it was not a croud, and they were moftly women. I determined to attempt it, and got into a fmall naming road, which I hoped would conduct me to the bed of the torrent; but I found, upon going half way down the hill, that, in place of a road, it had been a hollow made by a torrent, which ended on a precipice, and below, and on each fide of this, the hill, was exceedingly fleep, the fmall diftance I could fee. In Abyflinia, the camp-ovens for making their bread are in form of two tea-faucers joined bottom to bottom, and are fomething lefs than three feet in diameter, being made of a light, beautiful potters ware, which, although red when firft made, turns to a gloffy black colour after being greafed with butter. This being placed upright, a fire of charcoal is put under the bottom-part; the bread, made like pancakes, is palled all within the fide of the upper cavity, or bowl, over which is laid a cover of the fame form or fhape. It is in form of a broad wheel, and a woman carries one of thefe upon her back for baking bread in the camp. It happened that, juft as I was deliberating whether to proceed or return, a woman had rolled one of thefe down the hill Travels to discover bill on purpofe, or let it fall by chance: whichever was the -cafe, it came bounding, and juil pail behind my horfe. Whether it touched him or not 1 cannot tell; but it determined him, without further deliberation, to fpurn all controul of his rider. On the firft leap that he made it was with the utmofl difficulty I avoided going over his head: I will not pretend to fay what followed. 1 was deprived of all fenfe or reflexion, till Humbling often, and Hiding down upon his haunches oftener, I found myfelf at the bottom of the kill, perfectly ftupified with fear, but fafe and found in body^ though my faddle was lying upon the horfe's neck. Soon after, I faw a fire lighted on the top of the hill above where Ras Michael's tent flood, and I did not doubt but that it was the work of fome traitor, as a fignal to the rebels that we were now in the plain in the greater! confu-lion. I made all hafle therefore to go round and join the king, palled Deg-Ohha incumbered with carcafes of men and beafts, from which, as well as from the bottom of the liill, a terrible flench arofe, which muft foon have forced us out of the camp if we had not refolved, of our own accord, to remove. A little further in the opening to the river Mariam, I found myfelf in the middle of about twenty perfons, three or four of whom were upon mules, in long clean white clothes, as if in peace, the reft apparently foldiers ; this was Engcdan's brother, Aylo, whom I was palling without recollecting bun, when he cried, Where do you come from, Yagoube ? this is not a night for white men like you to be alone; come with me, and I will carry you to your friend Engedan. My horfe, replied I, found a new way for itfclf down the hill, and 1 confefs I would rather be alone than with fo much company: our colour by this light fecms .2 to to be pretty much the fame. Remember me to Engedan. 1 am fceking to join the king. Immediately after, I got into the crowd; though they were now in the plain, they ftill kept in a line clofe to the Foot of the mountain, as in fear of the enemy's horfe. I pafled on at as brifk a walk as my horfe could go; nor was I fo tender of thofe who were before me in the plain as I had been on the fide of the hill. Among thofe that were Rill in the crowd, that had not got yet down the hill, I heard the Abuna's fervant faying they had loft their mules, and denouncing excommunication and curfes againfl thofe who had ftolen his baggage. I could not refrain from a fit of laughter at the flupidity of that pried, to think any man of fuch a nation would pay attention to his anathemas in fuch a fcene. Soon after, however, I overtook the Abuna himfelf, with Ozoro Altafh. He afked me in Arabic, and in a very mournful tone of voice, what I thought they were going to do ? I anfwered, in the fame language, ** Pray for them, father, for they know not what to do." Ozoro Altafh now told me the king was a great way before them, with Ras Michael, and advifed me to day and accompany her. As fhe fpoke this confidently, and it was part of the advice Gufho had given me if I miffed the king, I was deliberating what courfe 1 mould purfue, when a great noife of horfe and men was heard on the fide of the plain, and prefent ly the Abuna and Ozoro Altafh were furroundcd by a large body of horfemen, whofe cries and language I did not un-t'derftand, and whom therefore I took for Galla, As 1 found my horfe drong and willing, and being alone, and unincumbered with baggage, I thought it was better to keep free, -and not truft to who thefe drangers might be. 1 therefore Vol. IV. F f got got out of the line of the troops towards the plain, fpurred my horfe, and arrived at the body of cavalry where the king was. As I had a white turban upon my head, (having fhavecV the fore part of it after the blow I had received from thej Hone) I was employed taking this off before I prefented myfelf to the king, when fomebody faid out loud, Ozoro Efther is taken prifoner. Ras Michael anfwered, That is im-poflible ; Ozoro Efther is here. Lt is Ozoro Altafh and the Abuna, faid I, from behind; I came juft now from them. By whom are they taken ? fays the king. By the Galla, I believe, anfwered I; at leaft by men whofe language I did not underftand, though indeed I took no time to confide^, but they are clofe in our rear, and I fuppofe they will be here prefently. Here! fays the Ras, what will they do here ? It muft be Powuflen, and the troops of Lafta, to recover his mother-in-law, that fhe may not go to Gondar; and it is the Tcheratz Agow language that Yagoube has taken for Galla. It is fo, fays another horfeman ; the people of Lafta have carried her off, but without hurting any body. This I thought a good flgn, and that they were under orders, for a bloodier or more cruel race was not in the army,, the Galla not excepted ; and they had met with their deferts, and had fuifered confiderably in the courfe of this fhort campaign. The whole road was now as fmooth as a carpet; and we had fcarce done fpeaking when Ras Michael's mule fell flat on the ground, and threw him upon his face in a fmall puddle of water. He was tpuickly lifted up unhurt, and fet upon, his mule again. We pafled the Mogetch, and at about 4 2qo 200 yards from the bridge, upon ground equally plain as the former, the mule fell again, and threw the Ras*ano-ther time in the dirt, on which a general murmur and groan was heard from all his attendants, for every body interpreted this as an omen that his power and fortune were gone from him for ever. Another mule was fpeedily brought, but he refufed to mount it, and we palfed on by the Mahometan town, and up to Confu's houfe, by Aylo Meidan. I could not, however, help reflecting howjuflly the Ras was now punifhed for the murder of the fingers in that very fpot, when he returned frofn Mariam-Ohha and entered Gondar. The king went directly to the palace, the Ras to his own houfe, and, by the fecretary's advice, I wenr with him to that of the Abuna, where I left my Greek fervants with my gold chain, and fome trifles I wanted to pre-ferve, together with my inflruments. I then drefFed myfelf in the habit of peace, and returned to the palace, where, remembering the advice of Gufho, I refolved to expect my fate with the king. Upon feeing me with the fore part of my head {haven, and remembering the caufc, as his firft mark of favour he ordered me to cover my head, a thing other-wife not permitted in the king's prefence to any of his houfehold. The king's fervants brought me a bull's hide for my bed; and although many a night I have wanted reft upon lefs dangerous occafions, I fcarcely ever flept more foundly, till I heard the cracking of the whips of the Serach Maffery, about five o'clock in the morning of the 29th. Fie performs this function much louder than a French poflilion upon finifhing a poft, it being the fignal for the king to rife. There was, indeed, no occafion for this cuftom, now there was no Ff 2 court, court, nor judgment of caufes civil or criminal. The palace was quite defcrted; even the king's Haves, of both fexes, (fearing to be carried ofF to Begemder and Amhara) had hid themfelves among the monks, and in the houfes of private friends, fo that the king was left with very few attendants. ffirtl. | -l~=z----- CHAE 1 ......... ■ <5* s ■ • • * * knit CHAP. X. Rebel Army invefs Gondar^King s Troops deliver up their Arms—The Murderers of Joas affaffinated—Gufho made Ras—Ras Michael carried away Prifoncr by Powuffcn—Iteghe s return to Kofcam—Fafll arrives at Gondar—King acknowledged by all Parties—~Bad Conducl of Gufho—Obliged to fly^ but is taken and put in Irons, ABOUT eight o'clock in the morning of the 29th of May, the day immediately following the night of our retreat, came Gufho*s Fit-Auraris, and marked out the camp for his mailer between the Mahometan town and the church of Ledeta, on the very fpot where Michael had encamped after his late return from Tigre; Coque Abou Barca from Ledeta to Kofcam; Aylo and Ayabdar on the other fide of the Kahha, in a line pafling by Kcdus Raphael, the Abuna's houfe at the foot of the mountain, above Debra Berhan; Ayto Tesfos in the valley below, by the fide of the Angrab ; on the road from Woggora to Gondar, and all along the Angrab, Angrab, till it joined the Kahha, and Kafmati Guiho's camp, were PowuiTen and the reft of the confederate army; fo that by nine o'clock the town was completely inverted, as if a wall had been built round it. The water being all in pofTefflon of the enemy, centinels were by them placed a-long the banks of each river, with orders to fuffer every townfman to fill fingle jars, fuch as one man or woman could carry, and to break any fupernumerary jars, that might be brought by way of fecuring a larger proviiion* All the people of confequence who had property in and a-bout Gondar, who had fled to Fafil and to the provinces, from fear of Ras Michael when he returned from Tigre, had gone back upon Guiho's word, each man to his houfe; Gondar was full of men in arms. In Gulho's and Ayabdar's army, and depending on them, was the property of all Gondar. Ras Woodage, Gufho's father, and brother to Ayabdar, had been Ras in Yafous' time, till he died, univerfally beloved and regretted; Ayto Engedan and Aylo, fons ot Kafmati Efhte, (by a filter of king Yafous) had the property of near one half of the town. Though Engedan was prifoner, and Aylo had married Ras Michael's daughter, they were, by intereft and inclination, united to Guiho, and had ferved Michael only through fear, from at-tachmcnt to the king, fo that Guiho and Ayabdar were the only citizens in whom the inhabitants of Gondar confided. Powuifen, and the reft, were looked upon as free-booters in their inclinations, at leaft by the townfmen ; very little better than Michael, or his troops of Tigre. From * For extinguilliing Bit. From the moment the town was invefted, and indeed in the field, before Guiho had taken the lead, and though neither Ayabdar nor Powuflen were his friends, all Gondar was at his command ; and in it an army infinitely fu-pcrior in number and riches, now they had got fuch a> chieftain, to all the Confederates put together, and Michael's army added to them. Guiho, a man of great underftand-ing, born and bred in Gondar, knew this perfectly well, and that he alone was looked up to as the fatherof his country. He knew, moreover, that he could not ruin Michael fo effectually as to lodge him fafely in Gondar, amidil a multitude of enemies, and blockade him there before he had time for refources. He therefore detached Ayto Tesfos, the very day he arrived before the town, after Darien, Bafha of Beleflin, whom Ras Michael had fent before him into Woggora to effect a paffage through that province into Tigre by fair means, promifes, and prefents. Tesfos came up with Darien before he had time to enter upon his commiflion, and, having beaten and taken him prifonert raifed all Woggora in arms againfl Michael, fo that not a. man could longer pafs between Tigre and Gondar.. No perfon from, the-rebel'army liad yet entered Gondar.: The king's fecretary, Azage Kyrillos, a relation of Gufho^ had gone to his camp the day of his arrival. The fame day the kettle-drums were brought to the brink of Kah-ha, and a proclamation made, That all foldiers of the province of Tigre, or who had bore arms under Ras Michael, £hould, on the morrow before mid-day, bring their arms, olfenfive and defenfive, and deliver them on afpot fixed upon near the church of Ledeta, to commiflaries appointed for the purpofe of receiving them ; with further intimation to> to the inhabitants of Gondar, That any arms found in ailf houfe in that town, after noon of the day of proclamation, fliould fubjecl; the owner of fuch houfe and arms to death, and the houfe, or houfes, to be razed to their foundation. The firfl of the Tigre troops who fet this example was ^Guebra Mafcal; he carried down to the place appointed, and furrendered, about 6000 mufquets, belonging to the Ras and his family; all the reft of the principal officers followed, for the inhabitants of Gondar were willing inqui-fitors, fo that the whole arms were delivered before the hour appointed, and locked up in the church of Ledeta, under a ftrong guard both without and within the church. The Tigre foldiers, after furrendering their arms, were not fuf-fered to depart, but a fpace was afftgned between Gufho's tent and the town, where they were difpofed that night, and centinels placed upon them, that they might not dif-perfe. This indeed was needlefs; for they were every day furrounded with troops and enemies, fo that all their wealth remained with their landlords in Gondar, which home they -were not fuffered again to enter, a meafure which greatly added to Gufho's popularity in the town. A great number of flour facks were brought down to Gufho's camp, and many mules, loaded therewith, were delivered to the dif-armed army, fuflicient to carry them by fpeedy marches to their own country, for which they had orders to fet out the next morning. Kefla Yasohs alone, with about 400 men, had fhut himfelf up in the church of Debra Berhan, where there was water, and he had carried in fufficient provifions for 1 feveral feveral days. He refufed therefore to furrender upon the general fummons; on which Powuflen, who was encamped immediately below him, fent an officer to require him to fubmit, which he not only peremptorily refufed, but told the officer, that, unlefs he inftantly retired, he would give orders to fire upon him, as he had a treaty with Gufho, and, till that was ratified by Gufho himfelf, he would not furrender, nor fuffer any other perfon to approach his poll; at any rate, that he did not intend to furrender to a man of Powuffen's low birth, however high his prefent poft had raifed him, which he no longer acknowledged, being the mere gift of Michael, one complaint againfl whom was that of levelling and confounding the nobility with their inferiors. Gusho accordingly fent an officer, a man of great character, and a relation of the king, with a confirmation of his promife ; whereupon Kefla Yafous furrendered, and fent down his foldiers, with what arms he pleafed, to Gu-ilio's camp, carrying the reft privately to his own houfe, to which he retired that very evening. Kella Yafous was much beloved by the inhabitants of Gondar, though a Ti-gran, and perhaps in neither party was there a man fo uni-verfally eitcemed. He had done the townfmcn often great fervice, having always flood between Michael and them in thofe moments of wrath and vengeance when no one elfe dared to fpeak; and, in particular, he had faved the town from burning that morning the Ras had retired with the king to Tigre, when warned, as he faid, by an apparition of Michael the archangel, or more probably of the devil, to put the inhabitants of Gondar to the fword, and fet the city on f-'i-c ; a meafure that was fupported by Ncbrit Tecla, and Vol. IV. G g feveral feveral other leading men among the Tigrans. If the devil can fpeak true, here furcly was one example of it, Gondar that very day had proved fatal to the Ras ; and Kefla Yafous himfelf told me, long after Michael was gone, and all was peace, that having vilitcd him that very evening he left Debra Berhan, Michael had privately upbraided him with having prevented his burning the town, and told him, that his guardian fpirit, Saint Michael the archangel, or the devil, or whatever we may pleafe to call it, had left him, and never appeared to him again fince he had palled the river Tacazze on his return to Gondar; and to this he attribu^ ted his prefent misfortunes. All the king's arms were furrendcred with the red, and Kefla Yafous was the only man that remained unfubdued, a diilinclion due to his fuperlative merit, and preferved to him by his enemies themfelves in the very heat of conquer!. As for the Ras, he had continued in the houfe belonging to his office, viiited only by fome private friends, but had fent Ozoro Eflhcr to the Itcghe's at Kofcam, as foon as he entered Gondar. He ate, drank, and flept as ufuaJ, and rea-foned upon the event that had happened with great equanimity and fecming indillcrcnce. There was no appearance of guards fet upon him ; but every motion and look were privately, but flriclly watched. The next day, when he heard how ill his difarmcd men were treated by the populace, when they were difmiffed to Tigre, he burft into tears, and cried out in great agony, Had I died before this I had been happy. He played no more at drafts, by which game formerly he pretended to divine the iffue of every affair of confequence, Confequence, but gave his draft-board and men to a private friend ; at the fame time renouncing his pretended divinations, as deceitful and fmful, by the confidence he had placed in them. The king behaved with the greater! firmnefs and compo-fure ; he was indeed graver than ufual, and talked lefs, but was not at all dejected. Scarce any body came near him the firft day, or even the fecond, excepting the priefts, fome of the judges, and old inhabitants of the town, who had taken no part. Some of the priefts and monks, as is their cuftom, ufed certain liberties, and mixed a confiderable degree of impertinence in their converfations, hinting it as doubtful, whether he would remain on the throne, and mentioning it, as on the part of the people, that he had imbibed from Michael a propenfity towards cruelty and bloodfhed, wdiat fome months ago no man in Gondar dared to have fur-mifed for his life. Thefe he only anfwered with a very fevcre look, but faid nothing. One of thefe fpecches being reported to Guiho, not as a complaint from the king, but through aby-ftander wrho heard it, that nobleman ordered the offender (a pricfl of Ei ba Tenia, a church in Woggora) to be ftript naked to his waift, and whipt with thongs three times round Aylo Mcidan, till his back was bloody, for this violation of the majefty of the fovereign : and this example, which met with the public approbation of all parties, the clergy only excepted, very much lcflencd that infolencc which the king's misfortunes had excited. He had ate nothing the firft day but a fmall piece of wheat-loaf, dividing the reft among the few fervants that G g 2 attended attended him, who had all fared better than he, among? their friends in town, though they did not own it. The-; fecond day began in the fame llile, and lafted till noon,* without any appearance of provifions. After the furren-, dry of the arms, however, came great plenty, both from the town and the camp, and fo continued ever after ; but he ate very fpuringly, though he had generally a very good appetite,, and ordered the refulue to be given to his fervants, or the poor about the gates o£. the palace, many of whom, he faid, mud llarve by the long Hay ofkfo large an army,, He feemed to be totally forgotten. About three o'clock of the fecond day came his fecretary from Gufho, Raid about an hour, and returned immediately ; but what had pafled I did not hear, at leaft at that time. There was no alteration in his looks or behaviour. He went early to bed, and had not yet changed the cloaths in which he came from the camp. The next day the unfortunate troops of Tigre, loaded^ with curfes and opprobrious language, pelted with ftones and dirt, and a few way-laid and flain for private injuries,, were conducted up the hill above Debra Berhan, on the. road through Woggora to Tigre, by a guard of horfe from, Gufho's camp, who protected them with great humanity as far as they were able ; but it was out of the power of any force but that of an army to protect them from the enraged populace, over whom they had tyrannifed fo many years. Arrived at the river Angrab, in the rear of Powuffen's army, they were configned to him, and he delivered, them to Ayto Tesfos, who was to efcort them acrofs the Tacazze. Many of the mob, however, continued to purfue them even farther; but thefe were all to a man difarmed* and ftript naked, on their return to Gondar, by Tesfos and Powuffen's foldiers, who juilly judged, that in the like fituation fituation they would themfelves have met with no better treatment. While every rank of people was intent upon this fpec-tacle, a body of Galla, belonging to Maitlha, Hole privately into the town, and plundered feveral houfes: they came next into the king's palace, and into the pre fence-chamber, where he was fitting alone in an alcove, whilfl, juft by his fide, but out of light, and without the alcove, I and two of his fervants were fitting on the floor. This room, in the time of Yafous and the Iteghe, (the days of luxury and fplendour of the Abyflinian court), had been magnificently hung with mirrors, brought at great cxpence from Venice; , by way of Arabia and the Red Sea; thefe were very neatly fixed in copper-gilt frames by fome Greek filligrane-workers from Cairo; but the mirrors were now moftly broken by various accidents, efpecially when the palace was fet on fire, in Joas's time, upon Michael's coming from the campaign of Begemder. Thefe lavages, though they certainly faw the king at the other end of the room, attached themfelves to the glafs neareft the door, which was a large oblong one, and after they had made many grimaces, and a variety of antics before it, one of them tlruck it juft in the middle with the butt-end of his lance, and broke it 'to fhivers, which fell tinkling on the floor. Some of thefe pieces they took up, but in the end they were moftly reduced to powder with the repeated ftrokes of their lances, 'lhcre were three glaftes in the alcove where the king fat, as alfo one in the wings on each fide without the alcove ; under the king's right hand we three were fitting, and the Galla were engaged with a mirror near the door, at the o-ther end of the room, on the left fide, fo that there was , but but one glafs more to break before they arrived at thofe in the alcove where the king was fitting. I was in great fear of the confequences, as they were about thirteen or fourteen in number; nor did we know liow many more of their companions might be below, or in the town, or of what party they were, nor whether re-liftance on our part was lawful. We three had no arms but a fhort knife at our girdle, nor had the king any, fo that we were in the grcateft fear that, if their humour of breaking the glaffes had continued when they came near the king, he would flrike one of them, and we fliould be all maflacred : We all three therefore got up and Rood before the king, who made a gentle motion with his hand, as if to fay, " Stay a little, or, have patience." At .this inflant, Tenfa Chriflos, (a man of confidcrable authority in Gondar, who was underflood by Gufho to be trailed with the care of the town, though he had no name or poft, for there was yet no form of government fettled,) hearing the Galla had plundered houfes, and gone into the palace, followed them as fa ft as poffible, with about a hundred flout young men belonging to Gondar, well-armed. The Galla foon faw there was a more fcrious occupation awaiting them, and ran out to the great hall of the king's chamber, called Adcrafha, when one of thefe foldiers of Gondar fliut the door of the room where the king fat. The Galla at firft made a fliew of refinance; but two of them being very much wounded, and feeing themfelves in a houfe where they did not know their way, and all afliftance from their comrades impofliblc, they furrendered their arms ; they then were tied two and two, and fent in this manner down to Gufho's 3 camp, camp, who immediately ordered two of them to be hanged, and the reft to be whipt and difmifled. ' Tensa Christos, after having done this good fervice, came into the room to the king, and kilFed the ground in the ufual manner before him. The king immediately ordered him to rife, gave him his hands to kifs, and then permitted him to withdraw, without having faid one word in his commendation for having delivered him from fo great a danger. That fame day, a little after noon, a party of foldiers was fent into the town, who apprehended Shalaka Becro and his fon ; Nebrit Tecla, and his two fons ; two fons of Lika Netcho a priett, and another man, whofe name I have forgot, in all eight perfons, natives of the province of Tigre, dependants and fervants of Ras Michael, and murderers of the late king Joas. Thefe being brought to the market-place, were delivered into the hands of the Edjow Galla, formerly Joas's guard. Becro and his fon were hewn to pieces with knives ; Nebrit Tecla's fons, the eld eft firft, and then the youngcit, were thruft through with lances ; and their father being then brought to them where they lay, and defired to fay if he knew who they were, and an-fwering in the negative, he was immediately cut to pieces, as were the others, with great cirenmftances of cruelty, and their mangled bodies thrown about the Itrects. Theft: were all the executions which followed this great and fudden revolution ; a proof of very exemplary moderation in the conquerors, confidering the number of people concerned in the parricide firft, and the confequcntial rebellion after. Lika Netcho, in particular, fully as guilty as his fons, was ncverthelefs fparcd, becaufe he had married one of the king's relations.. As As yet none of the chiefs of the rebels hurl entered Gondar. Meffages had pafled, but not frequently, beiween the king and Gufho; fewer flill between him and Powuflen; as for the reft, they feemed to take no lead at all. On the ift of June, Gufho and Powuflen came both to the houfe of the Ras, where they interrogated him very roughly as to all his paft conduct. Till the execution of Joas's murderers, he had conftantlv dreffed himfelf in his very belt apparel, with all the infignia of command. As foon as this was told him, he cloithed himfelf plainly, and conftantlv in white, with a cowl of the fame colour on his head, like the monks, a fign he had retired from the world. It'feemed as if this was done through a fondnefs for life, for by that act he devoted the remainder of his days to ob-fcurity and penitence. Nothing remarkable happened at this interview, at leaf! as far as was known. From thence Gufho and Powuflen went to the king's palace, where they did homage, and took the oaths of allegiance. It was there refolved that Gufho mould be Ras, and the other places were all difpofed of. From this time forward the king began to have a flicw of government, no party having teftified any fort ofdifcontent with him; on the contrary, each of the rebel chiefs now waited upon him feparately, and had long conferences with him; but,what bade fairefl to re-ellablifh his authority entirely was, the dif-fentions that evidently reigned among the leaders of the te-belsthemfelves, whom we, however,fhall no longer corf, der as fuch, not becaufe their treafon had profpered, but hc-caufe they were now returned to their duty. It was flrong-..'y fufpeeted that a treaty was on foot between Gufho and 2 • Michael, Michael, by which the latter, in confkleration of a large fum, was to put the former again in poffelFion of the province of Tigre; others again faid, that Kefla Yafous, at Ras Michael's defire, was to be made governor of Tigre, and to have a large fum of gold, which Michael was fup-pofed to have concealed there, and which he was to remit: to Gufho, whilft he and Michael were to undcrftand each other about the government of the province. Be that as it may, PowufTcn, on the 4th of June, without any previous notice given to Gufho, marched into Gondar with a thoufand horfe, and, without further ceremony, ordered Ras Michael to be placed upon a mule, and, joining the reft of his army, who had all ftruck their tents, marched away fo fuddenly to Begemder, that Ozoro Efther, then refiding at the queen her mother's houfe at Kofcam, had fcarccly time to fend her old hufband a frefh mule, and fome fupply of neceffary provifions. All the reft of the troops decamped immediately after, the rains beginning now to be pretty conftant, and the foldiers dcfirous to be at home. Some of the great men, indeed, remained at Gondar, fuch as Ayabdar, Engedan, and others, who had views of preferment* Gufho took poffeflion of the Ras's houfe and office; the king's officers and fervants returned to the palace; the places of thofe that had fallen in battle were filled, and the whole town began to rcfumc an appearance of peace, which every one who confidered feared would be of a very fhort duration. A few days after the army of Begemder had left Gondar, Powuflen fent the ufurper Socinios, leaded with irons, from Agar Salam, a fmall town in Begemder, where he had Vol. IV. H h been been kept prifoner. He was brought before the king in the fame equipage he arrived, and being interrogated who he was, anfwered with great boldnefs, that he was Socinios, fon to king Yafous, fon of Bacufla ; that he had not fought to be made king, but was forced by the Iteghe and Sanuda; this every one knew to be true. Soon after his mother was examined; but denying now what fhe had formerly fworn, that fhe ever had any intimate connection with the late king Yafous, Socinios was fentenced to death; but being in his manners, figure, and converfation perfectly defpica-ble, the king directed he fhould ferve as a flave in his kitchen, whence he was taken,fome time afterwards, and hanged for theft. On the 2 iff of June, the Iteghe arrived from Gojam, and all the people of Gondar flocked to fee her without the town. Gufho had met her at Tedda; and, at the fame time that he welcomed her, told her, as from the king, that it was his orders that neither Palambaras Mammo, nor Likaba Beccho, were to enter the town with her. This flie confU dcred as a very high affront, and the work of Gufho, not the king's orders. She upbraided Gufho with avarice, pi ide, and malice, declared him a greater tyrant than Mi^ chael, without his capacity, forbidding him to appear any more before her, and with great difliculty could be prevailed to go on to Kofcam inflead of returning to Gojam. It is impofliblc to conceive the enthufiafm with which the fight of the old cruccn infpired all forts of people. Gufho had no troops, the king as few, being left even without a fervant in Irs palace. p Then was the fcafon for mifchief, had not Fafil been hovering with his army, without declaring his- approbation approbation or disapprobation of any thing that had been done, or was doing. About the end of June he came at once to Abba Samuel, without announcing himfelf before hand, according to his ufual cuftom, and he paid his nrfl vifit to the Iteghe, then a fhort one to the king, where I faw him: he was very facetious with me, and pretended I had promifed him my horfe when I returned from Maitlha, which I excufed, by obferving the horfe was out of town. Well, well, fays he, that mail not fave you ; tell me where he is and I will fend' for him, and give you the bell mule in the army in exchange, and take my chance of recovering him wherever he is. With all my heart, replied I; you will find him perhaps in the valley of Serbraxos, at the foot of the hill, oppofite to the fouth ford of the river Mariam. He laughed heartily at this, fhook me by the hand at parting, faying, Well, well, for all this you fhall not want your mule. The king was exceedingly pleafed at what had paffed, and faid," I wifh you would tell mc,Yagoube, how you reconcile ail thefe people to you. It is a fecrct which will be of much more importance to me than to you. There is Gufho now, for example, fo proud of his prefent fortune, that he fcarce-ly will fay a civil word to me; and Fafil has brought me a lifl of his own fervants, whom he wants to make mine without afking my leave, (Adera Tacca Georgis, whom he named to be Fit-Auraris to the king, as he had done formerly when he wanted to quarrel with Socinios, Gubena to be Cantiba, and fome others), yet he never fees you come into the room but he begins immediately joking and pleafant converfation. H h 2 After After thefe appointments, which were not difputed with him, though otherwife very much againd the king's inclination, laid retired with his army to Maitlha. In the mean time, Gufho fet every thing to fale, content with the money the offices produced, and what he could fqucczc from people who had crimes, real or alledgcd, to compound for. He did not perceive that fleps were taking by his enemies which would foon deprive him of all the advantages he enjoyed. Inftead of attending to this, he amu-fed himfelf with mortifying the Iteghe, whofe daughter, Welleta Ifrael, he had formerly married, but who had long left him by the perfuafion of her mother. He thought it was an affront to his dignity that the king had pardoned Likaba Bcecho, and Palambaras Mammo, the very day after he had forbid them to enter the town ; and, what was flill flrongcr, that the king, without his confent, had fent an invitation to the Iteghc to return to Gondar, and govern, as his mother, to the extent fhe did in the time of Joas ; he rcfolved therefore to attempt the creating a mifunderftanding between the king and queen, a matter not very difficult in itfelf to bring about. Gusho had conhTcated, in the name of the king, all tile queen's villages, which made her believe that this offer of the king to bring her to Gondar was an infidious one. In order to make the breach the wider, he had alfo prevailed upon the king's mother to come to Gondar, and infill with her fon to be crowned, and take the title and ilate of Iteghe. The king was prevailed upon to gratify his mother, under pretence that the Iteghe had refufed to come upon his invitation ; but this, as it was a pretence only, f0 it was ex- prefsly prefsly a violation of the law of the land, which permits but one Iteghe, and never allows the nomination of a new one while the former is in life, however diflant a relation fhe may be to the then reigning king. In confequcnce of this new coronation, two large villages, Tihemmcra andTocuffa, which belonged to the Iteghe as appendages of her royalty, ofcourfedevolvedupon the king's own mother, newly crowned, who fending her people to take pofTeflion, the inhabitants not only refufed to admit her officers, but forcibly drove them away, declaring they would acknowledge no other millrefs but their old one, to whom they were bound by the laws of the land If Gufho, in this manner, dealt hardly with the queen, his behaviour to the king was neither more j ufl nor generous : he had not only failed to advance any gold for the king's fubfiflence, but had intercepted that part of his revenue which he knew was ready to be paid him, and in the hands of others of his fubjeefs. A flared daily allowance was, indeed, delivered to the king in kind for the maintenance of his houfehold, but even this was fmaller than had been fettled by Ras Michael; befides which, 120 jars of honey, being one day fent the king from Damot, and at the fame time 1000 cotton coats from Waikayt, both thefe were feized upon by Gufho, without any part being offered to the king, who thereupon determined to break with him, as did the Iteghe from the former provocation. Ayabdar, never reconciled to him before the battle of •Serbraxos, had frefh reafon of difference with him from an unequal diflribution of Ras Michael's effects, while Engedan, who had been promifed the province of Kuara, and 1 a\hom whom the king very much favoured, follicited that poft in vain, unlets he would advance a thoufand ounces of gold, which he pofitively refufed to do. The king fomented all thefe complaints by fending a perfon of confequence to Powuflen, who advifed him to arrefl Gufho immediately, and promifed, if rcfifiance was made, to be at Gondar in three days. Engedan and Ayabdar were trufled with the execution of this, but as Gufho was beloved by the people of Gondar, the fecret was not fo well kept but that it came to his ears. On the 16th of July, (the feafl of Saint Michael) Gufho pretended he had made a vow to vifit the church of that Saint at Azazo, and accordingly, early in the morning, he fet out for that village, attended with thirty horfe and fifty mufqueteers ; but no fooncr had he pafled the church than his real intention appeared, and he was purfued by Gubeno, Cantiba of Dembea; Ayto Adigo, Palambaras; and Ayto Engedan. Gubeno alone, being hearty in the caufe, came up with him firft, as they had pafled the river Derma, when Gufho, feeing Gubeno's troops clofe behind him, turned quickly upon them, repaffed the river, and, having killed two of the foremofl with his owri hand, and repelled the red, he returned acrofs the river, and faced a-bout upon the banks of it. Upon the other troops coming up, he called to Engedan, putting him in mind how lately he had been in his hands, and advifing them all to return to Gondar, and tell the king he fhould again be with him in fifteen days. A council was thereupon held, and as it was plain, from the countenance of the man, that he was refolved to refill refill to the utmofl, none of the leaders then prefent thought themfelves warranted to rifk the death of a perfon fo noble, and fo powerfully related, efpecially in an obfeure fldrmifh, fuch as was then likely to happen, the motives for which were not publicly known; they accordingly all returned to Gondar, leaving the Ras to purfue his way, who being now advanced as far as Degwaffa, and thinking himfelf out of all danger, was fuddenly furrounded by Aclog, governor of a little diflrict: there, and even from him he would have efcaped by his own courage and exertion, had not his horfe funk in miry ground whence he could not recovei him. After receiving thefe news, the king fent his Fit-Auraris, Adera Tacca Gcorgis, and Ayto Engedan, with a number of troops, to bring Gufho to town, when he returned a miferable figure, with his head fhaven : he was cloathed in black, and was confined that fame day (the firft of Augufl) a clofe prifoncr, and in irons, in a high, damp, uninhabited tower of the king's houfe3 without being pitied by either party. It was now the feafon of the year when this country ufed to overflow with milk and honey; becaufc, being in all the low part of it covered with rain, the horfemen and foldiers, who ufed to obftrucT the roads, were all retired to quarters, and the peafants, bringing provifions to the market, pafled the high grounds in fafety; all forts of people, profiting by the plenty which this occafioncd, indulged themfelves to the greatefl excefs in every fort of pleafure to which their rcfpecTuve appetites led them. The rains had fallen, indeed, as ufual, but had not, however, flopped the march of the armies, and if not a famine, at leaft a 4 fcarcity fcarcity of provifions in Gondar, had been the confc-quence; not a word was heard, indeed, of Ras Michael, whether he was alive or dead, but his familiar fpirits feemed to prefide in the air, and pour down mifchief. CHAP, --------/ mil t 1 11 iiVgg C H A P. XI. The Author obtains Liberty to return Home—Takes Leave of the Iteghc at Kofcam—Lafl Interview with the Monks, SINCE the queen came again to Kofcam, I had pafled a great part of my time there, but my health declining every day, I had obtained, with great difficulty, liberty from her to attempt my return home. The king, too, after a hundred exceptions and provifos, had at length been brought to give an unwilling confent. I had feen alfo Metical Aga's fervant, who, upon finding Ras Michael was difgraced, would not flay, but hafled back, and would fain have prevailed upon me to return with him thro' Tigre into Arabia. But befides that I was determined to attempt completing my journey through Sennaar and the defert, I by no means liked the rifk of pafling again through Mafuah, to experience a fecond time the brutal manners of the Naybe and garrifon of that place. Vol. IV, I i Captain Captain Thomas Price, of the Lion of Bombay, had been obliged, by his bufmefs with the government of Mecca, to continue at Jidda till the feafon after I went from thence to Abyflinia. I had already heard once from him,, and now a fecond time. He informed me my countrymen had been in the greater! pain for mc ; that feveral reports had been current, both at Jidda and Mocha, of my having been aflaflinatcd ; fometimes it was faid by the Naybe of Mafuah ; fometimes that it had happened at Gondar; by others at Sennaar, in my return home. Captain Price wrote mc in this laft let;ei\ that, thinking I muff be diflrcflcd for want of money, he had left orders with Ibrahim Seraff, the Eng.lifli broker at Jidda, to advance me 1000 crowns, defiring my draft to be fent to Ibrahim, directed to him or his brother at Bombay,, and to make it payable to a gentleman of that name who lived in Smith-Held. I cannot omit mentioning thefe inflances of the philanthropy and generality of Mr Price, to whom 1 bore no relation, and who was but a common acquaintance, whom I had acquired among my countrymen during my itay at Jidda. The only title I had to this confideration was, that he thought I was probably in diftrefs, and that as it was in his power alone to relieve me, this in itfclf, to a noble mind, conftituted a fufflcicnt obligation. , I do. not believe Captain Price was able to read a word of Latin, fo that fen-timent in Terence, "Homo fum, nihil humani mini alier " num. cfTe puto," was as much an original in Mr Price's brcaft as if. it had never before been uttered. I told Metical. Aga's fervant the bad news I had got from Sennaar, and he agreed perfectly with tire contents, adding, that the journey was not practicable ; he declared they they were fo inhuman and fo barbarous a race, that he would not attempt the journey, Mahometan as he was, for half the Indies. I begged him to fay no more on that head, but to procure from his mailer, Metical Aga at Mecca, a letter to any man of confequence he knew at Sennaar. My refolution being therefore taken, and leave obtained, this will be now the place to refume the account of my finances. I have already gone fo far as to mention three hundred pounds which I had occasionally borrowed from a Greek whofe name was Petros. This man was originally a native of the iiland of Rhodes, which he mull have left early, for he was not at this time much pail thirty; he had been by trade a fhoemaker. For what reafon he left, his own country I know not, but he was of a very pleafing figure and addrefs, though very timid. Joas and the Iteghe very much diflinguifhed him, and the king had made him Azeleffa el Camifha, which anfwers precifely to groom of the dole, or firft lord of the bed-chamber in England. Being pliant, civil, and artful, and always well dre'fled, he had gained the good graces of the whole court; he was alfo rich, as the king was generous., and his perquiiites not inconfl-derablc. \ After the campaign of Mariam Barea, when the dwarf was fhot who was Handing before Ras Michael, and the palace fet on fire in the fray which followed, the crown, which was under Petros's charge, was melted ; the gold, indeed,that it confillcdof, was afterwards found, but there was faidtohave been on the top of it a pearl, or jewel, of immenfe price and fize,larger than a pigeonVegg; and this, whatever it was, had dilappcared, being in all .probability confumed by the fire. I i 2 Ru,<; Ras Michael, on the contrary, believed that it had been taken out by Petros with a view to fell it, and for this reafon lie had constantly refufed him liberty to leave Abymnia, and had kept him always in fear that fome day or other he would ftrip him of all that he had laved. While Michael was be-ficging the mountain Haramat, Petros befeeched me to take L.3ooof him, and give him my firft, fecond, and third bill of exchange upon McfTVs Julian and Rofa, my correfpondents at Cairo, payable a month after fight, to the Maronite Bi-mop of Mount Sinai, after which he fet out for his own country, m forma pauperis, and thereby efcaped the rapacity of * both Ras Michael and the Naybe of Mafuah. As for the bill, it came duly to hand, and was paid to the bifhop, who would very fain have received for each of the duplicates, and was near being battinado'd for infifling upon this before the Bey at Cairo. A Bill drawn from Gondar is a very great curiofity when arrived in London ; it mould be now upon the file in the fhop of my very worthy and honourable friends the Mcflis Drummond and Company at Charing-Crofs. It was the only piece of writing of any kind which found its way to its intended deftination, though many had been written by me on different occafions which prefented for Arabia ; fo that I will recommend to all travellers, for the future, to tack bills of exchange to their letters of greateft confequence, as a fure method of preventing their mifcarriage. I had made a fhew, and with fome degree of orientation, of fending my gold chain to Cairo by the hands of Metical Aga's fervant, declaring always that it was the only piece of Abyffmian gold I mould carry out of the country, which I v/as was to leave, both in fact and appearance, a pauper. Mules arc the only beafts for carriage commonly ufed in Abyflinia, though bulls and cows, of a particular kind, are bought for the purpofe by carriers, merchants, and fuch like, in that country, efpecially near the mines or quarries of fait; they are very flow, however, and capable of no great burden, though very eafdy maintained. I had abundance of mules of my own for carrying my inftruments and baggage, and the king and Iteghe furnifhed me with others for my own riding. I had, befides, two favourite horfes, which I intended to attempt to carry home, foolifhly enough ; for though I thought in my own mind that I was fufficicntly informed of, and prepared for all forts of hardfhips, I had not forefeen the hundredth part of the difficulties and dangers that were then awaiting me. On the 6th of Auguft meffengers came from Fafil, and the day after from PowufFen, Begemder, Gojam, Damot, and Maitfha,, which provinces, by their deputies, defired that Gufho might be fet at liberty. This the king agreed to, but upon condition that the Ras Ihould inftantly pay him 1000 ounces of gold, and 500 mufquets, which, on the other fide, was as pofitively refufed. Upon this Guiho was put into clofe confinement, anil heavier irons than before:. and, what was the moll unjuft, his two fons, who had left their own country to ailift their father in diftrefs, were confined in chains with him. All thefe violent meafures were attributed to Ayabdar, Billetana Gucta Tecla, Guebra Mafcal, and Baflia Hezekias, officers connected with Ras Michael, whom the king had permitted to return from Tigre, and very much confided in their councils, On the other hand, Adera Tacca Georgis, (the king's Fit-Auraris) and Guebra Welleta Yafous, principal people in -Maitfha, and whom Fafil had put about the king,dcfired leave to retire to their own country, from which it is probable they will never again return to Gondar, unlefs as enemies. Although the king flill obflinately infifled that the Ras fliould pay him his thoufand ounces of gold, and five hundred mufquets, as a price for his being fet at liberty, this was refufed by Gufho, in terms that fhe wed he was not now, as formerly, afraid of the king's power. On the other hand, the king proclaimed Kefla Yafous governor of the province of Tigre, with the fame extent of command as Ras Michael had enjoyed it; and he was already there, and had taken upon him the government of that province. At the fame time the king fuperfeded Gufho, and deprived him of his province of Amhara, which was given to his nephew Ayto Adigo, fon of Palamharas Durric, a man of very great intereft and property in the province; after which he immediately left Gondar, and took his way thro' Begemder ; but at the very entrance into Amhara, he was defeated by a fon of Gufho who was expecting him ; his troops were difperfed, and his brother, Ayto Adcreffon, (the man who loft Gufho's horfe at the battle of Tedda) wounded and taken prifoner. There remained no longer any doubt that, as foon as the rains were over, the former fcenes of bloodfhed and confu lion were to be acted over again ; for, by appointing Kefla Yafous to the government of Tigre, and Ayto Adigo ft> that of Amhara, and the peaceable paflage given to this 2 young young nobleman through Begemder, in order to fupplant his uncle Gufho, by the great confidence fhewn by the king in the old officers and relations of Ras Michael, now at Gondar, and the difmiffion of Fafii's friends, (Adera Tacca Georgis and Confu Adam) the mofl ample confeflion pof-fiblc was made, that the king had again thrown himfelf into the arms of the province of Tigre and Begemder united; to which Amhara was to be addend, by keeping Gufho pri-foner, till fuch time as his nephew Adigo could gain entire poffeflion. To counterpoifc this, a mefTengcr arrived from Fafd, demanding privately of the king, that Gutho Ihould be fet at liberty, and return to his province of Amhara; that Lika Netcho, one of the murderers of Joas, (who had been fpared, as being married to a relation of the king) fhould be immediately put to death, and that all the officers belonging to Ras Michael, then at court, fliould be banifhed for ever to Tigre, their native country. The king returned a pofitivc refufai, not qualified in any fhape whatever. A disagreement now happened, which, more than all the reft, was intcrefling, and dillurbed me in particular. Pofitivc information was brought to the Iteghe, and, I believe, very authentic, that the king, weary of the many councils held at Kofcam by the fervants and deputies of the feveral parties, in the queen's prefencc, (to which he was not called) had determined to give up the palace of Kofcam, in which it was thought there were great riches, to be plundered by his foldiers. As the death of the queen by her confinement in fome diflant defert and unwholefomg convent, miut have probably been the confequence of fusee fs. ccfs on one part, fo an immediate revolution, and the death of the king, was certainly to follow the mifcarjriage on the other, that is, mould lie he defeated in, or after making the attempt. Troops, headed by Engedan, Ayto Confu, and by Mam-mo, and all the ltcghe's relations, now crowded into Kofcam, into which great plenty of provifions was alfo carried. The wall was high and flrong, the gates lately put into good repair, the tower, or caltlc, within in perfect good order; the Iteghe had not furrendered her fire-arms, and all the inhabitants around, cfpeciaily the poorer fort, were firmly attached to her, as in times of diflrefs and famine her charity afforded them a conflant refuge. Since the Iteghe had returned, I always lived at Kofcam by her own defire, as her health was very precarious fince her refidence in Gojam. This fuitcd my intention of withdrawing privately, and therefore, not to multiply the number of leave-takings, I had feen Gufho but once, and that for a moment, and Ayabdar not at all, fo that my whole attendance was now between the king and queen. The king had denied publicly his intention of plundering Kofcam, but in a manner not at all fatisfactory to the Iteghe; I ventured therefore to mention it to him one day when he was alone, on which he faid, " I would not do it for your fake, Yagoube, were there no other reafon; but my mother (meaning the Iteghe) is ill-advifed, and worfe informed." On the 13th of October, Powuflen, with a very confidcrable army, and without any previous intimation, arrived at Kofcam, his head-quarters all the laft campaign. He con- 3 tinucd tinned there till the 22d of the fame month, and then decamped, palling by Gondar, without entering it; he came to Ras Gufho's houfe, under the hill of Kofcam, where he had feveral interviews with the king and Iteghe, to what purport was never known ; but it probably was to endeavour fome reconcilement between the king and queen, and this was effected a few days afterwards (at lead in appearance) by Ayabdar, and fome of the great men at Gondar, after which Powuflen returned to Begemder. For my part, I neither defired nor obtained an interview ; I faw that the florm was ready to break, and I was taking the moil fpeedy and effectual way to be out of the fphere of its action. On the 12th of November, all Gondar was flruck with a panic at the news brought in by the peafants from the country, flying for refuge to the capital, deflitute of every thing, and thankful only they had efcaped with life. Fa-fil had marched with a confiderable army from Ibaba, and advanced to Dingleber in peace, when he left the main body, under the conduct of Welleta Yafous, and all his baggage, confulering that place as the limits of his government. He marched from this, without taking for himfelf two changes of raiment, at the head of 700 horfe, the mofl wild and defperate banditti that ever were introduced into any unfortunate country. With thefe lie burnt every village and every church between Dingleber and Sar-Ohha, murdered every male, without diflinction of priefl or layman; killed every woman paft the age of child-bearing, and gave the others as flaves to the wild Pagan Galla whom he had with him. In fhort, he jufl indulged that body of men in the fame enormities that they themfelves exercife in the inroads they make into countries unhappy enough to be Vol. IV. K k their their neighbours in time of war. The whole country of Degwaifa, the diflrict which Aclog commanded, was totally deftroyed; men, women, and children, were entirely extirpated, without difHnction of age or fex ; the houfes all razed to the ground, and the country about it left as defolate as after the deluge. The villages belonging to the king were as feverely treated ; an univerfal cry was heard from every part, but no one dared to fuggeft any means of help; parties were fo entirely mixed and confounded, that no one could fafely enter into any confidence with his neighbour ; but the common people, who had little to lofe, began again to cry out for the return and government of Ras, Michael Fasil, having given the king,this fample of what he* was capable of doing, halted at Sar-Ohha, and from thence fent a peremptory demand that Gufho fliould be at liberty. His meffenger was a crooked, diminutive dwarf, called Dohho, of whom I have already fpoken. It was a very bad fign of a treaty when fuch a one was the manager. Fie upbraided the king in terms fcarcely decent, with the protection, life, and kingdom the Ras Fafil had given him, when the contrary was abfolutely in his power. He afked the king if he knew who had protected him the night of the retreat from the hill of Serbraxos ? and told him, in plain terms, that, being entirely void of the noble principles of gratitude himfelf, he had forced him, Fafil, to be wanting to the next great virtue, that of hofpitality, in fuf-fering a man of Gufho's quality to be made prifoiier after arriving within the limits of his government. He concluded, by telling the king plainly, that, unlcfs he rcflorcd Gufho to his liberty and government, without condition, he would* would, in three days, make Gondar, the metropolis, as de-fert and deflitute of inhabitants as he had left the paltry diftrict. of Degwaffa. The king received all this with great compofurc, for he had as much fortitude, and as little fear as ever fell to the ihare of any man ; his misfortune, however, was, that he had no refources in which he could trufl; and the Tigre officers about him, more imprudent, and fully as fearlefs as he, gave him the fame advices they would have done had he been at the head of the army. Ras Michael was moreover gone, and Kefla Yafous was at a diftance ; thefe two were the men for planning and contriving bufinefs, and who faved others the trouble of thinking. The reft, fuch as Billetana Gueta Tecla, Guebra Mafcal, and Bafha He-zekias, were only fit to be trufted with execution, and to proceed according to the letter of the orders they might receive, and the confequences of which they could not, nor did they wifh to underftand. By being ufed, however, to conftant fuccefs in executing plans maturely di-gefled by wifcr heads, they had acquired a degree of preemption which made them very dangerous counsellors to a young king, in the prefent cafe, where nothing but the greater! prudence, aflifted by the manifeft intcrpofition of the hand of Heaven, (many examples of which he had already proved) could fave him from perdition. I was not prefent at the audience, being at Kofcam, but his fecretary, to whom I am indebted for every thing that paffed in private, in this hiftory, and which otherwifc was beyond the reach of my knowledge, affured me the king anfwered thefe threatenings without any change of coun- K k 2 tcnance tenancc or language, and in very few words : " Tell Kafmati Fafd from me, that what I am obliged to do by the rules of jufticc, is not to be meafured either by his inclination or power to do wrong. Men have crucified their Saviour ; and many kings in this country (better men than I am) have been, in various manners, flain by their deluded fubjects. The race of Solomon, however, God has prcferved till this day on the throne, where I am now fitting, while nothing but the memory of thofe who opprefled them remains loaded with the curfes of mankind. I am king of this country, and have often been acknowledged as fuch by Kafmati Fafil. I will not give up Gufho, but at my own time, if ever; nor can he iniiil upon it, confiftently with the duty of a fubject. to his fovereign." Noble words thefe,. had he been at the head of an army to enforce them. This mefTage was quickly conveyed to Fafil, who was advanced to Azazo, where it met him, and he continued his march without halting till he came to Abba Samuel, about two miles from Gondar. It was on the 13th of November that his army made afhew of encamping at Abba Samuel, for there was not above fix tents pitched, and next day, the 14th, by eight in the morning, a drum and trumpet, guarded by about a hundred horfe, came immediately under the town to the banks of the river Kahha, where the trumpet having founded three times, and the kettle-drum beat as often, it was proclaimed, That all manner of perfons, of what degree foever, whether fervants of the palace, or others, fliould inflantly leave Gondar as they regarded their lives; and if any Raid after this warning, their blood fliould be upon their own head. The whole town, therefore, in an inflant was deferted,and very few, even of hisown fervants,remained with with the king. I had already once partaken of a fimilar fcene, and found it of the moft difagrecable kind ; Providence fpa-red me, however, this repetition of it, as I was at Kofcam, and determined to be retired there fo perfectly, that I did not flir out of my apartment till night, when the gates were locked, and the guards placed. On the 15th, the king releafed Ras Guiho from his confinement, who immediately went to the camp to Fafd ; and next day, at night, he returned, and had an audience at the palace with the king, and again retired to fleep at Abba Samuel. On the 17th, a little before noon, Fafil, came to the palace for an audience, but firft. took ^offcflion of every avenue leading to it; a ftrong guard was alfo placed in the anti-chamber, and the charge of the door of the king's prefence-chamberwas taken from the king's ordinary black fervants, and given to Confu Adam, who mounted guard there with about twenty wild Galla. What further paffed I did not ftrict-ly inquire, being exceedingly diftrefled, by the bad profpccT: that prefented itfelf, and firmly refolvcd to take no further part. In general, however, I underflood, that all was humiliation ; and Fafil having announced to the king that he had given his daughter to Gufho in marriage, to him the king gave Gojam, and rcflored the province of Amhara. Aclog was condemned to find fecurity for 1200 ounces of gold,, which was faid to be the fum Gufho had with him when taken* The king was to reftore to the Iteghe the whole of her villages that fhe had ever enjoyed, from the time of Bacuffa, her hufband, to that prefent moment. To Fafil, were given Damot, Maitfha,and Agow, and to Confu Adam, Ibaba Aza- ge ; and, for the greater folemnity, the king and Fafd took a formal oath, to ratify all thefe articles, and to remain in friendfliip for ever. After which, the Abuna, in pontificals, being called to be prefent, pronounced a formal curfe and fentence of excommunication, upon whichever of the parties Ihould firft break the vow they had taken. No word was mentioned of Tigre, or Kefla Yafous, or of Fowuffen, nor the fmallcfl notice taken of Ras Ayabdar, who remained in his houfe and office, as if he had not exifted. It appeared to mc the party was again made by one half of the kingdom againfl the other; Kefla Yafous and Powuflen againfl Fafil and Guiho; as for Ayabdar and Ayto Tesfos of Samen, thefe were left, contemptuoufly in medio, to take any fide they pleafed, which, indeed, was of no confequence. After this interview, Fafil never again entered the king's houfe, though he went often to Kofcam ; but I neither faw him nor fought to fee him, nor did he ever inquire after me, as far as I could learn. On the 19th of November Fafd fent orders to the palace, that four bodies of the king's houfehold-troops, Gimja Bet, Werk Sacala, Ambafele, and Edjow, Ihould immediately join him, which they did, to the number of 1200 men, all armed. Thefe he carried, with Gufho his fon-in-law, in triumph to Damot, nor was this the only inflance Fafil gave of the great regard he had to his late oaths, and to the fa-cred character of the perfon that adminiftcred them; for the morning he marched ofT, a party of the Galla, meeting the Abuna, and a numerous retinue mounted on mules, going to the king's houfe, obliged them all to difmount at once, without diftinciion, taking their mules with them to 4 the the camp, from whence they never returned, and leaving the Abuna on foot, to find his way back to his houfe, at Kcdus Raphael, from the top of which, as from a caftle, he wifely poured out his excommunications, again ft an army, compofed entirely of Pagans, without one Chriflian among them. It is here a proper period to finifli the hiflory of Abyfftv nia, as I was no further prefent at, or informed of the public tranfactions which followed. My whole attention was now taken up in preparations for my return through the kingdom of Sennaar and the defert. Neither fhall I take up the reader's time with a long narrative of leave-taking, or what pafled between me and thofe illuftrious perfonages with whom I had lived fo long in the mofl perfect: and cor*, dial friendfhip. Men of little, and envious miners, would perhaps think I was compofing a panegyric upon myfelf, from which, therefore, I mofl willingly refrain. But the fer-veral marks of goodnefs, friendfhip, and eflccm, which I received at parting, are confined within my own breafl, where they never fhall be effaced, but continue to furnifh me with the mofl agreeable reflections, fince they were the fruit alone of pcrfonal merit, and of honeft, Ready, and upright behaviour. All who had attempted the fame journey hitherto, had met with disappointment, difgrace, or death ; for my part, although I underwent every fort of toil, danger, and all manner of hardfhip, yet thefe were not confined to myfelf. I fullered always honourably, and in common with the reft of the ftate; and when luivfhiny days happened, (for fun-fhiny days there were, and very brilliant ones too) of thefe I was permitted freely to partake; and the mofl diflinguiflied characters, both at court and in the the army, were always ready t6 contribute as far as poflible, to promote what they thought or faw was the object of my purfuits or entertainment. I shall only here mention what paffed at the laft interview I had with the Iteghe, two days before my departure. Tenfa Chriflos, who was one of the chief priefts of Gondar, was a native of Gojam, and confequently of the low church, or a follower of Abba Euftathius, in other words, as great an enemy as pofTiblc to the Catholic, or as they will call it, the religion of the Franks. He was, however, reputed a perfon of great probity and fanctity of manners, and had been on all occafions rather civil and friendly to me when we met, though evidently not defirous of any intimate connections or friendfliip ; and as I, on my part, expected little advantage from connecting myfelf with a man of his principles, I very willingly kept at all poffible diftance; that I might run no rifk of difobliging him was my only aim. This prieil came often to the Iteghe's and Ayto AyIo\ with both of whom he was much in favour, and here I now happened to meet him, when I was taking my leave in the evening. I beg of you, fays he, Yagoube, as a favour, to tell me, now you arc immediately going away from this country, and you can anfwer me without fear, Are you really a Frank, or are you not ? Sir, faid I, I do not know what you mean by fear; I fliould as little decline anfwer-ing you any queftion you have to afk had I ten years to flay, as now I am to quit this country to-morrow : I came recommended, and was well received by the king and Ras Michael: I neither taught nor preached; no man ever i heard Tieard me fay a word about my particular mode of worfliip; and as often as my duty has called me, I have never failed to attend divine fervice as it is eftabliLhed in this country* What is the ground of fear that I fhould have, whde under the king's protection, and when I conform in every fhape to the laws, religion, and cuftoms of Abyflinia? True, fays Tenfa Chriflos, I do not fay you fliould be alarmed; whatever your faith is I would defend you myfelf; the Iteghe knows I always fpoke well of you, but will you gratify an old man's curiofity, in telling me whether or not you really are a Frank, Catholic, or Jefuit ? I have too great a regard, replied I, to requefl of a man, fo truly good and virtuous as you, not to have anfwered you the queftion at whatever time you could have afked me ; and I do now declare to you, by the word of a Chriflian, that my countrymen and I are more diflant in matters of religion, from thefe you call Catholics, Jefuits, or Franks, than you and your Abyrflinians are ; and that a prieft of my religion, preaching in any country fubject to thofe Franks, would as certainly be brought to the gallows as if he had committed murder, and ju'l as fpcedily as you would Hone a Catholic prieil preaching here in the midit of Gondar. They do precifely by us as you do by them, fo they have no rcafbn to complain. And, fays he, don't you do the fame to them ? No, replied I ; every man in our country is allowed to ferve God in his own way; and as long as their teachers confine themfelves to what the facrcd books have told them, they can teach no ill, and therefore deferve no punishment. No religion, indeed, teaches a man evil, but, when forgetting this, they preach againd government, curfe the king, abfolve his fubjects from allegiance, or in. Vol. IV. L 1 cite cite them to rebellion, as being lawful, the fword of the civil power cuts them off, without any blame falling upon their religion, becaufe thefe things were done in contradiction to what their priefts, from the fcripture, fliould have taught them were truly the tenets of that very religion. ■ The Iteghc now interpofed: What do you think, Tenfa Chriftos, if Yagoube is not a prieft, Ihould he not be one? Madam, fays he, I have one queftion more to inquire of him, and that fhall be all, nor would I afk it if he was not going away to-morrow. It is an unfair one, then faid I, but out with it; I cannot fuffer in the opinion of good men, by anfwering directly a queftion which you put to me out of curioflty. It fcems then, fays he, you are not a frank, but you think your own religion a better one than theirs ; you are not of our religion, however, for you fay we are nearer the Catholics than you ; now what objection have you to our religion, and what is your opinion of it ? As far as I am informed, faid I, I think well of it; it is the ancient Greek church, under St Athanafius, fucceflbr to St Mark, in the chair of Alexandria. This being the cafe, you cannot have a better, as you have the religion neareft to that of the apoflles, and, as I have before faid, no religion teaches a man evil, much lefs can your religion give you fuch inftruction, if you have not corrupted it; and if you have, it is no longer the religion of St Athanafius, or the Apoilles, therefore liable to error. And now, Tenfa Chriftos, let me afk you two queftions; you are in no fear of anfwer-' ing, neither are you in danger, though not about to leave the country, Does your religion permit you to marry one 3 . After, THE SOURCE 01- THE NILE. 267 filter, to divorce her, and marry the other, and then, keeping the aunt, to marry the niece likewife ? Does St Athanafius teach you to marry one, two, or three wives, and di-, vorce them as often as you plcafe ; to marry others, and then go back to the former again ? No, replied he. Then as you do this daily, anfwered I, you certainly are not living in this one inllance according to the religion of St Athanafius. Now I afk you, If any prieft, truly a Chriftian, from our parts, (not a Frank, but agreeing in every thing clfe with you), was to preach againfl this, and fome fuch like practices, frequently ufed in Abyflinia, could this prieft live amongft you, or how would you treat him ? Stone him to death, fays Ayto Aylo, who was fitting by; ftone him to death like a frank, or a Jefuit; he fliould not live, a week. Yagoube is hard upon me, continued Tenfa Chriflos, turning to the Iteghe, but 1 am forry to fay with truth, I fear they never would abandon the flefh-pots of Egypt, their ancient inheritance ; for the teaching of any prieft, however perfect his religion might be, or pure his life, or however corrupt their manners. Then Tenia Chriflos, faid I, do not be over fure but that fhedding the blood of thofe Franks as you call them, may be criminal in the fight of God. As their religion has fo far ferved them, as to prevent the practice of fome horrid crimes, that are common here, yours hath not yet had that effect upon you ; if you do not want precept, perhaps you may want example, thefe Franks are very capable of lliewing you this laft, and your own religion inftructs you to imitate them. All this time there was not the fmalleft noife in the room, in which above a hundred people were prefent; but, as I wifhed this conversation to go no further, and was L 1 2 afraid afraid of fome queflion about the Virgin Mary, I got up, and*, palling to the other fide of the room, 1 Itood by Tenia Chriftos, faying to him, And now, holy father, I have one, laft favour, to afk you, which is your forgivenefs, if I have at anytime offended you ; your blefTmg, now that I am immediately to depart, if I have not; and your prayers while on my long and dangerous journey, through countries of Infidels and Pagans. A hum of applaufe founded all throughout the roorru. The Iteghc faid fomething, but what, I did not hear. Tenfa Chriftos was furprifed apparently at my humility, which he had not expected, and cried out, with tears in his eyes,. Is it poflible, Yagoube, that you believe my prayers can do you any good ? I fliould not be a Chriflian, as I profefs to be, Father, replied I, if I had any doubt of the effect: of good men's prayers. So faying, I Hooped to kifs his hand, when he laid a fmall iron crofs upon my head, and, to my great furprife, inflead of a benediction, repeated the Lord's prayer. I was afraid he would have kept me Hooping till ha fliould add the ten commandments likewife, when he con* eluded, " Gzier y1 Baracuc," May God blefs you. After which, I made my obeifance to the Iteghe', and immediately, withdrew, it not being the cuftom, at public audience, to fa-, lute anyone in the prefence of the fovereign. Twenty greafy monks, however, had placed themfelves in my way as I went out, that they might have the credit of giving me the blefTmg likewife after Tenfa Chriflos. As I had very little faith in the prayers of thefe drones, fo I had fome reluctance to kifs their greafy hands andfleeves; how^ ever> in running this diiagreeable gauntlet, 1 gave them my blefung bl'efling in Englifh,—Lord fend you ail a halter, as he did to Abba Salama, (meaning the Acab Saat.) But they,thinking I was recommending them to the patriarch Abba Salama,. pronounced atrandoim. with great feeming devotion, their Amen,—So be it, TRAVELS TRAVELS TO DISCOVER THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. BOOK VIII. the author returns by sennaar through nubia and the great desert-arrives at alexandria, and after at marseilles. CHAP. I. Journey from Gondar to Tcherkin, ryi H E palace of Kofcam is fituated upon the fouth fide X of Dcbra Tzai; the name fignifies the Mountain of the Sun. The palace confifls of a fquare tower of three flo-rcys, with a flat parapet roof, or terrace, and battlements a-bout it. The court of guard, or head-quarters of the garri-fon of Kofcam, is kept here; immediately below this is the -principal gate or entrance towards Gondar. It is furround- ed cd by a high outer-wall, which may have above an Fnglifh mile of circumference. This outer precinct, is all occupied by foldiers, labourers, and out-dour fervants; within this is another large court inclofed by walls likewife, in this the apartments are but of one ftorey, appropriated to the principal officers, priefts, and fervants. In this alio is the church, built by the prefent Iteghc herfelf, and reckoned the rich-eft in Abyllinia. They have large croffes of gold for their proceflions, and kettle-drums of iilver. The altar is all covered with gold plates, all the gift of their magnificent pa-tronefs. The priefts, too, were all rich, till Ras Michael feized, and applied part of their revenue to his own life, and that of the ftate, and thereby reduced them to a condition much more agreeable to the vows of poverty, which from pride they had made, than was their former one. The third, or inner court, is referved for the queen's own apartments, and fuch of the noble women as are her attendants, are unmarried, and make up her court. Behind the palace, higher up the hill, arc houfes of people of quality, chiefly her own relations. Above thefe the mountain rifes very regularly, in form of a cone, covered with herbage to the very top ; on the eaft fide is the road from Walkayt; on the weft from Kuara, and Ras el Feel; that is all the low country, or north of Abyilinia, bordering upon the Shan-galla, through which lies the road to Sennaar, It was the 26th of December 1771, at one o'clock in the afternoon, that I left Gondar. I had purpofed to fet out early in the morning, but was detained by the importunity of my friends. The king had delayed my fetting cut, by feveral Riders fent me in the evening each day ; and I plainly faw 2 there there was fome meaning in this, and that he was wifhing to throw difficulties in the way, till fome aecident, or fudden emergency (never wanting in that country) Ihould make it abfolutely impofliblc for me to leave AbyfFinia. When therefore the laft meflage came to Kofcam on the 27th, at night, I returned my refpcctful duty to his majefly, put him in mind of his promife, and, fomewhat peevifhly I believe, intreated him to leave me to my fortune ; that my fervants were already gone, and I was rcfolvcd to fet out next morning. In the morning early, I was furprifed at the arrival of a young nobleman, lately made one of his bed-chamber, with fifty light horfe. As I was fatisficd that leaving Abyf-fmia, without parade, as privately as poflible, was the only way to pafs through Sennaar, and had therefore infilled upon none of my friends accompanying me, I begged to decline this cfcort; afligning for my reafon, that, as the country between this and Ras el Feel belonged firft to the Iteghe, and then to Ayto Confu, none of the inhabitants could pof-iibly injure mc in pafling. It took a long time to fettle this, and it was now, as I have faid, one o'clock before we fet out by the weft fide of Dcbra Tzai, having the mountain on our right hand. From the top of that afcent, we • faw the plain and flat country below, black, and, in its appearance, one thick wood, which fome authors have called lately, the Shumeta *, or Nubian forcft. hut of the meaning of Shumeta I profefs myfelf entirely ignorant; no Vol. IV. M m fuch *: See .a chart of the Arabian Gulf pobliked a; London It 178? by L. S. Dela Rochettf. DISCOVER I know, in any language All the difaflers which I had been threatened with in the courfe of that journey, which I had thus begun, now prefcnted themfelves to my mind, and made, for a moment, a flrong impreflion upon my fpirits. But it was too late to draw back, the dye was call, for life or for death ; home was before me, however diftant; and if, through the protection of Providence, I mould be fortunate enough to arrive there,, I promifed myfelf both eafe and the applaufe of my country, and of all unprejudiced men of fenfe and learning in Europe, for having, by my own private efforts alone, compleat— cd a difcovery, which had, from early ages, defied the ad-drefs, induflry, and courage of all the world, Having, by thefe reflections, rather hardened, than comforted my heart, I now advanced down the fleep fide of the mountain, our courfe nearly N. N. W. through very flrong, and rugged ground, torn up by the torrents that fall on every fide from above. This is called the Defcent of Moura ; and though both we and our beafts were in great health and fpirits, we could not, with our utmofl endeavours, advance much more than one mile an hour. Two Greeks, one of whom only was my fervant; and a third, nearly blind, flying from poverty and want; an old janiflliry, who had come to Abyflinia with the Abuna, and a Copht who left us at Sennaar; thefe, and fome common men who took charge of the beafts, and were to go no further than Tcherkin, were my-only companions in this long and weary journey. 274 TRAVELS TO fuch word occurring, as far as fpoken in thefe countries. At a quarter pad four wc came to the river Toom Aredo, which arifing in the country of the Kcmmont, (a people inhabiting the high grounds above to the S. W.) falls into the river Mahaanah. The Kcmmont were a feci: once the fame as the Falafha, but were baptized in the reign of Facilidas, and, ever ftnee, have continued feparate from their ancient brethren. No great pains fecm to have been taken with them fmce their admiffion to Chriftianity, for they retain moft of their ancient cuftoms. They eat the meat of cattle killed by Chriftians, but not of thofe that are flaughtcrcd, either by Mahometans or Falafha. They hold, as a doctrine, that, being once baptized, and having once communicated, no fort of prayer, nor other attention to divine worfhip, is further ncceffary. They wafli themfelves from head to foot after coming from the market, or any public place, where they may have touched any one of a feel; different from their own, eftceming all fuch unclean. They abltain from all forts of work on Saturday, keeping clofe at home ; but they grind corn, and do many other fuch like works, upon Sunday. Their women pierce their cars, and apply weights to make them hang down, and to enlarge the holes, into which they put ear-rings almoft as big as fhackles, in the fame manner as do the Bedowis in Syria and Palcftinc. Their language is the fame as that of the Falafha, with fome fmall difference of idiom. They have great abhorrence to fifh, which they not only refrain from eating, but cannot bear the fight of; and the rcafon they give for this is, that Jonah the prophet (from whom they boaft they arc defcended) was fwal- M m 2 lowed lowed by a whale, or fome other fuch great fifh. They are hewers of wood, and carriers of water, to Gondar, and are held in great deteltation by the AbyfUnians. We crofTed the river to the miferable village of Door-Mac-ary, which is on the cad fide of it ; and there we took up our quarters, after a fhort but very fatiguing, day's journey. The people fhewed great figns of uneafmefs upon our firft appearance, and much reluctance to admit us under their roofs ; and difcovering that we were not any of thofe that had the honour of being defcended from the prophet Jonah, they hid all their pots and drinking-velfcls, left they fliould be prophancd by our ufmg them. From Door-Macary we difeovered a high mountainous ridge, with a very rugged top, ftretehing from North to South, and towering up in the middle of the foreft, about five miles diftance ; it is called Badjena. On the 28th, a little after mid-day, we palled Toom Arcdo ; and went, firft Eaft, then turned North, into the great road. We foon after palled a number of villages; thofe on the high mountain Badjena on the Eaft, and thofe belonging to the church of Kofcam on the Weft. Continuing flill North, inclining very little to the Weft, wc came to a ftccp and rugged defecin, at the foot of which runs the Mogctch,. in a courfe ftraight North ; this defecnt is called the And. At a quarter paft two we pafled the Mogctch, our direction N. W. It is here a large, fwift running ftream, perfectly clear, and wc halted forne time to refrefh ourfelves upOR! its hanks ; remembering how very different it was from what we had once left it, difcoloured with blood, and choked! ed up with dead bodies, after the defeat of the king's wing at the battle of Serbraxos. At half pad three we refumed our journey. A (harp and pyramidal mountain (lands alone in the middle of the plain, prefenting its high fharp top through the trees, and making here a very picturefque and uncommon appearance; it is called Gutch, and feemed to be diflant from us about fix miles due North. A few minutes after this we pafTcd a fmall ft ream called Agam-Ohha, or the Brook of Jeffamine; from a beautiful fpecies of that fhrub, very frequent here*, and on the fides of the fmall flreams in the province of Sire. A few minutes pafl four we entered a thick wood, winding round a hill, in a fouth-eaft direction, to get into the plain below, where we were furrounded by a great multitude of men, armed with lances, fhields, flings, and large clubs or flicks, who rained a fhower of Hones towards us, as 1 may fay ; for they were at fuch a diflance, that all of them fell greatly fhort of us. Whether this was owing to fear, or not, wc did not know ; but fuppofmg that it was, we thought it our intcreil to keep it up as much as poflible. I therefore ordered two fhots to be fired over their heads; not with any intention to hurt them, but to let them hear, by the balls whiflling among the leaves of the trees, that our guns carried farther than any of their flings; and that, diflant as they then were, they were not in lafety, if wc had a difpofition to do them harm. 'I hey feemed to underlland our meaning, by gliding through among the bufhes, and appearing at the top of a hill farther < ilr where they continued hooping and crying, and making divers «*78 travels to discover divers figns, which we could not, neither did we endeavour to underftand. Another mot, aimed at the trees a-hove them, fhewed they were flill within our reach, upon which they difperfed, or flit down among the bullies, for we faw them no more, till pitching our tent upon the plain below two of their villages ; it feemed they were un-eafy, for they had di{patched a man naked, and without arms, who, Handing upon the rock, cried out in the language of Tigre, that he wanted to come to us. This I abfolutely refufed, that he might not fee the fmallnefs of our number, crying out to him to get farther off, or wre would inftantly fhoot him. There was no occafion to repeat the admonition. From the rock where he Rood, he ilid down like an eel, and appeared again at a confidcrable diftance, Hill making a fign of wanting to fpeak with us. While refting on the banks of the river Mogctch, wc had been overtaken by two men, and two women, who were driving two loaded afles, and were going to Tcherkin; they •had defired leave to keep company with us, for fear of danger on the road. i had two Abyflinian fervants, but they were not yet come up, attending one of the baggage mules that was lame, as they faid; but i believe, rather bufied with fome engagements of their own in the villages. We were obliged then to have recourfe to one of thefe ftrangcr women, who underflood the language of Tigre, and undertook readily to carry our meffagc to the ftrangcr, who was Hill very bufy making figns from behind a tree, without coming one flep nearer. My mefTage to them was, that if they flie wed the fmall-eit appearance of further infolence, either by approaching the tent, or Hinging Hones that night, the next morning, when the horfe I expected were come up, I would burn their town, and put every man of them to the fword. Avery fub-miffive anfwer was fent back, with a heap of lies in excufe of what they called their miftakc. My two fervants coming foon after, both of whom, hereafter, were to be in the fervice of Ayto Confu, went boldly one to each village, to bring two goats, fome jars of bouza, and to prepare fifty loaves of bread for next morning. The goats were difpatch-cd inftantly, fo was the bouza; but when the morning came, the people had all fled from their houfes, without preparing any bread. Thefe villages were called Gimbaar. They were three in number; each fituated upon the top of a pointed hill, in a direction from call to well, and made a very beautiful appearance from the plain below. They belonged to my great enemies, Guebra Mehcdin, and Confu, late fons of Batha Eufebius. On the other hand, as my fervants told me that a meffenger of the king had palled that morning without taking any notice of us, I began to fufpect that it was fome flra-tagem of his to frighten me from purfuing my journey r which, after the letters I had received from Sennaar, and which he himfelf had heard read, he never thought I would have undertaken. This I flill believe might be th© cafe; for thefe peafants did not fhew any forwardnefs to do us harm ; however, it turned out as unfortunately for them, as if they really purfuedus for vengeance. As As foon as wc found the villages deferred, and that there were no hopes of a fupply of bread, we (truck, our tent, and proceeded on our journey; the pointed mountain Gutchbore north from our tent, at the diftance of about two miles. On the 29th, at ten in the forenoon, we left the inhospitable villages of Gimbaar, not without entertaining fome apprehenlions of meeting the inhabitants again in the courfe of the day. But though wc took every precaution again!! being furprifed, that prudence could dictate, our fears of the encounter did not rife to any great height. I got, indeed, on horfebaek, leaving my mule ; and, putting on my coat of mail, leaving the fire-arms under the command of Hagi Ifmael, the old Turk, I rode always about a quarter of a mile before the baggage, that they might not come fuddenly upon us, as they had done the night before. In a few minutes we pafled three fmall clear ftrcams in a very fertile country; the foil was a black loomy earth; the grafs already parched, or rather entirely burnt up by the fun. Though this country is finely watered, and mult be very fertile, yet it is thinly inhabited, and, as we were informed, very unwholcfome. At three quarters pall ten wc came to the river Mahaanah, which fwallows up thefe three brooks, its courfe nearly N. W. it was (even at this dry fea-fon of the year) a confidcrable flrcam. HmE wc reded half an hour, and then purfued our journey flraight north. Wc palled a large and deep valley called Werk lMeidan, or the country of gold, though there is no gold in it. It is full of wood and bullies. We had 1 left left it fix miles, at lead, on our left hand, and the baggage near half a mile behind, when I met two men very decently drefFed ; one mounted on a mule, the other on .foot; both of them armed with lances and fhields, and both feemed furprifed to fee a man on horfeback alone completely armed. The rider paffed by at a very quick pace, apparently not defirous of any intercourfe with me. The man on foot at pafling faluted mc with a Salam Aiicum; by which I knew him to be a Mahometan, and we were about to enter into converfation, when his neighbour called to him, with feeming impatience. He immediately left me, faying only thefe fhort fentences, " He there before is a Chriflian, and a liar; don't be afraid, Ayto Confu will be at Tcherkin as foon as you." Upon this we parted, I paffed on fomcthing more than a mile further, and at ten minutes after twelve flopped for the baggage. The Mahaanah is here about a quarter of a mile to the N. E. and the fharp-pointcd mountain of Gutch S. E. and by eafl, diftance about three miles. It was fome time before our baggage came up, when our companions who efcortedit exhibitedfomefmallmarksof confullon. The Turk was bluftering violently in Turkifh, and fet-ting all at defiance, wifhing to be attacked by a hundred that minute; the others fecmed to be much more moderate, and not to agree with Hagi Ifmael, cither in time or in number, but were very willing to be exempted from attacks altogether. I afked them what was the occafion of all this warlike difcourfe from Ifmael, who fcarcely fpoke Arabic fo as to be underflood ? I could learn nothing but threats againfl the Chriilians. At laft, the fervants told me, Vol. IV. N n that that the Abyflinians who pafTed had informed them, that, at a certain pafs, called Dav-Dohha, which we Ihould arrive at next day, above a thoufand men, Chriflians, Pagans, and Mahometans, all armed, were waiting for us, refolved to cut us to pieces rather than let us pafs : that the Shangalla were expected to burn Tcherkin, and Ayto Confu's houfe ; and that his Billetana Gueta, Ammonios, had come with a multitude of mules to carry away all that was valuable in it. He added, moreover, that Abba Gimbaro, chief of Sancaho, was fent for by Ayto Confu, and entrufted with the defence of Tcherkin Amba, the hill upon which Ayto Confu's houfe is fituated. He then called the Mahometan who fpoke to me, to witnefs the truth of all this, which he did with repeated oaths; and concluded, that nothing remained for us but to return to Gondar. They all, in anxious expectation, awaited my refolution. One of the fervants faid, that, by going out of the way about half a day, we could avoid the pafs of Dav-Dohha altogether. I told them, this was neither a time nor place for deliberation; that we Ihould make the beft of our way to Waalia, where we were to fleep that night; as that was a town where there was a market, and people came from every part, we mould there hear news, after which I promifed to tell them my opinion. We accordingly fet out for Waalia, and at half paR four in the afternoon encamped in the market-place. Waalia is a collection of villages, each placed upon the top of a hill, and inclofmg, as in a circle, an extenfive flat piece of ground about three miles over, on which a very well-lre-qucnted market is kept. The name is given it from a fpe-cics of fmall pigeons*, with yellow breads and variegated backs, * See ihe article Waalia in the Appendix. "backs, the fattefl and bell of all the pigeon kind. Waalia lies due n. W. from Gondar. Haying finimed our dinner, or rather flipper, about feven, for we made but one meal a-day, after taking care of our beails, we entered into confultation what was next to be done. I told them, the firft ftep we were to take was to fend and call the Shum of one of the villages, and after him another, and if, knowing me to be the king's dranger, feeing the fmallncfs of our number, and being informed that we were going to Tcherkin, to the houfe of Ayto Confu, their paler, they did not tell us there were dangers on the road, we might be fure the intelligence we had received was void of foundation. " Sir, fays one of the drangcrs that drove the aifes, it is a lie. No man but Ayto Confu, not even Ayto Confu himfelf, could raife 500 men in this country; no not even 300, Pagans, Mahometans, and Chriftians altogether. Where is he to get his Pagans? unlefs he means his own Chriftian fort, who, indeed, are more Pagans than any thing elfe, and ca,pable of every mifchief; but there is not a Mahometan on this road that does not know who you are, and that you was Yafme's mafter, and gave him Ras el Feel. Stay here but a few days till I fend to Ras el Feel, and to Tcherkin, and if you do not take the houfes and wives, and all that thefe five hundred men have in the world from them, with the helpyou may find atWaalia, fpit upon me for a liar, or my name is not Abdullah " " Abdullah, faid I, you are a fenli-ble fellow, though 1 did not know you was fo well acquainted with me, nor do I wifh that you fpeak of me in that manner publickly. But what convinces me of the truth of what yi u fay is, that the man on foot had no more time but to fay to mc, in Arabic, while pafling, that his com- Nn.2 panion panion on the mule was a liar, and that I Ihould not be a-fraid, for there was no danger on the road, and that Ayto Confu would be at Tcherkin as foon as I; from which, and his faying juflthe contrary to you, I do believe the whole is a flratagcm of the king. All agreed in this. Hagi Ifmael mentioned it as a proof of the worthleflhefs of Chriflians, that even their kings were as great liars as common men ; and we had fcarcely done with this confultation, and difpelled our fears, when word was brought to the tent, that the chiefs of two of the principal villages were at the door, defiring to be admitted, and had with them feveral fervants loaded with provifions. They were immediately introduced, and they prefentcd us with two goats, feveral jars of bouza, and a quantity of bread, which I divided among my retinue, now become half Chriflians and half Mahometans, neither of whom ate meat killed by the other. After the firft civilities were over, I afked the governor of Waalia ail the queflions that were needful about the (late of the roads and the country, and whether the Shan-gal la ever made an attempt upon Tcherkin ? They faid, All was ^'pcace ; that the people came and went to the market without being interrupted. They laughed at the queftion about the Shangalla. Ayto Confu, they faid, fometimes went down and deitroyed many of that people, and brought others away as ilaves ; but the Shangalla were not men to attack a place where there was a number of horfe, nor toclimb mountains to deflroy houfes well flored with fire-arms. Have yon, /aid I, feen nobody pafs by from Ayto Confu lately ? About four or five days ago, anfwered he, a fervant was here, with orders to have victuals ready for you ; who alfo alfo told us, that he would come himfelf in three or four days after. I heard alfo, that his fervant Ammonios had gone round Nara to take poUefBon of fome villages the king had given Ozoro Either, and that he had with him a number of horfe and foot, and feveral ()zoros, going to Tcherkin, but they had gone the upper road, confequcntly had not come this way. Is there no danger, faid I, in palling Dav-Dohha f Why, at Dav-Dohha, faid he, there is danger, it is a bad place, nobody paffes it on horfeback; but I fee your horfes are fhod with iron, which none in this country are ; however, to avoid all danger, you had better lead your horfes and mules, and walk on foot, it is not far. I could not help burfling out into a fit of laughter at the fancied danger that attended us at Dav-Dohha; and, as I faw this difconcerted our informant, and that he thought he had faid fomething wrong, I told him briefly what had pafled at meeting with the two men upon the road. He laughed very heartily at this in his turn. " J hat man did not flop here, fays he, and who he is I know not; but Whoever he is, he is a liar, and a bcaft of the field. All the people of Dav-Dohha are our relations, and Ayto Confu's fervants ; if there had been any body to attack you, there would have been found here people to defend you. What figaifies his ordering us to furnifh you with victuals, if he was to fuffer your throats to be cut before you came to cat them ? 1 will anfwer for you between this and Tcherkin ; after that, all is wildernefs, and no man knows if he is to meet friend or foe." I told him then what had happened to us at Oiinbaar, at which he feemed exceedingly furprifed. " Thefe villages, iay3 fays he, do not belong to Ayto Confu, but to his coufins, the fons of Balha Eufebius. They indeed died in rebellion, but our matter has taken pofleffion of them for the family, left the king fliould give them away to a ftranger. Some bad news mull have arrived from Gondar; at any rate, if you are afraid, I will accompany you to-morrow pad Dav-Dohha. We thanked him for the kind offer, but excufed ourfelves from accepting it, as we fully relied upon his intelligence ; and having made him fome trifling prefents, about the value of what he brought, though in his eyes much more confidcrable, we took our leave, mutually fatif-fied with each other. From this I no longer doubted that the whole was a project of the king to terrify me, and make me return. What flruck me, as mofl improbable of all, was the flory of that lying wretch who faid that Ayto Confu had fent a number of mules to carry away his furniture, and trailed the defence of his place to Abba Gimbaro, chief of the Baa fa. For, firft, I knew well it did not need many mules to carry away the furniture which Ayto Confu left at Tcherkin in time of war, and when he was not there ; next, had he known that any perfon whatever, Shangalla or Chriflians, had intended to attack Tcherkin, he was not a man to fight by proxy or lieutenants; he would lia/e been himfelf prefent to meet them, as to a feaft, though he had been carried thither in a lick-bed. On the 30th, at half paft fix in the morning we fet out from Waalia; and, though we were perfectly cured of our apprehenfions, the company all joined in defiring me to go along with them, and not before them. They wifely added, .that, in a country like that, where there was no tear of God, I could not know what it might be in the power of 3 the the devil to do. I therefore hung my arms upon my horfe, and, taking a gun in my hand, wandered among the trees by the road-fide, in purfuitof the doves or pigeons. In a few hours ( had fhot feveral fcores of them, efpecially on the banks of the Mai Lumi, or the River of Lemons. We came to it in about an hour from Waalia, and coafled it for fome minutes, as it ran north-eaft parallel to our courfe. A prodigious quantity of fruit loaded the branches of thefe trees even likely to break them ; and thefe were in all Rages of ripcnefs. Multitudes of bloflbms covered the op-pofite part of the tree, and fent forth the mofl delicious odour poflible. We provided ourfelves amply with this fruit. The natives make no ufe of it, but we found it a great refreshment to us, both mixed with our water, and a3 fauce to our meat, of which we had now no great variety fince our onions had failed us, and a fupply of them was no longer to be procured. At fourteen minutes paft feven, continuing north-weft, we croffed the river Mai Lumi, which here runs weft; and* continuing (till north-weft, at eight o'clock we came to the mouth of the formidable pafs, Dav-Dohha, which we entered with good countenance enough, having firft relied five minutes to put ourfelves in order, and we found our appetites failing us through excelfive heat. The pafs of Dav-Dohha is a very narrow defile, full of flrata of rocks, like fteps of (fairs, but fo high, that, without leaping, or being pulled up, no horfe or mule can afcend. Moreover, the defcent, though fhort, is very fteep, and almofl choked up by huge ftones, which the torrents, after warning the earth earth from about them, had rolled down from the mountain above. Both fides of the defile are covered thick with wood and bufhes, efpecially that detellable thorn the kantuffa, fo j uilly reprobated in Abyffinia. Having extricated ourfelves fuccefsfully from this pafs, our fpirits were fo elated, that we began to think our journey now at an end, not reflecting how many paffes, full of real danger, were flill before us. At three quarters paft eight we came to Werkleva, a village of Mahometans. Above this, too, is Armatchiko, a famous hermitage, and around it huts inhabited by a number of monks. Thefe, and their brethren of Magwena, are capital performers in all difor-ders of the ftatc ; all prophets and diviners, keeping up the fpirit of riot, anarchy, and tumult, by their fanatical inventions and pretended vifions. Having reflcd a few minutes at TabaretWunzc, a wretched village, compofed of miferable huts, on the banks of a fmall brook, at a quarter after two we paffed the Coy, a large river, which falls into the Mahaanah. From Mai Lumi to this place the country was but indifferent in appearance ; the foil, indeed, exceedingly good, but a wild-nefs and look of defolation covered the whole of it. The grafjS was growing high, the country cxtenfive, and almofl without habitation, whilfl the few huts that were to be feen feemed more than ordinarily miferable, and were hid in recedes, or in the edge of valleys overgrown with wood. The inhabitants feemed to have come there by Health, with a defiie to live concealed and unknown. On On the 31ft of December we left our Ration at the head of a difficult pafs called Coy Gulguler, or the Defcent of Coy, at the foot of which runs the river Coy, one of the largelt we had yet feen, but I did not difcern any fifth in it. Here we reded a little to refrefh ourfelves and our beads, after the fatigues wc had met with in descending through this pafs. At half after eight we came to the banks of the Germa, which winds along the valley, and falls into the Angrab. After having continued fome time by the fide of the Germa, and eroded it going N. W. we, at ten, pafled the fmall river Idola; and half an hour after came to Deber, a houfe of Ayto Confu, on the top of a mountain, by the fide of a fmall river of that name. The country here is partly in wood, and partly in plantations of dora. It is very well watered, and feems to produce abundant crops ; but it is not beautiful ; the foil is red earth, and the bottoms of all the rivers foft and earthy, the water heavy, and generally ill-tailed, even in the large rivers, fuch as the Coy and the Germa. I imagine there is fome mineral in the red earth, with a proportion of which the water is impregnated. At Deber, I obferved the following bearings from the -mountains ; Ras el Feel was wed, Tcherkin N. N. W. Dcbra Haria, north. We found nobody at Deber that could give us the lead account of Ayto Confu. Wc left it, therefore, on the morning of the id of January 1772. At half pad ten o'clock we pafFed a fmall village called Dcmbic, and about mid-day came to theTargc river Tchema, which falls into the larger river Dwang, below, to the well ward. About an hour after, we came to the Mogctch, a river not fo large Vol. IV. Go as as the Tchema, but which, like it, joins the Dwang, Here we have a view of the fleep mountain Magwena, where there is a monaftcry of that name, poffeilcd by a multitude of lazy, profligate, ignorant monks. Magwena, excepting one mountain, is a bare, even ridge of rocks, which feem-ingly bear nothing, but are black, as if calcined by the fun. • In the rainy feafon it is faid every fpecics of verdure is here in the grcatcll luxuriancy ; all the plantations of corn about Deber are much infefted with a fmall, beautiful, greca monkey, with a long tail, called Tota. Between three and four in the afternoon we encamped at Eggir Dembic ; and in the evening we palled along the fide of a fmall river running well, which falls into the Mogctch. I took advantage of the pleafanteft and Iatefl hour for mooting the waalia, or the yellow-breaded pigeon, as alfo Guinea-fowls, which are here in great abundance among the corn; in plumage nothing different from ours, and very excellent meat. The fun was juft letting, and I was returning to my tent, not from wearinefs or fatiety of fport, but from my attendant being incapable of carrying the load of game I had already killed, when I was met by a man with whom I was perfectly acquainted, and who by his addrefs likewife fecmed no Granger to mc. I immediately recollected him to be a fervant of Ozoro Efther, but this he denied, and faid he was a fervant of Ayto Confu; however, as Confu lived in the fame houfe with his mother at Kofcam, the miftake fecmed not to be of any moment. He faid he came to meet Ayto Confu, who was expected at Tcherkin that that night, and was fent to fcarch for us, as wc feemed to have tarried on the road. He had brought two mules, in cafe any of ours had been tired, and propofed that the next morning I fhould fet out with him alone for Tcherkin, where I Ihould find Ayto Confu, and my baggage mould follow me. I told him that it was my fixed refolution,madc at the beginning of my journey, and which I fliould adhere to till the end, never to feparatc myfelf on the road from my fervants and company, who were flrangers, and without any other protection than that of being with me. The man continued to prefs me all that evening very much,, fo that wc were greatly furprifed at what he could mean, and 1 flill more and more refolved not to gratify him. Oftert I thought he wanted to communicate fomething to me, but lie refrained, and I continued obflinate; and the rather fo, as there was no certainty that Ayto Confu was yet arrived. I afked him, if Billetana Gueta Ammonios was not at Tcherkin ? He anfwered, without the fmalleft alteration in his countenance, that he was not. No people on earth diflemble like the Abyflinians; this talent is born with them, and they improve it by continual practice. As we had therefore previously refolved, we pafled the evening at Eggir Dem-bie, and the fervant, finding he could not prevail, left our tent, and we all went to bed. He did not feem angry, but at going out/of the tent, faid, as half to himfelf, "I cannot blame you ; in fuch a journey nothing is like firmnefs." On the 2d of January, in the morning, by feven o'clock, having drelied my hair, and perfumed it according to the cultom of the country, and put on clean clothes, with no otiicr arms but my knife, and a pair of piflols at my girdle, O02 I came I came out of the tent to mount my mule for Tcherkin. I now faw Confu's fervant, whofe name was Welleta Yafous, pulling the Guinea-fowls and pigeons out of the panniera where my fcrvants had put them, and feathering them upon the ground, and he was faying to thofe who interrupted him, *' Throw away this carrion ; you fhall have a better break-fall and dinner, too, to-day ;" and turning to me more than ordinarily pleafed at feeing me dreffed, and that I continued to ufc the Abyilinian habit, he jumped upon his mule, and appeared in great fpirits, and we all fet out at a brifker pace than ufual, by the afliftance of the two frefli mules. We paffed through the midft of feveral fmall villages. At half an hour paft eight we came to the mountain of Tcherkin, which we rounded on the weft, and then on the north3 keeping the mountain always on our right. At twenty minutes paft ten I pitched my tent in the market-place at Tcherkin, which feemed a beautiful lawn laid out for plea-furc, fhaded with fine old trees, of an enormous height and fize, and watered by a fmall but very limpid brook, running over beds of pebbles as white as mow. . ffi>.--— ---=^VS£j CHAP. IT. Exception at Tcherkin by Ozoro Efther, £s?V.—Hunting of the Elephanf^ Rhinoceros, and Biffalo. npiHE impatient Welleta Yafous would only give me time JL to fee my quadrant and other inftruments fafely flowed, but hurried mil through a very narrow and crooked path up the fide of the mountain, at every turn of which was placed a great rock or ftonc the nation for mufquets to enfilade the different Rages of the road below, where it was trait for any c1 Stance* We at laft reached the outer court, where we found the chamberlain Ammonios, whom Welleta Yafous hi d fpoken of as being ftill at Gondar; but this did not furprife me,as he told me at the tent that Ayto Confu was arrived. T faw here a great many of my old acquaintance whom I had known at Ozoro Efther's houfe at Gondar^,, Gondar, and who all welcomed me with the greater! de-monllrations of joy, as if I had come from a long journey. I was then taken to an inner apartment, where, to my great furprife, inftead of Ayto Confu, 1 faw his mother, Ozoro Efther, fitting on a couch, and at her feet the fecretary's daughter, the beautiful Tecla Mariam ; and, foon after, the fecretary himfelf, and feveral others belonging to the court. After having made a profound obeifance, " Ozoro Efther, faid 1, I cannot fpeak for furprife. What is the meaning of your having left Gondar to come into this wildcrnefs ? As for Tecla Mariam, I am not furprifed at feeing her ; I know fire at any time would rather die than leave you ; but that you have both come hither without Ayto Confu, and in fo fhort a time, is what I cannot comprehend 1 here is nothing fo ftrangc in this, replied Ozoro hither; the troops of Begemder have taken away my huiband, Ras MicHael, God knows where; and, therefore, being now a fingfe woman, I am refolved to go to Jerufalem to pray for my hufband, and to die there, and be buried in the Holy Sepulchre. You would not ftay with us, fo we are going with you. Is there any thing furpriling in all this ?" " But tell me truly, fays Tecla Mariam, you that know every thing, while peeping and poring through thefe long glaffes, did not you learn by the ftars that we were to meet you here Madam, anfwered I, if there was one (tar in the firmament that had announced to me fuch agreeable news, I ihould have rclapfed into the old idolatry of this country, and worfliipped that ftar for the reft of my life." Breakfait now came in ; the convcrfation took a very lively turn, and from the fecretary 1 learned that the matter flood I thus; thus: The king, rcfloring the villages to the Iteghe, according to the ftipulation of his laft treaty with Powuffen, thouglit that he might fo far infringe upon it, from gratitude to Ras Michael, as to give part of the number to Ozoro Either, the lteghc's daughter; and Ayto Confu', going to Tcherkin to hunt, he took his mother along with him to put her in pofleilion ; for the Iteghes people were not lambs, nor did they pay much regard to the orders of the king, nor to that of the Iteghe their millrefs, at all times, farther than fuited their own convenience. We now wanted only the prefence of Ayto Confu to make our happinefs complete; he came about four, and with him Ayto Engedan, and a great company. There was nothing but rejoicing on all fides. Seven ladies, relations and companions of Ozoro Efther, came with Ayto Confu j and 1 confefs this to have been one of the happiefl moments of my life. I quite forgot the difaftrous journey I had before me, and all the dangers that awaited mc. I began even, to regret being fo far in my way to leave AbylFiniafor ever. Wc learned from Ayto Confu, that it had been reported at Gondar that we had been murdered by the peafants *of Girn-baar, but the contrary was foon known. Flowcvcr, Engedan and he had fet the leifer village on fire in their paffage, and laid a contribution of eleven ounces of gold upon the two larger. Ayto Confu's houfe at Tcherkin is built on the edge of a precipice which takes its name from the mountain Amha Tcherkin. It is built all with cane very artificially, the outer wall bring compofed of fafcines of canes, fo neatly joined together as not to be penetrated by rain or wind* The The entry is from the fouth fide of it, very crooked and dim' ,cult, half way up the rock. On the eaft, is a very plentiful fpring, which furnimes the houfe with excellent water. Yet, after all, this houfe, though macceflible, is not defensible, and affords very little fafety to its mailer; for the Shangalla, with flax, or any thing combuflible, tied to the point of their arrows, would cafily.fet it on fire if they once approached it; and the Abyfhnians with guns could as cafily deflroy it, as, on fuch occafions, they wrap their balls in cotton wads. The in fide of the flate-rooms were hung with long llripes of carpeting, and the floors covered with the fame, There is great plenty of game of every fort about Tcherkin ; elephants, rhinocerofes, and a great number of buffaloes, which differ nothing in form from the buffaloes of Europe or of Egypt, but very much in temper and difpofition. They are fierce, rafh, and fearlefs of danger; and, contrary to the practice of any other creature not carnivorous, they attack the traveller and the hunter equally, and it requires addrefs to efcape from them. They feem to be, of all others, the creature the mofl given to eafe and indulgence. They lie under' the mofl fhady trees, near large pools of water, of which they make conflant ufe, and fleep foundly all the day long. The flefh of the female is very good when fat, but that of the male, hard, lean, and dif-agreeablc. Their horns are ufed in various manners by the turners, in which craft the Abyflinians are very expert. In the woods there are many civet cats, but they know not the ufe of them, nor how to extract the civet. The Mahometans only are poflefled of this art. Though Though we were all happy to our wifh in this enchanted mountain, the active fpirit of Ayto Confu could not reft; he was come to hunt the elephant, and hunt him he would. All thofe that underflood any thing of this exercifc had af-fembled from a great diftance to meet Ayto Confu at Tcherkin. He and Engedan, from the moment they arrived, had been overlooking, from the precipice, their fervants training and managing their horfes in the market-place below. Great bunches of the fined canes had been brought from Kuara for javelins; and the whole houfe was employed in fitting heads to them in the moil advantageous manner. For my part, tho' I Ihould have been very well contented to have remained where I was, yet the preparations for fport of fo noble a kind roufed my fpirits, and made me deflrous to join in it. On the other hand, the ladies all declared, that they thought, by leaving them, we were devoting them to death or flavcry, as they did not doubt, if the Shangalla miffed us, they would come forward to the mountain and flay them all. But a fufficient garrifon was left under A-zage Kyrillos, and Billetana Gucta Ammonios; and we were well affured that the Shangalla, being informed we were out, and armed, and knowing our numbers, would take care to keep clofe in their thickets far out of our way. On the 6th, an hour before day, after a hearty breakfaft, wc mounted on horfeback, to the number of about thirty belonging to Ayto Confu. But there was another body, both of horfe and foot, which made hunting the elephant their particular bufmefs. Thefe men dwell conftantly in the woods, and know very little the ufe of bread, living entirely upon the fleili of the beafts they kill, chiefly that of the elephant or rhinoceros. They are exceedingly thin, Vol, IV. P p light, light, and agile, both on horfeback and foot; arc very fwar-thy, though few of them black; none of them woolly-headed, and all of them have European features. They are called Agagecr, a name of their profefhon, not of their nation, which comes from the word Agar, and fignifies to hough or ham-firing with a fliarp weapon. More properly it means, indeed, the cutting the tendon of the heel, and is a charac-teriilic of the manner in which they kill the elephant, which is lTiortly as follows:—Two men, abfolutely naked, without any rag or covering at all about them, get on horfeback ; this precaution is from fear of being laid hold of by the trees or bufhes, in making their efcape from a very watchful enemy. One of thefe riders fits upon the back of the horfe, fometimes with a faddle, and fometimes without one, with only a fwitch or fhort flick in one hand, carefully managing the bridle with the other ; behind him fits his campanion, who has no other arms but a broad-fword, fuch as is ufed by the Sclavonians, and which is brought from Triefte. His left hand is employed grafping the fword by the handle, and about fourteen inches of the blade is covered with whip-cord. This part he takes in his right hand, without any danger of being hurt by it; and, though the edges of the lower part of the fword are as fharp as a razor, he carries it without a fcabbard. As foon as the elephant is found feeding, the horfeman rides before him as near his face as poffiblc ; or, if he flies, croffes him in all directions, crying out, " I am fuch a man and fuch a man; this is my horfe, that has fuch a name; I killed your father in fuch a place, and your grandfather in fuch another place, and I am now come to kill you; you are but an afs in comparifon of them." This This nonfenfe he verily believes the elephant undcrftands, who, chafed and angry at hearing the noife immediately before him, feeks to feize him with his trunk or probofcis, and, intent upon this, follows the horfe everywhere, turning and turning round with him, neglectful of making his cfcape by running flraight forward, in which confifts his only fafety. After having made him turn once or twice in purfuit of the horfe, the horfeman rides clofe up a-long-fide of him, and drops his companion juft behind on the ofF fide ; and while he engages the elephant's attention upon the horfe, the footman behind gives him a drawn ftroke juft above the heel, or what in man is called the tendon of Achilles. This is the critical moment; the horfeman immediately wheels round, and takes his companion up behind him, and rides off full fpecd after the reft of the herd, if they have ftarted more than one ; and fometimes an expert Agagcer will kill three out of one herd. If the fword is good, and the man not afraid, the tendon is commonly entirely feparatcd; and if it is not cut through, it is generally fo far divided, that the animal, with the ftrefs he puts upon it, breaks the remaining part afunder. In either cafe, he remains incapable of advancing a ftep, till the horfeman returning, or his companions coming up, pierce him through with javelins and lances; he then falls to the ground, and expires with the lofs of blood. The Agageer nearcfl me prefently lamed his elephant, and left him Handing. Ayto Engedan, Ayto Confu, Guebra Mariam, and feveral others, fixed their fpears in the other, before the Agageer had cut his tendons. My Agageer, however, having wounded the firft elephant, failed in the vurfuit ot the fecond, and, being clofe upon him at enter- P p 2 ing ing the wood, he received a violent blow from a branch of a tree which the elephant had bent by his weight, and, after palling, allowed it to replace itfelf, when it knocked down both the riders, and very much hurt the horfe. This, indeed, is the great danger in elephant-hunting; for fome of the trees, that arc dry and fhort, break, by the violent prefliirc of fo immenfe a body moving fo rapidly, and fall upon the purfuers, or acrofs the roads. But the greatefl number of thefe trees, being of a fucculent quality, they bend without breaking, and return quickly to their former pofition, when they flrike both horfe and man fo violently, that they often beat them to pieces, and fcatter them upon the plain. Dextrous, too, as the riders are, the elephant fometimes reaches them with his trunk, with which he dallies the horfe againfl the ground, and then fets his feet upon him, till he tears him limb from limb with his probofcis ; a great many hunters die this way. Befides this, the foil, at this time of the year, is fplit into deep chafms, or cavities, by the heat of the fun, fo that nothing can be more dangerous than the riding. The elephant once flain, they cut the whole nefh off his bones into thongs, like the reins of a bridle, and hang thefe, like fefloons, upon the branches of trees, till they become perfectly dry, without fait, and they then lay them by for their proviiion in the feafon of the rains. I need fay nothing of the figure of the elephant, his form is known, and anecdotes of his life and character are to be found everywhere. But his defcription, at length, is given, with his ufual accuracy and elegance, by that great mafter of natural hiltory the Count de Buffon, my mofl venerable, learned, learned, and amiable friend, the Pliny of Europe, and the true portrait of what a man of learning and faihion Ihould be. I suall only take upon me to refolve a difficulty which he fcems to have had,—for what ufe the teeth of the elephant, and the horns of the rhinoceros, were intended. He, withreafon, explodes the vulgar prejudice, that thefe arms were given them by Nature to fight with each other. lie afks very properly, What can be the ground of that animo-fity ? neither of them arc carnivorous ; they do not couple together, therefore are not rivals in love ; and, as for food, the vafl forefts they inhabit furnifh them with an abundant and cverlafling ftore. But neither the elephant nor rhinoceros eat grafs. The fheep, goats, horfes, cattle, and all the beads of the country, live upon branches of trees. There arc, in every part of thefe immenfe forefts, trees of a foft, fucculent fubftance,. full of pith. Thefe are the principal food of the elephant and rhinoceros. They firlt cat the tops of thefe leaves and branches ; they then, with their horns or teeth, begin as near to the root as they can, and rip, or cut the more woody part, or trunks of thefe, up to where they were eaten before, till they fall in fo many pliable pieces of the fize of laths. After this, they take all thefe in their monflrous mouths, and twilt them round as we could do the leaves of a lettuce. The veftiges of this procefs, in its different ftages, wc faw every day throughout the fore ft; and the horns of the rhinoceros, and teeth of the elephant, are often found broken, when their gluttony leads them to attempt too large or firm a tree. Therb There now remained but two elephants of thofe that had been difcovered, which were a me one with a calf. The Agageer would willingly have let thefe alone, as the teeth of the female are very fmall, and the young one is of no fort of value, even for food, its fleih fhrinking much upon drying. But the hunters would not be limited in their fport. The people having obferved the place of her retreat, thither we eagerly followed. She was very foon found, and as foon lamed by the Agageers; but when they came to wound her with the darts, as every one did in their turn, to our very great furprife, the young one, which had been fuffered to efcape unheeded and unpurfued, came out from the thicket apparently in great anger, running upon the horfes and men with all the violence it was mafler of. I was amazed ; and as much as ever I was, upon fuch an occafion, afflicted, at feeing the great affection of the little animal defending its wounded mother, heedlefs of its own life or fafety. I therefore cried to them, for God's fake to fpare the mother, tho' it was then too late ; and the calf had made feveral rude attacks upon me, which I avoided without difficulty ; but I am happy, to this day, in the reflection that I did not ffrike it. At laft, making one of its attacks upon Ayto Engedan, it hurt him a little on the leg; upon which he thruft it through with his lance, as others did after, and it then fell dead before its wounded mother, whom it had fo affectionately defended. It was about the fize of an afs, but round, big-bellied, and heavily made ; and was fo furious, and unruly, that it would eafdy have broken the leg either of man or horfe, could it have overtaken them, and jollied againfl them properly. Here FIere is an example of a bead (a young one too) poflefling abftracted fentiments to a very high degree. By its flight on the firft appearance of the hunters, it is plain it apprehended danger to itfelf, it alfo reflected upon that of its mother, which was the caufe of its return to her aftiftancc. This affection or duty, or let us call it any thing we pleafe, except inftinct, was ftronger than the fear of danger; and it mult have conquered that fear by reflection before it returned, when it refolved to make its belt and laft efforts, for it never attempted to fly afterwards. I freely forgive that part of my readers, who know me and themfelves fo little, as to think I believe it worth my while to play the mountebank, for the great honour of diverting them ; an honour far from being of the firft rate in my eftecm. If they fhould fhew, in this place, a degree of doubt, that, for once, I am ma*king ufe of the privilege of travellers, and dealing a little in the marvellous, it would be much more to the credit of their difcernment, than their prodigious fcruples about the reality or poflibility of eating raw flcfli; a thing that has been recorded by the united teflimony of all that ever vifitcd Abyflinia for thefe two hundred years, has nothing unreasonable in itfelf, though contrary to our practice in other cafes ; and can only be called in queftion now, through weaknefs, ignorance, or an intemperate defire to find fault, by thofe that believed that a man could get into a quart bottle. What I relate of the young elephant contains difficulties of another kind; though I am very well perfuaded fome will fwallow it cafily, who cannot digcfl the raw nefh. In both inftances I adhere Uriel ly to the truth; and I beg leave to affurc thofe fcrupulous readers, that if they knew their author* author, they would think that his having invented a lie, folely for the plcafure of diverting them, was much more improbable than either of the two foregoing facts. He places his merit in having accompliffied thefe travels in general, not in being prefent at any one incident during the courfe of them; the believing of which can reflect no particular honour upon himfelf, nor the difbclieving it any fort of difgracc in the minds of,libcral and unprejudiced men. It is for thefe only he would wifli to write, and thefe arc the only per fons who can profit from his narrative. The Agagcers having procured as much meat as would maintain them a long time, could not be perfuaded to continue the hunting any longer. Part of them remained with the fhc-elephant, which fecmed to be the fattefl; tho' the one they killed full was by much the mofl valuable,on account of its long teeth. It was ftill alive, nor did it fcem an eafy operation to kill it, without the afliflancc of our Agagcers, even though it was totally helplefs, except with its trunk. We fought about for the buffaloes and rhinocerofes; but though there was plenty of both in the neighbourhood, we could not find them ; our noife and fliooting in the morning having probably feared them away. One rhinoceros only was feen by a fervant. We returned in the evening to a great fire, and lay all night under the fhade of trees. Here we faw them feparate the great teeth of the elephant from the head, by roafling the jaw-bones on the lire, till the lower, thin, and hollow part of the teeth 4 were were nearly confumcd ; and then they come out eafily, the thin part being of no value. The next morning wc were on horfeback by the dawn of day in fearch of the rhinoceros, many of which we had heard make a very deep groan and cry as the morning approached ; feveral of the Agagcers then joined us, and after we had fearched about an hour in the very thickelt part of the wood, one of them rufhed out with great violence, crofting the plain towards a wood of canes that was about two miles diftance. But though he ran, or rather trotted, with furprifing fpecd, confidering his bulk, he wras, in a very little time, transfixed with thirty or forty javelins; which fo confounded him, that he left his purpofe of going to the wood, and ran into a deep hole, ditch, or ravine, a ad defacy without outlet, breaking above a dozen of the javelins as he entered. Here we thought he was caught as in a trap, for he had fcarce room to turn ; when a fervant, who had a gun, {landing directly over him, fired at his head, and the animal fell immediately, to all appearance dead. All thofe on foot now jumped in with their knives to cut him up, and they had fcarce begun, when the animal recovered fo far as to rife upon his knees ; happy then was the man that cfcaped firft ; and had not one of the Agagcers, who was himfelf engaged in the ravine, cut the fincw of the hind-leg as he was retreating, there would have been a very forrowful account of the foot-hunters that day. After having difpatched him, I was curious to fee what wound the (hot had given, which had operated fo violently upon fo huge an animal ; and I doubted not it was in the brain. But it had 11 ruck him nowhere but upon the point of Vol. IV. C^q the the foremoft horn, of which it had carried off above an inch ; and this occasioned a concuffion that had flunncd him for a minute, till the bleeding had recovered him. I preferved the horn from curiofity, and have it now by mc * I faw evidently the ball had touched no other part of the bead. "While wc were bufy with the rhinoceros, Ammonios joined us. A meflage from the king had carried away Azage Kyrillos the fecretary. Two other melTengers had arrived from the queen, one to Ayto Confu, and another to Ozoro Either; and it was Ozoro Elther's commands to her fon, to leave the hunting and return. There was no remedy but to obey; Ammonios, however, wanted to have his part of the hunting; and the country people told us, that multitudes of buffaloes were to be found a little to the weftward, where there were large trees and Handing pools of water. We agreed then to hunt homeward, without being over-folicitous about returning early. We had not gone far before a wild boar arofe between me and Ayto Engedan, which I immediately killed with my javelin. Before he, on his horfe, came up to it, another of its companions feared the fame fate about a quarter of an hour after. This was the fport I had been many years ufed to in Barbary, and was infinitely more dextrous at it than any of the prefent company; this put me more upon a par with my companions, who had not failed to laugh at me, upon my horfe's rcfufal to carry me near either to the elephant * See the article Rhinoceros in the Appendix. phant or rhinoceros. Nobody would touch the carcafe of the boar after it was dead, being an animal which is con-udered as unclean. Ammonios was a man of approved courage and conduct, and had been in all the wars of Ras Michael, and was placed about Ayto Confu, to lead the troops, curb the prcfump-tion, and check the impetuofity of that youthful warrior. He was tall, and aukwardly made; flow in fpeech and motion, fo much as even to excite ridicule; about fixty years of age, and more corpulent than the Abyflinians generally are ; in a word, as pedantic and grave in his manner as it is pof-fible to exprefs. Fie fpent his whole lcifurc time in reading the fcripture, nor did he willingly difcourfc of any thing elfe. Fie had been bred a foot-foldicr; and, though he rode as well as many of the Abyflinians, yet, having long flirrup-lcathers, with iron rings at the end of them, into which he put his naked toe only, inftead of ftirrups, he had no ftrength or agility on horfeback, nor was his bridle fuch as could command his horfe to flop, or wind and turn iharply among trees, though he might make a tolerable figure on a plain. A Boar, roufed on our right, had wounded a horfe and a footman of Ayto Confu, and then cfcaped. Two buffaloes wrerc found by thofe on the right, one of which wounded a horfe likewife. Ayto Confu, Engedan, Guebra Mariam, and myfelf, killed the other with equal fharc of merit, without beine in any fort of danger* Ail this was in little more than an hour, when our fport fecmed to be at the bell; our horfes were confiderably blown, not tired, and though we were beating homewards, flill we were looking very c^q 2 keenly keenly for more game. Ammonios was on the left among the bullies, and fome large, beautiful, tall fpreading-trees, clofe on the banks of the river Bedowi, which Hands there in pools. Whether the buffalo found Ammonios, or Ammonios the buffalo, is what we could never get him to explain to us ; but he had wounded the bead flight ly in the buttock, which, in return, had gored his horfe, and thrown both him and it to the ground. Luckily, however, his cloak had fallen off, which the buffalo tore in pieces, and employed himfelf for a minute with that and with the horfe, but then left them, and followed the man as foon as he faw him rife and run. Ammonios got behind one large tree, and from that to another flill larger. The buffalo turned very aukwardly, but kept clofe in purfuit; and there was no doubt he would have worn our friend out, who was not ufed to fuch quick motion. Ayto Engedan, who was near him, and might have afliilcd him, was laughing, ready to die at the droll figure a man of Ammonios's grave carriage made, running and flapping about naked, with a fwiftnefs he had never pra ■actions there* ON the 15th of January, at a quarter paft eight in the morning, we left Tcherkin, and entered immediately into thick woods ; but proceeded very flowly, the road being bad and unknown, if it could be called a road, and our camels overloaded About an hour afterwards we pafled a fmall village of elephant hunters on our right, and our courfe was ftraight north, through dark thick woods, overgrown with long grafs, till at half an hour paft ten we came to another fmall village clofe on our right. Wc then turned N. W. and continued in that direction, pafling feveral villages, all of elephant hunters, and mollly Mahometans. At three quarters after twelve we came to a fmall river which runs W. N, W. and falls into the Germa ; here Vol. IV. R r we we refted. At ten minutes paft one we fet out again, thro' the thickcft and mofl: impenetrable woods I ever faw ; and at half paft four we encamped about two miles weft of Am-ba Daid, a fmall village of elephant hunters, often deftroy-cd by the Shangalla, but now lately rebuilt, and ftrength-ened by Agagcers and their families under protection of, Ayto Confu.. We went not to the village, for the fake of a. fmall brook which we had found here, running north, and falling into the Angrab. On the 16th, at half after feven in the morning we re-fumed our journey, going weftward ; about an hour and a. half afterwards we arrived at the Germa, a large river which runs N. N. W. and falls into the Angrab; and a quarter after nine wc paffed the Germa, and going N. W. through. the very thicker! woods, came to Dabdo, a hill almoft de-ferted, its inhabitants having been fo frequently deftroyed i by the Pagan Shangalla,. At twenty minutes paft ten, flill going through the thickeft woods, and ground all opened by the heat of the fun, we found, in a graffy marfh, a pretty abundant fpring of foul water. This is the refbrt of the hunters of the elephant, as alfo of their rivals and enemies the Shangalla; and here much human blood has been fhed by people whofe occupation and intention, when they went from home, were that of flaying the wild beafts only. The Baafa or Dobcna Shangalla, poflefs the country which lies about four days journey N. E. from tjiis. At a quarter paft eleven wc came to the river Tcrkwa; which, after running N. W. falls into the Angrab ; it then flood' Hood in large deep pool«; the banks were covered with tall green grafs; the tafte of the water foul, and earthy. At twelve we paffed the river Tcrkwa; and going north, about an hour after we came to the Dongola,running eaft and weft; and an hour after that to Jibbel Myrat river, which, running eaft and weft, was once the boundary between Sennaar and Abylfmia. Hiftory does not tell us when thefe boundaries were altered, or upon what occafion. It was probably upon the firft invafion that new ones were fettled. It fhould feem that the Abyflinians had then the better of Nubia; for a large acceflion of territory was ceded by the latter to the former. A few minutes after wc came to the river Woodo, larger than the laft. It has a rocky bottom, and is full of fmall fifh of a brownifti and fdver colour. Where we crofled, it runs from weft to eaft, and falls into the Angrab. There wc pafled the night, not without alarms, as frefh foot-fteps in the fand were very plainly difcovered, which, by the length of the foot, and the largenefs of the heels, our people pronounced were furcly Shangalla ; but nothing difaftrous appeared all night. On the 17th, before feven in the morning we were again upon our journey, our direction N. and N. W. winding to due Weft. Andoval mountain flood W. N. W. diflant from us four miles. At forty minutes paft eight, going due weft, Andoval mountain lay to the north of us; and Awaffa mountains to the fouth. This is a ridge which, coming from the north, ftretches fouth to Dabda, and Abra Amba. Andoval mountain is a fmall pointed peck, which conftitutcs the north end of them. We halted here a few minutes, and refumcd our route to the weftward, and JNT. W* till we & r 2 came came to Sancaho, at half an hour pail one, and there we relied. Sancaho is an old frontier territory of Abyffmia. The town may confifl of about 300 huts or houfes, neatly built of canes, and curioully thatched with leaves of the fame. It rifes in the midfl of a plain, and refembles in fhape Tcherkin Amha, though much larger; a confidcrable diilrict. all. around belongs to it, of wilds and woods, it fuch a.^ thefe, abandoned entirely to wild beaits, can be faid to belong to any man. The call end Hopes with rather a fleep defcent into the plain; and through that is a narrow winding road^. feemingly the work of art, being obftrutSted at turns by huge flones, and at different flages, for the purpofc of defence by guns or arrows; all the other fides of the rock arc perpendicular precipices. The inhabitants of the town are Baafa, a race of Shangalla, converted to the Mahometan re* ligion; it is an abfolute government, has a nagareet or kettle-drum for proclamations, yet is underflood to be inferior to Ras el Feel, and dependent on it; and always fub-jecl: to that nobleman, who is Kafmati of Ras el Feel, fuch as Ayto Confu then was, after he had refumed his govern-ment at my departure, though during my flay in Abyflinia< it had devolved upon me by his furrendering it.. Gimbaro, the Erbab or chief of Sancaho, was the talleft and floutefl man of his nation; about fix feet fix inches high, and flrongly made in proportion ; hunted always on foot; and was faid, among his people, to have fingly killed elephants with one blow of his fpear. The features of his face might well be called hideous; he paid his part of the revenue in buffaloes hides, of which the bcil fhields were made ; made ; and with elephants teeth, and rhinoceros's horns, ufed for the handles of the crooked knives, which the Abyf-fmians carry at their girdles. All the inhabitants of Sancaho are hunters of elephants. It is their principal food. Erbab Gimbaro came with Yafine, and brought more than a hundred of the Shangalla to the king's army uSerbraxos, where the Moors alledged he did not any way diilinguiih himfelf. I had, however, taken coniiderable notice of him; and at his earneft defire carried him into the tent, and fhew-cd him the king. We encamped at the bottom of the hill on the fouth-weft fide of the town, on the banks of the river, which rifes in the mountains fix miles off to the fouth, and encompaffes the half of the hill where Sancaho flands; after which it turns northward, but was now mol'lly dry. While we were pitching our tent, I fent one of Yafine's men to order Gimbaro to fend us the ufual quantity of provifion for ourfelves and camels, and told him alfo, that my camels were few in number, and weak ; defiring he would fend two, or one at leafl, which Ihould be Rated in his deftar, or account of rent, for that year, I was aflonifhed to fee Yafme's men return, bringing with them only a woolly-headed black,, the Erbab's fon, as it feemed, who, with great freedom and pertnefs, and in very good Amharic, faid, " My father fa-lutcs you ; if ye eat what he cats, ye fhall be very welcome." I afked him, What that was ?—He faid, " Elephant killed yef-terday; and as for camels ye demand, he tells you he has none; elephants are his camels, and rhinocerofes are his mules." Avxo Ayto Confu's fcrvants, who heard this meffagc delivered, and who were as defirous of getting over this journey to Ras el Feel as I was, advifed me to go with him up the hill to the town, and expostulate with the Erbab, who, he faid, would be afhamed to refufe. Accordingly, I armed myfelf with a pair of piftols at my girdle, with a fufd and bayonet in my hand ; and took with me two fervants with their piftols alfo, each carrying a large mip-blunderbufs. Wc mounted the hill with great difficulty, being feveral times obliged to pull up one another by the hands, and entered into a large room about fifty feet long. It was all hung round with elephants heads and trunks, with fkele-tons of the heads of fome rhinocerofes, and of monftrous hippopotami, as alfo feveral heads of the giraffa. Some large lion (kins were thrown on feveral parts of the room, like carpets; and Gimbaro flood upright at one end of it, naked, only a fmall cloth about his middle; the largeft man I ever remembered to have feen, perfectly black, flat-nofed, thick-lipped, and woolly-headed ; and feemed to be a perfect picture of thofe Cannibal giants which we read of as inhabiting enchanted caftlcs in fairy tales. He did not feem to take notice at my firft entering the room,.nor till 1 was very near him. He then came auk-wardly forward, bowing, endeavouring to kifs my hand, which I withdrew from him, and faid in a firm voice, " I apprehend, Sir, you do not know mc." He bowed and faid he did, but did not conceive, at the time, it was me that encamped at the brook. " You did know, Sir, when you fent your ion with Yafine's fervant, and you know that you are confiderably in my debt. Befules, if you had any gratitude, you would remember the arrears I remitted you, and the prefents ffcnts I made you when at Serbraxos, even though you mif-behaved there. Your meflage to me while below at the ri-< ver was the language of a rebel. Are you willing to be declared in rebellion ?" He faid, " By [no means ; he had always been a faithful fervant to Ayto Confu, Ras Michael, and the king, and had come to Serbraxos upon receiving the firfl order, and would obey whatever I fliould command." " Then pay me the mecry you owe me, and begin firft by bringing two camels." " He faid, he never refufed the camels, and the meflage fie fent was but in fport." " And was it fport too, Sir, faid I, when you faid you would fend me the flefli of elephants to cat ? Did you ever know a Chriflian eat any fort of flefh that a Mahometan killed ?" He anfwered, No ; and begging my pardon, promifed he would fend mc bread and honey, and the camels fhould be ready in the morning." They muft be ready to-night, faid I, and before night too; for I am to difpatch a fervant this evening to Ayto Confu to complain of your behaviour, as I do not know what you may meditate againfl us in our way to Ras cl Feel." He begged now, in the mod carneft manner, I would not complain; and faid, he would have all his fpies out to the eaflward, that not a Shangalla fliould pafs to moleft us, without our being informed of them. Some of his principal people now interfering, I confentcd to forget and forgive what had pafled. Wc then ate bread, and drank beer, to fhow the reconciliation was finccre, and fo the affair ended. About fix in the evening came two flrong camels, and about thirty loaves of bread made of Dora; two large wheat loaves for me, as alfo a jar of wild honey, of excellent flavour, and with thefe a prefent to Ayto Confu's fervant. a. On On the 18th, about fix in the morning, Erbab Gimbaroi coming down to our tent, brought thirty loaves of Dora as before, and four of wheat, for the journey ; and we had already enough of honey, upon which we breakfafled with the Erbab, who, to confirm the friendfhip, took two or three glafles of Strong fpirits, which put him into excellent humour. His fon, too, that he might atone for his lafl night's mifbehaviour, brought a better camel than any we had feen, and exchanged it for one of thofe that came yeflerday in the evening. I, on the other hand, gave him a cotton cloth, and fome trifles, which made him perfectly happy; and we parted in the mod cordial friendfhip poflible, after having made a promife that, at my return, I ihould flay a week at Sancaho to hunt the elephant and rhinoceros. Before leaving Sancaho, I had an opportunity of verifying a fact hitherto doubtful in natural hiflory. Mr haflel-quiit, the Swedifh traveller, when at Cairo, faw the fkins of two giraffos fluffed, which came from Sennaar. He gives as minute a defcription as poflible he could from feeing the ikins only ; but fays nothing about the horns, becaufe I fuppofe he did not fee them; on which account the doubt remained undecided, whether the girafiVs horns were folid as the deer's, and call every year; or whether they were hollow, attached to a core, or bone, like thofe of fheep, and confequently permanent. The Count de Buffon conjectures them to be of this latl kind, and fo I found them. They arc twilled in all refpects like the horns of an antelope. At ten minutes pafl eight we fet out from Sancaho ; but -my people took it into their heads, that, notwithflanding the fair behaviour of Erbab Gimbaro, he intended to lay fome 2 ambufh ambufh to cut us off, and rob us on the way. For my part, I was very well fatisficd of the contrary ; but this did not hinder them from forfaiting the accullomed road, and getting among a thick wood of canes; we were obliged to cut our way out of them when our direction was weft, or to the fouthward of weft. They were alfo afraid of Abd el Jileel. A t ten minutes paft eleven we croffed the Bcdowi, which we had paffed twice before ; at half paft eleven wc crofted it again, travelling fouthward; and a quarter after twelve we were fo entangled with woods, and fo fatigued with cutting the way for our camels, that we thought we fliould get no further. We had, however, continued till three quarters paft one in a direction fouth-eaft, at which time we were not above five miles from Sancaho; and, at half paft two, had turned fouth-weft on the banks of the large river Tokcor-Ohha, which Ggnifies the Black River, It comes from the mountains of Awaffa on the fouth-eaft, and, after winding confulerably, it falls into the Guangue, about eight miles from Guanjook. Tokooh-Oiiha is a river famous for the number of buffaloes that are upon its banks, which arc covered with large beautiful (hady-trccs, all of a hard red wood, called Den-gui Sibber, or Breaker of Stones, they had neither fruit nor flower on them at this time, by which we might judge to what tribe they belong ; but they are not ebony, which in this country is known by the name of Zope. On the 19th, at three quarters pail fix we left ourftation on Tokoor river, which wc croffed about a quarter of an hour after, our direction being nearly S. W. The territory Vol. IV. S f here here is called Gilmaber, from Gilma, a fmall village a mile and a half diilant to the fouthward. Gilmabcr is about a mile and a half long, full of tall canes. From the time we left Tokoor river, we had been followed by a lion, or rather preceded by one, for it was generally a fmall gun-ihot before us ; and wherever it came to a bare fpot, it would fit down and grumble as if it meant to difpute the way with us. Our bcafls trembled, and were all covered with fwcat, and could fcarcely be kept on the road. As there fecmed to be but one remedy for this difficulty, I took a long Turkifh rifled gun, and crawling under a bank as near as poffible, fhot it in the body, fo that it fell from the bank on the road before us, quite dead, and even without mufcular motion. It proved to be a large lionefs. All the people in this country eat the flefli of lions ; as I have feen fome tribes* in Barbary do likewife, Wc left the lionefs to the inhabitants of the neighbouring village, fkin and all; for we were fo tired with this day's journey, that we could not be at the pains of fkinning her. A few minutes after this we paffed the river Gilma, twice, which runs to the northward. At half paft nine we joined Dabda road, and a few minutes after croffed the Quartuc-ca, a fmall river running north. The country here becomes more open, for the thick woods have fmall plains between them. In the entrance of a wood we found a man that had been murdered, and that very lately, as the wild beafts had not yet begun to * Welled Sidi Boogannim at Hydra. See Shaw's Travels.. \ to touch the body; he had been ham-fining, and his throat cut, a performance probably of the neighbouring Shangalla. At fifty minutes paft ten, our route being weft, we pafled under a hill a quarter of a mile on our right, upon which is a village called Salamgue. At a quarter paft eleven wc croffed the fmall river of Kantis; and a quarter of an hour afterwards wc afcended a hill upon which flands a village of that name, inhabited by Mahometan Shangalla of the tribe of Baafa. On the 20th we proceeded but a mile and a half; our bcafls and ourfelves being equally fatigued, and our cloaths torn all to rags. Guanjook is a very delightful fpot by the river fide ; fmall woods of very high trees intcrfperfed with very beautiful lawns; feveral fields alfo cultivated with cotton; variety of game (efpecially Guinea fowls, in great abundance) and, upon every tree, perroquets, of all the different kinds and colours, compofc the beauties of Guanjook. I faw no parrots, and fuppofe there were none ; but on firing a gun, the firft probably ever heard in thofe woods, there was fuch a fcreaming of other birds on all fides, fome flying to the place whence the noife came, and fome flying from it, that it was impoflible to hear di-flincrtly any other found. It was at this place that I fhot that curious bird called the Erkoom * in Amhara; the Abba Gumba, in Tigre; and here at Guanjook, Teir elNaciba9 or the Bird of Dcftiny. On the 2 2(1, at three quarters paft fix we left Guanjook, and a few minutes after paffed a fmall river called Gum- S f 2 bacca, * Sec tlic p.iticlc Erkoom in the Appendix bacca, and afterwards the river Tokoor. At half an hour pail eight we relied there, and three hours after came to the Guangue. The Guanguc is the largeil river we had feen in Abyflinia except the Nile and Taccaze. It rifes near Tchelga, or "between Tchclga and Nara. It joins the Tacazze in the Barabra, in the kingdom of Sennaar. The two rivers when joined arc called the Atbara, which gives its name to the province. It abounds with hippopotami, and crocodiles, chiefly the former, which however we thought were moilly fmaller than thofe of the Nile. At a quarter after one we came to Mariam-Ohha, and at half pail three arrived at Hor-Cacamoot. Hor in that country iigniiies the dry deep bed of a torrent, which has ceafed to run ; and Cacamoot, the fhade of death ; fo that Yafine's village, where we now took up our quarters, is called the Valley of the shadow of Death: A bad omen for weak and wandering travellers as we were, furrounded by a multitude of dangers, and fo far from home, that there feemed to be but one that could bring us thither. We trutted in Him, and He did deliver us. Hor-Cacamoot is fituated in a plain in the midtl of a wood, fo much only of which has been cleared away as to make room for the miferable huts of which it conftfts, and for the fmall fpots of ground on which they fow ma-fhilla, or maize, to furnifli them with bread. Their other food confifls entirely of the flelii of the elephant and rhinoceros, and chiefly of the former; for the trouble of hunting the elephant is not greater than chafing the rhinoceros, and the difference of gain is much fuperior. The elephant has a greater quantity of better flefli, while his large teeth 3 are arc very valuable, and afford a ready price everywhere. The inhabitants being little acquainted with the ufe of fire-arms, the fmallcr game, of the deer kind, are not much molcfted, unlefs by the wild Shangalla, who make ufe of bows and arrows, fo that thefe animals are increafed beyond imagination. Ras el Feel confuted once of thirty-nine villages. All the Arabs of Atbara rcforted to them with butter, honey, horfes, gold, and many other commodities ; and the Shekh of Atbara, living upon the frontier of Sennaar, entertained a conflant good correspondence with the Shckh of Ras el Feel, to whom he fent yearly a Dongola horfe, two razors, and two dogs. The Shckh of Ras el Feel, in return, gave him a mule and a female Have; and the effect of this intercourfe was to keep all the intermediate Arabs in their duty. Since the expedition of Yafous II. againfl Sennaar, no peace has ever fubfifted between the two flates; on the contrary, all the Arabs that afliited the king, and were defeated with him, pay tribute no longer to Sennaar, but live on the frontiers of AbyfTinia, and are protected there. The two chiefs of Atbara, and Ras el Feci, undcriland one another perfectly, and give the Arabs no trouble; and, if they pay their rent to either, it is divided between both. It was through the means of thefe Arabs the king of Abyflinia's army was furnifhed, as we have feen, with heavy horfes; and it was in confequence of my depending on this friendfhip with the Shekh of Teawa, that 1 attempted going thro* that province to Sennaar, SO met i mr- Sometime before I left Gondar I had been threatened with an attack of the dyfentery. At my arrival at Hor-Cacamoot it grew worfe, and had many unpromifing fymp-toms, when I was cured by the advice and application of a common Shangalla, by means of a fhrub called Wooginoos*, growing very common in thofe parts, the manner of ufing which he taught me. The country, from Tcherkin to Ras el Feel, or Hor-Cacamoot, is all a black earth, calledMazaga, which fome authors have taken for the name of the province. However, the word Mazaga, in the language of the country, fignifies fat, loofe, black earth, or mold, fuch as all that flripe of land from 130 to i6° of latitude is compofed of, at leafl till you reach to the defcrts of Atbara, where the rains end. Ras el Feci is, I fuppofe, one of the hottcfl countries in the known world. On the ill day of March, at three o'clock in the afternoon, Fahrenheit's thermometer, in the fhade, was 1140, which was at 6i° at fun-rife, and 820 at fun-fet. And yet this excemve heat did not make a proportional impref-fion upon our feelings. The evenings, on the contrary, rather feemed cold, and we could hunt at mid-day. And this I conllantly obferved in this fultry country, that, what was hot by the glafs, never appeared to carry with it any thing proportionate in our fenfations. Ras el Feel formerly paid 400 ounces of gold, which is 4000 crowns; Sancaho paid 100. But trade having decrea-fed, fince the expedition of Yafous II. to Sennaar, without the "* See the aiticle Wooglnoos in the Appendix. the king's demand being lefFencd, many people have left it, and arc gone to Tcherkin. I have feveral times, in the courfe of this work, taken notice of a black nation called Shangalla, who furrround all the N. N. W. and N. E. of AbyfTinia, by a belt fcarcely fixty miles broad. This is called by the AbyfTinians, Kolla, or the Hot Country, which is likewife one of their names for hell. Two gaps, or fpaces, made for the fake of commerce, in this belt, the one at Tchelga, the other at Ras el Feel, have been fettled and pofTefTed by Grangers, to keep thefe Shangalla in awe; and here the cuftom-houfes were placed, for the mutual intereft of both kingdoms, before all intcrcourfe was interrupted by the impolitic expedition of Yafous againfl Sennaar. Ras el Feel divides this nation of woolly-headed blacks into two, the one well below Kuara, and bordering on Fazuclo (part of the kingdom of Sennaar) as alfo on the country of Agows. Thefe arc the Shangalla that traffic in gold, which they find in the earth,. where torrents have fallen from the mountains; for there is no fuch thing as mines in any part of their country nor any way of collecting gold but this ; nor is there any gold found in Abyflinia, however confidently this has been advanced ; neither is there gold brought into that kingdom from any other quarter but this which we are now fpeak-ing of ; notwithilanding all the mifrcprcfentations of the miflionaries to make the attempts to fubduc this kingdom appear more lucrative and lefs ridiculous to European princes. The other nation, on the frontiers of Kuara, has Ras el Feel on the call, about three days journey from the Cacamoot. The natives are called Gan- 3. Jar; jar* a very numerous and formidable nation of hunters, confiding of feveral thoufand horfe. The origin of thefe is faid to have been, that when the Furige (or black nation now occupying Sennaar) difpofTeflcd the Arabs from that part of the country, the black-flaves that were in fcrvice among thefe Arabs, all fled and took poiTcilion of the dif-tricts they now hold ; where they have greatly increafed in numbers, and continue independent to this day. They are the natural enemies of Ras el Feci, and much blood has been fhed between them, from making inroads one upon the other, murdering the men and carrying their women into llavery. Yafine, however, had become too flrong for them, by the aflidance of Ayto Confu, and they had offered to affid the king at the campaign of Serbraxos. Rut they were found not fit to be trulled, fo were fent away, under pretence that they Ihould attack Coque Abou Barca governor of Kuara for the rebels, and hinder him from coming to their aflidance; and even this they did not do. The title of their chief is Sheba, which fignifics the Old Man. His rcfidcnce is called Cafhumo, by his own people ; and Dcndy Kolla, by the Abyflinians of Kuara. Yafine, however, was now at peace with them, without which our journey would fcarce have been poflible. Sheba fent his fon to fee mc at Ras el Feel; we thought, at that time, he came as a fpy. However, when wc departed I gave him a fmall prefent; and wc fworc mutual friendfhip, that he wTas to be ready always to fight againd my enemies, and that we were to act kindly by each other, though we were to meet, horfe to horfe, alcn: in the defcrt. Yasine Yasine had done every thing, on his part, to fecure mc a good reception from Fidele bhekh of Atbara. Every af-furance polflble had been given, and I had before travelled fome thoufand mdes upon much {lighter promifes, which had, however, been always faithfully kept; fo that I did not at ail fufpect that any thing unfair could be intended me at Teawa, where Fidele relided. But as the lofs of life was the confequence of being miflaken, I never did omit any means to double my fecurity. Mahomet Gibberti, as we have before obferved, had al-Teady carried a letter of mine fromGondar to his rnailerMeti-calAga,Selictarto the Sherrilfe of Mecca in Arabia, requeuing that he would write to fome man of confuieration in Sennaar, and, taking it for granted that I was then arrived at leawa, defire that a fervant of the king might be fent to give me fafe conduct from that frontier to the capital. Ya/ine had written to the fame effect, directly to Sennaar, and lent a fervant of his, who, for fecurity fake, had nothing but the letter and an old ragged cloth about his waifl; and he had long ago arrived at Sennaar, the before-named place of his -deffination. Among the tribes of Arabs that were protected by Yafine, and furnifhed with pafturc, water, and a market for their cattle, and milk and butter, at Has el Feel, were the Davcina, by much the mofl powerful of all the Arabs in Atbara ; but they ventured no further fouthward than Beyla, for fear of the troops of Sennaar. The Shckh of Beyla was a man of very great character for courage and probity. His name was Mahomet; and I Vol. IV. T t had had often corresponded with him upon the fubjecl: of horfes for the king while I was at Gondar. He was greatly tormented with the Rone, and by means of Yafme I had feveral times fent him foap-pills, and lime, with directions how to make lime-water. I therefore fent a fervant of mine with a letter to the Shekh of Beyla, mentioning my intention of coming to Sennaar by the way of Teawa and Beyla, and defiring him to forward my fervant to Sennaar, to Hagi Belal my correfpondent there, and, at the fame time, write to fome other friend of his own, to fee that the king's fervant Ihould be difpatched to Teawa without delay. This fervant, with the letters, I committed to the care of the Shckh of the Daveina, who promifed that he would himfelf fee him fafe into Beyla; and, by a particular Providence, all thefe letters and meffengers arrived fafe, without mifcarriage of one, at the places of their denination, though we were long kept in fufnence before they took effect,. I was now about to quit Ras cl Feci for ever, in a firm pcrfwafion that I had done every thing man could do to infure a fafe journey and good reception at Sennaar, till one day I received a vint from Mahomet Shekh of Nile; which docs not mean Shekh of the river, but of a tribe of that name, which is but a clivifion of the Daveina. To this Shekh i had flicwn a particular attention in feveral trips he had made to Gondar, in confequence of which he was very grateful and anxious for my fafety. He told me, that he faw I was letting out perfectly content with the meafures I had taken for my fafety at; Sennaar, and he owned that they were the bed that human prudence could fuggeft; ubut, fays he, in my opinion, you have not yet been cautious enough a-houtTeawa. I know Fidele well, and I apprehend your danger is is there, and not at Sennaar." He then drew a moft unfavourable picture of that Shekh, whom he affirmed to have been a murderer and a thief all his days, and the fon of a father no better than himfelf; that he was of no religion, neither Mahometan, Chriflian, nor Pagan, but abfolutely without fear of God ; he faid, however, he believed him to be a great coward ; and therefore the whole of my fafety reduced itfelf to this, Was he really afraid of Yafine, or not ? If he was, that became the befl handle we could lay hold on ; but if, on the contrary, he was not afraid of Yafine, or was perfuaded, as he very well might be by wicked people about him, that, when once I was out of the country, Yafine took no further charge of mc, he doubted very much I fliould never pafs Teawa, or, at leaft, without fullering fome heavy affront or ill-ufagc, the extent of which it was impofliblc to determine. These fenfible fuggeflions made a very flrong imprcflion on Yafmc and me ; Yafine's firft pofltion was, that Fidele was certainly afraid to difobligc him ; but, allowing the pofli-bility he was not, he owned he had not fubflitutcd any fecond mcafurc to which I could trufh We all regretted that our friends the Daveina had been fullered to depart without taking me With them by Sim-Sim and Beyla ; but it was now too late, as the Daveina had for fome days arrived at the Ration the nearcfl Beyla and the fartheil from us. It was then agreed, that Nile fliould fend a relation of his, who was married to one of the tribes of Jehaina Arabs, encamped upon Jibbel 3frill' near to Teawa, with whom Fidele was at that time making peace, left they fliould burn the crop about the town. This man was not to enter the town of Teawa with me, but was to come there the next day, as if from his T t 2 friends friends at Jibbel IfrifF; and, if I then informed him there was danger, Ihould return to the Jehaina, mount a hajan or dromedary, and give Yafine information with all poflible fpeed. All this being now fettled, I prepared for my journey, having firft, by many observations by night and day9 fixed the latitude of Hor-Cacamoot to be 130 i' 33" north.. char ONI —r—r - Wm 3& CHAP. IV. From Hor-Cacamoot to Teawa, Capital of Atbara. IT was on the 17th of March that we fet out from Hor-Cacamoot on our journey to Teawa, capital of the province of Atbara. Our courfe was N. N. W. through thick bruin wood, with a few high trees ; our companions being eleven naked men, withaffes loaden with fait. We had feveral interruptions on the road. At three in the afternoon we encamped at Falaty, the eaft village of Ras el Feel, a little to the north-ward. A fmall mountain, immediately north from this village; the one end of which is thought to rcfemble the head of an elephant, gives the name to the village and the province*. This mountain ftrctches in a direction nearly north and *"Rne,cl Feel fig-nifies the head of an elephant. and fouth, as do the villages, and the fmall river when it has water, but it was now apparently dry. However, by digging pretty deep in the fand, the water filtering through the fides of the holes filled in a certain time with a putrid, ill-tafled, unwholefome beverage, which is all this miferable village has for its ufe. The people look fickly and ill-coloured. Falaty is three miles and a half diflant from Hor-Cacamoot, its name interpreted is Poverty. On the 18th, at half after fix in the morning we continued our journey through thick, and almoft impenetrable woods full of thorns; and in two hours we came to the bed of a torrent, though in appearance dry, upon digging with our hands in the loofc fand, wc found great plenty of frefh water exceedingly well tailed, being flickered by projecting rocks from the action of the fun. This is called Surf el Shckh. Here we filled our girbas, for there is very little good water to be found between this and Teawa. A girba is an ox's fkin fquarcd, and the edges fewed together very artificially by a double fcam, which does not let out water, much rcfembling that upon the bell Englifh cricket-balls. An opening is left in the top of the girba, in the fame manner as the bung-hole of a calk. Around this the fkin is gathered to the fize of a large handful, which, when the girba is full of water, is tied round with whipcord. Thefe girbas generally contain about fixty gallons each, and two of them are the load of a camel. Thcv are then all befmeared on the outfkle with greafe, as well to hinder the water from oozing through, as to prevent its being evaporated by the action of the fun upon the girba, which which in fact happened to us twice, fo as to put us in imminent danger of periihing with thirfl. Yasine had provided a camel and two girbas, as well as every other provifion neceflary for us, till we mould arrive at Teawa. Surf el Shekh is the boundary of Ras el Feef. Here I took an affectionate leave of my friend Yafine, who, with all his attendants, fhewed, at parting, that love and attachment they had conflantly preferved to me fince our firft acquaintance, Soliman, my old and faithful fervant, who had carried my firfl letter to Sennaar, though provided for in the king's fervice, in filled upon attending me to Sennaar, and dying with me if it fhould be my fate ; orelfe gaining the reward which had been promifed him, if he brought back the good news of my fafe arrival and good reception there. At parting, I gave the faithful Yafine one of my horfes and my coat of mail, that is my ordinary one ; for the one that was given me by Ozoro Eflher had belonged to king Yafous, and as it would have been an affront to have bellowed it on a common manlike Yafmc, who,bcfides, was a Mahometan, fo I gave it (with Ozoro Eflher's con fent) to Ayto Engedan, king Yafous's grand fon. Before parting, Yafmc, like an old traveller, called the whole company together, and obliged them to repeat the Fcdtah, the Prayer of Peace. At half pafl feven in the evening we came to Engaldi% a large bafon or cavity, feveral hundred yards in length, and about thirty feet deep, made for the reception of water by the Arabs, who encamp by its fide after the rains. The 4 water water was almoft exhaufted, and what remained had an intolerable flench. However, flocks of Guinea fowls, partridges, and every fort of bird, had crowded thither to drink, from the fcarcity of water elfc where. I believe, I may certainly fay, the number amounted to many thoufands. My Arabs loaded themfelves in a very little while, killing them with flicks and Hones ; but they were perfectly ufelcfs, being reduced to fkeletons by hunger and thirfl. For this reafon, as well as that I might not alarm any flrolling banditti within hearing, I did not fuffer a fhot to be fired at them. At eight we came to Eradecba, where is neither village nor water, but only a relting-place about half a mile fquare, which has been cleared -from wood, that travellers, who pafs to and from Atbara, might have a fecure fpot whence they could fee around them, and guard themfelves from being attacked unawares by the banditti fometimes re forcing to thofe deferts. At a quarter pafl eleven we arrived at Quaicha, a bed of a torrent where there was now no water; but the wood feemed growing flill thicker, and to be full of wild beafts, efpccially lions and hyamas. Thefe do not fly from man, as thofe did that we had hitherto feen, but came boldly up, ■efpeclally the hyscna, with a resolution to attack us. Upon our firft lighting a fire they left us for a time; but towards morning they came in greater numbers, than before; a lion carried away one of our affes from among the other beafts of burden, and a hyaena attacked one of the men, tore his cloth from his middle, and wounded him in his back. As we iLow expected to he inilantly devoured, the prefent fearover-,e the rciOiittions we had made, not to ufe our fire arms, 2 unlefs unlefs in the utmofl; neccflity. I fired two guns, and ordered my fervants to fire two large fliip-blunderbuflcs, which prefently freed us from our troublefome gucfls. Two hyaenas were killed, and a large lion.being mortally wounded was difpatched by our men in the morning. They came no more near us; but we heard numbers of them howling at a diftance till day-light, either from hunger or the fmarts of the wounds they had received, perhaps from both ; for each fhip-blundcrbufs had fifty fmall bullets, and the wood towards which they were directed, at the diftance of about twenty yards,feemed to be crowded with thefe animals. The reafon why the hyaena is more fierce here than in any part of Barbary, will be given in the natural hiftory of that wild beaft in the Appendix. Though this, our firft day's journey from Falaty and Ras cl Feel, to Quaicha, was of eleven hours, the diftance wc had gone in that time was not more than ten miles ; for our beafts were exceedingly loaded, fo that it was with the utmofl difficulty that either we or they could force ourfelves through thofe thick woods, which fcarccly admitted the rays of the fun. From this flation, however, wc were entertained with a mofl magnificent fight. The mountains at a, diftance towards the banks of the Tacazze, all Debra Haria, and the mountains towards Kuara, were in a violent bright flame of fire. The Arabs feed all their flocks upon the branches of trees; no beaft in this country cats grafs. When therefore the water is dried up, and they can no longer flay, they fet fire to the woods, and to the dry grafs below it. The flame runs under the trees, fcorches the leaves and new wood, Vol. IV. U u without without confirming the body of the tree. After the tropical! rains begin, the vegetation immediately returns; the fprings increafe, the rivers run, and the pools arc filled with water. All forts of verdure being now in the greatell luxuriancy^ the Arabs rcvifit their former Rations. This conflagration is performed at two fcafons ; the firft, by the Shangalla and* hunters on the fouthern parts of this woody country, begins in the month of October, on the return of the fun, the cir-cunvftances of which I have already mentioned ; the latter,, which happens in March, and lafti all April, befides providing future fullcnance for their flocks,.is likewife intended to prevent, atleafl to diminifh, the ravages of the fly ; a plague of the mofl extraordinary kind, already defcribed. We left Quaicha a little before four in die morning of the 19th of March, and at half an hour paff five we came to Jibbel Achmar, a fmall mountain, or rather mount; for it is of a very regular form, and not above 300 feet high, but covered with green grafs to the top. What has given it the name of Jibbel Achmar, or the Red Mountain, I know not. All the country is of red earth about it; but as it hath much grafs, it fliould be called* the Green Mountain, in the middle of the red country ; though there is nothing more vague or undetermined than the language-of the Arabs, when they fpeak of colours. This hill, fur-rounded with impenetrable woods, is in the beginning of autumn the rendezvous of the Arabs Daveina, when there is water ; at which time the rhinoceros and many forts of beafts, crowd hither ; tho' few elephants, but they are thofe of * Jibbel Adidar.. of the larger! kind, moflly males ; fo that the Arabs make this a favourite Ration, after the grafs is burnt, efpecially the young part of them, who arc hunters. We reached Imferrha at half paft eleven, the water being about half a mile diftant to the S. W. The wells are iituated upon a fmall ridge that runs nearly eaft and weft. At one extremity of this is a fmall-pointed mountain, upon which was formerly a village belonging to the Arabs, called Jehaina, now totally deftroyed by the hunting parties of the Daveina, the great tyrants of this country, who, together with the fcarcity of water, are the principal caufes that this whole territory is defolate. For though the foil is fandy and improper for agriculture, yet it is thickly overgrown with trees; and were the places where water is found fufliciently flocked with inhabitants, great numbers of cattle might be paftured here, every fpecies of which live upon the leaves and the young branches of trees, even on fpots where grafs is abundant. On the 20th, at fix o'clock in the morning we fet out from Imferrha, and in two hours arrived at Rafhid, where we were furprifed to fee the branches of the fhrubs and bufhes all covered with a fhell of that fpecies of univalve called Turbines, white and red ; fome of them from three to four inches long, and not to be dillinguilhed by the nicefl eye from thofe fea-fhells, of the fame fpecies, which are brought in great quantities from the Weft India if lauds, efpecially St Domingo. How thefe came firft in a fandy defert fo far from the fea is a difquifition I fhall not now enter into, There are U u 2 of of this fifli great numbers in the Red Sea, and in the Indian Ocean ; how they came upon the bullies, or at the roots of them, appears more the bufinefs of the prefent narrative. To confine myfelf to the matter of fact, I fhall only fay, that throughout this defert are many fprings of falt-water; great part of the defert is fofiile fait, which, buried in fome places at different depths according to the degree of inclination of all minerals to the horizon, does at times in thefe fountains appear very near the furface. Here I fuppofe the feed is laid, and, by the addition of the rain-water that falls upon the fait during the tropical rains, the quantity of falt-water is much increafed, and thefe fifhes fprcad themfelves over the plain as in a temporary ocean. The rains decreafe^ and the fun returns ; thofe that are near fprings retire to them, and provide for the propagation of future years, Thofe that have wandered too far off in the plains retire to the bullies as the only flicker from the fun. The in-tenfe heat at length deprives them of that fliade, and they perifli with the leaves to which they crept for flicker, and this is the reafon that we faw fuch a quantity of fhells under the bullies ; that we found them otherwife alive in the very heart of the fprings, we fhall further circumflantiate in our Appendix, when we fpeak of muffels fo found in our hiftory of the formation of pearls. Rasiiid was once full of villages, all of which are now ruined by the Arabs Daveina. There are feven or eight wells of good water here, and the place itfelf is beautiful beyond defcription. It is a fairy land, in the middle of an inhofpitable, uninhabited defert; full of large wide fprcad-ing trees, loaded with flowers and fruit, and crowded with an immenfc number of the deer kind. Among thefe, we we faw a large one, like the antelope, his buttocks (a confidcrable way up his back) being covered with white, which terminated upon his thigh in a black line, drawn from the haunch down very nigh to the joint of his hind leg. 1 hefe we had never feen before. They are called Ariel in Arabia, go in large flocks, arc exceedingly fwift; though, from the ncceifity of coming to water, and its only being found in particular places, they wcra an eafy vicStim to thofe that watched for them at night. Sim Sim is a copious fpring, which fupplies a large baton the Arabs have dug for it near thirty feet deep. It lies wed of Rafhid, or a little to the fouthward of well. It is in a fandy defert, in the direct way to Beyla and Sennaar, and here the Daveina kept their flocks, equally fecure from the fly and the troops of Sennaar, the two great enemies they have to fear ; and being in the neighbourhood of Ra3 el Feel, they keep a large market there, fupplying that country amply with provifions of all kinds, and getting from it, in return, what they have not in their own diftrief. We were jufl two hours in coming to Rafhid, for we were flying for our lives ; the Simoom, or hot-wind, having ft ruck us not long after we had fet out from Imferrha, and our little company, all but myfelf, fell mortally lick with the quantity of poifonous vapour that they had imbibed. I apprehend, from Rafhid to Imferrha it is about five miles; and though it is one of the mofl dangerous halting-places between Ras el Feel and Sennaar, yet we were fo enervated, our flomachs fo weak, and our head-achs fo violent, that we could not pitch our tent, but each wrapping himfelf in his cloak, refigned himfelf immediately to fleep, under the the cool made of the large trees, invited by the pleafarrt breeze from the north, which feemed to be merely local, confined to this fmall grove, created probably by the vicinity of the water, and the agitation we had occahoned in it. In this helplefs Rate to which we were reduced, I alone continued not weakened by the fmioom, nor overcome by lleep. AGanjar Arab, who drove an aft laden with fait, took this opportunity of Healing one of the mules, together with a lance and fhield belonging to one of my fervants. The country was fo woody, and he had fo much advantage of us in point of time, and we were in fo weak and discouraged a Hate, that it was thought in vain to purfue him one Rep. So he got off with his booty, unlcfs he was intercepted by fome of thofe wild beafls, which he would find everywhere in his way, whether he returned to Ras cl Feel, or the frontiers of Kuara, his own country. Having refreshed ourfelves with a little fleep, the next thing was to fill our girbas, or fkins, with water. But before we attempted this, I thought to try an experiment of mixing about twenty drops of fpirit of nitre in a horn of water about the fize of an ordinary tumbler. This I found greatly refrefhed me, though my headach flill continued. It had a much better effect upon my fervants, to whom f gave it; for they all fecmed immediately recovered, and their fpirits much more fo, from the reflection that they had with them a remedy they could cruft to, if they mould again be fo unfortunate as to meet this poifonous wind or vapour. On On the 21ft, we fet out from Rafhid at two o'clock in morning, and at a little pafl eight arrived at Imhanzara, having gone mofily n, \V. to north and by welt. This, to ">, is a flation of the Arabs Daveina ; and there had been here large pools of water, the cavities, apparently dug by the hands of men, were from twenty to thirty feet deep, and not lefs-than fixty yards long. The water was juft then drying up; and flood only about half a foot in depth, in the bottom of one of the pools. The borders of the bafons were thick fet with acacia and jujeb-trees ; but the fruit of the latter was drying upon the flones, and had fallen fhrivclled in great quantities upon the ground. We gathered about a couple of pecks, which was a very great refrefhment to us. The fruit, though retaining a very (harp acid taile, is mixed with a fweetnefs not unlike the tamarind ; and which it communicated to water, upon a handful of the dry fruit being ftecp-ed therein for half an hour. The ordinary jujeb in Barbae ry is oblong like an olive ; this is perfectly round like the cherry, but fomething fmaller. The tree is thorny, and differs in nothing from the other, but only in the fhape of the fruit. When dried, it is of a golden colour; and is here called Nabca, being the principal fuflenance of the Arabs, till thefe pools are dry, when they are obliged to feck other food, and other water, at fome more diftant flation. This day, being the fifth of our journey, wc had gone about five hours very diligently, though, confidcring the weak Rate we were in, I do not think we advanced more than feven or eight miles ; and it was to me very vifiblcy that all the animals, mules, camels, and horfes,were afFcctcd' as much as we were by the fimoom. They drank repeatedly, 2- and. * and for a confidcrable length of time, but they feemed to go jufl fo much the worfc for it. Upon approaching the pool, that had water in it, though yet at fome dillance from it, my fcrvants fent me word to come up fpcedily, and bring fire-arms with mc. A lion had killed one of the deer, called Ariel, and had ate a part of it, but had retired upon the noife we had made in alighting. In place of him, five or fix hysenas had feized the carcafc, and feveral others were at the inilant arriving to join them, and partake of the prey the lion had abandoned. I haftencd upon the fummons, carrying with me a mu/ket and bayonet, and a fhip blundcrbufs, with about forty fmall bullets in it. I crept through the bullies, and under banks as near to them as poflible, for fear of being feen ; but the precaution fecmed entirely fupcrfluous ; for though they obferved mc approaching, they did not feem difpofed to leave their prey, but in their turn looked at mc, raifing the briflles upon their back, making themfelves as a dog does when he comes out of water, and giving a fhort but terrible grunt. After which they fell to their prey again, as if they meant to difpatch their deer firft, and then come and fettle their affairs with me. I now began to repent having ventured alone fo near ; but knowing, with the fhort weapon I had, the execution depended a good deal upon the diftance, I flill crept a little nearer, till I got as favourable a po-fition as I could wifh behind the root of a large tree that had fallen into the lake. Having fet my mufket at my hand, near and ready, I levelled my blundcrbufs at the middle of the group, which were feeding voracioufly like as many fwinc, with a confidcrable noife, and a civil war with each other. Two of them fell dead upon the fpot; two more died died about twenty yards diftance; but all the reft that could efcape fled without looking back, or fhewing any kind of refentment > I then took my mufquet in my hand, and Hood, prepared with my bayonet, behind the tree, but fired no more, not knowing what their humour or difpofition might be as to a return upon acceflion of new companions. About twenty fmall foxes, and a flock of feveral hun-fired Guinea-fowls, now came up from the infide of the! pool. The fowls lighted immediately, and ran back again to the water. The foxes retired quickly into the woods. Whether they had alfembled with a view of getting a fhare of the deer, an animal of this kind being generally attendant upon the lion, or whether, as is mofl likely, they were feeking the Guinea-fowls, I do not know. I fufpect it was the latter, by their number ; for never more than one at a time is remarked to accompany the lion. We obferved a variety of traps and cages, fome of them very ingenious, which the Daveina, or other Arabs, had fet to catch thefe birds, feveral of which wc found dead in thefe fnares, and fome of them had not yet been touched by beafts; and as there was but a fmall diftance between the traps and the water's edge, which could only be an-* fwerable to a few days evaporation, we with great rca-fon inferred, that the Daveina, or fome other Arabs, had been there a very fhort time before. We found in the mud of the pool large green fhell-fnails, with the animals alive in them; fome of them weighed very near a pound, in nothing, but fize and thicknefs of the flicll, different from common garden-mails. Vol. IV. X1 Not Not a little alarmed at this difcovery that the Arabs? were near us, we left Imhanzara at four o'clock in the evening of the 21ft, our journey moftly N. W.; at eight we loft our way, and were obliged to halt in a wood. Here wc were terrified to find, that the water in our girbas was entirely gone ; whether by evaporation of the hot wind, or otherwife, I know not; but the ikin had the appearance of water in it, till its lightnefs in unloading difcovered the contrary. Though all the people were fick, the terror of being without water gave us fomething like alacrity, and! defire to pufh on. We fet out at eleven, but flill wandered in the wood till three o'clock in the morning of the 22d, * when we were obliged again to alight. I really then began to think we were loft. I ordered the girbas to be examined : a large one which wc had filled at Rafhid was entirely empty ; and that one which we had partly filled at Imhanzara on account of the badnefs of the water, had not much more in it than what kept liquid the mud which had been: taken up with it. This, however, (bad as it was) was greedily guzzled up in a moment. The people who conducted the afles, feeing that wc had fkins to contain plenty of water for us, had omitted to fill the fmall goat-fldn which each of them carried. .A general murmur of fear and difcontent prevailed through our whole company; for wc could have no guefs at the nearnefs or fituation of the next well, as we had loft our road ; and fome of the caravan even pretended that wc had pafled it. But though we had travelled thirteen hours, I cannot compute the diftance to have been above fourteen miles. Tins day, being the fixth from Ras el Feel, at half after five in the morning, wc fet off in great defpondency; and, and, upon the firR dawn of day, i fet our route by the com-pafs, and found it north and by eaft, or more caftcrly. This did not fecm the probable road to Sennaar, after having gone fo confiderably to the north-well:. But, before i could make much reflection upon the obfervation, one of the caravan declared he knew the road, and that we had gone very little out of it, and were now proceeding Rraight to the well. Accordingly, at half paft nine, we reached it; it is called Imgellalib *• There is great plenty of water, with a leather-bucket, and a ftraw rope to draw it up, but it is very ill-tafled. However, the fear of dying with thirfl, more than having materially fullered from it, made every one prefs to drink; and the effect of this hurry was very foon feen. Two Abyilinian Moors, a man and woman, died after drinking; the man inftantly, and the woman a few minutes after; for my own part, though thitfty, I was fenfible I could have held out a confidcrable time without danger; and, indeed, I did not drink till I had wafhed my head, face, and neck all over. I then warned my mouth and throat, and, having cooled myfelf, and in great meafure affuaged my thirfl, I then drank till I was completely fatisfied, but only by fmall draughts. I would have perfuaded all my companions to do the fame, but I was not heard; and one would have thought, like the camels, they had been drinking once for many days to come. Yet none of them had complained of thirfl till they heard the girbas were empty; and it was not fixtccn hours fince they had drank at Im-hanzara, and but twelve fince the girbas were found to be dry, when wc firft loft our way, and flopped in the wood. X x 2 The •The word figtiifies the Well of Caravans : I fuppofe of thofe which, like our^, bring fait into Alburn, for there is no other trade between the two nations. The extenfive, and very thick foreft, which had reached without interruption all the way from Tcherkin, ended here at Imgellalib. The country is perfectly flat, and hath very little water. The foreft, however, though thick, afforded no fort of fhade ; the hunters, for the fake of their fport, and the Arabs, for deftroying the flies, having fet fire to all the dry grafs and fhrubs, which, paihng with great rapidity, in the direction of the wood from eaft to weft, though it had not time enough to deflroy the trees, did yet wither, and occafion every leaf that was upon them to fall, unlefs in thofe fpaces where villages had been, and where water was. In fuch fpots a number of large fpread-ing trees remained full of foliage, which, from their great height, and being cleared of underwood, continued in full verdure, loaded with large, projecting, and exuberant branches. But, even here, the pleafure that their ihade afforded was very temporary, fo as to allow us no time for enjoyment. The fun, fo near the zenith, changed his azimuth fo rapidly, that every few minutes I was obliged to change the carpet on which I lay round the trunk of the tree, to which I had fled for fhelter; and, though I lay down to fleep, perfectly fkreened by the trunk, or branches, I was prefently awakened by the violent rays of a fcorching fun, the fhade having paffed beyond me; and this was particularly incommodious, when the trees^ under which we placed ourfelves, were of the thorny kind, very common in thofe forefts. fhe thorns, being all Scattered round the trunk upon'the ground, made either chan-. ging-place, or lying, equally uneafy; fo that often, however averfe we were to fatigue, with the effects of the ftmoom, we found, that, pitching the head of our tent, and fometimes the whole of it, was the only poflible means of fc curing fecuring a permanent protection from the fun's oppreffive heat. In all other places, though we had travelled conftantlv in forefts, we never met with a tree that could fhade us for a moment, the fire having deprived them of all their leaves. -"Late till gurgite rufito Ambitur nigrls Meroe facunda colonist Lata comis hebeni; qua quamvis arborc mtdtd Frondeat, a/latem nulla Jibi mitigat umbra% Linca tarn reclum mundifcrit ilia Iconem. lucan. Having refrefhed ourfelves for near two hours by the enjoyment of this water at Imgellalib, and raked a fuffkient quantity of fand over the dead bodies of our two companions, from piety and decency rather than for ufe, we abandoned them to the hyamas, who had already fmellcd the mortality, and were coming, two and three together, at the diftance of a long fhot from the well where we were then drinking. We fet out at eleven, our road being thro' a very extenfive plain; and, at two in the afternoon, we alighted at another well, called Garigana; the water was bad, and in fmall quantity. In this plain is fituated the principal village of Atbara, called Teawa. The thermometer, flung under the -camel, in the fhade of the girba of water, had yet, ncverthelefs, varied within thefe three hours from 111° tO IlQf. At five o'clock we left Garigana, our journey being flill to the eaftward of north; and, at a quarter paft fix in the evening, arrived at the village of that name, whofe inhabitants had all all perifhed with hunger the year before; their wretched hones being all unburicd and fcattered upon the furface of the ground where the village formerly flood. We encamped among the bones'pf the dead; no fpace could be found free from them ; and on the 23d, at fix in the morning, full of horror at this miferable fpe<51»cle, we fet out for Teawa : this was the feventh day from Ras el Feel. After an ho.ur's travelling we came to a fmall river, which Rill had. water landing in fome confiderable pools, although its banks were perfectly deftitute of any kind of fhade. At three quarters after feven in the evening we arrived at Teawa, the principal village and refidence of the Shekh of Atbara, between three and four miles from the ruins of Garigana. The whole diftance, then, from Hor-Cacamoot, maybe about fixty-rive miles to Teawa, as near as I then could compute; that is, from Hor-Cacamoot to Rafhid, thirty-two miles, and from Rafhid to Teawa, thirty-three miles.; but Rafhid from Hor-Cacamoot bears N. W. and by N. and the latitudes are :— Teawa, - lat, 14* 2' 4" % Hor-Cacamoot, 130 1' 33" Difference, lau i° o' 31" The difference of longitude is then but five or fix miles; fo that Teawa is very little to the weftward of due north from Hor-Cacamoot, and nearly in the fame meridian with Ras el Feel, which is four miles weft of Hor-Cacamoot. From Imhanzara to Teawa, but efpeciaLy from Imgellalib, we t went Went always to the eaftward of north. From Teawa we obferved the following bearings and diflances : Beyla, W. S. W. about 28 miles at fartheft. Hafib, S. and by W. Jibbel Imfiddera, S. about 8 miles, where is good water. Mendera, N. 48 miles; indifferent water from deep wells. Rafhid, S. nearly 33 miles; plenty of good water all the year. Jibbel IfrifF, E. N. E. about three miles ; water. Jibbel Attefli and Habharras, W. and by N. between 50 and 60 miles. Sennaar, W. and by N. as far as wc could guefs about 70 miles. Guangue River, from 14 to 16 miles due eaft. Derkin, E. N. E. about 27 miles. At Garigana, feveral of our caravan, with their affes and: loading of fait, left us, either afraid of entering Teawa, or becaufe their friends dwelt at Jibbel Ifriff, where the clan of Jehaina were then encamped, being afraid of the Arabs Daveina, who, the preceding year, had deftroyed all the crops and villages that belonged to them, or rather reaped them for their own advantage. The whole tribe of Jehaina is greatly their inferiors in all refpects, and as by aflem-blng upon Jibbel Ifriff, a low though very rugged ridge of hills, abounding in water, where the pits in which they hide their grain were, and where, too, they had deposited the principal of their effects, they had given this pledge of mutual alliftance to the inhabitants of Teawa in cafe of an attack from thofe great deftroyers the Daveina. The Daveina being Arabs, who conftantlv live in tents, bear a mortal enmity to all who inhabit villages, and, as occafion offered, had deftroyed, ftarved, and laid wafte the greater! part of Atbara. They had been outlawed by the government of Sennaar for having joined Yafous II. upon the expedition againfl that kingdom. They had ever fince been well-received by the Abyflinians, lived independent, and in perpetual defiance of the government of Sennaar. They had often threatened Teawa, but had given the Shekh of Beyla an affurance of friendfhip ever fince Yafine had married a daughter of that Shekh, The ftrength of Teawa was about 25 horfe, of which about ten were armed with coats of mail. They had about a dozen of firelocks, very contemptible from the order in which they were kept, and flill more fo from the hands that bore them. The reft of the inhabitants might amount to twelve hundred men, naked, miferable, and defpicable Arabs, like the reft of thofe that live in villages, who are much inferior in courage to the Arabs that dwell in tents : weak as its ftate was, it was the feat of government, and as fuch a certain degree of reverence attended it. Fidele, the Shekh of Atbara, was reputed by his own people a man of courage ; this had been doubted at Sennaar. Welled Haflan, his father, had been employed by Naffer the fon, late king of Sennaar, in the murder of his father and fovercign Baady, which he had perpetrated, as I have already mentioned. Such was the ftate of Teawa. Its confequence was only to remain till the Daveina fliould refolve to attack it, when its cornfields being burnt and deftroyed in .a night by a multitude of horfemen, the bones of its inhabitants fcattercd upon 4 the the earth, would be all its remains, like thofe of the miferable village of Garigana. I have already obferved, in the beginning of the journey, that the Shekh of the Arabs Nile, who refided in AbyfFmia, near Ras el Feel, fince the expedition of Yafous, had warned me, at Hor-Cacamoot, to diftrufl the fair promifes and friendly profelfions of Shekh Fidele, and had, indeed, raifedfuch doubts in my mind, that, had not the Daveina been parted from Sim Sim, (or the confines of Abyflinia) though there would have been a rifk, that if, coming with that tribe, I Ihould have been-ill received at Sennaar, I never-thelefs would have travelled with them, rather than by Teawa ; but the Daveina were gone. The Shekh of Atbara, having no apparent intercll to ■deceive us, had hitherto been a friend as far as words would go,and had promifed every thing that remained in his power; but, for fear of the worfl, Nile had given us a confidential man, who was related to the Jchaina and to the principal Shekh of that tribe. This man conducted an afs, loaded with fait, among the other Arabs of the caravan,and was to fet off to Ras el Feel upon the firft appearance of danger, which he was to learn by coming once in two days, or oftner, either to Teawa, where he was no farther known than as being one of the Jehaina, or to the river, where my Soliman was to meet him at the pools of water ; but his fecret was only known to Soliman, myfelf, and a Greek fervant, Michael. From leaving Hor-Cacamoot, he had no perfonal interview with me ; but the night, when we were like to pcrilh for thirfl in the wood, he had fent me, by Soliman, privately, a horn-full of water, which he had in his goat's fkin, and Vol. IV. Y y for for which I had rewarded him handfomely in the inflant,.. glad of that opportunity of confirming him in his duty. This man we fet off to Jibbel Ifriff, as a flranger, with orders not to come to us till the third day; for we were well-perfuadcd, whatever the end was to be, that our iirfl reception would be a gracious one. Indeed we were all of us inclined to believe, that our fufpicions of Fidele Shekh of Atbara, and of his intentions towards us, were rather the effects of the fear that Shekh Nile had infilled into us, than any apprehenfion which we could reafonably form after fo many promifes; at the fame time, it was agreed on all hands, that, life being at flake, we could not be too careful in providing means that could, if the worfl happened,, at the lead diminilh our rifk. CHAP, ^^^^, , ........... CHAP. V. Tranfaclions at Teawa—Attempts of the Shekh to detain the Author there—Admiufler Medicines to him and his Wives—Various Conver-fat ions with him, and Inflances of his Treachery. AT the paffage of the fmall river, about a quarter of a. mile from Teawa, we were met by a man on horfeback, < loathed with a large, loofe gown of red camlet, or fome fuch Muff, with a white muflin turban upon hi* head, and about 20 naked, beggarly fervants on foot, with lances, but no fhields ; two fmall drums were beating, and a pipe playing before them. He ilopt upon my coming near them, and ailected a delicacy in advancing to falute me, he being on horfeback, and 1 upon a mule, for my horfe was led behind, faddled and bridled, with a loofe blue cloth covering him. Soliman, who lirif accolted him, told him it was the cuflom of Abvflinia not to mount horfes but in time of Y y 2 war, war, upon which he immediately difmounted, and, upon feeing this, I alighted likewife. We faluted one another very courtcoufly. He was a man about feventy, with a very long beard, and of a very graceful appearance. It was with the utmofl difficulty I could prevail upon him to mount his horfe, as he declared his intention was to walk by the fide of my mule till he entered the town of Teawa. This being over-ruled, by an invincible obflinacy on my part, he was at laft conflrained to mount on horfeback, which he did with an agility only to be expected from a young maa of twenty.. Being mounted, he fhewed us a variety of paces on horfeback. All this, too, was counted a humiliation and polite*-nefs-on his part, as playing tricks, and prancing on horfeback, is never done but by young men before their ciders, or by meaner people before their fuperiors. We paffed by a very commodious houfe, where he ordered my fervants. to unload my baggage, that being the refidencc affigned' for me by the Shekh. He and I, with Soliman on foot by the fide of my mule, croffed an open fpace of about five hundred yards, where the market is kept; he protefled a thoufand times by the way, what a fhame it was to him to. appear on horfeback, when a great man like me was riding on a mule. A LiTTtE after, having palTed this fquare, we came toths Shckh's houfe, or rather a collection of houfes, one florey high, built with canes ; near the flreet, at entering, there was a large hall of unburnt brick, to which we afcended by four or five fleps. The hall was a very decent one, cc* YCCtd with flraw-mats ; and there was in the middle of it,, a chauy a chair*, underflood to be the place of the grand fignior. The Shekh himfelf was fitting on the ground for humility's fake, reading the Koran, or pretending to read it. At our entry he feemed to be furprifed, and made an attempt as if to rife up, which immediately I prevented him from doing, holding him down by the hand, which I kiffed. I shall not fatigue the reader with the uninterelting conversation that paffed at this firft interview. Fie affected to admire my fize and apparent ftrcngth, introduced fome loofe hints about Abyffmian women; and, in general, pretended to blame me for cxpofing myfelf to travel in fuch a country. In return, I complained of the extreme fatigue of the journey and heat, the beafts of prey, the thick woods without fhade, the want of water, and, above all, the poifonous blafls of the fimoom that had ah mofl overcome mc, the effects of which I was at that inflant feeling.- FIe then blamed himfelf very politely, in a manner na* rural to the Arabs, for having fuffercd me to come to him before I had repofed myfelf, which he excufed by his defire of feeing fo great a man as me. He faid alfo, that he would detain me no longer; bid me repofe a day or two in quiet and in fafety ; and, upon my rifing to go away, he got up likewife, and holding me by the hand, faid, " The grcateft * It is the cuftom, in all places where the governor is inverted with fupreme power, to have an arm-chair left empty in the middle of the hall where jullice is adnunlftercd^ whidv reprcfents the.fovereign, and to which obeifance is made, greatcd part of the clangers you have paffed in the way are, 1 believe, as yer unknown to you. Your Moor, Yailne, of Ra> el Feel, is a thief worfe than any in Habefh. Several times you cfcaped very narrowly, by mere chance, from being cut off, efpecially at Raihid, by the Arabs Daveina, whom Yafine had polled there to minder you. But you have a clean heart, and clean hands. God faw their dcfigns, and protected you; and, I may fay alfo, on my own part, I was not wanting.'* Being thcnoniny legs for retiring, I returned no anfwer, but the ufual one (Ullah Kerim) i. e. God is merciful. Soliman, on the other fide, echoed, " Ullah Kerim f* by which I faw he underflood me. We both went out, and were conducted to the apartment provided by the old man in the red cloak, who met us on our firft arrival at the river, and who now walked before me till we came to the houfe. It was a very decent one, confuting only of one large room, and Hood clofe upon the river. This fituation was chofen with an intention to keep open the correfpondence with the Siekh of Nile's fervant, whom we had fent to rhejehaina, and who occafionally was to meet us there; but Soliman told the old man, it was ncceffary to me, on account of frequent ablutions before prayer, which my religion obliged me to perform. This old man was called Hagi Soliman Kaiya, that is, the Shckh's Lieutenant. He had been at Mecca, and had feen Metical Aga, and knew his pod and confequence ; but he was a murderer and robber like his matter, a liar and diilernbler beyond all conception. We had fcarce taken pofleffioft of our lodging, or thrown oil* our clothes to put ourfelves at our cafe, when feveral 2 Haves THE SOURCE OR THfc NILE. £g Haves of both fexcs, brought us a quantity of 'difhes oi-meat from the SJickh, with many flattering compliments and good wifhes. the whole was difpatched very and fome of our poor companions of the caravan, with the fait, came and helped.us very thankfully, without cercmo as is the cullom of the country. When all was over, 1 1 ailonifhed at one young man, who came and put his m. clofe to my ear, faying thefe few words in Arabic, " S Fidele ! el Shekh el Atbara Seitan !" /. e. Hdelc is a devil! the Shckh of Atbara is the devil himfelf! All flrangcrs were now difmiffed, under pretence of our going immediately to repofe. We had, indeed, much need of reft in our prefent fituation, but ilill more of council, for which we immediately affembled by ourfelves, after having ihut the door. I afked Soliman what he thought of the Shekh of Atbara, and his difcourfe. FIc anfwered, without hefitation, " Fie is a traitor, has deceived Yafine, and means you ill." The word, great man, fo often applied to me—the abufe bellowed upon Yafine, whom in his letters he had called his dear brother—the wondering that 1 came that way, after, in his letters, and by his fervants, he had fo often perfuaded us, while at-Ras el Feel, that it was the belt, nay,, the only road poflible; all this united togcther,fecmed to leave us no doubt but that we had fallen into a trap, from which our own activity and rcfolutions, under the protection of. Providence, could alone releafe us.. It may be remembered that, fome time before our fetting out from Ras el Feel, I had difpatched a fervant with the Daveina to Sennaar, whom they were to efeort as far as Beyla.; and they had coniigncd him into the hands of Mahomet;, met, Shekh of Beyla, who was to forward him to Sennaar; and this he certainly would have done immediately without delay, but for a misfortune that happened, and entirely dif-concerted the plan. The Daveina, on their way to Beyla, had heard that an encampment of Arabs, (who ufually, at this time, occupy the banks of the Nile) had come eaft-ward towards Atbara. Whether the Daveina intended to attack thefe Arabs, or were afraid the Arabs intended to fall upon them, I know not; but they returned weftward to the left, inftead of coming to Beyla; they fent my fervant forward, after fome lofs of time, and Mahomet, Shekh of Beyla, had forwarded him to Sennaar. Here, too, he was detained by Shekh Adelan, the firft minifter, who happened then not to be at Sennaar, but levying taxes upon the Arabs. This we did not know at that time; fo every moment we expected his arrival. We were difappointed, likewife, in not finding a fervant of the Shekh of Beyla waiting for us, who was to inform us of the fituation of the country about Beyla. This we more wondered at, becaufe, being ill of the gravel, he had exprefied himfelf very anxious, in his letter to Yafine, to have fome lime-water, which his fervant was to get from me at Teawa. We did not then know, as we foon afterwards did, that this fervant had been waiting for us- at Teawa, and that Shekh Fidele had informed him that I was no longer coming by Atbara, but that Coque Abou Barca had fent me, under the care of fome Ganjar horfe, Untight down the Dcndcr from Kuara ; fo that the Shekh of Beyla did not expedl to fee me. All this being unknown to us, wc were in conflant expectation of fervants from Sennaar, and the meflage from the Shekh of Beyla. But, as we ail agreed we were in danger, 4 wc we refolved, the next day, at meeting Shekh el Nile's fervant, to difpatch him to Ras el Feel, requiring Yafine to fend fome perfon, as from the king or Ayto Confu, to afk the rea-fon of our being detained, and to be a witnefs of the Shekh's behaviour and our departure. In the mean time, we determined to make our interviews with him as few as poflible, till fome affiflance mould arrive. Soliman met the Shckh el Nile's fervant, and gave him the letter he was to carry to Yafine, explaining himfelf to the Arab by word of mouth. On the night of the 24th of March, the day after our arrival, our difpatch fet off from Jibbel Ifriff for Ras el Feel; where he arrived fafely, but found Yafine was gone to Ayto Confu at Tcherkin, elfe he would certainly have been the firft to bring us comfort, for he had executed his com-million with great fidelity. This day I had Raid in the houfe, being ill of the fimoom ; but had fent to Fidele, to let him know I ihould wait upon him next day, having as yet given him no prefent, and being defirous to know what efTecl: that might have. On the 25th, at four o'clock I waited upon the Shekh accordingly, in his own houfe, Soliman the Moor, Hagi •Ifmael the Turk, who, befules, was a fherriffe, and my Greck fcrvant, were along with me. I gave the Shckh, for a prefent, a large piece of blue Indian cotton cloth, with gold flowers, a filk and cotton fafh, about two ounces of civet, two pounds of nutmegs, and ton pounds of pepper. He received the prefents very gracioufly to appearance, and laid all the articles down befidc him. I defircd that he would difpatch me as foon as poffible, and, for that end, be pre- Vol. IV. Z as paring paring the camels. He anfwered, the camels were fifteen days journey off, in the fandy defert, for fear of the flies ; but that the want of them ihould not detain us, if he had leave from Sennaar, for which he was to write that night. He added, that they always were exceedingly tedious at Sennaar, and both the town and road were, at prefent, in a very unfcttled Hate. I told him, I was furprifed at this, as Hagi Belal had written to Yafine and myfelf alfo, in a letter (then in my cuflody) that orders were gone both to him and the Shckh of Beyla, to receive me kindly, and forward me fafely and fpecdily to Sennaar : that he himfelf had con-fefTcd this to Yafine in a letter written to him from Teawa,. defiring that I would come fpeedily, as he had every thing ready, which letter I myfelf had read. Fidele fecmed in the utmofl furprife at this. Fie lifted up his hands and eyes, as if I had been telling the grcateft of lies. He faid, • he never wrote a letter about me to Yafine in his life ; or, at leaft, not this year ; that it was all a forgery of Yafine, knowing that I had a quantity of gold with me, to get me out into the defert, to rob and murder me there ; that I might fee he never could receive fuch orders, or elfe it would have been as much as his life was worth, not to have prepared to difpatch me immediately; but fo far from that, fays he, feck all over the town, and if you find one camel, or any other number, I will make you a prefent of them all, for this is entirely a forgery of Yafine.'1 Soliman could bear this no longer. Fie told Fidele,. " That it was he who was a forger and a liar, not Yafine. Will you pcrfuade me that 1 do not know of your letter to Yafmc? Have not your fervants Ibrahim and Naffer lived with us at Ras el Feel for weeks together as bearers of thefe letters, letters, which I have feen in their hands before reading, and alfo read them afterwards ? Was I not fpeaking to them both this morning about the letters ? and arc not they juft now waiting without ? If you have a mind to call them in, and queftion them, do it now before me. What do you think Yafine will fay when he hears of the fine character you give him ?" " Soliman, replies the Shekh, in a very foft tone of voice, I may have forgotten, in the many letters and affairs that pafs through my hands in a day; but Yafine is my brother, and 1 will do every tiling for him and you that you could wifh : flay only this week, and if my camels do not arrive, I will fend and take them from the Arabs, wherever they can be found. They are for the king's bufi-nefs, and not mine." Fie faid this with fuch an air of candour and fincerity, that it was impofliblc to doubt him. On the 26th, I went in the forenoon to fee the Shckh; K •Fat a few minutes with him, then rofe to go away. He then inquired if I had any thing particular to afk? I anfwered, I had nothing but to pay my compliments to him. He made me a very civil bow, and I took my leave. Next day, the 27th, I ftaid in the houfe all day, it being the Shckh-** feflival. In the evening, the old man, who was the Kaiya, came to my houfe with compliments from the Shckh. He told mc Fidele wa* often ill with complaints in the ftomach, and hinted that it was froiti exceftive drinking. He wifhed that I would give him fome medicine to vomit him, and reftore his appetite, which he had perfectly loft. The olet man added, that this was the way to make the Shekh do what I wifhed, fooncr than all the prefents in the world. I told him, that he might afllire Fidele, that I both could, and would do him that fervice, and for that purpofe would wait upon him at 6 o'clock next evening. Z z 2 On On the 28th, in the evening I went to the Shekh's houfe with the medicine, and it anfwered all our expectations. I obferved, however, when the cup with the ipecacuanha was in his hands, that they trembled, and alfo his under lip. He was apparently at that time under fome apprehen-fion, which his confidence fuggeftcd, of what it was in my power to do to him. In thefe countries they have an emetic which they take occafionally, which operates fo violently, that it often throws them into convulfions. What it may be I know. not. Some fay it is the fmall feed of a flower like the poppy; fome, the pith of a tree, after it has been dried and rubbed into a fine powder by the hand ; whatever it may be, it is fo fevcre in proportion to the ftrongeft doze of ipecacuanha, that the latter feemed but like a fport in comparifon. The eafe that warm water oc-cafioned, which he had never experienced before, was fo unexpected, that he could hardly be fatisfied with drinking. After this was over, all was thankfulnefs, and promifes of doing whatever I mould defire of him, provided I would adminifter two or three dozes more to him, and, if he forwarded me quickly, leave him fome of the powder, with directions how to take it in my abfence. This I engaged faithfully to do, and we parted apparently the belt friends in the world. The 29th, early in the morning, before fun-rife, I had- a meffage from him again by the Kaiya, to whom I gave coffee at the door while I was dreffing. He told me, the Shckh was wonderfully well, and never in fuch health and fpirits in his life, but defired that I would come to him in the evening, for two of his wives were ill of the fame diforder that he had. I excufed myfelf, under pretence that it was Sunday, it1'- THE S OU R CE OF THE NILE. 3% Sunday, my fcflival, and that I never went out upon any buhhefs. This excufe palled as to the Shekh, but at noon a black common Have came down with a meflage from her mif-treffes, who thought the anfwer given to the Kaiya was a refufal. They faid, they were lorry if I had not meat to my liking; that they dreiled it with their own hands every day in the beft manner poflible, but they would alter it in any refpeet I chofe, if I would inftruct them. I foon found how necefTary it was to content my benefactreffes. I explained my anfwer to the Shckh about Sunday ; but allured them, that on Monday evening I fhould be with them, to vomit them till they were perfectly fatisficd; in the mean •time, I took a fmall cup, which I filled with civet, and fent it by the Have to her millrefles ; giving likewife, at the fame time, two handfuls of pepper for herfclf. On the 30th, in the evening I went to the Shekh's houfe according to promife, and was carried into a large room, where he was fitting alone, fmoaking in an alcove ; I fup-pofe meditating future mifchief, for he had no other apparent employment. He was perfectly fober, however, and - feemed rather thoughtful; was very civil,"and thanked me in an unufual flrain of kindnefs, for the care I had taken of his family. I afked him if he was recovered ? He declared, he had never been fo well in his life as fmce I had given him the laft vomit; but that he had received very bad news from Sennaar, that Mahomet Abou Calcc (the firft miniflcr) had taken the grcatefl part of the horfe and troops, and was gone to Kordofan, a very diilant province, furrounded witli deferts, where he governed independently ; and by his man-3 ners ners and difcourfe feemed refolved to withdraw himfelf from his duty to the king: That Shekh Adelan, his younger brother, with the remaining troops, had left Sennaar, and was encamped at Aira, a few miles from the town, where he too governed defpotically by his own will; it being the prerogative of the miniiler to have abfolute power as foon as he has left the capital, and put himfelf at the head of the army, for levying the tax from the Arabs; but that he hud parted with the king on terms very little fhort of rebellioij« He then laid, " Since this is the cafe, that Providence has thrown your lot here, that you cannot go forward to Sennaar, nor back to Abyflinia, if you will refolve to ft ay with mc, and turn Mahometan, which is the only true religion, 1 will give you my daughter for your wife, and you fhall be fecond man in the government of Teawa ; and as my intention is to go next year to Mecca, you fhall then be appointed to the government of Atbara, while 1 go to Sennaar, and procure an office fitter for an old man." Although I feldom, in my life, was lefs inclined to merriment, I affected to break oui into a loud fit of laughter; at which he looked grave, feeming to take it ill, and afking me if I laughed at him ? " Exactly fo, laid I, at you ; I was laughing to think that a man fet over a province to govern it, like you, fliould yet know fo little of mankind as to imagine one like me capable of turning renegido. You may deny it for fome purpofe of your own, but I know you arc well informed of the degree of favour and honour in which I was whiltt in Abyffinia, where I had every thing that I defired. They were people of my religion, and yet I never could confent cither to flay with them or marry among them. What then could be my inducement to marry here, to 2 change change iriy religion, and live in a country where there is nothing but poverty, mifery, famine, fear, and dependence?" " Hearken, fays he, you are a fool; this country is a thoufand times healthier and fweeter than Abyilinia; but, fince you wont take my advice, I mail fay no more; come and fee my Harem * "—" With all my heart, replied I, as far as that I will go, and fhall be happy to do both you and your family all the good I can." The Shekh went before me, through feveral apartments^ well proportioned, but very meanly furniiTied, flovenly, and in bad order. This was the part of the houfe that belonged to himfelf, and formed one fide of a fquare. Wc croiled' the fquare to the oppofite fide, where there were feveral a-partments furnifhed in a much better ilyle. The floors were alt covered with Turkey carpets. In an alcove fat one of his wives upon the ground, with a number of black flaves about her. Her face was uncovered ; the circle made way for me; fo that, firft putting my hand to my lips, I touched the end of her fingers with the end of mine. In the mean time, the Shekh had brought a fecond wife from another apartment, and fet her down befide the firft. They were both women paft the middle age, feemed to have a great many flaves attending them, but never had been hand-fome. One of them, 1 learned afterwards, was daughter to the firft rainifter Shekh Adelan.. I thought it necelTary to explain myfelf a little with Fidele. You know, Shekh, faid 1, it is not always that you and * The liuufe wlitrc they keej> riicir women,. and I agree, and though I have lived many years with people of your religion of all ranks, yet I am far from knowing what are the manners of Atbara; what will offend you or them, or what not; for, as I have no view but your good and theirs, I would not expofe myfelf to any ill ufagc to which a miftake of your cuftoms may fubject me. In fhort, I mull afk thefe ladies a number of qucftions, which, if you choofe to hear, you may, but no perfon elfc mult, as is the cuftom of my country." " What has he to do with us and our phyfician ? faid the eldefl of the two; all his bufmefs is to pay you money when you have made us well." u What would become of him, fays Adclan's daughter, if wc were to be ill ? he would flarve for want of people to make ready his meat."—Aye, and his drink too, fays the other, which he is fonder of than his meat."—" No, no, fays Shekh Fidele, in perfect good humour, we know you, Hakim ; you are not like us; afk them all the queflions youpleafe, I neither wifh nor intend to hear them; I hear too much of them every day againfl my will, and only wifh to God you would cure them or make them dumb altogether, and then they will not teazc mc with their illnefs any longer; a fick woman is plague fuflicicnt for a devil."—" Then, clear the room, faid I, in the firft place, of all thefe idle women-fer-vants; only leave two or three of the fteadieft flaves to fervc their miftreiTes." He did not fecm at a lofs how to do this, for he took up a fhort whip, or fwitch, which lay at hand, and happy were they who got firft to the door. I faw among thefe a genteel female figure, covered from head to foot, whom Fidele pulled in with his hand, after he had pufhed the others out of the door, faying, " Come in, Aifcach and immediately after this he went away. I was I was very fenfible that I was playing a farce upon which a very great deal depended. Though in thefe countries the daughters of minifters and great men are given to inferiors, this is only with a view of having them provided for; they are fpics upon their hiifbands, and keep up the confequence of their birth in their hufband's houfe even after they are married, and this I underflood was precisely the cafe with Adelan's daughter. Notwithftand-ing the bad character I had of Fidele, I knew he duril not rob me, without murdering me alfo ; and I was fure he did not dare to do either, if it was once known that I was arrived in the dominions of Sennaar; and this his wife could inform Adelanher father of, whenever die plea-fed. This was then the firft ftcp towards fafety. I shall not trouble my reader with a repetition of my medical inquiries, nor the complaints of ladies, which are properly fecrets with me, though at the diftance of Atbara. The ipecacuanha operation gave high fatisfaetion. It was now happily terminated; but, whillt it was admi-niftcring, I obferved the figure, who till then appeared covered, had unveiled her face and head down to her moulders ; and foon after one of the flaves, her attendant, as in play, pulled off the remaining part of the veil that covered her. I was aftonifhed at the fight of fo much beauty. Fler hair, which was not woolly, but long, and in great quantity, was braided and twiftcd round like a crown upon the top of her head, ornamented with beads, and the fmall white Guinea-fliclIs, commonly known here by the name of blackamoor's teeth. She had plain rings of gold in her cars, and four rows of gold chain about hei* neck, to which was hung a number of fcquins pierced; Vol IV. 3 A the the reft of her chefs was a blue fhift, which hung loofely about her, and covered her down to her feet, though it was not very rigorouily nor very clofcly difpofed all below her neck. She was the talleft of the middle fize, and not yet fifteen years of age; her whole features faultlefs; they might have ferved alone for the ftudy of a painter all his life, if he was in fearch of abfolute beauty. Her mother being an Arab of the tribe of Jehaina, her complexion was a dark brown. Such was the beautiful Aifcach, daughter of the eldcft of the ladies that I was then attending. Neither ficknefs nor medicine could prevent thofe who were prefent from difcovering plainly how exceedingly I was difconccrted. Adelan's daughter faid to me, You will think nothing of the women in Atbara, after fo long a (lay in Abyilinia ; but the women in Europe, they fay, are fo white, that they are the handfomeft of all. I never was lefs pcrfuadcd of that truth than at prefent, faid I; and I fee perfectly you obferve it. " Aye, aye, fays her mother, and fo we do; if Aifcach was ill, you would take better care of her than of either of us." " Pardon me, faid I, Madam ; if the beautiful Aifcach was ill, I feel I mould myfelf be fo much affected as not to be able to attend her at all." Aiscach made the moft gracious inclination with her head, to fhew flie was perfectly fenfibie of the compliment. The women laughed out aloud. " Send for Yafine and your horfe from Ras el Feel, erics a voice behind me laughing, but fpeaking perfect good Amharic ; take her away, and carry her back with you to Abylfmia, I'll go with you with all my heart, and fo will flie, I fwear to you." I turned €d with furprife to the perfon that fpoke the language, which I had not heard fpoken of late. " She is a poor Chriflian flave, fays the cldcft of Fidele's wives, taken by the Jehaina when the Mek Baady was defeated in his return to Sennaar; flie is a foolifh, but merry creature, as you fee." All our diet and regimen being fettled, I took my leave, and was attended to the door by the Abyflinian flave and Aifcach, who feemed to be very much her friend. When flie came to the outer door, flie covered hcrfelf again with her veil, from head to foot, as before, faying, in a low voice, Shall wc not fee you to-morrow ? On the 3ill of March, Fidele again infilled upon undergoing another experiment of the ipecacuanha. I waited upon him at the fame hour as before, curious to know what he would fay to me about his wives. Upon my inquiring after them, he only anfwered, that they were well ; and when cofTee was brought, before I went away, told me, that he knew perfectly well, from Ras el Feel, that, when I fet out from thence, I had difpofed, in various boxes and chefls, (which I pretended were inilruments) 2000 ounces of gold, befides variety of cloth of gold, and other valuable things for prefents ; and as all this was now in his power, he could not think me mad enough to refufe him 500 piastres, which were only 50 of thefe ounces I carried with mc ; that, if I gave them to him civilly, he would forward me to Sennaar in two days; if not, I was in his hands, and he could cafily take the whole by force, and after difpofe of me as he pleafed. Well done ! out with it ! faid I; this is but what I knew long to be in your heart. But let me fet you right; I have 3 A 2 not Dot three ounces of gold in all my pofirihon. It is of no-ufe to me in my country; take all my cafes and boxes,,, and fearch them ; the gold that you find there I freely give you, and without referee. As for the cloth of gold, which I have, it is a prefent from the king of Abyffinia to the king of Sennaar, to be delivered with his letter. I have likewife a prefent to Shekh Adelan, with a letter to him; and fome other trifles for Sennaar, prefents to people in government:; look at them; if you think they arc too great, apply to your own ufe what part of them you pleafc, and account with the king and Adelan for what you take from them, with your reafon for fo doing. The little money I may want at Sennaar, Hagi Belal, Metical Aga's fervant from Mecca, will furnifh me with, and, upon my letter, will take payment for the amount from my countrymen on board the Eall India fhips at Jidda. As for force, do not deceive yourfelf; if all thofe cafes were gold it never would be in your power to open, one of them. Do not think that I am a girl or a child ; con-fiderthe danger and difficulties I have paffed,under God's protection only, and by my own force and courage : I am well armed, and have brave men about me, fo try your force when you pleafc. I dare fay you will keep yourfelf out of danger, to give an account of your brave exploit to the king of Sennaar afterwards." I then arofe, and faid, "Good: evening." The Shekh called after me to flay. I faid, " Another time ;" and immediately left him. We had hitherto been fupplied plentifully with provi fions from the Shekh's houfe once a-day. When I came home at night, I found that after Magrib, which is after fun-fet, a large if ore had been fent by the ladies from the Shekh's houfe, as acknowledgements for the attention I had paid paid them; hut no particular meflage, except than that they had been exceedingly well after their medicines, and hoped 1 would not abandon them, but fee them again. A Greek fervant of mine, who knew perfectly their cufloms,, had anfwered, that I certainly would wait upon them when-the Shekh fliould defire me fo to do. The weather was extremely hot, and people, avoiding fun--fliine of the day, generally fat up the whole of the night, enjoying the only hours when it was poflible to breathe freely. It was about eleven o'clock at night, when the old Kaiya, whom I never faw but upon thefe occafions, came to me for coffee, of which he drank at leafl twenty difhes every vilit. He appeared at flrll very moderate, and, as he pretended, a friend. But immediately afterwards, being feat-ed, and afluming a new kind of air and tone of voice, he reproved me roundly for my behaviour to the Shekh that day. He extolled him highly for his generofity, courage, and his great intereft at Sennaar from his father's merits, and from his having married Shekh Adelan's daughter. He faid, it was the greatcd preftimption, in a fet of infidels like us, to behave in the manner we had done to Fidele that day. " Hagi Soliman, anfwered I, you are an old man ; if years have not given you wifdom, your journey to Mecca,. an 1 converfation with pcrfons of all nations there, fliould at leafl ivave taught you an appearance of it, which, at this time,, you have not. I am here, immediately under the protection of the fherriffe of Mecca, the chief of your religion, and Metical Aga his miniiler. I have letters from the king of Abyffinia to your king of Sennaar, requeuing only, under the faith of nations, to pafs through your country in my way to Cairo, to rejoin Ali Bey, whofe'phylician I am, and- ha - in whofe hands at leafl three thoufand fubjedfs of Sennaar, and their effects, are at this moment. I fay to you now, as I did to your mafler in the morning, that he cannot either rob or murder me at Teawa without all your nation being refponfible for it, wherever they fhall go. But I am not a fheep, or a lamb, to be fpoiled of my goods, or robbed of my life, without defending myfelf to the utmofl; and I tell you, for your proper inflruction, that there are probably now at Sennaar, people from the king of Abyflinia, complaining of my being detained here, and demanding ju-flicc. He fecmed to pay no attention to this threat. He did -not think it poflible that I could have had any communication with Ras el Feel fince I came to Teawa, but declared, that, as my particular friend, he had calmed the Shekh's wrath, and obliged him to promife, that, for 2000 piallrcs, he would difpatch me in two days to Sennaar. Indeed, Flagi Soliman, faid I, I have not 20 piaflres in the world to give either him or you, nor would I give them if I had them. The Shckh may take all that I have by force, and is welcome to try the experiment. You, as his friend and fol-dicr, may command the party, if you pleafe ; but I am refolved, were he willing, never to leave Teawa till I depart under the conduct of another man than one of your or of Shckh Fidele's eluding. Upon my faying this, he arofc, fhook the bofom of his cloak, and faid, he was forry for it; but he w allied his hands of all the confequcnccs. Immediately after this wc fhut our doors; and our firearms being cleaned, loaded, and primed, we refolved to a-bide the iffuc of this bad affair in the belt manner poffiblc, 4. and THE SOUR G E OF THE NILE. 375 and live or die together. One thing, however, diverted us: One of the large blunderbuffes being accidentally laid acrofs the door, this veteran foldier ftartcd back at the fight of it, and, although the muzzle was pointed far from him, would-not enter till the piece was removed, and placed at a confi-* derable diftance from him. As we faw things were growing to a crifis, we became every hour more impatient for the arrival of relief, either from Has el Feel or Sennaar. On the iff of April came a fervant from the Shekh of Beyla, and delivered a meffagc to Fidele: What it was I know not; but about noon he came to inquire after us, and pay us a vilit. All this time Fidele had kept our arrival at Teawa a fc--crct from the Shekh of Beyla; but the people, who frequented the market of Teawa, having told their governor that they had feen ftrangers there, he all at once fufpectcd the truth, and difpatched a confidential fervant to Fidele, under-a fhew of bufinefs, to inquire whether we were thofe ftrangers. An explanation immediately followed upon his aiming to my houfe, and efpecially concerning the meflage the Shekh of Beyla had received from the Shekh of Atbara,: that we were gone by Kuara down the Dendar. He faid>. that his mailer either had fent, or intended to fend, advice of this to my fervant at Sennaar, who, expecting us no longer by Teawa, would neither come himfelf, nor feek a king's fervant to conduct us from hence, but would feck meafures for our fafety the other way, or wait at Sennaar, expecting, our arrival daily; for the way from Kuara was through a number of outlawed, or banditti Arabs, fo that it was not-in the power of the government of Sennaar, if ever fo well inclined, inclined, to conduct us one flcp in fafety on that road till we Ihould be within two days journey of Sennaar. The fervant therefore propofed, that he mould return inflantly to Beyla, (as he did that night) and that his mailer mould fend a mefTenger on a dromedary exprefs to Sennaar, to inform Hagi Belal of our fituation, and procure immediate relief. He promifed further, that his mafler fliould fend a Moullah, (or man of extraordinary holinefs and learning) in whofe pre fence Shekh Fidele would not dare to proceed to extremities, as this was a man univerfally efleemed, and of great weight and reputation at Sennaar, both with Abou Olec and Adelan, as well as throughout Atbara. I must here obviate a very rcafonable objection which may be made by my reader:—" Why, when you knew your fafety depended upon the government of Sennaar, when you was arrived at Teawa, did you not take the firft opportunity of notifying it to Fidele, that you had already fent to acquaint your correspondent at Sennaar that you had fet out for that place ?" I anfwer, That to do this had been many times in agitation among us, but was always rejected. It was thought a dangerous meafure to leave a man like Fidele, the only perfon who had feen us, to give us any character and description he plea fed, who, from the connection and correfpondence he mufl have in that capital, and the confidence ncceflarily placed in him, as governor of a frontier province, might fo far prejudice the minds of that credulous and brutal people, by mifreprefenting us, as cither to get orders to cut us off upon our journey, or procure us a fate fimilar to that of M. du Roule, the French envoy, after our arriving in that capital. It was by the good-nefs of Providence alone that we were rcflrained from 2 adopting adopting that meafure, often confidcred as the mofl advife-able, but which, we fince have certainly known, would have ended in our deftrucTaon. Nothing material paffed on the 3d of April, their fefti-val clay; but on the 4th no meat was fent us. However, on Sunday the 5th it was brought rather in larger proportion than before, and we fpent the whole day in conjecturing what was become of our fervants, and of the Moullah whom the Shekh of Beyla's fervant had promifeel us. On the 6th the Kaiya came, and, without ceremony, told me that the Shekh had heard I wanted to efcape to Beyla, in which journey I mould certainly perifh, and therefore he had taken my horfe from me, which was in a flable at fome diftance. From this time we got our victuals v,cry fparingly. On the 7th he fent me word, that I mould bring him a vomit the day after, which I promifed to comply with. It was very plainly feen Beyla's fecrct was not kept, and to this we attributed the delay of the Moullah ; but nothing could comfort us for the want of an anfwer from Ras el Feel. On the 8th, in the evening, a little before fix o'clock, when I was making ready to go to the Shekh, a meffagc came, that he was bufy, and could not fee me ; with which, for a time, I was very well pleafed. About ten, arrived a naked, very ill-looking fellow, more like an executioner than any other fort of man, with a large broad-fword in his hand, and feemingly very drunk. He faid he was one of the Shekhs of Jchaina, and in a little time became extremely infolent. lie firll demanded coffee, which was given him, then a new coat, then fome civet, and, laft of Vol. IV. 3 B all, all, drawing his fword, that we mould inilantly provide him with a new fcabbard, his own being but a piece of common leather, which he threw with a kind of indignation down upon the floor. Till that time I had been writing thefe very memoirs, at leafl the journal of the day, I was not any way afraid of one drunkard, but laid down my pen, wondering where this infolcnce was to end. Before I had time to fpeak a word, I heard my old Turk, the flier-rifle, Hagi Ifmael, fay, *' You are of the Jchaina, are you ? then I am of the Daveina;" and with that he caught the flrangcr by the throat, taking his fword from him, which he threw out of the houfe, after calling the owner violently upon the floor. The fellow crept out upon all-four, and, as foon as he had picked up his fword, attempted again to enter the houfe, which Soliman perceiving, matched his own fhort, crooked fword, from a pin where it hung, and ran readily to meet him, and would very fpecdily have made an end of him, had I not cried out, " For God's fake, Soliman, don't hurt him; remember where you are." Indeed, there was little rcafon for the caution ; for when the Arab obferved a drawn fword in the Turk's hand, he prefent-Iv ran away towards the town, crying, Ullah ! Ullah !' Ullah ! which was, God ! God ! God ! an exclamation of terror, and we faw no more of him ; whilft, inilead of a new fcabbard, he left his old one in the houfe. Seeing at once the cowardice and malice of our enemies, we were now apprehenlive of fire, things were come to fuch an extremity ; and as our houfe was compofed of nothing but dry eancs, it feemed the only obvious way of deftroying us. On the 9th, in the morning I fent Soliman with dvz fcabbard to Fidele, and a grievous complaint againfl: the fuppofedl fuppofed Shekh of the Jehaina for his infolence the night before. Shekh Fidele pretended to be utterly ignorant of the whole, made light of what had pafled, and faid the fellow was a fool. But a violent altercation took place between him and my fervant black Soliman, who then told him all his mind, threatening him with Yafine's immediate vengeance, and alluring him he was, before this, fully informed of his behaviour. They, however, both cooled before parting. Fidele only recommended to Soliman to perfuadc mc to give him 2000 piaflres, without which he. fwore I never fliould go alive out of Atbara. Soliman, on the -other hand, declared, that I was a man that fet no value upon money, and therefore carried it not about with mc, other-wife I fliould not refufc what he defired, but warned him to think well before lie uttered fuch expreflions as he now had done. In the courfe of converfation, as Soliman told me, the Shekh gave him feveral hints, that, if he would agree with him, and help to rob and murder me, he fliould fharc the booty with him, and it never would be known. But Soliman pretended not to underftand this, always affuring him that I was not the man he took mc for; and that, except the king's prefent, all I had was brafs, iron, and glafs bottles, of no value to any but myfelf, who only knew how to ufe them. They then liniflicd their difcourfe; and he defired Soliman to tell me, that he expected me at the v.fual hour of 6 o'clock to-morrow evening, which was Friday the 10th. This feemed to me to be an extraordinary appointment, beeaufe Friday is their fcilival, when they eat and drink 3 B 2 heartily heartily, nor did I ever remember any of them take medicine upon that day. But with Fidele all was feflival, not even their annual folemn fall of Ramadan did he ever keep, but was univerfally known to be an unbeliever, even in what was called his own religion. I had Hill this further objection to wait upon him at night, that he had gone fo far as to foiicit Soliman to aflifl him in murdering mc. But I confidered at laft, that wc could not efcape from his hands; and that the only way to avoid the danger was to brave it. Providence, indeed, feemed all along to have referved our deliverance for our own exertions, under its direction, as all the ways we had taken to get relief from others had hitherto, in appearance at leaft, mifcarried. However, it was refolved to go armed, for fear of the worfl; but to conceal our weapons, fo as to give no umbrage. I had a fmall Bref-cian blunderbufs, about 22 inches in the barrel, which had a joint in the Rock, fo that it folded double. It hung by an iron hook to a thin belt under my left arm, clofe to my fide, quite unperceived, like a cutlafs. I likewife took a pair of piftols in my girdle, and my knife as ufual. All thefe were perfectly covered by my burnoofe ; fo that, with a little attention, when I fat down, it was impofliblc to discover my having any weapons about me. Hagi Ifmael the Turk, Soliman my fervant, and two other Moorilh fervants, took alfo their fire arms, fmall and great, and fwords, along with them. We all went to the houfe of the Shekh a little before feven o'clock in the evening. I entered the back door into the fquare where the women's houfe was ; but declined going fo far as their apartment without leave, turning to the left hand into the fide of the fquare where he ufually flaid. I was furprifed to meet but one fervant, a % black black boy, in the whole houfe, and he carried mc to the Shckh, my fervants remaining at the outer-door. Fidele was fitting in a fpacious room, in an alcove, on a large broad fofa like a bed, with India curtains gathered on each fide into feftoons. Upon feeing the boy, in a very fur-ly tone he called for a pipe ; and, in much the fame voice, faid to me, "What! alone?" I faid, " Yes, what were his commands with rne ?" I faw he either was, or affected to be, drunk, and which ever was the cafe, I knew it would lead to mifchief; I therefore repented heartily of having come into the houfe alone. After he had taken two whiffs of his pipe, and the flave had left the room, a Are you prepared ? fays he ; have you brought the needful along with you ?" I wifhed to have occafion to join Soliman, and anfwered, " My fervants are at the outer door, and have the vomit you wanted." " D—11 you and the vomit too, fays he with great paffion, I want money, and not poifon. Where are your piaflres ?" " I am a bad perfon, faid I, Fidele, to furnifh you with cither. I have neither money nor poifon ; but I advife you to drink a little warm water to clear your ffomach, cool your head, and then lie down and compofe yourfelf, I will fee you tomorrow morning." I was going out. " Flakim, fays he, infidel, or devil, or whatever is your name, hearken to what I fay. Confider where you arc; this is the room where Mek Baady, a king, was flain by the hand of my father : look at his blood, where it has flamed the floor, which never could be warned out. I am informed you have 20,000 piasters in gold with you; either give mc 2000 before you go out of this chamber, or you mall die; I will put you to death with with my own hand." Upon this he took up his fword, that was lying at the head of his fofa, and, drawing it with a bravado, threw the fcabbard into the middle of the room ; and, tucking the lleeve of his fliirt above his elbow like a butcher, faid, " I wait your anfwer." I now flept one pace backwards, and dropt the burnoofe behind mc, holding the little blundcrbufs in my hand, without taking it off the belt. I faid, in a firm rone of voice, " This is my anfwer: I am not a man, as 1 have told you before, to die like a beaft by the hand of a drunkard ; on your life, 1 charge you, ftir not from your fofa." I had no need to give this injunction ; he heard the noife which ihe clofing the joint in the Hock of the bfunderbufs made, and thought I had cocked it, and was inftantly to fire. „ He let his fword drop, and threw himfelf on his back on the fofa, crying, " For God's fake, Hakim, I was but jefting." At the fame time, with all his might, he cried, " Brahim! Mahomet! El coom! El coom*!''—kt If one of your fervants approach me, faid I, that inflant I blow you to pieces ; not one of them fhall enter this room till they bring in my fervants with them ; 1 have a number of them armed at your gate, who will break in the inflant they hear me fire. Tin: women had come to the dbor. My fcrvants \vcre admitted, each having a blunderbufs in his hand and piitcls at his girdle. Wc were now greatly an overmatch for the Shckh, who fat far back on the fofa, and pretended that all he had done was in joke, in which his fcrvants joined, * El coom, that is, all his fervants. joined, and a very confufed, defultory difcourfe followed, till the Turk, fherriffe Ifmael, happened to obfervc the Shekh's fcabbard of his fword thrown upon the floor, on which he fell into a violent fit of laughter. He fpoke very bad Arabic, mixed with Turkifh, as I have often obferved. He endeavoured to make the Shekh undcrfland, that drunkards and cowards had more need of the fcabbard than the fword ; that he, Fidele, and the other drunkard that came to our houfe two or three nights before, who faid lie was Shekh of the Jchaina, were juft poffefled of the fame portion of courage and infolence. As no good could be expected from this expoflulation, I ftopt it, and took my leave, defiring the Shekh to go to bed and compofc himfelf, and not try any more of thefe experiments, which would certainly end in his fhame, if not in his punifhmcnt. Fie made no anfwer, only wiflicd us. good night. ■TOGS** CHAP. CHAP. VI. Tranfaclions at Teawa continued—Moullah and Sherriffe arrive from Beyla—News from Ras cl Feel and Sennaar—An Eclipfe of the Moon—Leave Teawa. ~W went ro tne door, through the feveral apartments, W very much upon our guard, for there was no perfon to light us out, and we were afraid of fome treachery or ambufh in the antichamber and dark paffages ; but we met nobody; and were, even at the outer gate, obliged to open the door ourfelves. Without the gate there were a-bout twenty people gathered together, but none of them with arms ; and, by the half words and cxprefTions they made ufe of, we could judge they were not the Shekh's friends. They followed us for a little, but difperfed before we arrived at our houfe. Soliman, my fervant^ told me by the way,that the Moullah was arrived, and that the Shekh of Beyla'js Beyla's fervant, who had come with him, had been at my houfe ever fince I went to Fidele's. Accordingly we found him flill there, and explained to him what had happened, and the great dillrefs we had "been in from the Moullah's not arriving fooncr, as alfo from receiving no meffage either from Sennaar or Ras el Feel. He told us, the reafon of our fervants not joining us was the falfe information his raaf-ter the Shekh of Beyla had received from Fidele ; that wc were coming by the Deader, and not by Teawa, as already mentioned. He now advifed us to come up, and fhew ourfelves in the morning to the Moullah, who would be fitting with Shekh Fidele, adminiftering juflice; but to take no particular notice of him, and only obferve to what his difcourfe pointed, and he would bring us word if any thing more was ncceffary. I recommended to this fervant of the Shekh of Beyla that he mould tell the Moullah that he was not to expect I was to open my baggage here, but that I was a man who underflood perfectly the value of a favour done me, and ihould not be in his debt longer than arriving at Beyla, which I wifhed to reach as foon as poflible; nothing can be quicker than thefe people are on the fmallefl hint given; we Separated, fully Satisfied that we were now a Sufficient match for the Shekh, even at his own weapons. Ever fince the adventure of the Shekh of the Jchaina, one of us had kept guard, the door being open every night for fear of fire, and it was my turn that night, a poi! that I never declined, for the fake of good example ; but my fpirits were fo exhauflcd this day, that I gave the old Turk plenty of coffee and tobacco to undertake, as he did with Vol. IV. 3 G grca^ great willingnefs, the office of that night for me. I went to bed, and fell prefer.try into a profound deep, from which I was awakened, a little before midnight, by a meffage from the ladies, my patients, in the Shekh's houfe, fent by the black flave that had fpoken in the Abyffmian language to me while I was attending her miftrefs. They advifed; me to be upon my guard, for the Shekh was abfolutely refolved to take a fevere revenge upon us all : That after we had left him that evening, an exprefs arrived from the lower part of Atbara, giving him an account that Shekh Ibrahim, a great man at Sennaar, and favourite of Adelan the prime minifler, while he was employed in gathering the taxes from the Arabs, had fought with the tribe called Shukorea, fome where eaft of Sennaar ; that he had been completely beaten, and many of his people killed ; as alftv that Shekh Ibrahim and his two fons were wounded ; that Shekh Fidele had immediately fent back word, that he had then with him a furgeon and phylician, meaning me, who could, upon occafion, even bring a dead man to life, but that I would never confent to come to him unlefs I was forced ; therefore, if he would difpatch a fufficient number of armed men, to help him to furprife mc in the night, he would con-duel: the execution of that fcheme, and would fend mc to him in irons. He faid I was an infidel, a white man from Abyffinia, and had feveral flout people with me expert in firearms, (of which I had a number,) who would be of great ufe to him in fubduing the Arabs. They affured me, however^ of their friendfhip, and begged me to confider what I had to do in time, for many wild men would be poured in up-tm_ me, who would not fail to kill me if I refilled. 4 I. returned I returned my mofl humble thanks to my kind informants ; with a fmall gratification of civet to the two elder ladies, and a Separate portion to the beautiful Aifcach, af-furing them I Ihould not fail to profit by any advice they Ihould give me. After this I again fell into a found fleep, which continued till morning ; and, though my affairs had not the mofl profperous appearance, I felt a calmnefs of mind to which I had been utterly a flranger ever fince I had left Ras el Feel. My fervants awakened me in the morning of the nth; I drank coffee, and dreffed, and took along with me Soliman and Ifmael, without arms in our hands, but having knives and piftols in our girdles, to {hew that we had lived in fear. The Moullah's name was Welled Meftah, or the fin of interpretation, or explanation. He was reputed to have attained fuch a degree of holinefs as to work miracles, and, more than once in his life, to have been honoured with the converfation of angels and fpirits, and, at times, to have called the devil into his prefencc, and reproved him. He was a man below the middle fize, of a very dark complexion, and thin beard, feemingly pafl fixty, hollow-eyed, and very much emaciated. If holy, we could not fay he was the beauty of holinefs. I underflood, afterwards, he was much addicted to the ufe of opium, to the effects of which he probably was indebted for his converfation with fpirits. He had brought with him another faint, much younger and robufler than himfelf, who had been feveral times at Mecca, and had feen Metical Aga, but did not know him. He had feen likewife the Englifli mips at Jidda, and knew the name of the nation, but nothing more* He was a mcrrilFe, (that is, a defcendant of Mahomet) a de- 3 C 2 gree grec of nobility much rcfpedled among the Arabs, diifln--guifhed by wearing a green turban. The Daveina, when they burnt all the country between Teawa and Beyla, faved this'rnan's houfe, effects,and crop, in veneration of his fanflfo ty. Thefe two were fitting on each fide of Shekh fidele, and before him Rood two black ilaves holding each a mor> flrous long broad-fword. I approached thefe powers, ec-cleiiaftical and civil, with great compofure, as if nothing had happened; but Ifmael, the Turk, had almoft fpoilcd-my'gravitv, for, feeing the fwords in the men's hands before Fidele, he faid, in his barbarous language, loud enough to be heard, " O, ho, they, have got their, fcabbards upon their fwords to-day." Fidele fecmed to have a very Serene countenance, till' we approached nearer, when, feeing the piftols in our girdles, he appeared rather difcompofed, and probably ho thought the blunderbufs was not far off; I made him, however, a bow, andfhookhim by the hand; I likewife made an* other bow to their two holineffes. As people of that fane* tity feldom chufe to have, even their cloaths, touched by unbelievers in public, I made no further advance towards them, fhe fherriffe no fooner faw Ifmael's turban, than he got up, took him in his arms, and, as he was an older man than himfelf, though all in rags, kifFed his forehead with great refpeft. This was returned by Hagi Ifmae]^ firft kifflng his forehead and then his hand; after which the Moullah did the fame, as I thought with rather lefs ceremony. Ifmael gave a very flight Salutation of Salama to the Shekh, and we all fat down, " Brother " Brother, fays the fhcrrifFe to Ifmael,you feem a ftrangcr in this country," "I am a Turk, anfwered Ifmael, born in Anatolia, a janizary of Ali bey at Cairo." " He came, fays Shekh Fidele, to Habefh, with their Kafr, the Abuna or great prielt, and is returning to Cairo with that white man, who is phyfician to Ali Bey." " Kafr there, or Kafr here, continued Ifmael (who did but half underfland what was laid) the greateft of all Kafrs (that is Infidel) is, I believe, in Tea^ wa. I do not think there is one Muflulman in this curled place." u Is this the Frank, fays the 'Moullah, whofe fervant brought letters to the Shekh of Beyla fome weeks ago, and was forwarded to Sennaar r" " No, fays Fidele, he does not know the Shekh of Beyla." " I am Aire, fays the Moullah, that, fuch a day, when I was at Sennaar, there was a talk of a man of this kind, whofe fcrv ant was at Aira with Shckh Adelan, and had orders to come hither with a fervant of his, and one from the king ; and I am fure, upon reflection, continued the Moullah, this mufl be the man." " Shekhj fays he, turning to me, (who fat fi-lent, overjoyed at the train I faw the affair talcing) did you come from Habefh? have you letters for Sennaar?" '« I came from Habefh, replied I, with letters to the king of Sennaar;. likewife letters to him from the fhcrriile of Mecca, and from Ali Bey of Cairo, (you are welcome to fee them all,) yet, contrary to faith, obferved even in Pagan nations, I am here detained by Shekh Fidele, who laft night attempted to murder me in his own houfe, becaufel would not pay him 2000 piaftrcs." Shckh Fidele's face turned pale; he could fcarcely utter, "That is not true." ** As that book is the word of God, fays Ifmael, (pointing to the Koran, lying in the fherruTe's lap) it is every word true. Look upon my turban, (fays he to Fidele) do you call me a liar?*' Fid, «I did not call you a liar, only that Chriflian lied." Ifm. " I fay, that every word he fpoke is truth, or I am no true believer. Was not your fword drawn, and your fcabbard lying on the floor, when I entered the room ? Was there any one prefent but him and you? Whom did you draw your fword upon ?" " Pure merriment for a little amufement, fays Fidele, turning to the Moullah, I was diverting myfelf with the Chriflian, who came to give me medicines." " The diverfion, I fancy, was over on your part, fays Soliman, my fervant, when you threw away your fword, after drawing it, and called upon all your fervants for affiflance. Were not your women at the door upon my entering it?" Fid, " Would you have had me fhot in my own houfe by an infidel ? Did he not prefent a piflol at me ?" Ifm. " Lord! Lord ! he was only diverting himfelf, too? Did not you fee that ? You Ihould have gone on with your merriment:—What flopt you ?" " Look you, Shekh, faid I, your inward thoughts are feen by me. Did not you fend two meflengers to Shekh Ibrahim in Atbara that very night, within thefe twelve hours, defiring him to take me by force, while aflecp, to heal his wounded men ? Was this amufement, top ? Beware in time, for every thought in your heart is known to me as foon as it is formed." The fherriflc muttered to himfelf, " Hakim y'Eref—he is a learned man ; he knows thefe things." " Shekh Ibrahim is returned to Sennaar, fays the Moullah, that is the reafon why he mould make hafle, and all this that has paffed is very improper. If a man diverts himfelf with drawn fwords, is he not likely, when angry, to kill ? this ought not to be ; fend the man away ; you can get camels from from the Jehaina. Men like him have no money. There are many of them, at all times arid places, wandering over the face of the earth, and will be fo till Hagiuge Magiugc* come; they are Dervifhes, Rudy the herbs and the water, and cure difeafes." " God blefs the truth ! faid I; there it is. I am a Dervifh, a poor, but an innocent man." The Moullah fecmed to take credit to himfelf for all this learning. " I faw, fays the fherrifFe, a number of his countrymen in large ihips from the Indies, when I was at Jidda ; they are called Inglefe." " They are brave men, fays Ifmael, and came firft from Turkey. Their country is called Caz Dangli to this day. I have feen it, and am fure no man would hurt Yagoube that knew him." Fid. " So, Yagoube is his name; the firft time I knew it." MouL " Yagoube el Hakim ; now I remember it perfectly. Ali Tche-lebi, Mahomet Abou Calec's factor, is ill of an enchantment from an enemy; his bowels arc out of order ; he it was that afked me if fuch a man was yet come to Beyla. They furely expect that you mould forward him to Sennaar. True, Yagoube el Hakim, that was his name." Fid. " He mall go next week, fince it is fo, if I can but get camels." Upon this we rofe, feeing other people coming in. When I. took hold of the Shekh's hand at going away, he afked me, in apparent good humour, " Well, Yagoube, are we friends now?" I anfwered him, in the mofl complacent tone of voice poflible, u Sir, I never was your enemy; fo far otherwife, that my only anxiety now is, left your behaviour may bring upon you powerful adverfaries, before whom you are not able to Hand. The ill* iff age I have met with * J3y this they mcao Gog and Magog. We fhall after fee their belief concerning thenar. with will not be cafily pafled over either in AbyiTinia or at Sennaar. I am neither fervant nor merchant; and it has been your ill-luck to try your wicked experiments upon a man like me, who never in his fife carried much money a-bout him, becaufe he never valued it." Moid. You mull forget all, and I will be your friend with the Shckh, fince you come from the flierriffe of Mecca." " And I, too, fays the other, for the kindnefs you have fliewed our brother Ifmael there, in carrying him home from among the Kafrs of Habefh ; and if Fidele cannot procure camels, we will ! ry and help him; fo go in peace, and get ready." We had fcarce got rid of this real danger, when the ap-r>rehenfion of an imaginary one flruck us violently. The water at Teawa is flagnant in pools, and exceedingly bad. Either that, or the bouza, a kind of new beer which they fent us with our meat, had given all of us, at the fame time, a violent diarrhoea, and I was tormented with a perpetual thirfl ever fince we had been overtaken by the iimoom; and the bouza being acid, was not only more agreeable, bur, I thought, relieved me more than bad water; in this, therefore, 1 certainly had exceeded. When we found we were all taken ill at the fame time, it came into our wife heads that Shckh Fidele had given us poifon in our dinner, and we were very much perplexed what we fhould do the jiext day. None of us, therefore, tailed the meat fent us; when at night, our friend, the black flave came, and to her wc frankly told our doubts. The poor creature fell into fuch violent fits of laughing, which followed io clofe the one upon the other, and hilled fo long, that 1 feared fhe would have expired upon the fpot. " It is the water, fays flie; it does fo to all flrangers;" and then fhe fell into another other great fit of laughter. " Child, anfwered I, you know the Shekh is not our friend, and there is no cafier way to get rid of us than by poifon, as we eat everything that comes from you without fear."—" And fo you may, fays flie ; the Shekh could do no fuch thing without our knowledge, and we would rather all be burnt alive than be guilty of fo vile an action. Befides, fays fire, this is not like Habefh, where both meat and drink, brought to you, are tailed by the bearer before you ufe them. There is no fuch thing as poifon in Atbara ; the lance and the knife in the field, that is the manner in which they kill one an-,other here." AVe then fliewed her our dinner uneaten, and flie again fell into a violent fit of laughter, and took the meat away that flie might warm it, and we heard her laughing all the way as flic went by herfelf. She was not long in returning with provifions in plenty, and told us, that her miftreffes never were fo diverted in their lives, and that flie left them ilill laughing. The black Have then called me to the door, and gave me an India green handkerchief, which flic faid Aifcach had pulled from her head, and fent with her to me, with orders to inquire, " Do the women of your country do fuch things, Yagoube, which, for all the fathers and gold in the world, Aifcach would not be guilty of? My father is indeed a Funge *, but my mother is a Jehainaf." Nj-itiier the Shckh nor Moullah expected me out on -Sunday, which I told them was my fellival. I employed Vol. IV. 3 D that * Which means a Have. f A noble and free Arab. that day in mounting and rectifying my quadrant, and that fame evening had a clear and diftinct obfervation of Procyon, and feveral other of the fixed flars, the largeft and fitteft for my purpofe. The next day alfo, having a good obfervation of the fun in the meridian, all equations adopted from a mean, I found the latitude of Teawa, the capital of Atbara, to be 14° 2' 4" north. With regard to longitude, Hor-Cacamoot is about fix miles eaft of Teawa, which is nearly under the fame meridian with Ras el Feel, fo there was no occafion for any obfervation on that fubject. On the 13th of April arrived a naked Arab of the Jehaina, with intelligence that a caravan belonging to Atbara, which had come to Nara in AbyiFinia for fait, had been all feized by Ammonios, Ayto Confu's governor of Nara, their affes and fait taken from them, and the men put in clofe pri-fon. The Shekh of the Jehaina, an old man of very comely prefence, with ten or twelve of his clan on camels, came over to Shekh Fidele that morning before I went out, and they found the Moullah fitting with him. The news ftruck all of them with a panic, but none more fo than our Shekh of Atbara. The Shekh of the Jehaina faid he had not heard the caufe of it, but fo violent a procedure had not happened even when Yafous II. invaded Sennaar, for the people of the two frontiers had all that time been friends. He begged, however, Shekh Fidele immediately to interfere, and fend fome perfon to Ras el Feel, to his friend Yafine. When they had fettled thus far, a meffagc came for me to attend the Shekh. 1 immediately went, leaving my fervants to put up my quadrant, I had, indeed, an inclination to obferve the approaching eclipfe ; but as I knew perfectly the fituation of Teawa with regard to Ras el Feel, I thought I might might fpare myfelf this unnecefTary trouble, and only make ufe of the eclipfe to frighten Fidele as part of the punilh-ment he fo amply deferved. t There was a prodigious number of people afFembled at the Shekh's door. The Jchaina had all come upon camels; two or three of the principal ones were fitting with him and the Moullah. One of thefe, whom I did not know, but who had feen me at Ras el Feel, upon my approaching the Shekh, got up, took me by the hand, and made a very re-fpecfful falutation. As he was a friend of Yafine, and Shekh cl Nile, I never doubted from that minute that this was a contrivance of theirs in my favour. The Moullah had alledged, that probably I had difpatched fome intelligence to Yafine of my being detained, which had caufed him to make this reprifai; but Shekh Fidele allured them that he knew it to be impofFible, and that this feizure of the caravan muff have been occafioncd by fome ill-ufagc to the people belonging to Tchelga and Nara, the frontier villages to the weftward. In this the Shekh of Jehaina agreed; for he had heard Ammonios mentioned, but nothing of Yafine. The Moullah was unconvinced, but afked me, " Hakim, have you never fent a complaint to Yafine fince you came to Teawa ? tell me truly; no harm fhall befal you from it." " If I were not to tell you truly faid I, Shekh, I would not anfwer you at all. I am under no obligation to do it, nor am I under any fear. You are but at the beginning of this affair, and many will fuffer before I do." " Truly, fays the Moullah, but have you fent intelligence to Ras el Feel ?" " No, no, fays Fidele, he had it not in his power; nor is there a man in Teawa, that 3 D 2 durft 396* TRAVELS TO durft go on fuch an errand, Tchelga." DISCOVER it is fome disturbance about I easily perceived that the Moullah wanted me to con-fefs, which I likewife faw the ufe of myfelf. " I fent, faid I, meffengers from Teawa two feveral times. The firfl\ when fidele pretended Yafine was to murder me in the defert; the fecond, when he faid he had no camels ; and I alfo mentioned the piaflres, and his intention to murder mc." " Ammonios, fays black Soliman, and Yafine, Nara> and Ras el Feel, all belong to Ayto Confu, and were given to Yagoube by him, for his maintenance all the time he was at Gondar. Ayto Confu and he are brothers ; they were together in the camp, flept together in the fame houfe; they are brothers and more than brothers, for they fwore to each other, when we paffed Tcherkin, upon the heart of the elephant *. I fwear by our holy faith, that Confu will be down here himfelf; what does he care for a journey of two days ?" All now with one voice condemned Fidele, who had not a word to fay, only, that if he knew the perfon who carried that meflage, he would cut off his head, if he was his brother. " But it is impofliblc, fays the Shekh ; fhould I not have known of the meffenger being abfent? impoflible !" Then turning to his fervant, faid, "Is Kutcho cl Flybari here ? I have not feen him lately."—11 Sir, fays he, you know you fent Kutcho to Mcndera long before the Hakim arrived." * This is a very horrid oath, full of uonfcnfe, and vows of frieDdfuip and fecrecy. rived."—" True, fays Fidele, then it is impofFible." " Your melfengers and mine, laid I, Shekh, are not of the fame fort, nor Ihall I afk your leave when 1 am to fend to Ras el Feel or Sennaar, nor fhall you ever cut off the head from any one of them. But why arc you alarmed at thefe affes being taken ? Should you not be afraid of fome-thing fmiilar happening at Mecca ? Am not I under the protection of the fherriffe ? When Metical Aga hears this, will he not refent it? Will Youfef Kabil, the Chriflian, the fherriffe's vizir at Jidda, through whofe hands your people pafs, will he be gentler to them upon this account ?"—" A curfe upon him ! fays the lherriffe ; he gentle! he is a mark." " Meloun Ibn Sheitan, fays the Turk Ifmael, u e. accurfed wretch, child of the devil!"—" Well then, faid I, the difficulty is only to know if he is informed of this at Mecca. Friday the 17th is your feflival. If the afternoon of that fhall pafs like thofe of common days, I am a worthless man and an impoflor; but if on that day, beibre d'afTer*,,, a fign be feen in the heavens that fhall be thought by all of you unufual and extraordinary, then am I an innocent man, and Fidelc's defigns againfl me arc known to the world, at Sennaar and at Mecca, at Cairo and at Gondar, and everywhere clfe, and will not be pleafing either to God or man.'" Yarif el Flakim f, fays the fherriffe ; Flakim %! fays tha Shekh of the Jehaina; Ullah Akbar |j ! fays the Moullah;. lifting his eyes up to heaven, and counting his beads very devoutly.., The: El'afTer is four o'clock. % He is indeed wife. i The Hakim, or wife man ki.ows.. j| Guct is ^rcat. The foretelling the fign feemed not at all to pleafe the Shekh, who appeared very much difconccrtcd with the fup-pofed invifibility of meffengers. I got up, having puihed my eloign juft far enough. I then fliook hands with the Shekh, faying, " I am glad to fee you don't want camels, alluding to the number I faw come with the Jehaina ; get your bouza made, and your provifions ready, you'll have llrangers with you foon." He faid only, " (Ullah Kerim!") u e. God is merciful; which was echoed by every mouth in the room. I faluted particularly the Shekh of the Jehaina, who had feen me at Ras el Feel, and I then went out of the room, leaving them all there, and going home very chearful, began to prepare for leaving Teawa, which we were fa-tisfied was now near at hand. On the 14th, in the morning, the Moullah and flierriffe, • with the Shckh of Beyla's fervant, and the old Kaiya Soliman, came to fee our clocks and watches. They fat upon benches at the door and drank coffee, not caring to enter the houfe, I fuppofe, for fear of being defiled. As the old Kaiya was there, it was almoft impoflible to fpeak concerning our affairs, all was about our religion, and the manner in which a Dervifh lived. All at once, a fervant behind cried out, " News from Sennaar!" and, prefently after, we faw three men ; one of whom was my fervant, whom I fent to Sennaar with the Daveina, who delivered to me a letter from Hagi Belal, informing me, that Mahomet Abou Calec, and Shckh Adelan, were both at a diftance from Sennaar, at the head of armies, and the king in the capital almoft alone, under great apprehenfions ; but as no mifchief had yet happened, and the king had no force, it was hoped things might be made up. He added, that he thought it better to wait a 3 little, little, to get a fervant of Adelan to accompany the king's, than to trull to that one alone. Having communicated the contents of my letter to Shckh Fidele, and received his congratulations, they all left me, and went to the Shekh to hear what further news were brought to him. What I told him was confirmed ; and the Shekh having no longer any option, declared his refolution to obey without further delay, and defired us to get ready for our journey. It was told us, however, foon after, that the king's fervant who had arrived, whofe name was Mahomet, was a great friend of Shekh Fidele, and the ufual one fent to him at Teawa; and that he was a great drunkard, and reprobate. On the contrary, Adelan's fervant, though young, was a very gentle, fober perfon, a flave that had been given to A-delan by the Shekh of Beyla ; and he was very urgent for us to depart. We foon faw the confequence of this difference of manners; and that Shekh Fidele had not relinquifh-ed his view to the piaflres. For having tutored the king's fervant all night, and gained him to his interefl, he had, early in the morning of the 15th, declared that he was not to flir from Teawa for a fortnight, and he was ordered to get the camels from fome diftance in Atbara, the place I do not remember. This difpleafed Adelan's fervant much, wrho declared before the aflembly, that he was determined to fet out the next day, that he knew not the orders the king had given, but he knew his mailers orders; and that if the Shekh did not furnifh him with camels, or oppofed our fetting out, he would take him with him to Adelan at Aira, or, upon his refufal to go, denounce him a rebel, and his mailer's enemy, and leave him to what would be the confequence. Upon this bold fpeech, every body left the Shekh Shekh, and went away, whifpering, two and two together. The king's fervant joined his companion, who told me to be ready, and fear nothing, for he would fee me to-morrow night at Beyla. About half an hour after my return home I was again called to the Shekh, who had only the Moullah and the old Kaiya fitting by him, with two fhort letters in his hand from Yafmc, full of reproaches for his behaviour to me, and declaring with mofl folemn oaths, that if thofe letters found me at Teawa, or if I was not gone from thence in peace, he would, before a fortnight was elapfed, be down as an enemy upon Teawa; and unlefs the Daveina did engage to burn every flalk of corn between that and Beyla as foon as it was in the car, he would fhut Abyffinia againfl them, and that they Ihould neither eat bread nor drink water in it as long as he was alive and governor of Ras el Feci. Thefe letters mentioned a complaint likewife that had been fent to Shekh Adelan at Sennaar, but by whom they did not fay, probably from Ayto Confu, complaining of Fidcle's ufage to mc. Yafine's men, that brought the letters from Ras el Feel to Teawa, were (aid to be three in number, mounted on camels, or dromedaries, and armed with coats of mail and head-pieces. They refilled to come into Teawa, to eat of Shekh Fidcle's bread *, or drink of his water, looking upon him as a declared enemy of Yafine, their mailer. Fidele with fome difficulty at lad allowed black Soliman to go to meet them, to perfuade them to enter the town ; but all to i no • This refufal among the Arabs is a declaration of the mofl: deadly enmity, no purpofe, for the only favour he could obtain was, that they Ihould flay with the Jehaina at Jibbel Ifriff till they heard I was fairly fet out on my journey. The next day, the 16th of April, I received a meffage from the Moullah, that the camels were all ready, that girbas for the water were wanting, but girbas fhould be found for mc; and he would give me his word they fhould be found filled at the river where I directed ; as alfo all forts of provifions and neceffaries to carry me to Beyla, to which place I Ihould fet out the moment I pleafed; only that I mull not go from Teawa without making peace with the Shckh, and promiiing to forgive him, and not make any complaint againfl him at Sennaar or elfewhere, provided he, on his part, gave over ali further machinations againfl me. I anfwered, That however ill-ufed, yet, for his fake, I would do any thing he wifhed me to do, and that 1 was ready to pacify Yafine, by writing to him by the return of his meffengcrs. All was agreed, fo we packed up our baggage with the utmofl diligence. On the 17th, in the forenoon, I was appointed to meet the Shekh at his own houfe, and told the Moullah I expect * cd he would have the camels ready. As we fufpectcd, our girbas were infuflicicnt, and indeed we had found them fo when they loft our water in the wood near Imgellalib; we got three new ones from the Shekh in perfect good condition, and gave him our two in exchange, which were fomcthing larger than his. Each of thefe fkins are valued at 12 dollars, or about three pounds flcrling. There is great art and labour required in making the fcams water-tight; they are Vol. IV. 3 E all all Hitched mofl dexteroufly, flrongly greafed, and then laid over thick on the outfide with warm tar, and need conflant care and infpection. About nine o'clock we went to the Shekh, and entered prefently upon bufinefs. I engaged to pacify Yafine, whofe fervants, upon my meflage, came to town to fee me depart, and were kindly received and cloathed by the Shekh. A large breakfafl was ordered; Fidele and I, with Yafme's fervants, ate together of feveral very good difhes. The two holy men, and another flran-ger equally holy, ate together out of a feparate plate ; after which we all flood up, and faid the prayer of peace, and I took my leave. Wc all then went out together into the market-place, and eight camels were ordered down to my houfe, with people to wait upon them. The girbas, which lay filled and foaking at the river-fide, were ready to be loaded upon our camels. A fcrvaxit of the Kaiya held my horfe, which had been taken from me by Fidele foon after my arriving at Teawa, but which was now reftored me. My fervant who came from Sennaar had indeed told mc that no horfes would live there; that thofe that were ncceffary for the troops of the government were all kept at a diftance from Sennaar, and maintained at. Aira, or places in the fand at a fmall diflance, but free from the plague of the fly. The Shckh made no obfervation upon this. I faid, The horfe is a very excellent one, and I will now flicw him to you. I fent for a fhort double-barrelled gun, threw off my burnoofe, and mounting the horfe, made him do every thing he was capable of, putting him to his full fpeed, firing to right and left on each ftde of him. 3 Thev They were all (truck with amazement, and with a kind of terror. They had never before feen a gun fired on horfeback, much lefs a gun fired twice without charging. I did not want to explain the matter to them ; and, as far as I could perceive, the Moullah efpecially was very glad when I fent it home. " This is the way, faid I, that my countrymen ride, and the way they fight; no people on earth underftand fire-arms or horfemanfhip like them. For my part, I am a man of peace, a Dervifh, and no fol-dier; it is not my profeflion, and I do the thing aukward-ly. If you faw fome of our foldiers ride, it would be a fight indeed." Fidele laughed, or counterfeited a laugh, but being a foldier, it was his part to fay fome thing. " If many of your countrymen like you were here, man of peace as you are, unlefs they were friends to us they would get all Atbara to themfelves. If they were friends, fays he, I think I could do fomething with them ; that horfe feems to have the fenfe of a man."—u Such as he is, faid I, dif-mounting, a prince gave him to me, and fuch as he is I now give him to you, as a proof that I am your friend, and that I fhould not grudge you a few paltry piafteis, if I had not been under a vow of poverty ; money is of no kind of value to mc, and confequently not carried a-bout with mc." The horfe was gladly received, though, as I was going to Sennaar, where no horfes are kept, the compliment was a cheap one on my part. " How could you, Fidele, fays the Moullah in great furprife, have it in your heart to torment fuch a man as this ? I told you what he was, our books fpeak of them : ihey are not Kafrs, but fpend all their lives in wandering over the 3 E 2 face face of the earth in fearch of wifdom, and are always to do fo till Hagiugc Magiuge come, and then there will be an end of the world." I made a bow of affent to the Moullah, and all the reft turned up their eyes to heaven in wonder of fo much learning, repeating their ufual ejaculation, " Ullah Akbar!" God is great. I now took my leave of them, and was going home, when the younger fherriffe called after me, and faid, " I fuppofc, now you are all at peace, we fliall not fee the fign that you foretold us was to appear in the heavens to-day." " I fhould be thought a liar if it did not appear, faid I; do you wifh to fee it ?"—* I wifh to fee it, fays he, if it will do no harm."— " Then, replied I, you fliall fee it, and it fhall do no harm now. I hope it will bring health and happinefs, and a good crop to Teawa, and all the kingdom of Sennaar. Go home, while I order my affairs. Something more than two hours after this I will come to you, and it will then appear. They all went away, and, as I thought by their looks, they would have been better fatisfied that affair had been forgot, the Shckh faying peevifhly to the fherriffe, " Let him mind his affairs and his journey ; what is the. ufe of thefe things now?" I had rectified my watch by obfervation. I knew I could not be far wrong, having feen in the ephemcrides the hour the eclipfc was to begin. I pafled a corner of the Shekh's houfe, and went in at the back-door. He was there with his ufual friends, the Moullah, the fherriffe, the Kaiya, and one or two more. The fherriffe afked me where the fign would appear; and the Moullah, if there would be any thunder and lightning? I told them there would be nothing difagreeable at all. I went to the door,, and, and faw it was begun. There was to be a total eclipfc of the moon. I did not tell them at firft, till it had advanced fome way, and was apparent upon the difk. " Now ! look at that, faid I ; in fome time after this the moon fhall be fo totally fwallowed up in darknefs, that a fmall light fhall only be feen in the edges." They were frightened at the denunciation, rather than at any thing they obferved, till a little before the eclipfe became total. A violent apprehenfion then fell upon them all; *ind the women from their apartments began to howl as they do on all melancholy occafions of misfortune, or death. They were in the inner fquare, " Now, continued I, I have kept my word ; it will foon be clear again, and will do no harm to man or beaft." It was agreed among them that I fliould not go home till it was totally at an end. I confentcd to this; and only laid to the Shekh, that I wifhed he would let me fee my patients before I went away, for that one of them was really ill, and needed advice. Fie feemed to take it very kindly, and defired me to go in. I was met in the anti-chamber by Aifcach, and two or three black flaves, who cried out in great terror, " O! Hakim! what is this ! what are you going to do!" " I am going to do, Madam, faid 1, one of the mofl difagrceable things I ever did in my life; I am going to take leave of you." I was immediately furrounded with a number of women, fome of them crying, fome of them with children in their arms. I went into the room where the two ladies were, whom I quieted and fatisiicd to the utmofl of my power. We parted with reciprocal profcflions of friendship and regret at feparation. I then begged that I might fee their flave, who ufed to bring us meat, with a clean cloth, to wrap up fomething T had for them. They 4, told told me, Sennaar was but a bad place for white people; but promifed to fend recommendations in my favour, both to Adelan and the king's women, by Adelan's fervant, who was to con duel: us. When I returned to the Shekh, the emerfion was far advanced, and they all feemed to be regaining their compo-furc, though flrong marks of furprife remained in their countenances. After a little converfation, turning chiefly upon Hagiuge Magiuge, and their filly ilories about them, which I fhall not repeat, I took my leave, and went home, renewing my affurances that all was forgotten. At night, the flave came and brought a clean cotton cloth. I fent a piece of thin India yellow fatin, and fix hand-fomc crimfon and green handkerchiefs, to the beautiful Aifcach ; and, to the bell of my power, difcharged all our obligations to thofe that were our friends and had been kind to us. In a country fo defert, and exceedingly poor as Teawa, under fuch a government, it is not to be expected that trade of any kind fhould flourifh ; yet there is a miferable manufacture of coarfe cotton cloths of the fize of large towels, jufl enough to go round the middle, which pafs current, like fpecie, all over Atbara : They are called Dimoor, and are ufed in place of fmall fdver money. The Mahalac, a very bad copper coin, pafles for fmaller matters; fo that the currency of Teawa flands thus:— 20 Mahalac, i Crufh, 12 Crufh, i Metical, 4 Metical, i Vakia. i . The TH E SOURCE OF THE NIL E. 407 The vakia of gold is worth about forty-five (hillings; but the only commerce of Teawa is carried on by exchange, as fait for grain, camels for fait; the value of goods varying according to the fcarcity or plenty of one fort of commodities with refpect to the other. The reader will, I believe, by this, be as dcfirous to get out of Teawa as I was ; and if fo, it is charity in time to deliver him. I took leave of the Shekh on the 18th in the morning ; but before we could get all ready to depart it was five in the afternoon. The day had been immoderately hot, and we had refolved to travel all night, though we did not fay fo to the Shckh, who advifed us to fleep at Imge-dedema, where there was frefh water. But we had taken a girba of water with us, or rather, in cafe of accident, a little in each of the three girbas ; and all being ready on the river-fide, except the king's fervant, we fet out, and he overtook us in lefs than two hours afterwards, pretty well refrefhed with the Shekh's bouza, and flrongly prejudiced againd us, as we had occafion to difcover afterwards. CHAP, 99: CHAP. VIL Arrival at Beyla—Friendly Reception there, and after, amongfl the Nu* da—Arrival at Sennaar. TT THEN we got a few miles into the plain, my fervant VV delivered me a meflage from the Moullah, that he would join us the next day at Beyla; that we were not to trull to the king's fervant in any thing, hut entirely to that of the Shekh Adelan ; and if thefe two had any difpute together, to take no fharc in it, but leave them to fettle it between themfelves ; that, upon no account whatever, we fliould fuller any companions to join us upon the road to Beyla, but drive them off by harfh words, beat them if they did not go away, and, if they flill pcrfifled, to moot them, and make our way good by force; that between Teawa and Beyla was a place, the inhabitants of which had withdrawn themfelves from their allegiance to the king of Sennaar, who who could not there protect us; therefore we were to truft to ourfelves, and admit of no parley ; for if we palled, we fhould pafs with applaufe, as if the king's force had conducted us; and if wc mifcarried, the blame would be laid upon ourfelves, as having ventured, fo thinly attended, through a country laid wade by rebel Arabs, exprefsly in defiance of government. He added, that he did not believe it was in Shekh Fidele's power, from want of time, to do us any injury upon the road ; that the people in Teawa were in general well-affected to us, and afraid we fliould bring Yafine and the Daveina upon them, and fo were the Jchaina ; and as for the pack of gracclcfs foldiers that were then about the Shekh, their belief that we had really no money with us, and the laft exhibition I had fhewn them on horfeback, had perfectly cured them of venturing their lives for little, againfl people fo much fuperior to them in the management of arms; yet he wifhed us to be active and vigilant like men, and truft in nothing till we had feen the Shekh of Beyla, and not to lofe a moment on the road. Our journey, for the firft feven hours, was through a barren, bare, and fandy plain, without finding a vcftige of any living creature, without water, and without grafs, a country that feemed under the immediate curfe of Heaven. At twelve o'clock at night we turned a little to the eafl-ward of fouth, to enter through very broken ground into a narrow defile, between two hills of no confiderable height. This pafs is called Matt in a. One of our camel drivers declared that he faw two men run into the bullies before him, upon which our people took all to their flings, throwing many ftones before them into the bullies, directed nearly to a man's height, At their earneft defire I ordered Ifmael to Vol. IV. 3 F fire fire our large fhip-blunderbufs, with fifty fmall bullets in it,, among the bullies, in the direction of the road-fide ; buc we neither faw nor heard any thing of thofe people thereafter, if there really were any, nor did I, at the time, indeed, believe the camel-driver had feen any one but through the medium of his own fears ; for the Arabs never attack you till near fun-fet, if they are doubtful of their own fuperio-rity, or at dawn of day, if they think they have the advantage, that they may have time to purfue you*. We, however, all continued on foot, from four till the^ grey of the morning of the igth of April. Indeed, fo violent an inclination to fleep had fallen upon me, that I was-forced to walk, for fear of breaking my neck by a fall from my camel, till eight o'clock, when we halted in a wood of ebony bufhes, growing like the birch tree in many moots from the old Items, which had been cut clown for fear of harbouring the fly, and totally deprived of their leaves afterwards, by the burning of grafs, from the fame reafom This place is called Abou. Jehaarat, and is the limit between the government of Teawa and Beyla. After fuch a very fatiguing journey, we reflcd at Abou Jehaarat till the afternoon. The fun was very hot, but fortunately fome fhep-. herds caves were dug in the bank, and to thefe we fled fop fheltcr from the intenfe heat of the fun, where the ebony trees, though in a very thick wood, could afford us no flunk, for the reafons already given. At three o'clock in the afternoon wc fet out from Abou Jehaarat, in a direction well, and at eight in the evening we arrived at Beyla. There is no water between Teawa and Beyla, Once, Imgededcma, and a number ofir of villages, were fupplied with water from wells and had large crops of Indian corn fown about their pof-fefllons. The curfe of that country, the Arabs Daveina, have deftroyed Imgededcma, and all the villages about it, fdled up their wells, burnt their crops, and expofed all the inhabitants to die by famine. We found Beyla to be in lat. 130 42' 4''; that is, about eleven miles well of Teawa, and thirty-one and a half miles due fouth. We were met by Mahomet, the Shekh, at the very entrance of the town. He faid, he looked upon us as rifen from the dead; that we mufl be good people, and particularly under the care of Providence, to have efcaped the many mares the Shekh of Atbara had laid for us. Mahomet, the Shekh, had provided every fort of refrefhmcnt polFible for us; and, thinking we could not live without it, he had ordered fugar for us from Sennaar. Honey for the moll part hitherto had been its fubflitute. We had a good comfortable fupper ; as fine wheat-bread as ever I ate in my life, brought from Sennaar, as alfo rice; in a word, everything that our kind landlord could contribute to our plentiful and hofpitablc entertainment. Our whole company was full of joy, to which the Shekh greatly encouraged them ; and if there was an alloy to the happinefs, it was the feeing that I did net partake of it. Symptoms of an aguifh diforder had been hanging about me for feveral days, everfincc the diarrhoea had left mc. I found the greater! repugnance, or naufea, at the fmcll of warm meat; and, .having a violent headach, I infilled upon going to bed fupperlefs, after having drank a quantity of warm water by way of emetic. Being exceedingly ti- 3 F 2 red \ red, I foon fell found afleep, having firft taken fome drops of a flrong fpirituous tincture of the bark winch I had prepared at Gondar, refolving, if I found any remiffion, as-I then did, to take feveral good dozes of the bark in powder on the morrow, beginning at day-break, which I accordingly did with its ufual fuccefs. On the 20th of April, a little after the dawn of day, the-Shekh, in great anxiety, came to the place where I was lying, upon a tanned buffaloe's hide, on the ground. His forrow was foon turned into joy when he found me quite recovered from my illnefs. 1 had taken the bark, and expreffed a defire of eating a hearty breakfaft of rice, which was immediately prepared for me, The Shckh of Beyla was an implicit believer in medicine. Seeing me take fome drops of the tincture before coffee, he infilled upon pledging me, and I believe would have willingly emptied the whole bottle. After having fufFered great agony with his own complaint, he had pafled fome fmall ftoncs, and was greatly better, as he faid,. for the foap-pills. I put him in a way to prepare thefe, as alfo his lime-water. It was impofliblc to have done any favour for him equal to this, as his agony had been fo-great. He told me our Moullah was arrived from Teawa, and had left Shekh Fidele Rill repining at our departure,, without leaving him the piaftres. As for the eclipfe, he faid he did not care a draw, nor for what they did or knew at Mecca, for he had no intereft there. I underflood our friend Mahomet, Shekh of Beyla, had been under great uneafmefs at the eclipfe, when it advanced in the immer-fion, and became total. Some time before this, as he faid, there there had been another, but not fo great, on the day the Daveina burnt Imgededema, with above thirty other villages, and difperfed or deftroyed about two thoufand inhabitants of Atbara. It was now the time to give the Shekh a prefent, and I had prepared one for him, fuch as he very well deferved ; but no intreaty, nor any means I could ufe, could prevail upon him to accept of the mereft trifle. On the contrary, he folemnly fwore, that if I importuned him further he would get upon his horfe and go into the country. All that he defired, and that too as a favour, was, that, when I had refted at Sennaar, he might come and confult me further as to his complaints, for which he promifed he mould bring a recompence with him. We then fettled to give his prefent to the Moullah, with which he was very well plea-fed, and which he took without any of thofe difficulties the Shekh of Beyla had iiarted when it was offered to him. All being friends now, and contented, the day was given to repofe and joy. The king's fervant came and told me, by way of fecret, that we could not do lefs to pleafe the Shekh than Ray with him a week at Beyla, and I believe it would not have difpleafed him ; but after fo much coming and going, fo much occafion for talk relative to me, I was refolved to follow Hagi BelaPs advice, and prefs on to Sennaar before affairs there were in a defperate fituation, or fome fcheme of mifchicf mould be contrived by Fidele, One thing Shekh Adelan's fervant told us, that he had, by his mailer's orders, taken from Fidele the prefent I had given him, though lie had already made it up into a gown,. or we took refuge in a village, from fear only, for we faw no veflige of any other whirlwind. It involved-a great quantity of rain, which the Nuba of the villages told us was very fortunate, and portended good luck to us, and a profperous journey ; for they faid, that had dull and fand arifen with the whirlwind, in the fame proportion it would have done had not the earth been moiilencd, we fliould all infallibly have been fuf-focated ; and they cautioned" us, by faying, that tem-pcfls were very frequ ::t in the beginning and end of the rainy feafon, and whenever we fhould fee one of them coming, to fall down upon our faces, keeping our lips clofe to the ground, and fo let it pafs; and thus it would neither have have power to carry us off our feet, nor furfocate us, which was the ordinary cafe. Our kind landlords, the Nuba, gave us a hearty welcome, and helped us to wafh our clothes firft, and then to dry them. When I was ftripped naked, they faw the blood running from my nofe, and faid, they could not have thought that one fo white as me could have been capable of bleeding. They gave us a piece of roafted hog, which we ate, (except Ifmael and the Mahometans) very much to the fatisfacTion of the Nuba. On the other hand, as our camel was lame, we ordered one of our Mahometan fervants to kill it, and take as much of it as would ferve themfelves that night; we alfo provided againfl; wanting ourfelves the next day. The reft we gave among our new-acquired acquaintance, the Nuba of the village, who did not fail to make a feaft upon it for feveral days after; and, in recompence for our liberality, they provided us with a large jar of bouza, not very good, indeed, but better than the well-water. This I repaid by tobacco, beads, pepper, and flibium, which I faw plainly was infinitely more than they expected. Although we had been a good deal furprifed at the hidden and violent effects of the whirlwind of that day, and feverely felt the bruifes it had occafioned, yet we paffed a very focial and agreeable evening; thofe only of the Nuba who had been any time at Sennaar fpeak a bad kind of Arabic, as well as their own language. I had feldom, in my life, upon a journey, pafled a more comfortable night. I had a very neat, clean hut, entirely to myfelf, and a Greek fervant that fat near me. Some of the Nuba watched for us all night, and took care of our beafts and baggage, They fung and 3 replied replied to one another alternately, in notes full of pleafant melody, Et contort pares & rcfpondere parati~~ Virgil, till I fell fall afleep, involuntarily, and with regret, for, tho' bruifed, we were not fatigued, but rather difcouraged, having gone no further than two miles that day. The landlord of the hut where I was afleep having prepared for our fafety and that of our baggage, thought himfelf bound in duty to go and give immediate information, to the prime minifler of the unexpected guefls that then occupied his houfe. He found Adelan at fupper, but was immediately admitted, and a variety of queftions afked him, which he anfwered fully. He defcribed our colour, our number, the unufual fize and number of our fire-arms, the poornefs of our attire, and, above all, our great chearful-nefs, quietnefs, and affability, our being contented with eating any thing, and in particular mentioned the hogs flefm One man then prefent, tcflifying abhorrence to this, Adelan faid of me to our landlord, ** Why, he is a foldier and a Kafr like yourfelf. A foldier and a Kafr, when travelling in a flrange country, fhould eat every thing, and fo does every other man that is wife ; has he not a fervant of mine with him ?" He anfwered, " Yes, and a fervant of the king too; but he had left them, and was gone forward to Sennaar." " Go you with them, fays he, and flay with them at Baf-boch till I have time to fend for them to town." He had returned from Aira long before we arofe, and told us the converfation, which was great comfort to us all, for wc Vol. IV, 3 H were were not much pleafed with the king's fervant going be-fore, as we had every reafon to think he was diraifeclcd towards us. On the 26th, at fix o'clock in the morning, we fet out from this village of Nuba, keeping fomething to the weftward of S. W. our way being ftill acrofs this immenfe plain. All the morning there were terrible florins of thunder and lightning, fome rain, and one fhower of fo large drops that it wet us to the fkin in an inflant. It was quite calm, and every drop fell perpendicularly upon us. I think I never in my life felt fo cold a rain, yet it was not difa-greeable ; for the day was clofe and hot, and we fliould have wifhed every now and then to have had fo moderate a refrigeration; this,, however, was rather too abundant. The villages of the Nuba were, on all fides, throughout this plain. At nine o'clock we arrived at Bafboch, which is a large collection of huts of thefe people, and has the appearance of a town. The governor, a venerable old man of about feventy, who was fo feeble that he could fcarcely walk, received us with great complacency, only faying, when I took him by the hand, " O Chriflian! what doit thou, at fuch a time, in fuch a country }" I was furprifed at the politenefs of his fpecch, when he called mc Nazarani, the civil term for Chriflian in the eaft; whereas Infidel is the general term among thefe brutifh people; but it feems he had been feveral times at Cairo. I had here a very clean and comfortable hut to lodge in, though wc were fparingly fupplied with provifions all the time wc were there, but never were fullered to fail; a whole day together, B^snocn Basbocii is on the eaftern bank of the Nile, not a quarter of a mile from the ford below. The river here runs north and fouth ; towards the fides it is mallow, but deep in the middle of the current, and in this part it is much infefled with crocodiles. Sennaar is two miles and a half S. S. W. of it. We heard the evening drum very diflinctly, and not without anxiety, when we reflected to what a brutifh people, according to all accounts, we were about to truft ourfelves. The village of Aira, where the vizir Adelan had then his quarters, was three miles fouth and by wefl. Next morning, the 27th, Shekh Adelan's fervant left us to the charge of the Nuba, to give his mafter an account of his journey, and our fafe arrival. He found Mahomet, the king's fervant, our other guide, before him there, and Adelan well informed of all that had paffed relating to Fidele, though not from Mahomet; for as foon as he began to mention that he had found us at Teawa, Adelan faid in a very angry flile, " Will no one fave me the difgracc of hanging that wretch ?" Adelan fent back his fervant to inform us, that, two days afterwards, we fhould be admitted. Mahomet, the king's fervant, too, came back with him, and Said till the evening; then he returned to Sennaar ; but he did not give us the Satisfaction to tell us one word of what the king had faid to him about us, or how wc were likely to be received, leaving us altogether in fuf-pence. On the 29th, leave was fent us to enter Sennaar. It was not without fome difficulty that we got cur quadrant and heavy baggage fafely carried down the hill, for the banks are very fleep to the edge of the water. The intention of 3 H 2 our our affiftants was to Hide the quadrant down the hill, in its cafe, which would have utterly deftroyed it; and as our boat was but a very indifferent embarkation, it was obliged to make feveral turns to and fro before we got all our feveral packages landed on the wefternudev This affemblage, and the paffage of our camels, feemed to have excited the appetite, or the curiolity, of the crocodiles. One, in particular, fwam feveral times backwards and forwards along the fide of the boat, without, however, making any attack upon any of us ; but, being exceedingly tired of fuch company, upon his fecond or third venture over, I fired at him with a rifle-gun, and fhot him directly under his fore moulder in the belly. The wound was undoubtedly mortal, and very few animals could have lived a moment after receiving it. He, however, dived to the "bottom, leaving the water deeply tinged with his blood. Nor did we fee him again at that time ; but the people at the ferry brought him to me the! day after, having found him perfectly dead. He was about twelve feet long; and the boatmen told me that thefe are by much the molt dangerous, being more fierce and active than the large ones. The people of Sennaar eat the crocodile, efpecially the Nuba. I never tailed it myfelf, but it looks very much like Congor eel. ....... ■ mSBtfrm--- CHA ft f CFIAP. VIII. Converfatisn with the King—With Shekh Adelan—Interview with the Kings Ladies, StC. &C. WE were conducted by Adelan's fervant to a very fpaci-ous good houfe belonging to the Shckh himfelf, having two fioreys, a long quarter of a mile from the king's palace. He left a mefFage for us to repofe ourfelves, and in a day or two to wait upon the king, and that he mould fend to tell us when wc were to come to him. This we refolved to have complied with mofl exactly ; but the very next morning, the 30th of April, there came a fervant from the palace to fummon us to wait upon the king, which wc immediately obeyed. I took with me three fervants, black Soliman, Ifmael the Turk, and my Greek fervant Michael. The palace covers a prodigious deal of ground. It is all of one ftorey, built of clay, and the floors of earth. The chambers through which we paffed were all unfurniihed, and fecmed I feemed as if a great many of them had formerly been clef* tined'as barracks for foldiers, of whom I did not fee above fifty on guard. The king was in a fmall room, not twenty feet fquare, to which we afcended by two fhort flights of narrow Heps. The floor of the room was covered with broad fquare tiles ; over it was laid a Perfian carpet, and the walls hung with tapeflry of the fame country ; the whole very well kept, and in good order. The king was fitting upon a matrefs, laid on the ground, which was likewife covered with a Perfian carpet, and round him was a number of cufliions of Venetian cloth of gold. His drefs did not correfpond with this magnificence, for it was nothing but a large, loofe fhirt of Surat blue cotton* cloth, which feemed not to differ from the fame worn by his fervants, except that, all round the edges of it, the feams were doublc-ftitched with white fdk, and likewife round the neck. His head was uncovered; he wore his own fhort black hair, and was as white in colour as an Arab. He feemed to be a man about thirty-four, his feet were bare, but covered by his fhirt. He had a very plebeian countenance, on which was Ramped no decided character; I fhould rather guefs him to be a loft, timid, irrefolutc man. At my coming forward and killing his hand, he looked at me for a minute as if undetermined what to fay. He then afked for an Abyffinian interpreter, as there are many of thefe about the palace. I faid to him in Arabic, " That I apprehended I underflood as much of that language as would enable me to anfwer any queftion he had to put tome." Upon which lie turned to the people that were with him, « Downright Arabic, indeed* You did not learn that language in Habefh?" faid he to me. I anfwered, " No; I have been in Egypt, i Turkey, Turkey, and Arabia, where I learned it; but I have likewife often fpoken it in Abyflinia, where Greek, TurkiQi, and feveral other languages, were ufed." He faid, " Impofliblc ! he did not think they knew any thing of languages, excepting their own, in Abyffinia." There were fitting in the fide of the room, oppoftte to him, four men drcffed in white cotton fhirts, with a white fliaul covering their heads and part of their face, by which it was known they were religious men, or men of learning, or of the law. One of thefe anfwered the king's doubt of the Abyflinians knowledge in languages. " They have languages enough; and you know that Habefh is called the paradife of affes." During this converfation, I took the fherriffe of Mecca's letter, alfo one from the king of Abyffinia; 1 gave him the king's firft; and then the fherriffe's. He took them both as I gave them, but laid afide the king's upon a cufhion, till he had read the fherriffe's. After this he read the king's, and called immediately again for an Abyflinian interpreter; upon which I faid nothing, fuppofing, perhaps, he might chufe to make him deliver fome meflage to me in private, which he would not have his people hear. But it was pure confufton and ab-fence of mind, for he never fpoke a word to him when he came. " You are a phyfician and a foldier," fays the king. " Both, in time of need," faid I. " But the fherriffe's letter tells me alfo, that you are a nobleman in the fervice of a great king that they call Enghfe-man, who is matter of all the Indies, and who has Mahometan as well as Chriflian fubjects, and allows them all to he governed by their own laws."—" Though I never faid fo to the fhcr-riffe, replied 1, yet it is true ; I am as noble as any individual dual in my nation, and am alfo fervant to the greateft king now reigning upon earth, of whofe dominions, it is likewife truly faid, thefe Indies are but a fmall part."— " The greater! king J fays he that fpoke about the afTes, you fhould not fay that: You forgot the grand fignior; there are four, Otman, Ferfee, Bornow, and Habelh."—" I neither forgot the grand fignior, nor do him wrong, replied I. What I have faid, I have faid."—" Kafrs and flaves! all of them, fays Ifmael,; there is the Turk, the king of England, and the king of France; what kings arc Bornow and the reft ?—Kafrs."—-" How comes it, fays the king, you that are fo noble and learned, that you know all things, all languages, and fo brave that you fear no danger, but pafs, with two or three old men, into fuch countries as this and Habefh, where Baady my father perifhed with an army? how comes it that you do not flay at home and enjoy yourfelf, cat, drink, take pleafure and reft, and not wander like a poor man, a prey to every danger ?"~ " You, Sir, I replied, may know fome of this fort of men ; certainly you do know them ; for there are in your religion, as well as mine, men of learning, and thofe too of great rank and nobility, who, on account of fins they have committed, or vows they have made, renounce the world, its riches and pleafures: They lay down their nobility, and become humble and poor, fo as often to be infulted by wicked and low men, not having the fear of God before their eyes."—" True, thefe are Derviih," faid the other three men. " I am then one of thefe Dervifh, faid I, content with the bread that is given me, and bound for fome years to travel in hardfhips and danger, doing all the good I can to poor and rich, ferving every man, and hurting none." ** Tybc! that is well," fays the king. " And how long 4 have have you been travelling about ?" adds one of the others. " Near twenty years," faid I.—" You muff be very young, fays the king, to have committed fo many fins, and fo early ; they mult all have been with women ?*'—" Part of them, I fuppofe, were, replied I; but I did not fay that I was one of thofe who travelled on account of their fins, but that there were fome Dervifhes that did fo on account of their vows, and fome to learn wifdom." He now made a i fign, and a flave brought a cufhion, which I would have refufed, but he forced me to fit down upon it. I found afterwards who the three men were who had joined in our converfation ; the firft was Ali Mogrebi, a native of Morocco, who was Cadi, or chief judge at Sennaar, and was then fallen into difgrace with the two brothers, Mahomet Abou Kalec, governor of Kordofan,and ShekhAde-lan, prime minifter at Sennaar, then encamped at Aira at the head of the horfe and Nuba, levying the tax upon the Arabs as they went down, out of the limits of the rains, into the fandy countries below Atbara to protect their cattle from the fly. Another of thefe three was Cadi of Kordofan, in the intereft of Mahomet Abou Kalec, and fpy upon the king. The third was a faint in the neighbourhood, confervator of a large extent of ground, where great crops of dora not only grow, but when threfhed out arc likewife kept in large excavations called Matamores; the place they call Shaddly. This man was eflccmed another Jofeph among the Funge, who accumulated grain in years of plenty, that he might diftribute it at fmall prices among the poor when fcarcity came. He was held in very great reverence in the neighbourhood of fknnaar. Vol. IV. 3 I The The cadi then afked me, *' If I knew when Hagiuge Ma* giuge was to come ?" Remembering my old learned friend* at Teawa, I fcarce could forbear laughing. " I have no wifh to know any thing about, him, faid I; I hope thofe days are far off, and will not happen in my time." "What do your books.fay concerning him? (fays he, affecting a great look of wifdom) Do they agree with ours ?" " 1 don't know that, faid I, till I hear what is written in your books." " Hagiuge Magiuge, fays he, are little people, not fo big as bees, or like the zimb, or fly of Sennaar, that come in great fwarms out of the earth, aye, in multitudes that cannot be counted ; two of their chiefs are to ride upon an afs, and every hair of that afs is to be a pipe, and every pipe is to play a different kind of muftc, and all that hear and follow them are carried to hell." " I know them not, faid I, and, in the name of the Lord, I fear them not, were they twice as little as you fay they are, and twice as numerous. I trufl in God I fhall never be fo fond of mufic as to go to hell after an afs for all the tunes that he or they can play." The king laughed violently. I rofe to go away, for 1 was heartily tired of the converfation. I whifpered the Abyifinian fervant in Amharic, to afk when I fhould bring a trifle I had to offer the king. He faid, Not that night, as I fhould be tired, but defired that I fliould now go home, and he would fend me notice when to come. I accordingly went away, and found a number of people in the flreet, all having fome taunt or affronting matter to fay. I pafled through the great fquare before the palace, and could not help fliuddering, upon reflection, at what had happened in that fpot to the unfortunate M. du Roule and his companions, though under a protection which Ihould have fecured, them from all danger, every part of which I was then unprovided with. The The drum beat a little after fix o'clock in the evening, We then had a very comfortable dinner fent us, camels fleih ffewed with an herb of a vifcous (limy fubftance, called Bammia. After having dined, and finifhed the journal of the day, I fell to unpacking my inftruments, the barometer and thermometer firft, and, after having hung them up, was converfing with Adelan's fervant when I fliould pay my vifit to his mailer. About eight o'clock came a fervant from the palace, telling me now was the time to bring the prefent to the king. I forted the feparate articles with all the fpeed I could, and we went directly to the palace. The king was then fitting in a large apartment, «as far as I could guefs, at fome diftance from the former. Fie was naked, but had feveral clothes lying upon his knee, and about him, and a fervant was rubbing him over with very flinking butter or greafe, with which his hair was dropping as if wet with water. Large as the room was, it could be fmell-ed through the whole of it. The king afked mc, If ever I greafed myfelf as he did ? I faid, Very feldom, but fancied it would be very expenfive. Fie then told mc, That it was elephants greafe, which made people flrong, and preferved the fkin very fmooth. I laid, 1 thought it very proper, but could not bear the fmell of it, though my fkin fhould turn as rough as an elephant's for the want of it. FIc faid, " If I had ufed it, my hair woukl not have turned fo red as it was, and that it would all become white prefently when that rednefs came off. You may fee the Arabs driven in here by the Daveina, and all their cattle taken from them, becaufe they have no longer any greafe for their hair. The fun firft turns it red and then perfectly white ; and you'll know them in the flreet by their hair being the colour 3 I 2 of of yours. As for the fmell, you will fee that cured prefently." After having rubbed him abundantly with greafe, they brought a pretty large horn, and in it fomething fcent-ed, about as liquid as honey. It was plain that civet was a great part of the compofition. The king went out at the door, I fuppofe into another room, and there two men deluged him over with pitchers of cold water, whilft, as I imagine, he was flark-naked. He then returned, and a ilave anointed him with this fweet ointment; after which he fat down, as completely drefled, being juft going to his women's apartment where he was to fup. I told him I wondered why he did not ufe rofe-water as in Abyiiinia, Arabia, and Cairo. He faid, he had it often from Cairo, when the merchants arrived ; but as it was now long fince any came, his people could not make more, for the rofe would not grow in his country, though the women made fomething like it of lemon-flower. His toilet being finifhed, Ithen produced my prefentwhich I told him the king of Abyiiinia had fent to him, hoping that, according to the faith and cuflom of nations, he would not only protect me while here, but fend me fafely and fpccdily out of his dominions into Egypt. He anfwered, There was a time when he could have done all this, and more, but thofe times were changed. Sennaar was in ruin, and was not like what it once was. He then ordered fome perfumed forbet to be brought for mc to drink in his prc-fence, which is a pledge that your perfon is in fafety. I thereupon withdrew, and he went to his ladies. It It was not till the eighth of May I had my audience of Shekh Adelan at Aira, which is three miles and a half from Sennaar ; we walked out early in the morning, for the greater! part of the way along the fide of the Nile, which had no beauty, being totally dive fled of trees, the bottom foul and muddy, and the edges of the water white with fmall concretions of calcarious earth, which, with the bright fun upon them, dazzled and affected our eyes very much. We then flruck acrofs a large fandy plain without trees or bufhes, and came to Adelan's habitation ; two or three, very confidcrable houfes of one florey occupied the middle of a large fquare, each of whofe fides was at leafl half of an Englifh mile. Inftead of a wall to inclofe this fquare, was a high fence or impalement of flrong reeds, canes, or flalks of dora, (I do not know which) in fafcines flrongly joined together by flakes and cords. On the outfide of the gate, on each hand, were fix houfes of a flighter conftruction than the refl; clofe upon the fence were ffieds where the foldiers lay, the horfes picqucted before them with their heads turned towards the iheds, and their food laid before them on the ground ; above each foldier's flceping-place, covered only on the top and open in the fides, were hung a lance, a fmall oval fhield, and a large broad-fword. " Thefe-, I underflood, were chiefly quarters for couriers, who being Arabs, were not taken into the court or fquare, but fhut out at night. . Witttin the gate was a number of horfes, with the foldiers barracks behind them ; they were all picquetcd in ranks, their faces to their mailers barracks. It was one of the fineil lights I ever faw of the kind, They were all above * fixtcen fixtcen hands high, of the breed of the old Saracen horfes, all finely made, and as flrong as our coach-horfes, but exceedingly nimble in their motion; rather thick and fhort in the forehand, but with the moll beautiful eyes, ears, and heads in the world ; they were moflly black, fome of them black and white, fome of them milk-white foaled, fo not white by age, with white eyes and white hoofs, not perhaps a great recommendatiojo, A steel fhirt of mail hung upon each man's quarters oppofite to his horfe, and by it an antelope's fkin made foft like fhamoy, with which it was covered from the dew of the night. A head-piece of copper, without crcft or plumage, was fufpended by a lace above the fhirt of mail, and was the moll piclurefque part of the trophy. To thefe was added an enormous broad fword in a red leather fcabbard ; and upon the pummel hung two thick gloves, not divided into lingers as ours, but like hedgers gloves, their fingers in one poke. They told mc, that, within that inclofure at Aira, there were 4.C0 horfes, which, with the riders, and armour complete for each of them, were all the property of Shekh Adelan, every horfeman being his flave, and bought with his money. There were five or fix (I know not which) of thefe fquares or inclofurcs, none of them half a mile from the other, which contained the king's horfes, Haves, and fcrvants. Whether they were all in as good order as Adelan's 1 cannot fay, for I did not go further ; but no body of horfe could ever be more magnificently difpofed under the direction of any Chriflian power. Adelan was then fitting upon a piece of the trunk of a palm-tree, in the front of one of thefe divisions of his hor-2 fes, &s, which he feemed to be contemplating with plcafure; a number of black people, his own fervants and friends, were Handing around him. He had on a long drab-coloured camlet gown, lined with yellow fattin, and a camlet cap like a head-piece, with two fhort points that covered his ears. This, it feems, was his drefs when he rofe early in the morning to vifit his horfes, which he never neglected. The Shekh was a man above fix feet high, and rather corpulent, had a heavy walk, feemingly more from affectation-of grandeur than want of agility. He was about fixty, of the colour and features of an Arab and not of a Negro, but had rather more beard than falls to the lot of people in this country; large piercing eyes, and a determined, tho', at the fame time, a very pleafing countenance. Upon ray coming near him he got up, " You that are a horfeman; (fays he, without any falutation) what would your king of Habefh give for thefe horfes ?"—What king, anfwered 1, in the fame tone, would not give any price for fuch horfes if he knew their value?1'—"Well, replies he, in a lower voice, to the people about him, if we arc forced to go to Habefh (as Baady was) we will carry our horfes along with us." I underflood by this he alluded to the iflue of his approaching quarrel with the king. We then went into a large faloon, hung round with mirrors and fcarlet damafk ; in one of the longeft fides, were two large fbfa's covered with crimfbn and yellow damafk, and large cufhions of cloth of gold, like to the king's. Fie now pulled off his camlet gown and cap, and remained in a crimfon fattin coat reaching down below his knees, which lapped over at the brcaft, and was girt round his waifl with a fcarf or fafh, in which he had fluck a fhort dagger in an ivory (heath, mounted with gold ; and one of the . tat* m * -C the largeft and mofl beautiful amethyfls upon his finger that ever I faw, mounted plain, without any diamonds, and a fmall gold ear-ring in one of his ears. " Why have you come hither, fays he to me, without arms, and on foot, and without attendants ?" Yagoube. " I was told that horfes were not kept at Sennaar, and brought none with me." Adelan. " You fuppofe you have come through great dangers, and fo you have. But what do you think of me, who am day and night out in the fields, furrounded by hundreds and thoufands of Arabs, all of whom would eat me alive if they dared ?" I anfwered, " A brave man, ufed to command as you are, does not look to the number of his enemies, but to their abilities; a wolf does not fear ten thoufand fheep more than he does one." Ad, " True ; look out at the door ; thefe are their chiefs whom I am now taxing, and I have brought them hither that they may judge from what they fee whether I am ready for them or not." Yag. " You could not do more properly ; but, as to my own affairs, I wait upon you from the king of Abyffinia, defiring fafe conduct through your country into Egypt, with his royal promife, that he is ready to do the like for you again, or any other favour you may call upon him for." He took the letter and read it. Ad. " The king of Abyffinia may be af-furcd I am always ready to do more for him than this. It is true, fince the mad attempt upon Sennaar, and the next flill madder, to replace old Baady upon the throne, we have had no formal peace, but neither arc we at war. Wc un-derllandone another as good neighbours ought to do ; and what elfe is peace?" Yag. "You know I am a flranger and traveller, fecking my way home. I have nothing to do with peace or war between nations. All I beg is a fafe conduct THE S OU R G E OF T Fl E NILE. 441 duct through your kingdom, and the rights of hofpitality bellowed in fuch cafes on every common fl ranger ; and one of the favours I beg is, your acceptance of a fmall prefent. I bring it not from home ; I have been long abfent from thence, or it would have been better." Ad. " I'll not rc-fufe it, but it is quite unriecefFary. I have faults like other men, but to hurt, or ranfom flrangcrs, was never one of them. Mahomet Abou Kalec, my brother, is however a much better man to flrangers than I am; you will be lucky if you meet him here ; if not, I will do for you what I can when once the confufion of thefe Arabs is over. I cave him the mcrnife's letter, which he opened, looked at, and laid by without reading, faying only, " Aye, Metical is a good man, he fometimes takes care of our people going to Mecca ; for my part, I never was there, and probably never fliall." I then prefented my letter from Ali Bey to him. He placed it upon his knee, and gave a flap upon it with his open hand. Ad. " What! do you not know, have you not heard,Mahomet Abou Dahab,hisHafnadar, has rebelled againfl him, banifhed him out of Cairo, and now fits in his place ? But don't be difconcerted at that, I know you to be a man of honour and prudence ; if Mahomet, my brother, does not come, as foon as I can get leifure I will difpatch you." The fervant that had conducted me to Sennaar, and was then with us, went forward clofe to him, and faid, in a kind of whifper, " Should he go often to the king f!—" When he plcafcs ; he may go to fee the town, and take a walk, but never alone, and alfo to the palace, that,, when he returns to his own country, he may report he faw a king at Sennaar, that neither knows how to govern, nor will fuffer others to teach him ; who knows Vol. IV. 3 K not not how to make war, and yet will not fit in peace." I then took my leave of him, but there was a plentiful break-fait in the other room, to which he fent us, and which went fai* to comfort Hagi Ifmael for the misfortune of his patron Ali Bey. At going out, I took my leave by killing his hand, which he fubmitted to without reluctance. " Shckh, faid I, when I pafs thefe Arabs in the fquare, I hope it will not difoblige you if I converfc with fome of them out of curiofity ?" Ad. " By no means, as much as you pleafe ; but don't let them know where they can find you at Sennaar, or they will be in your houfe from morning till night, will eat up all your victuals, and then, in return, will cut your throat if they can meet you upon: your journey." I returned home to Sennaar, very well pleafed- with my reception at Aira. I had not feen, fince 1 left Gondar, a man fo open and frank in his manners, and who fpoke without difguifc what apparently he had in his heart; but he was exceedingly engaged in bufinefs, and it was of fuch extent that it feemed to mc impofliblc' to he brought to an end in a much longer time than I propofed (laying at Sennaar. The diftance, too, between Aira and that town was a very great difeouragement to me. The whole way was covered with infoleiit, brutifh people, fo that every man we met between Sennaar and Aira produced fome altercation, fome demand of prefents, gold, cloth, tobacco, and a variety of other difagrceable circumftances, which had always the appearance of ending in fomething fe-rious. I had l had-a long converfation with the Arabs I met with at Aira, and from them I learned pretty nearly the fituation of the different clans or tribes in Atbara. Thefe were all in their way northward to the refpective countries in the fands to the eailward of Mendera and Barbar. Thefe fands, fo barren and defolate toe rcll of the year, were beginning now to be crowded with multitudes of cattle and inhabitants. The fly, in the flat and fertile mold which compofes all the foil to the fouthward of ccnnaar, had forced this number of people to migrate, which they very well knew was to cofl them at leaft one half of their lubftancc ; of fuch confluence is the wcakeft inftrument in the hand of Providence. The troops of Sennaar, few in number, but well provided with every thing, flood ready to cut thefe people off from their acceis to the fands, till every chief of a tribe had given in a well-verified inventory of his whole flock, and made a compofition, at pafling, with Shckh Adelan. All fubterfuge was in vain. The fly, in pofTefFion of the fertile country, inexorably purfued every flngle camel till he took refuge in the fands, and there he was to flay till the rains ceafed ; and if, in the interim, it was discovered that any concealment of number or quality had been made, they were again to return in the beginning of September to their old paihires; and in this fecond paffage, any fraud, whether real or alledgcd, was punifhed with great fc verity. Refinance had been often tiied, and as often found ineffectual. .However great their numbers, encumbered with families and baggage as they were, they had always fallen a facri-fiee to thofe troops, well mounted and armed, that awaited them in their way within -fight of their own homes. Ar- % K 2 rived rived once in the fands, they were quiet during the rains, having paid their paffage northward, and fo they were afterwards, for the fame reafon, when they came again to their own flation, fouthward, when thofe rains had ceafed. It may be afked reafonably, What does the government of Sennaar do with that immenfe number of camels which they receive from all thofe tribes of Arabs in their paffage by Sennaar? To this I anfwer, That all this tribute is not paid in kind. The different tribes poffefling fo many camels, or fo many other cattle, have a quantum laid upon them at an average value. This is paid in gold, or in flaves, the reft in kind ; fo many for the maintenance of the king and government ; for there is no flefh commonly ufed at Sennaar in the markets but that of camels. The refidue is bought by the merchants of Dongola, and fent into Egypt, where they fupply that great confumption of thefe animals made every year by the caravans going to Mecca. One thing had made a very flrong impreffion on me, which was the contemptuous manner in which Adelan ex-prefled himfelf as to his fovereign. I was fatisfied that, with fome addrefs, I could keep myfelf in favour with either of them; but in the terms they then were, or were very foon to be, I could not but fear I was likely to fall into trouble between the two. The next morning, after I came home from Aira, I was; agreeably furprifed by a vifit from Hagi Belal, to whom I had been recommended by Metical Aga, and to whom Ibra-kim.Seraff, the Englifh broker at Jidda, had addreffedme for any any money I fhould need ar Sennaar. lie welcomed me with great kindnefs, and repeated tcflimonies of joy and wonder at my fafe arrival. He had been down in Atbara at Gerri, or fome villages near it, with merchandize, and had not yet feen the king ftnee he came home, but gave me the very word description poffible of the country, info-much that there feemed to be not a fpot, but the one I then flood on, in which I was not in imminent danger of dcflruc-tion, from a variety of independent caufes, which it feemed not poffibly in my power to avoid. Fie fent me in the evening fome refrefhments, which I had long been unacculiom-ed to; fome tea, excellent coffee, fome honey and brown fugar, feveral bottles of rack, likewife nutmegs, cinnamon, ginger, and fome very good dates of the dry kind which he had brought from Atbara. Hagi Belal was a native of Morocco. He had been at Cairo, and alfo at Jidda and Mocha. He knew the Englifh well, and profeffed himfelf both obliged and attached to them. It was fome days before I ventured to fpeak to him upon money bufinefs, or upon any probability of finding afFiftance here at Sennaar. He gave me little hopes of the latter, repeating to me what I very well knew about the dif-agreement of the king and Adelan. He feemed to placo all his expectations, and thofe were but faint ones, in the coming of Shekh Abou Kalec from Kordofan. He faid, nothing could be expected from Shekh Adelan without going to Aira, for that he would never trufl himfelf in Sennaar, in this king's lifetime, but that the minifler was abfolute • the moment he affembled his troops without the town. One - One morning he came to mc, after having been with the king, when I was myfelf preparing to go to the palace. He faid, he had been fent for upon my account, and had been quedioncd very narrowly what fort of a man I was. Having anfwered very favourably, both of me and my nation, he was afked for Metical Aga's letters, or any other letters he had received concerning me from Jidda ; he faid, that he had only fhewn Metical's letter, wrote in the name of the fherriffe, as alfo one from himfelf; that there were feveral great officers of government prcfciit; and the Cadi (whom I had feen the firft time I had been with the king) had read the letters aloud to them all: That one of them had afked, How it came that fuch a man as I ventured to pafs thefe deferts, with four or five old fervants, and what it was I came to fee ; that he anfwered, he apprehended my chief object at Sennaar was to be forwarded to my own country. It was alfo aiked, Why I had not fome Englifh-men with me, as none of my fervants were of that nation, but poor beggarly Kopts, Arabs, and Turks, who were none of them of my religion ? Belal anfwered, That travellers through thefe countries muff, take up with fuch people as they can find going the fame way; however, he believed fome Englifh fervants had died in Abyffinia, which country I had left the firft opportunity that had offered, being wearied by the perpetual war which prevailed. Upon which the king faid, " He has chofen well, when he came into this country for peace. You know, Hagi Belal, I can do nothing for him ; there is nothing in my hands. I could eafier get him back into Abyffinia than forward him into Egypt. Who is it now that can pafs into Egypt ?" The Cadi then faid, " Hagi Belal can get him to Suakem, and fo to J idda Jidda to his countrymen." To v hich Belal replied, " The king will find fome way when he thinks farther of it." A few days after this I had a mortage from the palace. I found the king fitting alone, apparently much chagrined, and in ill humour. He afked me, in a very peevifh manner, " if I was not yet gone ?" To which I anfwered, " Your Majefly knows that it is impofliblc for mc to go a flep from Sennaar without aflitlance from you." He again alked me, in the fame tone as before, " How I could think of coming that way?" I faid, nobody imagined in Abyiiinia but that he was able to give a flranger fafe conduct through his own dominions." He made no reply, but nodded a fign for me to depart, which I immediately did, and fo finifhed this fhort, but difagreeable interview. About four o'clock that fame afternoon I was again fent for to the palace, when the king told me that Several of his wives were ill, and defired that I would give them my advice, which I promifed to do without difficulty, as all acquaintance with the fair fcx had hitherto been much to my advantage. I mufl confefs, however, that calling thefe the fair fex is not prefcrving a prccifion in terms. I was admitted into a large fquare apartment very ill -lighted, in which were about fifty women, all perfectly black, without any covering but a very narrow piece of cotton rag about their waiils. While I was mufing whether or not thefe all might be queens, or whether there was any queen among them, one of them took mcby the hand and led me rudely enough into another apartment. This was much better lighted than the firft. Upon a large bench, or fofa, covered 1 with with blue Surat cloth, fat three perfons cloathed from the neck to the feet with blue cotton Hurts. One of thefc, who I found was the favourite, was a-bout fix feet high, and corpulent beyond all proportion. She feemed to me, next to the elephant and rhinoceros, to be the largeil living creature. I had met with. Her features were perfectly like thofe of a Negro ; a ring of gold paffed through her under lip, and weighed it down, till, like a flap, it covered her chin, and left her teeth bare, which were very fmall and fine. The infide of her lip fhe had made black with antimony. Her ears reached down to her moulders, and had the appearance of wings; fhe had in each of them a large ring of gold, fomewhat fmaller than a man's little finger, and about five inches diameter. The weight of thefe had drawn down the hole where her car was pierced fo much that three fingers might cafily pafs above the ring. She had a gold necklace, like what we ufed to call Efclavage, of feveral rows, one below another, to which were hung rows of fcquins pierced. She had on her ancles two manacles of gold, larger than any I had ever feen upon the feet of felons, with which I could not conceive it was pofhble for her to walk, but afterwards I •found ihey wcrehollow. The others were drefled pretty much in the fame manner; only there was one that had chains which came from her ears to the outfidc of each noflril, where they were fattened. There was alfo a ring put thro* ihe griflle of her nofe, and which hung down to the opening of her mouth. I think fhe mufl have breathed with great difficulty. It had altogether fomething of the appearance of a horfe's bridle. Upon my coming near them, the cldcfl put her hand to her mouth and killed it, 4 faying, faying, at the fame time, in very vulgar Arabic, u Kifhalek howaja ?" (how do you dot merchant). 1 never in my life was more pleafed with diflant falutations than at this time. I anfwered, " Pefcce be among you ! I am a phyfician, and not a merchant." I shall not entertain the reader with the multitude of their complaints ; being a lady's phyfician, discretion and filence are my firft duties. It is fullicient to fay, that there was not one part of their whole bodies, infide and outfide, iu which fome of them had not ailments. The three queens infilled upon being blooded, which defire I complied with, as it was an operation that required fhort attendance ; but, upon producing the lancets, their hearts failed them. They then all cried out for the Tabange, which, in Arabic, means a piftol; but what they meant by this word was, the cupping inflrumcnt, which goes off with a fpring like the fnap of a piftol. I had two of thefe with me, but not at that time in my pocket. I fent my fervant home, however, to bring one, and, that fame evening, performed the operation upon the three queens with great fuccefs. The room was overflowed with an effufion of royal blood, and the whole ended with their infilling upon my giving them the inflrumcnt itfelf, which I was obliged to do, after cupping two of their flaves before them, who had no complaints, merely to fhew them how the operation was to be performed. Another night I was obliged to attend them, and gave the queens, and two or three of the great ladies, vomits. I will fpare my reader the recital of fo naufcous a fcene. The ipecacuanha had great effect, and warm water was Vol. IV. 3 L drunk drunk very copioufly. The patients were numerous, and the floor of the room received all the evacuations. It was moil prodigioufly hot, and the horrid, black figures, moan-ing and groaning with ficknefs ali around me, gave me, I think, fome flight idea of the punifhment in.the world be-low. My mortifications, however, did not flop here, 1 obferved that, in coming into their prefence, the queens were all covered with cotton-fhirts; but no fooner did their complaints make part of our converfation, than, to my ut-mofh furprife, each of them, in her turn, flript hcrfelf entirely naked, laying her cotton fhirt loofely on her lap as fhe lac crofs-legged- like a tailor. The cuflom of going narked in thefe warm countries abolifhes all delicacy concerning it. I could not but obfervc that the brcalls of each of them reached the length of their knees. Tins exceeding confidence on their part, they thought merited fome confideration on mine ; and it was not without great allonifhmcnt that I heard the queen defire to fea me in the like difhabille in which fhe had fpontaneoufly put hcrfelf. The whole court of female attendants flocked to the fpecfacle. Rcfufal, or refiftancc, were in vain. I was furrounded with fifty or fixty women, all equal in fla* ture and ftrength to myfelf; The whole of my cloathing was, like theirs, a long loofe fhirt of blue Surat cotton uloth, reaching from the neck down to the feet. The only terms I could polfibly, and that with great difficult)-, make for myfelf were, that they fhould be contented to i! rip me no farther than the fhoulders and brcafL Upon feeing the whitenefs of my fkin, they gave ail a loud cry in token of diilike, and fhuddercd, fecming to confidcr it rather the effects of difcafe than natural. I think in my life life I never felt fo difagrceably. 1 have been in more than one battle, but furcly I would joyfully have taken my chance again in any of them to have been freed from that examination. I could not help likewife reflecting, that, if the king had come in during this exhibition, the confequence would either have been impaling, or llripping off that ikin whofe colour they were fo curious about; tho' I can folemnly declare there was not an idea in my bread, fince ever I had the honour of feeing thefe royal beauties, that could have given his majefly of Sennaar the imallcfl reafon for jealoufy; and I believe the fame may be faid of the fentiments of theladies in what regarded me. Ours was a mutual pafFion, but dangerous to no one concerned. I returned home with very different fenfations from thofe T had felt after an interview with the beautiful Aifcach of Teawa. Indeed, it was impofliblc to be more chagrined at, or more ? difgufled with, my prefent fituation than I was, and the more fo, that my delivery from it appeared to be very dif-tant, and the circumftanccs were more and more unfavourable every day. An event happened which added to my diflrefs. Going one evening to wait upon the king, and being already within the palace, paffing through a number of rooms that are now totally deferted, where the court of guard ufed to be kept, I met Mahomet, the king's fervant, who accompanied us from Teawa. Such people, though in reality often enough drunk, yet if they happen to be fobcr at the time of their committing a crime, counterfeit drunkennefs, in order to avail themfelves of it as an excufe. This fellow, feeing me alone, came flaggering up to me, faying, " Damn you, Yagoube, I have met you now, pay me for the trouble of go- 3 L 2 ing ing for you to Teawaand with that he put his arm to lay hold of me by the bread. I faid to him, "OfF hands, you ruffian ;" and, taking him by the arm, I gave him fuch a pulh that he had very near fallen backward ; on which he cried out, in great fury, " Give me fifty patakas (about twelve guineas) or I'll ham-ilring you this inflant." I had always piflols in my pocket for an extremity; but I could not con-iider this drunkard, though armed, to have reduced me to that fituation; I therefore immediately clofed upon him, and, catching him by the throat, gave him a violent wrench backward, which threw him upon the ground, t then took his fword out of his hand ; and in the inflant my black fervant Soliman appeared, who had Raid behind converijng with fome acquaintance in the flreet. Several other black companions of this rafcal likewife appeared ; part fecmed to defend, and part to intercede for him, but none to condemn him. Soliman, however, infilled upon carrying him before the king with his drawn fword in his hand. But how were we furprifed, when the king's anfwer to our complaint was, " That the man was drunk, and that the people in that country were not ufed to fee franks, like mc, walking in the flreet." He then gave Soliman a lliarp reproof for having the prcfumption, as he called it, to difarm one of his fervants in his palace, and immediately ordered his fword to be reilored him. We were retiring full of thoughts what might be the occafion of this reception, when we were met by Kittou, Adelan's brother, who was left with the care of the town. I told the whole affair. He heard mc very attentively, and with apparent concern. " It is all the king's fault; every Have Have does what he pleafcs, faid he. If I mention this to Adelan, he will order the drunkard's head to be ilruck off before the palace-gate. But it is better for you that nothing of this kind happen while you are here. Mahomet Abou Kalec is daily expected, and all thefe things will be put upon another footing. In the mean time, keep at home as much as poflible, and never go out without two or three black people along with you, fervants, or others. While you are in my brother's houfe, as you now arc, and we alive, there is no body dares moleft you, and you arc perfectly at liberty to refufe or admit any perfon you pleafe, whether they come from the king or not, by only faying, Adelan forbids you. I will anfwer for the reft. The left you come here the better, and never venture into the flreet at night." At this inflant a mcfFage from the king called him in. I went away, better fatisficd than before, becaufe I now had learned there was a place in that town where I could remain in fafety, and I was refolved there to await the arrival of Abou Kalec, to whom I looked up as to the means Providence was to ufe to free me from the defigns the king was apparently meditating againfl me. I was more confirmed in the belief of thefe bad intentions, by a converfation he had with Hagi Belal, to whom he faid, That he was very credibly informed I had along with me above 2000 ounces of gold, befides a quantity of filver, and rich embroideries from India, from which lall place, and not from Cairo, I was come as a merchant,, and not a phyfician, I refolved, therefore, to keep clofe at home, and to put into fome form the obfervations that I had* I had made upon this extraordinary government; a monarchy that had flatted up, as it were, in our days, and of which no traveller has as yet given the fmallcfl account. CHAP. CHAP.. IX, Converfatlons withAchmet—Hi/lory and Government of Sennaar—Heat— Difeafes—Trade of that Country—The Author s d'f}re(fed Situation-Leaves Sennaar* FROM Salidan's time, till the conqueft of Selim emperor of the Turks, who finimed the reign of the Ma-malukes by the murder of Tomum Bey, that is, from the twelfth to the fixteenth century, the Arabs in Nubia and Beja, and the feveral countries above Egypt, had been incorpora-ted with the old indigenous inhabitants of thofe territories, which were the Shepherds, and, upon converfion of thefe lafl to the Mahometan religion, had become one people with thofe Saracens who over-ran this country in the Khalifat of Omar, The only diftincfion that remained was, that the Arabs continued their old manner of life in tents, while the indigenous inhabitants lived in huts, moftly by the fides of rivers, and among plantations of date-trees. It muft be, however, remembered, that this, though a pretty general obfervation, does not hold without exception ; for the Arabs of Mahomet's own family, the Beni Koreifh, moilly lived in towns, fuch as Mecca, Tajef, and Medina, efpecially after the expulfion of the Jews and the cftablifhment of his empire. Many alfo of thefe, who came over to Beja and the eaflern part of Nubia, continued their practice of living in fmall towns or villages, and were diftinguifhed by the name of Jahelecn : This appellation, literally interpreted, fignifies Pagans; but by extention, the ancient races of Arabs converted immediately from Pa-ganifm to the Mahometan faith, by Mahomet himfelf, without having ever embraced Chriftianity, or any other Pagan fuperllition bcfides pure Sabaifm, and this was the old religion of Arabia, and of the whole peninfula of Africa to the Wellern Ocean. Thefe Jaheleen are generally known by their name, referring to men of coniidcration in the time of Mahomet's life, whom they call their father, or to fome circumftance relating to Mahomet himfelf. An example of the firft of the race is, Rabatab, that is, Rabat ueas our father,ox, " wc are the children of Rabat." An example of the fecond is the Macabrab, or, the frpukhrc is our father, meaning the fepulchre of their prophet at Medina. These Jahelecn are, as I have faid, truly noble Arabs of die race of Beni Koreifh. Though they live in villages, they are the mofl dangerous and mod fanatic wretches a traveller can meet. All this country, though nominally fubject to Egypt for the fake of trade, had their own prince of the race of Beni Koreifh, whofe title was Welled Ageeb,5o« of the Good, which was his general inauguration name; and, bc-frdes this, he was called Ali, or Mahomet Welled Ageeb, a which which is part of his title, or, as it were, his Chriflian name added to that of his family. This prince was, neverthelefs, but the Shekh of all the Arabs, to whom they paid a tribute to enable him to maintain his dignity, and a fufficicnt flrength to keep up order and inforce his decrees in public matters. As for ceconomical ones, cacluribe was under the government of its own Shekh, old men, fathers of families in each clan. The refidcnce of this Arab prince, called for fhortnefs Wed Agccb, was at Gerri, a town in the very limits of the tropical rains, immediately upon the ferry which leads a-crofs the Nile to the defert of Bahiouda, and the road to Don-gola and Egypt, joining the great defert of Selima. This was a very well-chofen fituation, it being a toll-gate, as it were, to catch all the Arabs that had flocks, who, living within the rains in the country which was all of fat earth, were every year, about the month of May, obliged by the fly to pafs, as it were, in review, to take up their abode in the fandy defert without the tropical rains. By the time fair weather returned in the fertile part of the country to the fouthward, and freed them from the fly, all forts of verdure had grown up in great luxuriancy, while hunger flared them now in the face among the lands to the north* ward, where every thing eatable had been confumed by the multitudes of cattle that had taken refuge there. The Arab cinev, with a large army of light, unincumbered horfe, flood in the way of their return to their pailures, till they had paid the uttermoil farthing of tribute, including arrears, if any there were. Such was the Hate and government of the whole of this vafl country, from the frontiers of Vot. iv. 3 m f-gypt Egypt to thofe of Abyfllnia, at the beginning of the 16th century. In the year 1504, a black nation, hitherto unknown, inhabiting the wcflern banks of the Bahar el Abiad, in about latitude 130, made a defcent, in a multitude of canoes, or boats, upon the Arab provinces, and fn a battle near Herbagi, they defeated Wed Ageeb, and forced him to a capitulation, by which the Arabs were to pay to their conquerors, in the beginning, one half of their Rock, and every fubfequent year, one-half of the increafe, which was to be levied at the time of their palling into the fands to avoid the lly. Upon this condition, the Arabs were to enjoy their former poffef-fions unmolefled, and Wed Ageeb his place and dignity, that he always might be ready to ufe coercion in favour of the conquerors, in cafe any of the diftant Arabs refufed payment, and he thus became as it were their lieutenant. This race of negroes is, in their own country, called! Shillook. They founded Sennaar, lefs advantageoufly fitu-ated than Gerri, and removed the feat of government of Wed Ageeb to Herbagi, that he might be more immediately under their own eye. It was the year 1504 of the Chriflian sera that Amru, fon of Adelan, the firft of their fovereigns on the eaflern fide of the Nile, founded this monarchy, and built Sennaar, which hath ever fince been the capital, from this period, till the time when I was at Sennaar, 266 years had clapfcd, in which 20 kings had reigned, that is, from Amru the firft, to Ifmain the prefent king. He was about 34 years of age, and had reigned three years, fo that, not-withflanding the long reigns of Amba Rabat the firil, and the two Baadys, the duration of the reigns of the kings of Sennaar Sennaar will be but 13 years upon an average ; eight of the twenty have been depofed, and Ifmain the prefent king Hands the fairefl chance poflible of being very foon the 587 Douro, his fon, depofed, 3 159° Tiby, fon of Abdelcader, 3 J593 Ounfa, depofed, 13 1606 AViclcader, fon of Ounfa, depofed, 4 1610 Adelan, fon of Ounfa, depofed, 5 1615 Baady, fon of Abdelcader, 6 1621 Rebat, fon of Baady, 3° 1651 Baady, his fon, , 38 1689 Ounfa, fon of Naffer fon of Rebat, 12 1701 Baady el Achmer, his fon, 25 1726 Cunfa, his fon, depofed, 3 1729 L'Cul, fon of Baady, 4 !733 Baady, his fon, depofed, 33 1766 Nailer, his fon, depofed, 3 1769 Ifinain, 3 ' 1772 Although Although thefe kings began with a very remarkable conqucft, it does not appear they added much to their kingdom afterwards. Ounfa, fon of Naffer, is laid to have firft ftibdued the province of Fazuclo. I mall but make three obfervations upon this lift, which is undoubtedly authentic. The firft is, that this monarchy having been efta-blilhcd in the 1504, it muft anfwer to the 9th year of the reign of Naod in the Abyflinian annals, as that prince began to reign in 1495.—The fecond is, that. Tecla Haimanout, the fon of Yafous the Great, writing to Baady el Achmer, or the White, who was the fon of Ounfa, about the murder of M. du Roule the French Ambaffador, in the beginning of this century, fpcaks of the ancient friendfhip that had fubfiiied between the kings of Abyffinia and thofe of Sennaar, ever fince the reign of Kim, whom he mentions as one of Baady's remote predeceflors on the throne of Sennaar Now, in the whole lift of kings we have juft given, we do not find one of the name of Kim ; nor is there one word mentioned of a king of Sennaar, or a treaty with him, in the whole annals of Abyiiinia, till the beginning of Socinios's reign. I therefore imagine that the Kim *, which Tecla Haimanout informs us his prcdeccflbrs corresponded with in ancient times, was a prince, who, under the command of the Caliph of Cairowan, in the kingdom of Tunis in Africa, took Cairo and fortified it, by furrounding it with a flrong wall, and who reigned, by himfelf and fucceffors, 100 years, from 998 to 1101, when Iladec, the laft prince of that race, was flain by Salidan, firft: Vol IV. 3 N Soldan * Vid. Mnrmo]> torn. I p. 274, Soldan of Egypt, with which country the Abyflinians at that time were in conflant correfpondence, though I never heard they were with Sennaar, which indeed did not exifl at that time, nor was there cither city or kingdom till the reign of Naod ; fo it was a correfpondence with the fovc-rcigns of Cairo, Tecla Haimanout miflook for that with Sennaar, which monarchy was not then founded.—The third obfervation is, that this Baady el Achmcr, being the very king who murdered M du Roule in 1704, did, neverthelcfs, live till the year 1726, having reigned 25 years; whereas M. dc Maillct * writes to his court, that this prince had been defeated and flain in a battle he had with the Arabs, under their Shekh at Herbagi in 1705. Upon the death of a king of Sennaar, his cldcfl fon" fuc-cccds by right; and immediately afterwards as many of the brothers of the reigning prince as can be apprehended are put to death by the Sid el Coom, in the manner already defcribed. Achmet, one of the fons of Baady, brother of Naffer, and Ifmain now on the throne, fled,upon his brother's acceffion, to the frontiers of Kuara, and gathering together about a hundred of the Chin jar horfe, he came to Gondar, and was kindly received by the Iteghe, who pcrfua-ded him to be bjptifed. Some time after he returned to Kuara, and joined the king's army a little before the battle of Serbraxos, with about the fame number of horfe, and there he mifbehaved, taking flight upon the firft appearance * Vid. Conful Maulers letter to the French ftmbafladw pubJifhed ly Lc Grand* in his Hiflory of Abyflinia. THE SO URGE OF THE NILE. 467 pearancc of the enemy, before a man was killed or wounded on either liclc. He was graceful in his perfon and carriage, but a liar and drunkard beyond all conception. The practice which obtains at Sennaar of murdering all the collaterals of the royal family, feems to be but a part of the fame idea1'' which prevails in Abyiiinia, of confining the princes all their lives upon a mountain. The difference of treatment, in cafes perfectly parallel, feems to oiler a jud manner of judging, how much the one people furpafles the other in barbarity of manners and difpofition. In Abyffinia, the princes are confined for life on a mountain, and in Sennaar they are murdered in their father's fight, in the palace where they were born. As in Abyflinia, fo neither in Sennaar do women fucceed to fovereignty. No hiftorical rcafon is given for this exclu-iion. It probably was a rule brought from Fl-aice, their own country, before founding their monarchy, for the very contrary prevailed among the Shepherds, whom they fub-dued in Atbara. The princefFes, however, in AbyfFmia, are upon a much better footing than thofe of Sennaar. Thefe laft have no Hate nor fettled income, and arc regarded very little more than the daughters of private individuals. A-mong that crowd of women which I faw the two nights I was in the palace, there were many princefFes, fifters of the king, as I was after told. At that time they were not di-flinguifhable by their manners, nor was any particular mark of rcfpccT fhewn them. 3 N 2 The * Be5F, like the Turk, no brother near the throne. The royal family were originally Negroes, and remain fo dill, when their mothers have been black like themfelves;. but when the king has happened to marry an Arab woman, as he often does, the black colour of the father cedes to the white or the mother, and the child is white. Such was the cafe of Baady, therefore named Achmer; his father Rebat was black, but marrying an Arab, his fon who fuccecded him was white. The lad Baady who was dain at Teawa was a perfect Negro ; and by a Have from his own country he had the late king Nader, who, like his father, was a perfect black. By an Arab of the tribe of Daveina he had I (main the prefent king, who is white, and fo it has invariably happened in the royal family, as well as in private ones. But what is dill more extraordinary, though equally true, an Arab who is white, marrying a black woman Have, lias infallibly white children* I will not fay that this is fo univerfal as that an example of the contrary may not be found, but all the inftanccs I happened to fee confirmed this. The Arabs, from choice, cohabit only with Negro women in the hot months of fummer, on account of the remarkable coolnefs of their fkins, in which they are faid to differ from the Arab women ; but I never faw one black Aral) in the kingdom of Sennaar, notwithftanding the generality of this intercourfe. There is a conftant mortality among the children in and about this metropolis, infomuch that, in all appearance, the people would be extinct were they not fupplied by a number of daves brought from all the different countries to the fouthward. The men, however, are flrong and remarkable for fize, but fhort-lived, owing, probably, to meir indulging themfelves in every fort of excefs from their their very infancy. This being the cafe, this climate mull have undergone a ftrangc revolution, as Sennaar is but a fmall diftance from where the ancients place the Macrobii, a nation fo called from the remarkable length of their lives. But perhaps thefe were mountaineers from the frontiers of Kuara, being defcribed as having gold in their territory, and are the race now called Cuba. It is very remarkable, that, though they are Mahometans, they are fo brutal, not to fay indelicate, with regard to their women, that they fell their Haves after having lived with, and even had children by them. The king himfelf, it is faid, is often guilty of this unnatural practice, utterly unknown in any other Mahometan country. Once in his reign the king is obliged, with his own hand, to plow and low a piece of land. From this operation he is called Baady, the countryman or pcafant; ic is a name common to the whole race of kings, as Cadar was among the Romans, though they have generally another name peculiar to each perfon, and this not attended to has occaftoned confufion in the narrative given by llrangcrs writing concerning them. No horfe, mule, afs, or any beaft of burden, will breed, or even live at Sennaar, or many miles about it. Poultry does not live there. Neither dog nor cat, fheep nor bullock, can be preferved a feafon there. They muft go all, every half year, to the fands. Though all poflible care be taken of them, they die in every place where the fat earth is about the town during the firft feafon of the rains. Two grey-rounds which 1 brought from Atbara, and the mules which I brought •I brougilt from Abyflinia, lived only a few weeks after I arrived. They feemed to have fome inward complaint, for nothing appeared outwardly. The dogs had abundance or water, but I killed one of them from apprehcnfion of mad-nefs. Several kings have tried to keep lions, but no care could prolong their lives beyond the firft rains. Shckh Adelan had two, which were in great health, being kept with his horfes at grafs in the fands but three miles from Sennaar: neither rofe, nor any fpecies of jeflamin, grow here ; no tree but the lemon flowers near the city, that ever I law ; the rofe has been often tried, but in vain. Sennaar is in lat. if 34' 36" north, and in long. 330 30' 30' eaft from the meridian of Greenwich. It is on the weft fide of the Nile, and clofe upon the banks of it. The ground whereon it Hands rifes juft enough to prevent the river from entering the town, even in the height of the inundation, when it comes to be even with the flreet. Poncet fays, that when he was at this city, his companion, father Bre-vedent, a Jefuit, an able mathematician, on the 21ft of March 1699, determined the latitude of Sennaar to be 13" 4' N. the difference therefore will be about half a degree. The reader however may implicitly rely upon the fituation I have given it, being the mean refult of above fifty obfer-vations, made both night and day, on the moft favourable occafions, by a quadrant of three feet radius, and telefcopes of two, and fomctimcs of three feet focal length, both reflectors and refractors made by the beft mafters. The town of Sennaar is very populous, there being in it many good houfes after the fafhion of the country. Poncet fays, in his time they were all of one ftorey high ; but now 3 fhe the great officers have all houfes of two. They have parapet roofs, which is a lingular conftruction ; for in other places, within the rains, the roofs arc all conical. The houfes are all built of clay, with very little ftraw mixed with it, which fuflicientl-y Ihews the rains here mult be lefs violent than to the fouthward, probably from the diftance of the mountains. However, when 1 was there, a week of con-ftant rain happened, and on the 30th of July the Nile increa-fed violently, after loud thunder, and a great darknefs to the fouth. The whole ftream was covered with wreck of houfes, canes, wooden bowls, and platters, living camels and cattle, and feveral dead ones paffed Sennaar, hurried along by the current with great velocity. A hyaena, endeavouring to crofs before the town, was furrounded and killed by the inhabitants. The water got into the houfes that ftand upon its banks, and, by rifing feveral feet high, the walls melted, being clay, which occafioned feveral of them to fall. It fecmed, by the floating wreck of houfes that appeared in the ftream, to have deftroyed a great many villages to the fouthward towards Fazuclo. The foil of Sennaar, as I have already faid, is very unfavourable both to man and beaft, and particularly adverfc to their propagation. This feems to me to be owing to fome noxious quality of the fat earth with which it is every way furrounded, and nothing may be depended upon more furc-ly than the fact already mentioned, that no mare, or flic-beaft of burden, ever foaled in the town, or in any village within feveral miles round it. This remarkable quality ceafes upon removing from the fertile country to the fands, Aira, between three and four miles from Sennaar, with no water near it but the Nile, furroimdcd with white barren fand- fane!, agree? perfectly with all animals, and here are the quarters where 1 faw Shekh Adelan the miniiler's horfe, (as I fuppofe, for their numbers) by far the fmeft in the world, where in fafety he watched the motion of his fovereign, who, fliut up in his capital of Sennaar, could not there maintain one horfe to oppofe him. Hut however unfavourable this foil may be for the propagation of animals, it contributes very abundantly both to the nourifhment of man and beafh It is pofittvely faid to render three hundred for one, which, however confidently advanced,is, I think,both from rcafon and appearance, a great exaggeration. It is all fown with dora, or millet, the principal food of the natives. It produces alfo wheat and rice, but thefe at Sennaar are fold by the pound, even in years of plenty. The fait made ufe of at Sennaar is all extracted from the earth about it, efpecially at Halfaia, fo flrongly is the foil impregnated with this ufeful fofhle. About twelve miles from Sennaar, nearly to the N. \V. is a collection of villages called Shaddly, from a great faint, who in his time directed large pits to be dug, and plailered clofely within with clay, into which a quantity of grain was put when it was at the cheapen, and thefe were covered up, and plailered again at the top, which they call fealing, and the hole irfelf matamore. Thefe matamores are in great number all over the plain, and, on any profpeet of corn growing dearer, the}- are opened, and corn fo.d at a low price both to the town and country. To the north of Shaddly, about twenty-four miles, is a-xiother foundation of this fort, called Wed Aboud, flill great-2 cr cr than Shaddly. Upon thefe two chanties the chief fub-fiftcnce of the Arabs depends; for as there is continual war among thefe people, and their violence being always directed againfl the crops rather than the perfons of their enemies, the deftrucTion of each tribe would follow the lofs of its harvcit, was it not for the extraordinary fupplies f urnifhed at fuch times by thefe granaries. The fmall villages of foldiers are fcattcred up and down through this immenfe plain to watch the grain that is fown, which is doi'a only, and it is faid that here the ground will produce no other grain. Prodigious excavations are made at proper diltances, which fill with water in the rainy feafon, and are a great relief to the Arabs in their pafFage between the cultivated country and the fands. The fly, that inexorable perfecutor of the Arabs, never purfues them to the north of Shaddly. The knowledge of this circumftancc was what, perhaps, determined the firft builders of Sennaar to place their capital here ; this too, probably, induced the two faints, Shaddly and Wed Aboud, to make here thefe vaft excavations for corn and water. This is the firft re fling-place the Arabs find, where, having all things neccflary for fubfiftencc, they can at leifurc tranfact their affairs with government. To the wcflward of Shaddly and Aboud, as far as the river Abiad, or El-aice, the country is full of trees, which make it a favourite dation for camels. As Shaddly is not above three hours ride on horfeback from Sennaar, there could not be chofen a fituation more convenient for levying the tribute ; for though Gerri, from the favourable fituation of the ground, being mountainous and rocky, and juft on the ex-Vol. IV. 3 O tremity tremity of the *ains, was a place properly chofen for this purpofe by the Arab prince before the conquefl of the Funge, (for his troops there cut them off, either from the fands, or the fertile country, as he pleafed), yet many of them might have remained behind at Shaddly, and to the weftward, free from the terror of the fly, and consequently without any neccflity of advancing fo far north as Gerri, and there fubjecfing themfelves to contribution. In this extenfive plain, near Shaddly, arife two mountainous diftriels, the one called Jibbel Moia, or the Mountain of Water, which is a ridge of confiderable hills nearly of the fame height, clofely united; and the other Jibbel Segud, or the Cold Mountain, a broken ridge compofed of parts, fome high and fome low, without any regular form. Both thefe enjoy a fine climate, and are full of inhabitants, but of no confiderable extent. They ferve for a protection to the Daheera, or farms of Shaddly and Wed Aboud. They are alfo fortreffes in the way of the Arabs, to detain and force them to payment in their flight from the cultivated country and rains to the dry lands of Atbara. Each of thefe dif-tricts is governed by the defcendant of their ancient and native princes, who long refiftcd all the power of the Arabs, having both horfe and foot.. They continued to be Pagans till the conqueft of the Funge. Bloody and unnatural Sacrifices were faid to have been in ufe in thefe mountainous ftates, with horrid circumflances of cruelty, till Abdelcader, fcn of Amru, the third of the kings of Sennaar, about the year 1554, befieged firft the one and then the other of thefe princes in their mountain,, and forced them to furrender; and, having fattened a chain of gold to each of their ears,. he he expofed them in the public market-place at Sennaar in that lituation, and fold them to the higheft bidder, at the vile price of fomething like a farthing each. After this degradation, being circumcifed, and converted to the Mahometan religion, they were reftored each to their government, as flaves of Sennaar, upon very eafy conditions of tribute, and have been faithful ever fince. Nothing is morepleafantthanthecountry aroundSennaar, in the end of Auguit and beginning of September, I mean fo far as the eye is concerned; inftead of that barren, bare wafle, which it appeared on our arrival in May, the corn now fprung up, and covering the ground, made the whole of this immenfe plain appear a level, green land, imerfperfed with great lakes of water, and ornamented at certain intervals with groups of villages, the conical tops of the houfes prefenting, at a diflance, the appearance of fmall encampments. Through this immenfe, extenfivc plain, winds the Nile, a delightful river there, above a mile broad, full to the very brim, but never overflowing. Every where on thefe banks are feen numerous herds of the mofl beautiful cattle of various kinds, the tribute recently extorted from the. Arabs, who, freed from ali their vexations, return home with the remainder of their flocks in peace, at as great a diflance from the town, country, and their opprcfFors> as they poffibly can. i The banks of the Nile about Sennaar rcfemble the pica-fantefl parts of Holland in the fummef feafon ; but foon after, when the rains ccafe, and the fun exerts his utmofl influence, the dora begins to ripen, the leaves to turn yellow and to rot, the lakes to putrify, fmell, and be full of 2>0 2 vermin* vermin, all this beauty fuddenly difappears; bare, fcorchctl Nubia returns, and all its terrors of poifonous winds and moving fands, glowing and ventilated with fultry Wafts, which are followed by a troop of terrible attendants, epilcpfies, apoplexies, violent fevers, obftinate agues, and lingering, painful dyfenteries, flill more obftinate and mortal. War and treafon fcem to be the only employment of this horrid people, whom Heaven has feparated, by almoft impaffable deferts, from the red of mankind, confining them to an accurfed fpot, feemingly to give them earned in time of the onlv other worfe which he has referved to them for an eternal hereafter. The drefs of Sennaar is very dmple. It confids of a long fhirt of blue Surat cloth called Marowty, which covers them from the lower part of the neck down to their feet, but does not conceal the neck itfelf; and this is the only difference between the men's and the women's drefs; that of the women covers their neck altogether, being buttoned like ours. The men have fometimes a fafli tied about their middle; and both men and women go barefooted in the houfe, even thofe of the better fort of people. Their doors are covered with Perfian carpets, efpecially the women's apartments. In fair weather, they wear fan dais ; and without doors they ufe a kind of wooden patten, very neatly ornamented with fhells. In the greatcd heat at noon, they order buckets of water to be thrown upon them indcad of bathing. Both men and women anoint themfelves, at lead once a-day, with camels greafe mixed with civet,, which they imagine foftens their fkin, and prefcrves, then* them from cutaneous eruptions, of which they are fo fearful, that the fmalleft pimple in any viable part of their body keeps them in the houfe till it difappears: For the fame reafon, though they have a clean fhirt every day, they ufe one dipt in greafe to lie in all night, as they have no covering but this, and lie upon a bulfs hide, tanned, and very much fofcened by this conftant greafmg, and at the fame time very cool, though it occafions a fmell that no warning can free them from. The principal diet of the poorer fort is millet, made into bread or flour. The rich make a pudding of this, toad-ing the flour before the fire, and pouring milk and butter into it; belides which, they eat beef, partly roafled and partly raw. Their horned cattle are the largefl and fattefl in the world, and are exceedingly fine; but the common meat fold in the market is camels nefh. The liver of the animal, and the fpare rib, are always eaten raw through the whole country. I never faw one indance where it was dreffed with lire: it is not then true that eating raw ilefh is peculiar to Abyiiinia ; it is practifed in this inftance of camels flelh in ail the black countries to the weftward. Hogs flcfh is not fold in the market; but all the people of Sennaar eat it publicly: men in office, who pretend to be Mahometans, cat theirs in fecret. The Mahometan religion made a very remarkable progrefs among the Jews and Chriflians on the Arabian, or caflern fide of the Red Sea, and foon after alfo in Egypt ; but it was cither received coolly, or not at ail, by the Pagans on the wed fide, unlefs when, after a fignal victory, it was drongly enforced by the fword of the conqueror. The The Saracens, who over-ran this country, were bigots in their religion, as their poflerity continue to be at this day. They have preferved the language of the Koran in its ancient purity, and adhere rigidly to the letter of its precepts. They either extirpated the Pagans, or converted them ; but this power and tyranny of the Saracens received a check, both in Egypt and Arabia, about the 16th century, by Selim, who eftablifhed Turkifh garrifons in all their principal places on the frontiers of Beja, or Barbaria, and in the Ber el Ajam,or ancient Azamia, along the well coall of the Red Sea. These Turks were all truly atheifls in their hearts, who defpifed the zeal of the Arabs, and opprelfed them fo, that Paganifm again ventured to fliew its head. The Shillook, as I have faid before, made an eruption into Beja, and conquered the whole of that country. Triey became mailers of the Arabs, and embraced their religion as a form, but never anxioufly followed the law of Mahomet, which did not hold out to them that liberty and relaxation by which it had tempted the jews and Chriflians. Thefe the law of Mahomet had freed from many reftraints upon pleafures and purfuits forbidden by the gofpel, and thus made their yoke eafier. But it wras not fo with the Pagan nations. The Mahometan religion diminifhed their natural liberty, by impoiing prayers, ablutions, alms, circumcifion, and fuch-like, to which before they were under no obligation. The Pagans therefore of Sennaar, and all the little Rates to the well-ward, Dar-Fowr, Dar-Scle, Bagirma, Bornou, and Tombucto, and all that country upon the Niger, called Sudan, trouble themfelves very little with the detail of the Mahometan religion, which they embraced merely for the fake of pcr-4 fonal fonal freedom and advantages in trade; but they are Pagans in their hearts and in their practices, Mahometans in their converfation only. As for the fons of thefe, they are Pagans like their fathers, unlefs fome Fakir, or Arab faint, takes pains to inflruct and teach them to read, otherwife the whole of their religion confifts in the confellion of faith, " La Illah el Ullah, Mahomet Rafbul Ullah,"—" There is " but one God, and Mahomet is his prophet." There are three principal governments in the kingdom of Sennaar. The firfl is at El-aice, the capital of that country, from which the Shillook come. The Bahar el Abiad fpreads itfelf all over the territory, and, divided into a quantity of fmall channels, (whether by art or nature I know not) furrounds a number of little iilands,upon each of which is a village, and this collection of villages is called the town of El-aice. The inhabitants are all fdhermen, and have a number of boats, like canoes, in which they fail up and down to the cataracts. With incredible fleets of thefe their invafion was made when they undertook the conquefl of the Arabs, who had not the fmallefl warning of the attempt. They had, at that time, no weapons of iron: their fwords and lances were of a hard wood called Dengui-Sibbcr. It muff be a relation of the Mek of Sennaar that commands at Ehaice ; and he is never fuffered to leave that poft, or come to Sennaar. The fecond government, next to this in importance, is Kordofan. The revenue confdls chiefly in flaves procured from Dyre and Tegla. It feems this fituation is the mofl convenient for invading thofe mountains, either from its having water in the way, or from fome other circumltance that that is not known. Mahomet Abou Kalec had this government, and with him about iooo black horfe, armed with coats of mail, with whom he maintained himfelf at this time independent of the king. It is a frontier nearer! to Dar-Fowr, a black Rate flill more barbarous, if poflible, than Sennaar, and by them it often has been taken from Sennaar, and again retaken. The third government is Fazuclo, bounded by the river El-aicc on the well, and the Nile on theeafl, and the mountains of Fazuclo, where are the great cataracts, on the fouth. Thefe arc part of the large chain of mountains of Dyre and Tegla, which reach fo far weftward into the continent, from whence comes the chief fupply both of gold and flaves which conftitute the riches of this country ; for the greatefl part of the revenue of Fazuclo is gold ; and the perfon that commands it is not a Funge, but the fame native prince from whom the army of Sennaar conquered it. This feems to be a very remarkable piece of policy in this barbarous nation, which mull have fuccecded, as they conflantly adhere to it, of making the prince of the ftate they have conquered their lieutenant in the government of his own country afterwards. Such was the cafe with Dongola, whofe Mek they continue ; alfo with Wed Ageeb, prince of the Arabs, whom they fubdued ; and fuch was the cafe with Fazuclo, Wed Aboud, Jibbel Moia, and other petty Rates, all of which they conquered, but did not change their prince. The forces at Sennaar, immediately around the capital, confift of about 14,000 Nuba, who fight naked, having no other armour but a fhort javelin and a round fhield, very |>ad troops, as I fuppofe ; about 1800 horfe, all black, mount-1 cd cd by black flaves, armed with coats of mail, and without any other weapon but a broad Sclavonian fword. Thefe I fuppofe,by the weight and power of man and horfe, would bear down, or break through double the number of any other troops in the world: nobody, that has not feen this cavalry, can have any idea to what perfection the horfe riles here. The Mek has not one mufket in his whole army, Befides thefe horfe, there is a great, but uncertain number of Arabs, who pay their tribute immediately to the Mek and to the great men in government, and live under their protection clofe by the town, and thereby have the advantage of trading with it, of fupplying it with provifions, and, no doubt, mull contribute in part to its flrength and defence in time of need. After what I have faid of the latitude of Sennaar, it will fcarcely be neceffary to repeat that the heats are exceflivc. The thermometer rifes in the fhade to 119", but as I have obferved of the heats of Arabia, fo now I do in refpcct to thofe of Sennaar. The degree of the thermometer does not convey any idea of the effect the fun has upon the feufa-tions of the body or the colour of the fkin. Nations of blacks live within lat. 130 and 140, when io' fouth of them, nearly under the Line, all the people arc white, as we had an opportunity of feeing daily in the Galla, whom we have defcribed. Sennaar, which is in lat 130, is hotter, by the thermometer, 50 degrees, when the fun is mofl diltant from it, than Gondar is, though a degree farther fouth, when the fun is vertical. Cold and hot are terms merely relative, not determined by the latitude, but elevation of the place ; when, therefore, we Vol. IV. 3 P fay fay hot, fome other explanation is ncceffary concerning the place where we are, in order to give an adequate idea of the fenfations of that heat upon the body, and the effects of it upon the lungs. The degree of the thermometer conveys this very imperfectly ; 90° is cxccffively hot at Loheia in Arabia Felix, and yet the latitude of Loheia is but 150, whereas 90" at Sennaar is, as to fenfe, only warm, although Sennaar, as we have faid, is in lat. 130.. At Sennaar, then, I call it cold, when one, fully cloathed; and at reft, feels himfelf in want of fire, I call it cool, when one, fully cloathed and at reft, feels he could bear more covering all over, or in part, more than he has then on. I call it temperate, when a man, fo cloathed and at reft, feels;no fuch want, and can take moderate exercife, fuch as walking about a room without fwearing. I call it warm, when a man, fo cloathed, does not fweat when at reft, but, upon moderate motion, fweats', and again cools. I call it hot, when a man fweats at reft, and exceflively on moderate motion. I call it very hot, when a man, with thin or little cloathing, fweats much though at reft. I call it exeejfive hot, when a man, in his fhirt, at reft, fweats excefiively, when all motion is painful, and the knees feel feeble as if after a fever. I call it extreme hot, when the ftrength fails, a difpofition to faint comes on, a ftraitnefs is found in the temples, as if a fmall cord was drawn tight around the head, the voice impaired, the fkin dry, and the head feems more than ordinary large and light. This, I apprehend, denotes death at handj as we have feen in the inftance of Imhanzara, in our journey to Teawa ; but this is rarely or never effected by the fun alone, without the addition of that poifonous wind which purfued us through Atbara, and will be more particularly defcribed in our journeys journey down the defert, to which Heaven, in pity to mankind, has confined it, and where it has, no doubt, contributed to the total extinction of every thing that hath the breath of life. A thermometer graduated upon this fcale would exhibit a figure very different from the common one ; fori am convinced by experiment, that a web of the fincfl muf-lin, wrapt round the body at LSennaar, will occafion at midday a greater fenfation of heat in the body than the rife of 5° in the thermometer of Fahrenheit. At Sennaar, from 700 to 780 in Fahrenheit's thermometer is cool; from 79° to 920 temperate ; at 920 begins warm. Although the degree of the thermometer marks a greater heat than is felt by the body of us flrangers, it feems to me that the fenfations of the natives bear Rill a lefs proportion to that degree than ours. On the 2d of Auguif, while I was lying perfectly enervated on a carpet, in a room deluged with water, at twelve o'clock, the thermometer at 1160, I faw feveral black labourers pulling down a houfe, working with great vigour, without any fymptoms of being at all incommoded. The difcafes of Sennaar are the dyfentery, or bloody flux, fatal in proportion as it begins with the firif of the rains, or the end of them, and return of the fair weather. Intermit-ting fevers accompany this complaint very frequently, which often ends in them. Bark is a fovereign remedy in this country, and feems to be by fo much the furer, that it purges on taking the firft doze, and this it does almoft without exception. Epilcpfics and fchirrous livers are likewife very frequent, owing, as is fuppofed, to their defeating or diminifhing perfpiration, or flopping the pores by conllanr 3 P 2 unction unction, as alfo by the quantity of water they deluge themfelves with at the time they are hottefh The influence of the moon in epilepftes, and the certainty with which the third day after the conjunction brings back the paroxyfm in regular intermitting fevers, is what naturally furprifes people not deeper read than I am in the Rudy of medicine, Thofe who live much in camps, or in the parts of Atbara far from rivers, have certainly, more or lefs, the gravel, occafioned, probably, by the ufe of well-water ; for at Sennaar, where they drink of the river, I never faw but one inftance of it, that of the Sid el Coom; as for Shekh Ibrahim, whom I fliall fpeak of afterwards, he had pafled a great part of his life at Kordofan. The venereal difeafe is frequent here, but never inveterate, infomuch that it docs not prevent the marriage of either fex. Sweating and abllinence never fail to cure it, although, where it had continued for a time, I have known mercury faih The elephantiafis, fo common in Abyflinia, is not known here. The fmall-pox is a difeafe not endemial in the country of Sennaar. It is fometimes twelve or fifteen years without its being known, notwithftanding the conftant in-tcrcourfe they have with, and merchandizes they bring from Arabia. It is likewife faid this difeafe never broke out in Sennaar, unlefs in the rainy feafon, However, when it comes, it fweeps away a vail proportion of thofe that are infected : The women, both blacks and Arabs, thofe of the former that live in plains, like the Shillook, or inhabitants of Efaice, thofe of the Nuba and Cuba, that live in mountains, all the various fpecies of flaves that come from Pyre and Tegla, from time immemorial have known a fpecies of inoculation winch they call Tifhtercc el Jiddcree, or, the buying buying of the fmall pox. The women are the conductors of this operation in the fairefl and drieft feafon of the year, but never at other times. Upon the firft hearing of the fmall pox any where, thefe people go to the infected place, and, wrapping a fillet of cotton cloth about the arm of the perfon infected, they let it remain there tillthey bargain with the mother how many fhe is to fell them. It is neceffary that the terms be difcuffcd judaically, and that the bargain be not made collufively or gratuitoufly, but that one piece of filver, or more, be paid for the number. This being concluded, they go home, and tie the fillet about their own child's arm; certain, as they fay, from long experience, that the child infected is to do well, and not to have one more than the number of puflules that were agreed and paid for. There is no example, as far as I could learn, either here or in Abyflinia, of this difeafe returning, that is, attacking any one perfon more than once. The trade of Sennaar is not great; they have no manu^ facturcs, but the principal article of confumption is blue cotton cloth from Surat. Formerly, when the ways were open, and merchants went in caravans with fafety, Indian goods were brought in quantities to Sennaar from Jidda, and then difperfed over the black country. The return was made in gold, in powder called Tibbar, civet, rhinoceros's horns, ivory, oftrich feathers, and, above all, in Haves or glafs, more of which was exported from Sennaar than all the call of Africa together. But this trade is almoft deflroy-ed, fo is that of the gold and ivory. However, the gold Rill keeps up its reputation of being the purefl and befl in Africa, and therefore bought at Mocha to be carried to India^, India, where it all at laft centers. If the wakea of AbylTi-nian gold fells at 16 patakas, the Sennaar gold fells at the fame place for 22 patakas. The ivory fells at i~ oz. * per rotol at Cairo, which is about 25 per cent lighter than the rotol of Mocha. Men-iiaves, at a medium, may be about a wakea per head at Sennaar. There are women, however, who fell for 13 or 14 wakeas. What their peculiar excellencies may be, which fo far alters the price,I cannot tell, only they are preferred by rich people, both Turks and Moors, to the Arab, Circailian, and Georgian women, during the warm months in fummer. The Daveina Arabs, who are great hunters, carry the ivory to Abyiiinia, where they are not in fear. But no caravan comes now from Sudan f to Sennaar, nor from Abyffinia or Cairo. The violence of the Arabs, and the faithlefs-nefs of the government of Sennaar, have lhut them up on every fide but that of Jidda, whether they go once a-year by Suakem. The wakea of Sennaar, by which they fell gold, civet, fcented oils, &c. confifts of 10 drams; 10 of thefe wakeas make a rotol. This wakea at Sennaar is accounted the fame as that of Maluah and Cairo. It is equal to 7 drams 57 grains troy weight. 1 Rotol 10 Wakeas. 1 Wakea 10 Drams. But * Ounce of gold is hen- intant. j-Nigrltia, or the black countries on both fides of the Niger. But there is another wakea ufed by the merchants called the Atareys. i Rotol 12 Wakeas, i Wakea 12 Drams. But this is only ufed for coarfe goods. There is but one long meafure in Sennaar, called the Draa, which is the peck, or cubit, and is meafured from the center of the elbow-joint to the point of the middle finger. This is probably the ancient cubit of Egypt, and of the holy fcrip-ture. i have faid, that the 5th and 6th of Augufl it rained, and the river brought down great quantities of fragments of houfes which it had fwept away from the country to the fouthward. It was a very unufual fight to obferve a multitude of menfwimming in this violent current, and then coming afhorc riding upon flicks and pieces of timber. Many people make a trade of this, as fuel is exceedingly fcarce at Sennaar. But there were other ftgns in this inundation, that occupied the imagination of this fuperftitious people. Part of the town had fallen, and a hyaena, as already obferved, had come alive acrofs the river, from which the wife ones drew melancholy prefages. I had not been out of the houfe for two days on account of the rain. On the 7th I intended to have gone to Aira; but on the morning was told by Hagi Belal, that Mahomet Abou Kalec had advanced to the river El-aice, to crofs it into Atbara, and that Shekh Adelan had decamped from Aira, and was gone to meet him ; to this it was added, that Wed 2 Ageeb- Ageeb had been fent to by the king, to collect all his forces among the Arabs, and join him between Herbagi and Sennaar. It was forefeen, that if this was true, a revolution of fome kind was near at hand, probably the depofing and death of the king, and that, in the interim, all fubordina-tion would ceafe in the town, and every man do what feemed good in his own eyes. Hagi Belal had, befidcs, told me that Shekh Fidele of Teawa had been feveral days in the palace with the king, and had informed him that I was laden with money, belides a quantity of cloth of gold, the richefl he had ever feen, which the king of Abyflinia had deflined as a prefent to him, but which I had perverted to my own ufe : He added, that the king had cxpreffed himfelf in a very threatening manner, and that he was very much afraid I was not in fafety if Shekh Adelan was gone from Aira. Upon this I defired Hagi Belal to go to the palace, and obtain for me an audience of the king. In vain he reprefented to me the riik I ran by this mcafure; I perfifted in my refolution, I was tied to the Rake. To fly was impoflible, and I had often overcome fuch dangers by braving them. He went then unwillingly to the palace. Whether he delivered the meffage I know not, but he returned faying, the king was bufy, and could not be feen. I had, in the interim, fent Soliman to the Gindi, or Sid el Coom, telling him my difficulties, and the news I had heard. In place of returning an anfwer, he came directly to me himfelf; and was fitting with me when Hagi Belal returned, who, I thought, appeared fomewhat difconcerted at the meeting. 4 - He t He told me the {lory of Abou Kalec was falfc, as alfo that of Wed Ageeb ; but it was really true that Shekh Adelan had left Aira, and was then encamped at Shaddly. He chid Hagi Belal very fharply, afking him, what good all that tittle tattle did either to him or me? and infmuated pretty plainly, that he believed Hagi Belal did this in concert with the king, to extort fome prefent from me. " What is the difference to Yagoube, fays he, if Shekh Adelan be at Aira, three hours journey from Sennaar, or at Shaddly, five ? Is not K;ttou in town ? and fhall not I bring every flave of the king to join him upon the firil rcquifition ? At a time like this, will you perfuade me, Hagi Belal, the king is not rather thinking of his own fafety than of robbing Yagoube ? 1 do not wifh that Yagoube fhould flay a minute longer at Sennaar; but, till fome way be found to get neceffarics for his journey, it is not in the king's power to hurt him in the houfe where he is ; and he is much fafer in Sennaar than he could be any where out of it. Before the king attempts to hurt Yagoube, as long as he flays in Adelan's houfe, he will hink twice of it, while any of the three brothers are alive. But I will fpeak to Kittou in the evening, and the king too, if I have an opportunity. In the mean time, do you, Yagoube, put your mind at refl, defend yourfelf if any body attempts to enter this houfe, and do what you will to thofe that fliall force themfelves into it." I then attended him down flairs, with many profeifions of gratitude ; and at the door he faid, in a very low voice, to me, " Take care of yon Belal, he is a dog, worfe than a Chriflian." I resolved at all events to leave Sennaar, but I had not yet founded Hagi Belal as to money-affairs. It was now Voi.. IV. 3 Q^, the the 20th ; and, for feveral days fince Adelan's departure, no provifions were fent to my houfe, as before was ufual. Money therefore became abfolutely neceffary, not only for daily fubfiftence, but for camels to carry our baggage, provifions, and water, acrofs the defert. I now defpaircd abfolutely of afTiftance of any kind from the king; and an accident that happened made me lay ali thoughts afide of ever troubling him more upon the fubject. There are at Mecca a number of black eunuchs, whofe ferviccs are dedicated to that temple, and the fepul-chre at Medina. Part of thefe, from time to time, procure liberty to return on a vifit to their refpective homes, or to the large cities they were fold from, on the Niger, Bornou, Tocrur, and Tombueto, where they beg donations for the holy places, and frequently collect large fums of gold, which abounds in thefe towns and territories. One of thefe, called Mahomet Towafh, which fignifics Eunuch, had returned from a begging voyage in Sudan, or Nigritia, and was at Sennaar exceedingly ill with an intermitting fever. The king had fent for me to vifit him, and the bark in a few days had perfectly recovered him. A proportional degree of gratitude had, in return, taken place in the breafl of Mahomet, who, going to Cairo, was exceedingly defirous of taking me with him, and this defire was increafed when he heard I had letters from the flierriffe of Mecca, and was acquainted with Metical Aga, who was his immediate mafler. Nothing could be more fortunate than this rencounter at fuch a time, for he had I pare camels in great plenty, and the Arabs, as he pafled them, continued giving him more more, and fupported him with provifions wherever he went, for thefe people, being accounted facred, and regarded with a certain religious awe, as being in the immediate fervice of their prophet, till now ufed to pafs inviolate wherever they were going, however unfettled the times, or however flen-derly attended. Every thing was now ready, my inflruments and baggage packed up, and the 25th of Augufl fixed when we fliould begin our journey for Atbara. Mahomet, who paffed a great part of his time at my houfe, had not been feen by us for feveral days, which we did not think extraordinary, being bufy ourfelves, and knowing that his trade demanded continual attendance on the great people ; but wc were exceedingly furprifed at hearing from my black Soliman, that he and all his equipage had fet out the night of the 20th for Atbara. This we found afterwards was at the earneft perfuafion of the king, and was at that time a heavy difappointment to us, however fortunate it turned out afterwards. The night of the 25th, which was to have been that of our departure, we fat late in my room up flairs, in the back, or moil private part of the houfe. My little company was holding with me a melancholy council on what had fo recently happened, and, in general, upon the unpromifing face of our affairs. Our fmgle lamp was burning very low, and fuggefted to us that it was the hour of fleep, to which, however, none of us were very much inclined. Georgis, a Greek, who, on account of the forenefs of his eyes had ftaid below in the dark, and had fallen afleep, came running up flairs in a great fright, and told us he had been 3 Qj2 wakened wakened by the noife of men endeavouring to force open the door; that he hearkened a little, and fblmd there were many of them. Our arms were all ready, and we matched them up and ran towards the door; but I flopt, and planted them upon the firft landing place in the Hair-cafe, as I wiflicd not to fire till the enemy was fairly in the houfe, that no excufe might remain for this their violation of hofpitality. I stationed Ifmael at the outer door of the houfe, intend-ing that he Ihould fire firft, as it would be lefs odious in him, being a Turk and a fherriffe, than for us Chriflians* I then went out to the outer gate, and Soliman with me: The entry into the yard was through a kind of porters lodge, where fervants ufed to fit in the, day. time, and fleep at night. It had a door from the flreet, and then another into the yard, the latter fmall, but very flrong. They had forced the outer gate, and were then in the lodge, endeavouring to do the fame by the inner, having put a handfpike under it to lift it up from the hinges. " Are you not madmen, faid I, and weary of your lives, to attempt to force Adelan's houfe, when there arc within it men abundantly provided with large fire-arms, that, upon one difcharge through the door, will lay you all dead where you now Hand ?" " Stand by from the door, cries Ifmael, and let me fire. Thefe black Kafrs don't yet know what my blunderbufs is." They had been filent from the time i had fpoken, and had withdrawn the handfpike from under the door. " Ullah! Ullah! cries one of them foftly, how found you fleep! we have been endeavouring to waken you this hour. The king is ill; tell Yagoube to come to the palace, and open the door inflantly." " Tell the king, faid I, to drink warm water, and and I will fee him in the morning " Ah! Mahomet, cries Soliman, is^that you? I thought you had had a narrow enough efcape in the palace the other day, but flay a little, a fervant is gone over the back wall to call the Gindi, and we are here numerous enough to defend this houfe till morning againfl all the fervants the king has, fo do not attempt to break the door, and Yagoube will go to the king with the Gindi. At this time one of my fervants fired a piflol in the air out of an upper window, upon which they all ran off. They feemed to be about ten or twelve in number, and left three handfpikes behind them. The noife of the pillol brought the guard, or patrole, in about half an hour, who carried intelligence to the Sid el Coom, our friend, by whom I was informed in the morning, that he had found them all out, and put them in irons; that Mahomet, the king's fervant, who met us at Teawa, was one of them; and that there was no poflibility now of concealing this from Adelan, who would order him to be impaled. Things were now come to fuch a crifis that I was determined to leave my initruments and papers with Kittou, Adelan's brother, or with the Sid el Coom, while I went to Shaddly to fee Adelan. But firfl I thought it ncceffary to apply to Hagi Belal to try what funds we could raife to provide the neceffaries for our journey. 1 fhe wed him the letter of Ibrahim, the Englilh broker of Jidda, of which before he had received a copy and repeated advices, and told him I fhould want 200 fequins at lead, for my camels and provifions, as well as for ibme prefents that 1 fhould have occafion for, to make my way to the great men in Atbara. f bara. Never was furprife better counterfeited than by this man. He held up his hands in the utmofl aflonifhment, repeating, 200 fequins! over twenty times, and afked mc if I thought money grew upon trees at Sennaar, that it was with the utmofl difficulty he could fpare me 20 dollars, part of which he mufl borrow from a friend. This was a flroke that fecmed to infurc our deflruction no other refource being now left. Wc were already indebted to Hagi Belal twenty dollars for provifion ; we had feven mouths to feed daily; and as we had neither meat, money, nor credit, to continue at Sennaar was impolTible. We had feen, a few nights before, that no houfe could protect us there ; and to leave Sennaar was, in our fituation, as impof-fible as to flay there. We had neither camels to carry our provifions and baggage, nor fkins for our water, nor, indeed, any provifions to carry, nor money to fupply us with any of thefe, nor knew any perfon that could give us afiifl-ancc nearer than Cairo, from which we were then diflant a-bout 170 of the meridian, or above 1000 miles in aflraight line; great part of which was thro'the moft barren, rmhofpitablede-ferts in the world, deflitute of all vegetation, and of every animal that had the breath of life. Hagi Belal was inflexible; he began now to be weary of us, to fee us but feldom, and there was great appearance of his foon withdrawing himfelf entirely. My fervants began to murmur; fome of them had known of my gold chain from the beginning, and thefe, in the common danger, imparted what they knew to the rcfl. In fhort, I refolved, though very unwillingly, not to facrificc my own life and that of my fervants, and the miifhing my 3 travels travels now fo far advanced, to childifh vanity. I determined therefore to abandon my gold chain, the honourable rc-compence of a day full of fatigue and danger. Whom to in-truft it to was the next confideration; and, upon mature deliberation, I found it could be to nobody but Hagi Belal, bad as I had reafon to think he was. Flowever, to put a check upon him, I fent for the Sid el Coom, in whofe prefence I repeated my accufation againfl Belal; I read the SerafPs letter in my favour, and the feveral letters that Belal had written me whilft I was at Gondar, declaring his acceptance of the order to furnifh me with money when I mould arrive at Sennaar; and I upbraided him in the Itrongefl terms with duplicity and breach of faith. But all that I could fay was very far lliort of the violent expoflulation from the Gindi that immediately followed. He gave Hagi Belal many not obfeure hints, " that he looked upon this injury as done to himfelf, and would repay him; that though he had done this to pleafe the king, the time might not be far off when that favour would be of very little ufe to him; on the contrary, might be a reafon for flripping him of all he had in the world." The force of thefe arguments feemed to flrikc Hagi BelaPs imagination very powerfully. He even offered to advance 50 fequins, and to fee if he could raife any more among his friends. The Gindi (a rare inftance in that country) offered to lend him fifty. But the dye was now call, the chain had been produced and feen, and it was become exceedingly dangerous to carry fuch a quantity of gold in any fhape along with me. I therefore confentcd to fell it to Hagi Belal in prefence of the Gindi, and we immediately fet about the purchafe of neceffarics, with this provifo, that if Adelan, upon 496 TRAVELSTODISCOV ER upon my going to Shaddly, did furnifh me with camels and* neceffaries, fo much of the chain fliould be returned. It was the 5th of September that we were all prepared to leave this capital of Nubia, an inhofpitable country from the beginning, and which, every day we continued in it, had engaged us in greater difficulties and dangers. We flattered ourfelves, that, once difengaged from this bad flep, the greatefl part of our fufferings was over ; for we apprehended nothing but from men, and, with very great reafon, thought wre had feen the worfl of them. In the evening I received a meffage from the king to come directly to the palace. I accordingly obeyed, taking two fervants along with me, and found him fitting in a little, low chamber, very neatly fitted up with chintz, or printed callico curtains, of a very gay and glaring pattern. He was fmoaking with a very long Perfian pipe through water, was alone, and feemed rather grave than in ill-humour. He gave me his hand to kifs as ufual, and, after paufing a moment without fpeaking, (during which I was ilanding before him) a Have brought me a little flool and fet it down juft oppofite to him ; upon which he faid, in a low voice, fo that I could fcarcely hear him, " Fudda, fit down," pointing to the flool. 1 fat down accordingly. " You are going, I hear, fays he, to Adelan." I anfwered, "Yes." "Did he fend for you?" I faid, "No; but, as I wanted to return to Egypt, I expected letters from him in anfwer to thofe I brought from Cairo." FIc told me, Ali Bey that wrote thefe letters was dead ; and afked me if I jknew Mahomet Abou Dahab ? Yagoube. "Perfectly ; I was well acquainted with him and the other members of govern-1 ment, merit, all of whom treated mc well, and refpecled my na* tioii." King. " You are not fo gay as when you firft arrived here." Ta. " I have had no very great reafon." Our converfation was now taking a very laconic and ferious turn, but he did not feem to underftand the meaning of what I faid laft. K. " Adelan has fent for you by my deiire; Wed Abrolf and all the Jehaina Arabs have rebelled, and will pay no tribute. They fay you have a quantity of powerful fire-arms with you that will kill twenty or thirty men at a {hot." Ta. " Say fifty or fixty, if it hits them." K. " He is therefore to employ you with your guns to punifh thofe Arabs, and fpoil them of their camels, part of which he will give to you." I prefently underflood what he meant, and only anfwered, " I am a flrangcr here, and defire to hurt no man. My arms are for my own defence againfl robbery and violence." At this inflant the Turk, Hagi Ifmael, cried from without the door, in broken Arabic, " Why did not you tell thofe black Kafrs, you fent to rob and murder us the other night, to flay a little longer, and you would have been better able to judge what our fire-arms can do, without fending for us either to Abrolf or Adelan. By the head of the prophet! let them come in the day time, and I will fight ten of the heft you have in Sennaar." K. " The man is mad, but he brings me to fpeak of what was in my head when I defired to fee you. Adelan has been informed that Mahomet, my fervant, who brought you from Teawa, has been guilty of a drunken frolic at the door of his houfe, and has fent foldiers to take him today, with two or three others of his companions." Ta. " I know nothing about Mahomet, nor do I drink with him, Vol. IV. 3 R or or give him drink. About half a fcore of people broke into Adelan's houfe in the night, with a view to rob and murder us, but I was not at the pains to lire at fuch wretches as thefe. Two or three fervants with fticks were all that were needful. I underdand, indeed, that Shekh Adelan is exceedingly difpleafed that I did not fire at them, and has lent to the Gindi, ordering him to deliver two of them to him to-morrow to be executed publicly before the door of his houfe on the market-day. But this, you know, is among yourfelves. I am very well plcafcd none of them arc dead, as they might have been, by my hands or thofe of my people." K. " True ; but Adelan is not king, and I charge you when you fee him to afk for Mahomet's life, or a confiderable deal of blame will fall upon you. When you return back, I will fend him to conduct you to the frontiers of Egypt." Upon this I bowed, and took my leave. I went home perfectly determined what I was to do. I had now obtained from the king an involuntary fafc-guard till I mould arrive at Adelan's, that is, I was fure that, in hopes I might procure a reprieve for Mahomet, no trap would be laid for me on the road. I determined therefore to make the bed ufe of my time; and every thing being ready, wc loaded the camels, and fent them forward that night to a fmall village called Soliman, three or four miles from Sennaar ; and having fettled my accounts with Hagi Belal, I received back fix links, the miferable remains of one hundred and eighty-four, of which my noble chain once confided. This traitor kept mc the few lad minutes to write a letter to the Englifh at Jidda, to recommend him for the fcr- vice vice he had done me at Sennaar; and this I complied with, that *I might inform the broker Ibrahim that I had received no money from his correfpondent, and give him a caution never again to truft Hagi Belal in fimilar cir-cumftances. OK* CHAP. chap, x; Journey from Sennaar to Chendi'.\ AFTER leaving Sennaar I was overtaken on the road by a black Have, who at firft gave me fome apprchen-lion, as I was alone with only one Barbarian, a Nubian fervant, by the fide of my camel, and was going flowly* Upon inquiry I found him to be fent from Hagi Belal, with a bafket containing fome green tea and fugar, and four bottles of rack, in return for my letter. I fent back the meffenger, and gave the care of the bafket to my own fervant; and, about ten o'clock in the evening of the 5th of Septem--ber, we all met together joyfully at Soliman. Before my departure from Sennaar I had prevailed on * Fakir, or Mahometan monk, fervant to Adelan, to write a; letter Tetter to his mailer, unknown to any other perfon whatever, to let him know my apprehenuons of the king, and-that, in the uncertainty how far his occupations might o-blige him to move from Shaddly, my way was directly for Herbagi, and requefling that he would give me fuch recommendations to Wed Ageeb as fhould put me in fafety from the king's perfecution, and infure mc protection and good reception in Atbara. I begged him, in the moil feri-ous manner, to confider, however ilightly he had thought of the king of Abyflinia's recommendatory letters, he would not treat thofe of the regency of Cairo, and of the fherriffe of Mecca, in the fame manner; that my nation was highly refpected in both places ; and that it was known, by letters written from Sennaar, that 1 actually was arrived there; that they fhould take care therefore, and not by ili-ufage of me expofe their merchants, either at Mecca or Cairo, to a fevere retaliation that would immediately follow the receiving bad news of me, or no news at all. My faithful: Soliman, who was now to leave me, was charged to carry the anfwers they fhould choofe to return to the letters I brought from Abyflinia, and I fent him that very night, together with the Fakir, to Adelan at Shaddly, fully inflructcd with every particular of ill-ufage I had received from the King, of which he had been an eye-witnefs.. Although my fervants, as well as Hagi Belal, and every one at Sennaar but the Fakir and Soliman, did imagine I was going to Shaddly, yet their own fears, or rather good fenfe, had convinced them that it was better to proceed at once for Atbara than ever again to be entangled between Adelan and the king. Sennaar fat heavy upon all their fpirits, fo that I had fcarce difmounted from my camel, and and before I tailed food, which that day I had not done, when they all intreated me with one voice that I would confider.the dangers I had cfcaped, and, inftead of turning well ward to Shaddly, continue north through Atbara. They promifed to bear fatigue and hunger chearfully, and to live and die with me, provided I would proceed homeward, and free them from the horrors of Sennaar and its king. I did not feem to be convinced by what they faid, but ordered fupper, to which we all fat down in company. As wc had lemons enough, and Hagi Belal had furniihed US with fugar, we opened a bottle of his rack and in punch (the liquor of our country) drank to a happy return thro' Atbara. I then told them my refolution was perfectly conformable to their willies; and informed them of the meafurcs I had taken to infure fuccefs and remove danger as much as poflible. I recommended diligence, fobriety, and fubordination, as the only means of arriving happily at the end propofed ; and allured them all we mould ihare one common fare, and one common fortune, till our journey was terminated by good or bad fuccefs. Never was any difcourfe more gratefully received ; every toil was welcome in Hying from Sennaar, and they already began to think themfelves at the gates of Cairo. As I had recommended great diligence and little fleep, before four in the morning the camels were loaded, and on their way, and it was then only they came to awake mc. The camels were abundantly loaded, and we had then but five, four of which carried all the baggage, the other, a fmaller one, was referved for my riding. This I told them I willingly accepted at the beginning of the journey, and we fliould all of us take our turn, while water and provi-3 Hons r Fions were to be procured, and that Ifmael the Turk, an old man, and Georgis the Greek, almoft blind, required an additional confideration, fo long as it pofhbly could be done with fafety to us all; but, when we fhould advance to the borders of the defert, we mult ali rcfolve to pafs that journey on foot, as upon the quantity of water, and the quantity of provifions alone, to be carried by us, could depend our hopes of ever feeing home. On the 8th of September we left the village of Soliman, and about three o'clock in the afternoon came to Wed el Tumbel, which is not a river, as the name would fecm to jignify, but three villages fituatcd upon a pool of water, nearly in a line from north to fouth. The intermediate country between this and Herbagi is covered with great crops of dora. The plain extends as far as the light reaches. Though there is not much wood, the country is not entirely deftitute of it, and the farther you go from Sennaar the liner the trees. At Wed el Tumbel there is great plenty of ebony-bulhes, and a particular fort of thorn which feems to be a fpecies of dwarf acacia, with very fmall leaves, and long pods of a flrong faccharine tafte. This is here in great abundance, and is called Lauts,or Loto, which I fufpeel: to be the tree on whofe fruit, we are told, the ancient Libyans fed. At a quarter paft three wc left Wed el Tumbel, and entered into a thick wood, in which we travelled till late, when we came to the Nile. We continued along the river for about 500 yards, and alighted at Sit el Bet, a fmall village about a mile's diftance from the ftream. Here wc faw the tomb of a Shekh, or faint, built of brick in a conical form, much after the fame figure as fome we had feen in Barbary, which were of ftone. On On the 12th, at ten minutes pad fix we fet out from Sit el Bet, and a few minutes after came to a village called A-geda, and five miles further to another, whofe name is LT, fheta. At half pad nine we palled a third village, and at half after eleven encamped near a pool of water, called Wed Hydar, or the River of the Lion. All the way from Wed el Tumbel to this village we were much tormented with the fly, the very noife of which put our camels in fuch a fright that they ran violently into the thicker! trees and bullies, endeavouring to brufh . 27. p*gc 44. torn. 2. SoG - TRAVELS TO DISCOVER On the 16th, at half paft fix in the morning we left SicU Ali el Genowi, and a few minutes after palfed two villages on our left along the river fide, not fifty yards from the water, after which we went through the village of El Menfy. The next to this were two tombs of Fakirs, nothing different from the former ones. At a quarter paft ten wc arrived at Flerbagi, a large and plcafant village, but thinly inhabited, placed on a dry, gravelly foil. The people told us, that the grcateft part of the townfmen were at fome diftance looking after their farms. Herbagi is the feat of Wed Ageeb, hereditary prince of the Arabs, now fubjeet to the government of Sennaar, whofe lieutenant he is according to treaty. Fie raifes the tribute, and pays it to the Mek, or his miniftcrs, from all thofe Arabs that live in the diftant parts of the kingdom, as far as the Red Sea, who do not pafs by Sennaar to the fands, in the feafon of the fly ; for thefe, as I have mentioned, are taxed by the chief minifter, or the perfon who hath the command of the troops of that capital. The revenue arifing from this is very large, and more than all the reft put together. The Rcfaa, one tribe of Arabs who had compounded at this time with Shekh Adelan, were faid to poffefs 200,000 flie-camels, every one of which, at a medium, was worth half an ounce of gold* each ounce being about ten crowns. The tribute then which that Arab paid was 100,000 ounces of gold, or i,ooo,ooodollars or250,000!. There were at leafttcnof thefe tribes with which Adelan was to account, and at leaft fix times that number that fell to the fharc of Wed Ageeb, whofe compofition is the fame as that paid to Sennaar, bcfides whatever extraordinary fum he impofes for himfelf. There is alfo a tax upon the male camels ; but this is fmall in comparifon of the others, arid the young ones pay no duty, till they are three years old. CiLMliLS . Camels flefli is the ordinary food of the Arabs ; but there is Hill room to inquire what becomes of the prodigious numbers of this animal annually confirmed. The caravan of Mecca requires a large fupply, and vaft numbers arc employed in the fervice of Damafcus, of Syria and Pcrfia, and efpecially of Sudan, whofe caravans traverfe Africa from eaft to weft with Indian commodities, which they carry from the Arabian Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean. Thefe, and this vaft inland trade of which they were matters, the gold, ivory, pearls, and tortoife fhclls, that ferved for returns to India, were the fource of the riches and power of thofe Shepherds, of which fo many things are recorded in ancient hiflory almoft exceeding belief. Immediately upon entering Herbagi, I went to wait upon Wed Ageeb. He had a very good houfe, confidcred as fuch, though but a very indifferent palace for a prince. Fie fecmed to be a man of very gentle manners; was about 30 years of age ; had a thick black beard and whifkers, large black eyes, and a long thin face, which marked his confli-tution not to be a flrong one. We found, indeed, afterwards, that he had been very much addicted to drinking, which he had often endeavoured in vain to leave off, by fubftituting opium in its place. He had never before feen an European, and tcitified great furprife at my complexion. He fent us abundance of provifions, two flicep and two goats, and begged I would give him advice about his health in the evening. He inquired very particularly about my reception at Sennaar, which I told him only in part, and, among other circumftanccs, the report at Sennaar, that he was gathering his forces to the afliftance of the king againfl 3 S 2 Adelan Adelan and Abou. Kalec. He anfwered with a fneer, " Ge~ hennim el Kafr, *, a country full of fand and without rain ; it is but a fmall fpot immediately on the Nile, which is all cultivated, as it enjoys the double advantage both of the overflowing of the river and the accidental fhowers. * Ptol. Gcograph. lib. iv, cap. 3. mowers. It is alfo called BeladuUah, or the Country of God, on account of thi> double bleillng. Ihe dates of Gem are fent to the Mek, and are refcrved on purpofe for him. They are dry, and never ripen, nor have any of the moift and pulpy fubftance of the dates of Barbary. They are firm and linooth in the fkin, and of a golden colour. On the iff of October, at half pafl five in the morning we left Gerri, the Acaba continuing on the eaR and well, but the two extremities curving like a bow or an amphitheatre. This ridge of mountains is compofed of bare, red none, without any grafs. At ten minutes after eight we changed our road to N. E. endeavouring to turn the point of the Acaba about three miles off, and at ten o'clock alighted among green trees to feed our camels. At three o'clock in the afternoon we left our refling-place in the wood. The mountains, which were then on our left hand, are thofe of the Acaba of Gerri; but thofe on the right flill ran parallel to our courfe, and ended in the Acaba of Morncfs: we were now two miles from the river, its courfe due north. About twenty minutes paft four we came to the Acaba of Mornefs, a ridge of bare, ffony hills, and half an hour after we paifed it. There is very little afcent, and the road is only loofe, broken Hones, which laft about a quarter of an hour. At fix o'clock in the evening we came to Hajar cl A/Tad, or Hajar Scrrareek, the firft iignifying the Lion's Stone, the next the Stone of 7 hieves, a beggarly, ftraggling village, where there is a fakia, and fmall ftripes of dora, as if fown in a garden, and watered from the well at plcafure. Hajar cl Affad is the boundary between Wed Ageeb and the Mek .of Chendi; it is a yellow ftonc fet upon a rock, which they 2 imagine imagine has the figure of a lion. We now alighted near half a mile from the river, in a fmall plain, where was only one fhepherd with his cot and flock. At fome diflance, near the river, there was a houfe or two with fakies. September is the feed-time in this country. When the Nile is at it* height, the flat ground along the fide of the water, which is about a quarter of a mile broad, is fown with dora, as far as water can be conducted in rills to it, but after this fhort fpace, the ground rifes immediately; there the har-veft-time is in November; and the feed-time at Sennaar is in July, and their harveft in September ; both regulated by the height of the Nile at the refpectuve places. On the 2d of October, at half paft five in the morning wc left Hajar el Affad ; for the two laft days paft our journey lay through woods and defert, without water or villages ; we relied upon the Nile, which foon receded from us. After having gone about two miles we faw fome fmall houfes and fakies, with narrow ftripes of corn on both fides of the river. About a mile further, we begam. inftead of the fandy defert, to fee large flratums of purple, red and white marble, and alfo alaballer. It feems as if thofe immenfe quarries, which run into Upper Egypt io° N. from this, firft take theii rife here. This day we journicd through woods of acacia and jujebs. At twenty minutes paft eight we alighted in a wood to feed our camels. The fun was fo immo-der Ay hot that we could not travel. 7he Nile from Gerri declines almoft infenlibly from the E. of N. The whole y ii defert and without inhabitants, faving the banks iver ; fox there are here no regular rains that can be depended upon at any certain time for the purpofe of dture ; only there fail violent fhowers at the time the c 520 travles to discover the fun is in the zenith, on his progrefs fouthward from the tropic of Cancer towards the Line, and the grafs grows up very luxuriantly in all the fpots watered by thefe accidental fhowers ; but all the reft of the country is dry and burnt up. Near Gerri, a little north, is the large rock Acaba, full of caves, the firft habitations of the builders of Meroe. A little below it is the ferry over which thofe who go by the weft fide of the Nile .o Dongola, through the defert of Bahiouda, mufl all pafs. It is five days journey before you come to Korti, where travellers arrive the morning of the fixth, that is, going at the rate of fifteen miles a-day. Near Korti you again meet the Nile, which has taken a very unnatural turn from Magiran, or where it meets the Tacazze from An got. The way through this defert, which was that of Poncet, is now rendered impaffable, as I have already faid, by the Beni Faifara, Beni Gerar, and Cubba-beefh Arabs, three powerful clans, which come from the weftward near Kor-dofan from fear of the black horfe there, and which have taken pofFefFion of all the wells in that defert, fo that it is impoftlble for travellers to avoid them. The Cubba-beefh are fo called, from kebfh*, a lheep, becaufe they wear the fkin of that animal for cloathing. They are very numerous, and extend far into the great defert Selima and to the frontiers of Egypt. Thefe tribes have cut ofF the laft three caravans coming from Dongola and Egypt. This ferry, and the Acaba heyond it, belongs to Wed Ageeb ; and here all goods, paff-ing to and from Egypt, Dongola, and Chendi, pay a duty, 3 which * Kebfli, * fheep ; pi. Cubba-beefh, fheep. which is not regulated as to its extent, but is levied arbitrarily, according to circum(lances of the times, and paid to the Shukorea, or other Arabs, who are in the neighbourhood, which happens from February to July. The Mek, or prince of the Arabs, paffes them by fair means or force. After the rains become conilant, thefe go eaftward to Men-dera andGooz, and then the road from Sennaar to Suakem through thefe places becoming dangerous on account of all the other Arabs alFembling there to avoid the fly, the caravan of Suakem is obliged to pafs through Halfaia to Bar-bar, and from thence to Suakem, fo that this was the mofl frequented road in the kingdom. Now, indeed, the communications on all fides are obflructed by the anarchy that prevails among the Arabs, fo that he who paffes to or from Egypt mult depend folely upon his own exertions and the protection of Heaven. The Acaba of Gerri, and the banks of the Nile there, are inhabited by tribes of Arabs, called Beni Flamda, and Haf-fani. They are all poor and miferable banditti, and would not fuffer a man to pafs there at the ferry were it not for the extraordinary dread they have of fire-arms. The report of a gun, even at a diflance, will make a hundred of them fly and hide themfelves. We gave them feveral vollies of blunderbufTes, and double-barrelled guns, fired in the air, from the time of our entering their territory till near Wed Baal a Nagga ; we law them upon the tops of the pointed rocks as far diftant as wc could wifh, nor did they ever appear nearer us, or defcend into the plain. At Halfaia and Gerri begins that noble race of horfes j tiftly celebrated all over the world. They arc the breed that Vol. IV, 3 U was was introduced here at the Saracen conquer!, and have been preferved unmixed to this day. They feem to be a dittinct animal from the Arabian horfe, fuch as I have feen in the plains of Arabia Dcferta, fouth of Palmyra and Damafcus, where I take the mofl excellent of the Arabian breed to be, in the tribe of Mowalli and Annecy, which is about lat. 36°; wjiilft Dongola and the dry country near it feems to be the center of excellence for this nobler animal, fo that the bounds within which the horfe is in its greatefl perfection feems to be between the degrees of lat. 20% and 36% and between long. 300 eall from the meridian of Greenwich to the banks of the Euphrates. For this extent Fahrenheit's, thermometer is never below 500 in the night, or in the day below So0, though it may rife to 1200 at noon in the fhade, at which point horfes are not affected by the heat, but will breed as they do at Halfaia, Gerri, and Dongola, where the thermometer rifes to thefe degrees, Thefe countries, from what has been laid, mud of courfe be a dry, fandy defert, with little water, producing fhort, or no grafs, but only roots, which are blanched like our cellery, being always covered with earth, having no marines or fwamps, fat foapy earthy or mould. I never heard of wild horfes in any of thefe parts. A-rabia Deferta, where they are faid to be, feems very ill calculated to conceal them, it being flat without wood or cover, they mutt therefore be conflantly in view; and I never heard any perfon of veracity fay they ever faw wild horfes in Arabia. Wild affes I have frequently feen alive, but never dead, in neck, head, face, and tail very like ours, only their fkins are ilreaked, not fpotted. The zebra is found nowhere in Abyflinia, but in the S. W. extremity of Kuara Kuara among the Shangalla and Guba, in Narea and Caffa, and in the mountains of Dyrc and Tegla, and to the fouthward near as far as the Cape. What figure the Nubian breed would make in point of fleetnefs is very doubtful, their make being fo entirely different from that of the Arabian; but if beautiful and fymmetrical parts, great fize and ftrength, the mofl agile, nervous, and claflic movements, great endurance of fatigue, docility of temper, and feeming attachment to man, beyond any other domeflic animal, can promife any thing for a flallion, the Nubian is, above all companion, the mofl eligible in the wrorld. Few men have feen more horfes, or more of the different places where thty are excellent, than I have, and no one ever more delighted in them, as far as the manly exercife went. What thefe may produce for the turf is what I cannot fo much as guefs, as there is not, I believe, in the world one more indifferent to, or ignorant of, that amufement than I am. The experiment would be worth trying in any view. The expence would not be great, yet there might be fome trouble and application ncceffary, but, if adroitly managed, not much even of that. I could not refrain from attempting a drawing of one of them, which I fince, and but very lately, unfortunately miflaid. It was a horfe of Shekh Adelan, which with fome difficulty I had liberty to draw. It was not quite four years old, was full 16 hands high : I mean this only as an idea; I know the faults of my drawing, and could correct many of them ; but it is a rule I have invariably adhered to in this, as well as in defcription, to correct nothing from recol- 3 U 2 lection lection when the object is out of my fight. This horfes name was El Fudda, the meaning of which I will not pretend to explain. In Egypt this is the name of a fmall piece* of money clipped into points, otherwife called a parat; but, very probably, the name of horfes in Nubia may have as little allufion to the quality of the animal as the name which our race-horfes have in England ; they are, however, very jealous in keeping up their pedigree. All noble horfes in Nubia are faid to be defcended of one of the^ five upon which Mahomet and his four immediate fuc-ceffors, Abou Beer, Omar, Atman, and Ali, fled from Mecca to Medina, the night of the Hegira. From which of thefe El Fudda was defcended I did not inquire ; Shekh Adelan, armed, as he fought, with his coat of mail and war faddle, iron-chained bridle, brafs cheek-plates, front-plate, breall-plate, large broad-fword, and battle-ax, did not weigh lefs upon the horfe than 26 flone, horfeman's weight. This, horfe kneeled to receive his mailer, armed as he was, when he mounted, and he kneeled to let him difmount armed likewife, fo that no advantage could be taken of him in thofe helplefs times when a man is obliged to arm and difarm himfelf piece by piece on horfeback. Adelan, in war, was a fair-player, and gave every body his chance. He was the nrit man always that entered among the enemy, and the laft to leave them, and never changed this horfe. The horfes of Halfaia and Gerri do not arrive at the fr/e of thofe in Dongola, where few arc lower than 16 hands, they are black or white, but a vafl proportion of the former to the latter. I never faw the colour we call grey, that is, dappled, but there are fome bright bays, or inclining to ford. They arc all kept monflroufly fat upon dora, cat nothing green but the die fhort roots of grafs that are to be found by the fide of the Nile, after the fun has withered it. This they dig out where it is covered with earth, and appears blanched, which they lay in fmall heaps once a-day on the ground before them. They are tethered by the fetlock joint of the fore* leg with a very foft cotton rope made with a loop and large button. They eat and drink with the bridle in their mouth, not the bridle they actually ufe when armed, but a light one made on purpofe to accuftom them to cat and drink with it: If you alk the reafon, they tell you of many battles that have been loft by,the troops having been attacked by their enemy when taking off the bridles to give their horfes drink. No Arab, ever mounts a ftallion; on the contrary, in Nubia they never ride mares; the reafon is plain : The Arabs are conftantly at war with their neighbours, (for fo robbery in that country is called) and always endeavour to take their enemies by furprife in the grey of the evening, or the dawn of day. A ftallion. no fooner fniells the ftale of the marc in the enemy's quarters, than he begins to neigh, and that would give the alarm to the party intended to be furprifed. No fuch thing ever can happen when they ride mares only ; on the contrary, the Fungc truft only to fuperior force. They are in an open, plain country, mull be difcovered at many miles diftance, and all fuch furprifes and iiratagems are ufclcfs to them. The place where we alighted is called "Hajar cl Dill, and is a mile eaft from where we halted in the wood to feed our camels. We continued along the Nile at about a mile's diftance from it, and, after advancing near three miles, came in fight of a large village called Dcrrcira ; on the oppofitc fide of the Nile, and beyond that, about four miles on the 4. fame fame fide, is Deleb, a large village, with the ifirine of a famous faint of that name. The country here is more cultivated and pleafant than that which we had paffed; there is a low ridge of hills in the way. At half pad fix in the evening of the 2d of October we arrived at Wed Baal a Nagga. The village is a very large one, belonging to a Fakir, a faint of the firft confidcration in the government of Chendi. All this country, except immediately upon the Nile, is defert and fandy. All along the plain we faw numbers of people digging pits, and taking out the earth, which they boil in large earthen vafes or pans. This is the only way they procure themfelves fait, of which they fend great quantities to Halfaia, where is a market, and from whence it is fent to Sennaar. On the 3d, at five o'clock, we left Wed Baal a Nagga, and continued along the Nile, which is about a quarter of a mile off; and feven miles further to the N. E. we palled a tomb of the Fakir cl Deragi, clofe to the road on our left hand. All from Wed Baal a Nagga, on both fides of the Nile, is picturefque and pleafant, full of verdure, and varied with houfes in different fituations till wc come to the tomb of this Fakir. Immediately from this all is bare and defolatc, except one verdant fpot by the fide of the river, fhaded with fine trees, and full of herbage, and there we alighted at nine o'clock. This place is called Maia; a few trees appear on the other fide,'hut beyond thefe all the country is defert. It is inhabited at prefent by the Jahelcen Arabs of Wed el Faal; as they have had violent fhowers in the high country, and their pools were flill full of water, they ft aid by them longer than ordinary feeding their cattle. Idris Wed cl Faal, governor of Chendi, nephew to Wed Ageeb, and fon 4 to to Sittina his filler, to whom this country belongs, was then with them, fo we did not fear them, otherwife there is not a worfe fet of fanatical wretches, or greater enemies to the name of Chrillian, than thefe arc. As wc are here fpeaking of Arabs and their names, I fliall once for all obferve, that Wed, a word which I have frequently made ufe of in the courfe of this hiflory, and which in this fenfe is peculiar to the kingdom of Sennaar, does not mean river, though that is its import in Arabic. Here it is an abbreviation of Welled, peculiar to the inhabitants of this part of Atbara, who feem to have an avcrfion to the letter 1; Wed el Faal, the fon of Faal; Wed Hydar, the fon of Hydar, or the lion; Wed Haffan, the fon of Haffan, and fo of the reft. For the fame reafon, Melek Sennaar, the king of Sennaar,.called Mek, by throwing out thel; Abd cl Mek, the Have of the king, inflead of Abd el Melek. Here alfo I had the pleafure to find the language of the Koran that of the whole people in common converfation ; and as this was the book in which I firft fludied the Arabic, I found now a propriety and facility of exprellion I had not been fenfible of before ; for that of the Koran, in Arabia, is a kind of dead language, rarely underflood but by men of learning. At Wed Baal a Nagga there is a ferry for thofe who go to Dongola by the defert of Bahiouda. Derrcira is the landing-place on the other fide; I fuppofe it is to avoid thefe Jahelcen that caravans ferry over at Gerri rather than come, fo low as Wed Baal a Nagga. We left Maia at half paft three in the afternoon, and, after going three mileSj miles, we came to Gooz, a fmall village on our left, where we found plenty of good food for our camels. At fix we alighted at Fakari. Chendi was now five miles eaft of us, where we arrived at eight o'clock in the morning of the 4th of October. 3© C H A P. CHAP. XL .Reception at Chendi by Sittina—Converfations with her—Enter the Defer t—Pillars of moving Sand—The Simoom—Latitude of Chiggre. CHENDI, or Chandi, is a large village, die capital of its diitrict, the government of which belongs to Sittina, (as fhe is called) which fignifies the Millrefs, or the Lady, fhe "being fifler to Wed Ageeb, the principal of the Arabs in this country. She had been married, but her hufband was dead. She had one fon, Idris Wed el Faal, who was to fuc-cccd to the government of Chendi upon his mother's death, and who, in effect, governed all the affairs of his kindred already. The governor of Chendi is called in difcourfe Mek cl Jaheleen, prince of the Arabs of Beni Koreifh, who are all fettled, as I have already faid, about the bottom of At- I bara, on bothlides of the Magiran. There is a tradition at Chendi, that a woman, whofe name was Hcndaque, once governed all that country, whence wc might imagine that this was part of the kingdom of Candace; for writing this name in Greek letters it will come to be no other than FIcndaque, the native, or Vol. IV, 3 X miflrefs. millrefs, of Chendi, or Chandi. However this may be, Chendi was once a town of great refort. The caravans of Sennaar, Egypt, Suakem, and Korclofan, all were in ufe to rendezvous here, efpecially fince the Arabs have cut off the road by Dongola, and the defert of Bahiouda ; and though it be not now a place of great plenty, yet every thing here is at a cheaper rate, and better than at Sennaar; we mull except the article fuel, for wood is much dearer here than in any part of Atbara; the people all burn camels dung. Indeed, were it not for drefling victuals, fire in a place fo hot as this would be a nuifancc. It was fo fultry in the end of Augufl and beginning of September, that many people dropt down dead with heat, both in the town and villages round it; but it is now faid to be much cooler, though the thermometer at noon was once fo high as 119°. Chendi has in it about 250 houfes, which are not all built contiguous, fome of the bell of them being feparate, and that of Sittina's is half a mile from the town, There are two or three tolerable houfes, but the refl of them arc miferable hovels, built of clay and reeds. Sittina gave us one of thefe houfes, which I ufed for keeping my inflruments and baggage from being pilfered or broken; I flept abroad in the tent, and it was even there hot enough. The women of Chendi arc eflecmed the moll beautiful in Atbara, and the men the grcatefl cowards. This is the character they bear among their countrymen, but we had little opportunity of verifying either. —"yfli ; 1 ■ t Sit »J 5»iHxJ*JUl£l ill j.iil. if zXii" ri'l'JF On our arrival at Chendi we found the people very much alarmed at a phenomenon, which, though it often 3 happens. happens, by fome ftrange inadvertency had never been obferved, even in this fercne fky. The planetVenus appeared ihi-ning with undiminifhed light all day, in defiance of the brighter! fun, from which Ihe was but little dillant. Tho' this phenomenon be vifible every four years, it filled all the people, both in town and country, with alarm. They flocked to mc in crowds from all quarters to be fatisficd what it meant, and, when they faw my telefcopes and quadrant, they could not be perfuaded but that the flar had become vifible by fome correfpondence and intelligence with me, and for my ufe. Fhe bulk of the people in all countries is the fame ; they never foretell any thing but evil. The very regular and natural appearance of this planet was immediately converted, therefore, into a fign that there would be a bad harvefl next year, and fcanty rains ; that Abou Kalec with an army would depofe the king, and over-run all Atbara; whill! fome threatened me as a principal operator in bringing about thefe difaflcrs. On the other hand,- without feeming over-folicitous about my vindication, I infinuated among the better fort, that this was a lucky and favourable fign, a harbinger of good fortune, plenty, and peace. The clamour upon this fubfided very much to my advantage, the rather, becaufe Sittina and her fon Idris knew certainly that Mahomet Abou Kalec was not to be in Atbara that year. On the 12th of October I waited upon Sittina, who received me behind a fcreen, fo that it was impofliblc either to fee her figure or face ; I obferved, however, that there were a-perturcs fo managed in the fcreen that fhe had a perfect view of me. She cxprelTcd herfelf with great politenefs, talked much upon the terms in which Adelan was with 3X2 the the king, and wondered exceedingly how a white manlike me fhould venture fo far in fuch an ill-governed country. " Allow me, Madam, faid I, to complain of a breach' of hofpitality in you, which no Arab has been yet guilty of towards me."—" Me ! faid flic, that would be ftrange indeed, to a man that bears my brother's letter. How can that be !"—" Why, you tell me, Madam, that I am a white man, by which I know that you fee me, without giving me the like advantage. The queens of Sennaar did not ufe me fo hardly; I had a full fight of them without having ufed any importunity." On this fire broke out into a great fit of laughter ; then fell into a converfation about medicines to make her hair grow, or rather to hinder it from falling off. She defired me to come to her the next day; that her fon Idris would be then at home from the Howat and that he very much wifhed to fee me. She that day fent us plenty of provifions from her own table. On the 13th it was fo cxceffively hot that it was impof-fifbl 1 ; Liffer the burning fun. The poifonous fimoom blew likewife as if it came from an oven. Our eyes were dim^ our lips cracked, our knees tottering, our throats perfectly dry, and no relief was found from drinking an immoderate quantity of water. The people advifed me to dip a fpunge in vinegar and water, and hold it before my mouth and nofe, and this greatly relieved mc. In the evening I went to Sittina. Upon entering the houfe, a black flave laid hold of me by the hand, and placed me in a paffage, at the end of which were two oppofite doors. I did not well know the reafon * The farm where he kept the flocks belonging to himfelf. reafon of this; but had Raid only a few minutes when I heard one of the doors at the end of the paflage open, and Sittina appeared magnificently drcfled, with a kind of round cap of folid gold upon the crown of her head, all beat very thin, and hung round with fequins; with a variety of gold chains, folitaircs, and necklaces of the fame metal, about her neck. Her hair was plaited in ten or twelve fmall di-viiions like tails, which hung down below her waift, and over her was thrown a common cotton white garment. She had a purple filk Role, or fcarf, hung very gracefully upon her back, brought again round her waift, without covering her (boulders or arms. Upon her wrifts (lie had two bracelets like handcuffs, about half an inch thick, and two gold manacles of the fame at her feet, fully an inch diameter, the moll difagreeable and aukward part of all her drefs. F expected the would have hurried through with fome affectation of furprife. On the contrary, (lie flopt in the middle of the paffage, faying, in a very grave manner, " Kifhalcc," —how are you ? I thought this was an opportunity of kif-fmg her hand, which I did, without her (hewing any fort of reluctance. " Allow me as a phyfician, (aid I, Madam, to fay one word." She bowed with her head, and faid, " Go in at that door, and I will hear you." The Have appeared, and carried me through a door at the bottom of the paffage into a room, while her millrefs vanifheclin at another door at the top, and there was the fcreen I had feen the day before, and the lady fitting behind it. She was a woman fcarcely forty, taller than the middle lize, had a very round, plump face, her mouth rather large, very red lips, the fineft teeth and eyes I have feen, but at the 2- tO£ top of her nofe, and between her eye-brows, flic had a fmall fpeck made of cohol or antimony, four-corner'd, and of the fize of the fmallefl patches our women ufed to wear ; another rather longer upon the top of her nofe, and one on the middle of her chin. Sittina, " Tell me what you would fay to me as a phyfician."—Ta. " It was, Madam, but in confequence of your difcourfe yeflerday. That heavy gold cap with which you prefs your hair will certainly be the caufe of a great part of it falling off." Sitt. " I believe fo; but I mould catch cold, I am fo accuflomed to it, if I was to leave it off. Are you a man of name and family in your own country ?" Ta. " Of both, Madam." Sitt. " Are the women handfome there ?" Ta. " The handfomeft in the world, Madam ; but they are fo good, and fo excellent in all other refpects, that nobody thinks at all of their beauty, nor do they value themfelves upon it." 57//. " And do they allow you to kifs their hands?" Ta. " I underfland you, Madam, though you have miflaken me. There is no familiarity in kiffmg hands, it is a mark of homage, and diftant refpect paid in my country to our fovereigns, and to none earthly befides." Sitt. "Oyes! but the kings." Ta. " Yes, and the queens, too, always on the knee,Madam; I faid our fovereigns, meaning both king and queen. On her part it is a mark of gracious coridefcenfion, in favour of rank, merit, and honourable behaviour; it is a reward for dangerous and difficult fei vices, above all other compenfation." Sitt. " But do you know that no man ever kiffed my hand but you ?" Ta. " It is impofhble I fhoaid know that, nor is it material. Of this 1 am confiden , it was meant refpectfully, cannot hurt you, and ought not to offend offend you.1' Sitt. " It certainly has done neither, but I with very much Idris my fon would come and fee you, as it is on his account I drelled myfelf to-day." Ta. " I hope, Madam, when I do fee him he will think of fome way of forwarding me fafely to Barbar, in my way to Egypt." Sitt. " Safely! God forgive you ! you are throwing yourfelf away wantonly. Idris himfelf, king of this country, dares not undertake fuch a journey. But why did not you go along with Mahomet Towafli? He fet out only a few days ago for Cairo, the fame way you are going, and has, I believe, taken all the Hybeers with him* Go call the porter", fays Ihe to her flave. When the porter came, " Do you know if Mahomet Towafh is gone to Egypt ?" " I know he is gone to Barbar, fays the porter, the two Mahomets, and Abd el Jellecl, the Biihareen, are with him." " Why did he take all the Hy-bcers?" fays Sittina. " The men were tired and difcoura-ged, anfwered the porter, by their late ill-ufage from the Cubba-beefh, and, being flripped of every thing, they wanted to be at home." Sitt. " Somebody elfe will offer, but you mud not go without a good man with you; I will not fuller you. Thefe Bidiarcen are people known here, and may be trulled; but while you flay let me fee you every day, and if you want any thing, fend by a fervant of mine. It is a tax, I know, improperly laid upon a man like you, to alk for every ncceilary, but Idris will be here, and he will provide you better." I went away upon this converfation, and foon found, that Mahomet I owafh had fo well followed the direction of the Mek of Sennaar, as to take all the Hy-bvers of note with him on purpofe to difappoint me. Tins being the firft time I have had occafion to mention this uicful let of men, it will be ncceffary I fhould here explain; plain their ofhee and occupation. A Hybeer is a guide, from the Arabic word Hubbar, to inform, inftruct, or direct, becaufe they are ufed to do this office-to the caravans travelling through the defert in all its directions, whether to Egypt and back again, the coaft of the Red Sea, or the countries of Sudan, and the weficrn extremities of Africa. They are men of great confidcration, knowing perfectly the fituation and properties of all kinds of water to be met on the route, the diftance of wells, whether occupied by enemies or not, and, if fo, the way to avoid them with the leaft inconvenience. It is alfo ncceffary to them to know the places occupied by the fimoom, and the feafons of their blowing in thofe parts of the defert, likewife thofe occupied by moving fands. He generally belongs to fome powerful tribe of Arabs inhabiting thefe defcrts, whofe protection he makes ufe of to aifilt his caravans, or protect them in time of danger, and handfome rewards were always in his power to diftribute on fuch occafions ; but now that the Arabs in thefe defcrts are everywhere without government, the trade between Abyflinia and Cairo given over, that between Sudan and that metropolis much diminifhed, the .importance of that office of Hybeer, and its confidcration, is fallen in proportion, and with thefe the fafe conduct; and we fhall fee prefently a caravan cut off by the treachery of the very Hybeers that conducted them, the firft inftance of •the kind that ever happened. One day, fitting in my tent mufing upon the very un-promifmg afpect of my affairs, an Arab of very ordinary appearance, naked, with only a cotton cloth around his middle, came up to me, and offered to conduct me to Barbar ,and thence to Egypt. He faid his houfe was at Darooon the fide fide of the Nile, about twenty miles beyond Syene, or Affou-an, nearer Cairo. I afked him why he had not gone with Mahomet Towafh? Fie faid, lie did not like the company, and was very much miflaken if their journey ended well. Upon preffing him further if this was really the only reafon ; he then told me, that he had been lick for fome months at Chendi, contracted debt, and had been obliged to pawn his cloaths, and that his camel was detained for what flill remained unpaid. After much converfation, repeated feveral days, I found that Idris (for that was his name) was a man of fome fubilance in his own country, and had a daughter married to the Schourbatchie at AfFouan, He faid that this was his laft journey, for he never would crofs the defert again. A bargain was now foon made. I redeemed his camel and cloak ; he was to fliew me the way to Egypt, and he was there to be recompenfed, according to his behaviour. Chendi, by repeated observations of the fun and ftars, made for feveral fucceeding days and nights, I found to be in lat. i6fl 38^ 35" north, and at the fame place, the 13th of October, I obferved an immerfion of the firft fate;lite of Jupiter, from which I concluded its longitude to be 330 24' 45" eaft of the meridian of Greenwich. The higheft degree of the thermometer of Fahrenheit in the fhade was, on the toth of October, at one o'clock P. M. 119°, wind north ; the lowed was on the 1 ith, at midnight, 870, wind weft, after a fmall ■ mower of rain. I prepared now to leave Chendi, but firft returned my benefactrefs Sittina thanks'for all her favours. IShc had called for Idris, and given him very pofitive inftructions, Vol, IV, 3 Y - mixt mixt with threats, if he mifbehaved; and hearing what £ had done for him, Ihe too gave him an ounce of gold, and faid, at parting, that, for knowledge of the road through the defert, flie believed Idris to be as perfect as any body ; but in cafe we met with the Bifhareen, they would neither fhew to him nor to me any mercy. She gave mc, however, a letter to Mahomet Abou Bertran, Shekh of one of the tribes of Bifhareen, on the Tacazze, near the Magiran, which flic had made her fon write from the Howat, it not being ufual, fhe faid, for her to write hcrfelf. 1 begged I might be again allowed to teflify my gratitude by killing her hand, which flie condefcended to in the mofl gracious manner, laughing all the time, and faying, " Well, you are an odd man ! if Idris my fon faw me jufl now, he would think me mad." On the 20th of October, in the evening, wc left Chendi; and refled two miles from the town, and about a mile from the river; and next day, the 21ft, at three quarters pail four in the morning wc continued our journey, and paffed through five or fix villages of the Jaheleen on our left; at nine wc alighted to feed our camels under fome trees, having gone about ten miles. At this place begins a large ill and in the Nile feveral miles long, full of villages, trees, and corn, it is called Kurgos. Oppofite to this is the mountain Gibbainy, where is the firfl fcene of ruins I have met with fmce that of Axum in Abyiiinia. We faw here heaps of broken pedeilals, like thofe of Axum, all plainly defigned for the flames of the dog ; fome pieces of obelifk, likewife, with hieroglyphics, almoft totally obliterated. The Arabs told us thefe ruins were very extei five ; and that manypic- 4 ces ccs of flames, both of men and animals, had been dug up there; the flames of the men were moftly of black flone. It is impoflible to avoid rifquing a guefs that this is the ancient city of Meroe, whofe latitude fliould be i6° 26'; and I apprehend further, that in this ifland was the obfervatory of that famous cradle of aflronomy. The Ethiopians cannot pronounce P; there is, indeed, no fuch letter in their alphabet. Curgos, then, the name of the ifland, fliould probably be Purgos, the tower or obfervatory of that city. There arc four remarkable rivers mentioned by the ancients as contributing to form the illand of Meroe. The firft is the Aftufafpcs, or the river Mareb, fo called from hiding itfelf under ground in the fand, and again im-mcrging in the time of rain, and running to join the Tacazze. The next is the Tacazze, as I have faid, the Siris of the ancients, by the natives called Aflaboras, which forms, as Pliny has faid, the left channel of Atbara, or, as the Greeks have called it, the ifland of Meroe. On the weft, or right hand, is another confidcrable river, called by the name of the White River, and by the ancients Ailapus, and which Diodorus Siculus fays comes from large lakes to the fouthward, which we know to be truth. This •river throws itfelf into the Nile, and together with it makes the right-hand channel, inclofing Meroe or Atbara. The Nile here is called the Blue River; and Nil, in the language of the country, has prccifely that fignification. This too was known to the ancients, as the Greeks have called it the Slue River, and thefe being all found to inclofc Meroe, nci- 3 Y 2 thcr rher Gojam, nor any place that is not fo limited, can ever be taken for that ifland, I will not pretend to fay that any pofitive proof mould-: be founded upon the aftronomical obfervations of the ancients, unlefs there are circumflanccs that go hand in hand with, and corroborate them ; but we fhould be at a very-great lofs indeed, notwithstanding all the diligence of modern travellers, were wc to throw the celeftial obfervations of the ancients entirely behind us. Wc have, from various concurring circumftances, fixed our Meroe at Gerri, or between that town and Wed Baal a Nagga, that is about lat*. i6° 10' north ; and Ptolemy, from an obfervation of the Sol-Rice, fixes it at 16" 26', fo that the error here, if any, feems to be of no confequence, as the direction of the city might extend to the northward.' The obfervations mentioned by Pliny are not fo accurate, nor do they merit to be put in-: competition with thofe of Ptolemy, for very obvious reafons;; yet ftill, when ftriclly examined, they do not fail, inaccurate as they are, to throw fome light upon this fubject. He fays the fun is vertical at Meroe twice a-year, once when he enters the 180 of Taurus, and again when he is in the 14th: degree of the Lion. Here are three impoffibilitics, which plainly fhew that mis error is not that of Pliny, but of an ignorant tranferi-ber ; for if the zenith of Meroe anfwered to the 18th degree of Taurus, it is impofhble that the fame point fhould anr-fwer to the 14th degree of the Lion ; and if Syene was 5000 Itadia from the one, it is impoffible it could be no more from the other which was fouth of it, if they were all three tliree under the fame meridian; let us then confefs, as we muft, that both thefe obfervations are erroneous. But let us fuppofe that the firfl will make the latitude of Meroe to be if 20', and the fecond 16° 40'; taking then a medium of thefe two bad obfervations, as is the practice in all fuch cafes, we fhall find the latitude of Meroe to be 16* 30', only 4' difference from the obfervation of Ptolemy. Vosius*, among a multitude of errors he has committed relating to the Nile, denies that there are any iflands in that river. The reader will be long ago fatisfied from our hiftory, that this is without foundation, feeing that from the ifland of Rhoda, where Hands the Mikeas, to the ifland of Curgos, which we have juft now mentioned, wc have defcribed feveral. He would indeed infinuate, that Meroe, or Atbara, is not an ifland, but a peninfula, though it is well known in hiflory thefe words are conflantly ufed as fynonimous; but were it not fo, Meroe fcarcely Hands in need of this excufe. If the reader will call his eye upon the map, he will fee two rivers, the Rahad and Tocoor, that almoft meet in lat. nv 40' north. Acrofs the peninfula, left by thefe rivers, is a fmall ftripe called Falaty, running in a contrary direction from the general courfe of rivers in this country, that is from eaft to weft, though part of it in dry weather is hid in the fand, and this river makes Atbara a complete ifland in time of rain. . Simonide: * De. orig. flum. cap. xvi. p. $jj Sjmonides the Lefs Raid five years in Meroe ; after him, Arillocreon, Bion, and Bafdis*. It is not then probable that men of their character omitted to afcertain the fact whether or not the place where they lived was an ifland. Diodorus Siculus has faid, that Meroe was in the form of a fhield, that is, in the figure of that triangular fhield called Scutum, pointed at the bottom, and growing broader towards the top where it is fquare. Nothing can be more exact than this refemblancc of the lower part of Atbara, that is, from Gerri to the Magiran, the part we fuppofe Diodorus was acquainted with, and it is fcarccly poflible that he could have fixed upon this refemblancc without having feen fome figure of it delineated upon paper. As this mufl fuppofe a more than ordinary knowledge in Diodorus, wc fhall examine how the meafures he has given us of the ifland correspond with the truth. He fays, that the ifland is 3000 fladia long, and 1000 fladia broad. Now taking 8 fladia for a mile, wTe have 375 miles, and meafuring with the compafs from the river Falaty, where, as I have faid, Atbara becomes an ifland by the confluence of the rivers, 1 find that diflance to be 345 miles, of 60 miles to a degree, fo that without making any allowance for the difad-vantages of the country, it is impofTible at this day to have a more accurate eflimation. As for the breadth, it is fcarce-ly poflible to guefs at what part Diodorus means it was mca-ftired, on account of the figure of the fhield, as I have already obferved, as conflantly varying. But fuppofe, as is mofl probable, that the breadth of the ifland was referred to the * Plin. lib. vi. c. 3a. trie place where the city flood, then, in place of 125 miles, the produce of 1000 fladia, I find it meafures 145 miles, a difference as little to be regarded as the other. Let us now examine what information we can learn from the report of the centurions fent on purpofe by Nero to explore this unknown country, whofe report has been looked upon as decifive of the diflances of places through which they paffed^ These travellers pretend, that between Syene and the entrance into the ifland of Meroe was 873 miles, and from thence to the city 70 miles ; the whole diflance then between Syene and the city of Meroe will be 943 miles, or 150 43'. Now Syene was very certainly in 240, a few minutes more or lefs; and from this if we take 150, there will remain 90 of latitude for the ifland of Meroe, according to the report of thefe centurions, and this would have carried Meroe far to the fouthward of the fountains of the Nile, and confounded every idea of the geography of Africa. The parallel which marks ii° cuts Gojam very exactly in the middle, and this peninfula may be faid to refemble the fhield called Pelta; but very certainly not the Scutum, to which Diodorus has very properly likened it. Befides, their own obfervation condemns them, for it is about Meroe where they firft faw an appearance of verdure ; the reafon of which is very plain, if the latitude of that city was in 160, upon the verge of the tropical rains,where, as an eye-witnefs, I who have paffed that dreary diflance on foot can teflify, thofe green herbs and llirubs, though they begin, as is very properly and cautioufly exprefled, to appear there, fecm neither luxuriant nor abundant. But had rhe centurions gone to Gojam, they would have pafled a hundred miles of a more verdant and more beautiful country before arriving there. The pfittaci aves, or the paroquets, which they very properly obferved were firft feen in Meroe, that is, in Atbara, would have been fought for in vain in Gojam,.a cold country; whereas the paroquet's delight is in the low, or hot country, where there is always variety of fruit; neither could Ptolemy's obfervation, nor thofe two juft mentioned by Pliny, be admitted, after any fort of modification whatever. Strabo remarks of the fituation of Meroe, that it was placed upon the verge of the tropical rains ; and, with his ufual accuracy and good fcnfe, he wonders the regularity of thefe tropical rains, as to their coming and duration, was not known earlier, when fo many occafions had offered to obfervc them at Meroe before his time. The fame author fays, that the fun is vertical at Meroe forty-five days before the fummer folfticc ; fo that this too will place that ifland in lat. 16° 44', very little different from the latitude that Ptolemy gives it. From all which circumftances we may venture to maintain, that very few places in ancient geography have their fituations more flrictly defined, or by a greater variety of circumftances, than the ifland of Atbara or Meroe. But fuppofing the cafe were otherwife, there is not one of thefe circumflances that I know of, that could be adduced with any effect: to prove Gojam to be Meroe, as Le Grande and the Jefuits have vainly aliened. At half paft eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the 21ft rof October, having fpent the whole day in winding through vallies, and the bare hills of the Acaba, we alighted in a 2 wood wood about a mile from the river. This fide of the Nile, along which we travelled to-day, is quite bare, the other full of trees and corn, where are feveral large villages. On the 22d, in the afternoon, we left this place, which-is called Hor-Gibbait'y, and paffed through feveral villages of the Macabrab, named Dow-Dowa, and three miles further came to Demar, a town belonging to Fakir Wed Madge Doub, who is a faint of the firfl confequence among the Jahelcen. They believe that he works miracles, and can ilrikc whom he pleafes with lamenefs, blindnefs, or mad-nefs ; for which reafon they Hand very much in awe of him, fo that he paiFes the caravans in fafety through this neft of robbers, fuch as the Macabrab are, and always have been, though there are caravans who chufe rather to pafs unfeen under the cloud of night, than trufl to the veneration thefe Jaheleen may have ot Wed Madge Doub's fand try. After thefe are Eliab, their habitation four miles on our left at Howiah. On the 25th, at three quarters pan fix in the morning we left Demar, and at nine came to the Tacazze, live fhort miles diifant from Demar, aod two fmall villages built with canes and plaiilercd with clay, called Dubba bcah; thefie arc allies of the Macabrab, as coming from Demar, They took it in their heads to believe that we were a caravan going to Mecca, in which they were confirmed by a fon of Wed Madge Doub, whom I brought with mc, and it was neither my bufincfs nor inclination to undeceive them, but Juft the contrary. ■Vol. IV. The Tacazze is here about a quarter of a mile broad, exceedingly deep, and they have chofen the deeper! part for the ferry. It is clear as in Abyiiinia, where we had often feen it. It rifes in the province of Angor, in about lat. 9% but has loft all the beauty of its banks, and runs here thro' a defert and barren country. I reflected with much fatif-faction upon the many circumftances the fight of this river recalled to my mind; but ftill the greatefl was, that the fcenes of thefe were now far diftant, and that I was by fo much the more advanced towards home. The water of the Tacazze is judged by the Arabs to be lighter, clearer, and wholefomer than that of the Nile. About half a mile after this ferry it joins with that river. Though the boats were fmaller, the people more brutifh, and lefs expert than thofe at Halifoon, yet the fuppofed fanctity of our characters, and liberal payment, carried us over without any difficulty. Thefe fons of Mahomet are very robuft and flrong, and, in all their operations, feemed to truft to that rather than to addrefs or flight. Wc left the paffage at a quarter after three, and at half paft four arrived at a gravelly, wail c piece of ground, and all round it planted thick with large trees without fruit. The river is the boundary between Atbara and Barbar, in which province we now are. Its inhabitants are the Jaheleen of the tribe of Mirifab. On the 26th, at fix o'clock, leaving the Nile on our left about a mile, we continued our journey over gravel and fand, through a wood of acacia-trees, the colour of whofe flowers was now changed to white, whereas all the reft wc had before feen were yellow. At one o'clock we left the wood, and at 40 minutes paft three wc came to Gooz, a fmall villnge, which nevcrthelefs is the capital of Barbar. The THE SOURCE OF TFIE N ILE. The village of Gooz is a collection of miferable hovels com-pofed of clay and canes. There are not in it above 30 houfes, but there are fix or feven different villages. The heat feemed here a little abated, but everybody complained of a difeafe in their eyes they call Tifhafh, which often terminates in blindnefs. I apprehend it to be owing to the fimoom and fine fand blowing through the defert. Here a misfortune happened to Idris our Hybeer, who was arrcfted for debt, and carried to prifon. As we were now upon the very edge of the defert, and to fee no other inhabited place till we Ihould reach Egypt, I was not difpleafcd to have it in my power to lay him under one other obligation before we trufled our lives in his hands, which we were immediately to do. I therefore paid his debt, and reconciled him with his creditors, who, on their part, behaved very moderately to him. When trade flourished here, and the caravans went regularly, Gooz was of fome confideration, as being the firft place where they flopped, and therefore got the firft offer of the market; but now no commerce remains, nor is it worth while for flatcd guides to wait there to conduct the caravans through the defert, as they did formerly. Gooz is fituatcd fifteen miles from the junction of the two rivers, the Nile and Tacazze. By many obfervations of the fun and flars, and by a mean of thefe, I found it to be in lat. 1 f 57' 22"; and by an immcrfion of the firft fatellite of Jupiter obferved there the 5th of November, determined its longitude to be 340 10' 30" eaft of the meridian of Greenwich. The greatcfl height of Fahrenheit's thermometer was, at Gooz, the 28th day of October, at noon, 1110. 3 Z 2 Having Having received all the afllirances poflible from Iclrirf-that he would live and die with us, after having repeated the prayer of peace, we put on the heft countenance poflible, and committed ourfelves to the defert. There were Ifmael the Turk, two Greek fervants befides Georgis, who was almoft blind and ufelcfs. Two Barbarins, who took care of the camels, Idris, and a young man, a relation of his^ who joined him at Barbar, to return home; in all nine perfons, eight only of whom were effective. We were all well armed with blunderbuflcs, fwords, piftols, and double-barrelled guns, except Idris and his lad, who had lancesi the only arms they could ufe. Five or fix naked wretches of the Tucorory joined us at the watering place, much againfl my will, for I knew that we fliould probably be reduced to the di (agreeable ncccflity of feeing them die with third before our eyes ; or by affifting them, fhould any ac* cident happen to our water, we ran a very great rifk of. perifhing with them.. It was on the 9th of November, at noon, we left Gooz; and fet out for the fakia, or watering-place, which is bc^ low a little village called Haifa. All the welt fide of the Nile is full of villages down to Takaki, but they are all Jaheleen, without government, and perpetually in rebellion. At half paft three in the afternoon we came to the Nile to lay in our flore of water. We filled four fkins, which might contain altogether about a hogfhead and a half. As for our food, it confifled in twenty-two large goats fkins fluffed with a powder of bread made of dora here at Gooz, on purpofe for fuch expeditions. It is about the fize and fhape of a pancake, but thinner. Being much dried, rather than toafted at the fire, it is afterwards rub-2. bed; l>ed between the hands into a dud or powder, for the fake of package ; and the goat's fkin crammed as full as poflible, and tied at the mouth with a leather thong. Tins bread has a fourifli tafle, which it imparts to the water when mingled with it, and fwells to fix times the fpace that it occupied when dry. A handful, as much as you i on Id grafp, put into a bowl made of a gourd fawed in two, about twice the contents of a.common tca-bafon, was the quantity allowed to each man every day, morning and evening; and another fuch gourd of water divided, one half two hours before nooix, the other about an hour after. Such were the regulations we all of us fubferibed to ; we had not camels for a greater provifion. The Nile at Haifa runs at the foot of a mountain called Jibbel Atefhan, or the Mountain ofTbhjl; the men, emphatically -enough, confider-ing that thofe who part from it, entering the defert, take there the firft provifions againft thirfl, and there thofe that; come to it from the defert firft affuage theirs. On the nth, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon we left Haifa. It required a whole day to fdl our fkins, and foak them well in the water, in order to make an experiment, which was of the greatcft confequence of any one we ever made, whether thefe fkins were water-tight or not. I had taken the greateft care while at Chendi to dawb them well over with greafe and tar, to fecure their pores on the •outfide ; but Idris told us this was not enough, and that foaking the infide with water, filling them choak-full, and tying their mouths as hard as poflible, was the only way to be.certain if they were water-tight without, While the camels were loading, I bathed myfelf with infinite plcafure for a long half hour in the Nile, and thus took leave of my old acquaintance, very doubtful if we mould ever meet again. We then turned our face to N. E. leaving the Nile, and entering into a bare defert of fixed gravel, without trees, and of a very difagreeable whitifh colour, mixed with fmall pieces of white marble, and pebbles like alabaftcr. At a quarter pafl four we alighted in a fpot of high bent grafs, where we let our camels feed till eight o'clock, and at three quarters pafl ten we halted for the night in another patch of grafs ; the place is called Ho-weela. Jibbel Atefhan bore S. W. and by W. of us, the diftance about feven miles. I inquired of Idris, if he knew, to point out to me, precifely where Syene lay, and he fhe wed me without difficulty. I fet it by the compafs, and found it to be N. and by W. very near the exact bearing it turned out upon obfervation afterwards. He faid, however, we mould not keep this tract, but fhould be obliged to vary occasionally in fearch of water, as we fhould find the wells in the defert empty or full. On the 12th, at feven o'clock in the morning we quitted Howeela, continuing our journey through the defert in the fame direction, that is to the N. E. ; our reafon was, to avoid as much as poflible the meeting any Arab that could give intelligence of our being on our journey, for nothing was fo eafy for people, fuch as the Bifhareen, to way-lay and cut us off at the well, where they would be fure we mud of neceffity pafs. At twenty minutes pafl eight we came to Waadi el Haimer, where there are a few trees and fome bent grafs, for this is the meaning of the word Waadi in a defert. The Arabs, called Sumgar, are here on the well of us, 3 t>y by the river fide. At half paft twelve we alighted on a fpot of grafs. Takaki from this diftance will be twenty-four miles, between the points N. W. and N, N. W. and from Takaki to Dongola ten fhort days journeys, I fuppofe 180 miles at moft. We are now in the territory of the Bifhareen, but they were all retired to the mountains, a high even ridge, that is fomething above two days diftance from u;, and runs parallel to our courfe, on the right hand of us, all the way into Egypt. At half paft eight we alighted in a fandy plain without trees or grafs. Our camels, we found, were too heavily loaded, but we comforted ourfelves that this fault would be mended every day by the ufe we made of our provifions ; however, it was very much againfl them that they were obliged to pafs this whole night without eating. This place is called Umboia. We left Umboia, flill ftrctching farther into the defert at N. E. At nine we faw a hill called Affero-baybe, with two pointed tops N. of us, which may be about twelve or fourteen miles diftant, perhaps more. This is the next Hybeer's mark, by which he directs his courfe. On the cafl is Ebenaat, another fliarp-pointed rock, about ten miles diftant.. All this day, and the evening bc-fore,ourroad has been through ftony, gravelly ground, without herb or tree. Large pieces of agate and jafper, mixt with many beautiful pieces of marble, appear everywhere on the ground. At two o'clock in the afternoon we came to Waadi Amour, where we alighted, after we had gone fix hours this day with great diligence. Waadi Amour has a few trees and fhrubs, but fcarce enough to afford any lhade, or night's pro virion. provifion for our camels. Being now without fear of the Arabs who live upon the Nile, from which we were at a fuflicient diftance, wc with the fame view to fafety, declined approaching the mountains, but held our courfe nearly N. to a fmall fpot of grafs and white fand, called Afla-Nagga. Here our misfortunes began, from a circumftance we had not attended to. Our fhoes, that had needed conftant repair, were become at laft abfolutely ufelefs, and the hard ground, from the time we paffed Amour, had worn the fkin off in feveral places, fo that our feet were very much inflamed by the burning fand About a mile north-weft of us is Hambily, a rock not confidcrable in fize, but, trom the plain country in which it is Intuited, has the appearance of a great tower or caftle, and fouth of it two hillocks or little hills. Thele are all land-marks of the utmoft confequence to caravans in their journey, becaufe they arc too confiderable in fize to be covered at any time by the moving fands. At Alia Nagga, Afli-ro-baybe is fquare with us, and with the turn which the Nile takes call ward to Korti and Dongola. The Takaki arc the .people ncaretl us, well of Affa Nagga, and Affero-baybe upon the Nile. After thefe, when the Nile has turned E. and W. are the Chaigic, on both fides of the river, on to Korti, where the territory called the kingdom of DongoLi begins. As the Nile no longer remains on our left, but makes a remarkable turn, which has been much mifreprefented in the.maps, I put my quadrant in order, and by a medium of three ob-f.Tvat ions, one of Procyon, one of Rigel, and one of the mid-tlle.ftar of the belt of Orion, I found the latitude of Alia Nagga to be 19° 30', which being on a parallel with the far--theit puint of the Nile northward, gives the latitude of.that place r place where the river turns weft by Korti towards Dongola, and this was of great fervice to me in fixing fome other material points in my map. On the 14th, at feven in the morning we left AfTa Nagga, our courfe being due north. At one o'clock we alighted a-mong fome acacia-trees at Waadi el Halboub, having gone twenty-one miles. We were here at once mrprifed and terrified by a fight furely one of the mofl magnificent in the world. In that vaft cxpanfe of defert, from W. and to N. W. of us, we faw a number of prodigious pillars of fand at different diftances, at times moving with great celerity, at others ftalking on with a majeflic flownefs; at intervals we thought they were coming in a very few minutes to overwhelm us; and fmall quantities of fand did actually more than once reach us. Again they would retreat fo as to be almofl out of fight, their tops reaching to the very clouds. There the tops often feparated from the bodies; and thefe, once disjoined, difperfed in the air, and did not appear more. Sometimes they were broken near the middle, as if Ilruck with a large cannon flior. About noon they began to advance with confiderable fwiftnefs upon us, the wind being very flrong at north. Eleven of them ranged alongfide of us about the diftance of three miles. The greateft diameter of the largeft appeared to me at that diftance as if it would meafure ten feet. They retired from us with a wind at S. E. leaving an impreffion upon my mind to which 1 can give no name, though furely one ingredient in it was fear, with a confiderable deal of wonder and aftonifhment. It was in vain to think of flying; the fwiftell horfe, or faflefl failing fhip, could be of no ufe to carry us out of this danger, and the full perfuafion of this rivetted me as if to the fpot where I flood, and let the Vol. IV. 4 A camels camels gain on me fo much in my ftate of lamenefs, that it was with fome difficulty I could overtake them. The effect this ftupendous fight had upon Idris was to fet him to his prayers, indeed rather to his charms ; for, beitdes the name of God and Mahomet, all the reft of the words were mere gibberifh and nonfenfe. This created a violent altercation between him and Ifmael the Turk, who abufed him for not praying in the words of the Koran, maintaining, with apparent great wifdom at the fame time, that nobody had charms to flop th,efe moving fands but the in* habitants of Arabia Dejferta* The Arabs to whom this inhofpitable fpot belongs are the Adelaia. They, too, are Jahelecn, or Arabs of Beni Koreifh. They are faid to be a harmlefs race, and to do no hurt to the caravans they meet; yet I very much doubt, had we fallen in with them they would not have deferved the good name that was, given them. We went very flow-ly to-day, our feet being fore and greatly fwellcd. The whole of our company were much difheartcned, (except Idris) and imagined that they were advancing into whirlwinds of moving fand, from which they fliould never be able to extricate themfelves ; but before four o'clock in the afternoon thefe phantoms of the plain had all of them fallen to the ground and difappcared. In the evening we came to Waadi Dimokea, where we paffed the night, much difheartcned, and our fear more incrcafed, when we found, upon wakening in the morning, that one fide was perfectly buried in the fand that the wind had blown above us it? the nighty From this day, fubordination, though not entirely ceafed, was fall on the decline ; all was difcontent, murmuring, and fear. Our water was greatly diminifhed, and that terrible death by thirfl began to Rare us in the face, and tins was owing in a great meafure to our own imprudence. Ifmael, who had been left centinel over the fkins of water, had flept fo foundly, that this had given an opportunity to a Tucorory to open one of the fkins that had not been touched, and fcrve-himfelf out pf it at his own difcretion. I fuppofe that, hearing fomebody flir, and fearing detection, he had withdrawn himfelf as fpeedily as poflible, without taking time to tie the mouth of the girba, which we found in the morning with fcarce a quart of water in it. On the 15th, at a quarter pafl feven in the morning wc left Waadi Dimokca, keeping a little to the weftward of north, as far as I could judge, juft upon the line of Syene. The fame ridge of hills being on our right and left as yefterday, in the center of thefe appeared Del Ancd. At twenty minutes paft two o'clock in the afternoon we came to an opening in the ridge of rocks; the paffage is about a mile broad, through which we continued till we alighted at the foot of the mountain Del Aned. The place is called Waadi Del Aned. The fame appearance of moving pillars of fand preferred themfelves to us this day in form and difpofition like thofe we had feen at Waadi Halboub, only they feemed to be more in number, and lefs in fize. They came feveral times in a direction clofe upon us; that is, I believe, within lefs than two miles. They began, immediately after fun-rife, like a thick wood, and almoft darkened the fun : 4 A z His His rays mining through them for near an hour, gave them an appearance of pillars of fire. Our people now became defperate: The Greeks fhrieked out, and faid it was the day of judgment. Ifmael pronounced it to be hell, and the Tucororics, that the world was on fire. I afked Idris if ever he had before feen fuch a fight ? He faid he had often feen them as terrible, though never worfe ; but what he feared moil was that extreme rednefs in the air, which was a fure prefage of the coming of the fimoom. I begged and entreated Idris that he would not fay one word of that in the hearing of the people, for they had already felt it at Im-hanzara in their way from Ras el Feel to Teawa, and again at the Acaba of Gerri, before we came to Chendi, and they were already nearly diftractcd at the apprehenfion of finding it here. At half pafl four o'clock in the afternoon we left Waadi Del Aned, our courfe a little more to the weftward than the direction of Syene. The fands which had difappeared yef-terday fcarcely Ihe wed themfelves at all this day, and at a great diflance from the horizon. This was, however, a comfort but of fhort duration. I obferved Idris took no part in it, but only warned me and the fervants, that, upon the coming of the fimoom, we fhould fall upon our faces, with our mouths upon the earth, fo as not to partake of the outward air as long as we could hold our breath. We alighted at fix o'clock at a fmall rock in the fandy ground, without trees or herbage, fo that our camels failed all that night. This place is called Ras el Seah, or, by the Bifhareen, El Mout, which fignifies death, a name of bad omen. On On the 16th, at half pafl ten in the forenoon wc left El Mout, Handing in the direction clofe upon Syene. Our men, if not gay, were however in better fpirits than I had feen them fince we left Gooz. One of our Barbarins had even attempted a fong ; but Hagi Ifmael very gravely reproved him, by telling him, that finging in fuch a fituation was a tempting of Providence. There is, indeed, nothing more different than active and pafFive courage. Hagi Ifmael would fight, but he had not flrength of mind to fuffer. At eleven o'clock, while we contemplated with great pleafure the rugged top of Chiggre, to which we were fall approaching, and where we were to folace ourfelves with plenty of good water, Idris cried out, with a loud voice, Fall upon your faces, for here is the fimoom. I faw from the S. E. a haze come, in colour like the purple part of the rainbow, but not fo com-preffed or thick. It did not occupy twenty yards in breadth, and was about twelve feet high from the ground. It was a kind of blufh upon the air, and it moved very rapidly, for I fcarce could turn to fall upon the ground with my head to the northward, when I felt the heat of its current plainly upon my face. We all lay flat on the ground, as if dead, till Idris told us it was blown over. The meteor, or purple haze, which I faw, was indeed paffed, but the light air that flill blew was of heat to threaten fuffocation. For my part, I found diflinctly in my breaft that I had imbibed a part of it, nor was 1 free of an aflhmatic fenfation till 1 had been fome months in Italy, at the baths of Porctta, near two years afterwards. An univcrfal defpondency had taken pofTeffion of our people. They ceafed to fpeak to one another, and when they they did, it was in whifpers, by which I eafdy gueffed their difcourfe was not favourable to me, or elfe that they were increafing each others fears, by vain fuggeftions calculated to fink each others fpirits Rill further, but from which no earthly good could poflibly refult. I called them together, and both reprimanded and exhorted them in the ftrongeft manner I could ; I bade them attend to me, who had nearly loft my voice by the fimoom, and defired them to look at my face, fo fwelled as fcarcely to permit me to fee; my neck covered with blifters, my feet fwelled and inflamed, and bleeding with many wounds. In anfwer to the lamentation that the water was exhauftcd, and that we were upon the point of dying with thirfl, I ordered each man a gourd full of water more than he had the preceding day, and Hie wed them, at no great diflance, the bare, black, and fharp point of the rock Chiggre, wherein was the well at which we were again to fill our girbas, and thereby banifh the fear of dying by thirfl in the defert. I believe I never was at any time more eloquent, and never had eloquence a more fudden effect. They all protefted and declared their concern chiefly arofe from the fituation they faw'me in; that they feared not death or hardfhip, provided I would fubmit a little to their direction in the taking a proper care of myfelf. They intrcated me to ufe one of the camels, and throw off the load that it carried, that it would eafe me of the wounds in my feet, by riding at leaft part of the day. This I pofitively refufed to do, but recommended to them to be flrong of heart, and to fpare the camels for the laft re-fource, if any fliould be taken ill and unable to walk any longer. 4 This This phenomenon of the fimoom, unexpected by us, though fore feen by Idris, caufed us all to relapfe into our former defpondency. It flill continued to blow, fo as to ex-hauft us entirely, though the blafl was fo weak as fcarcely would have raifed a leaf from the ground. At twenty minutes before five the fimoom ceafed, and a comfortable and cooling breeze came by flans from the north, blowing five or fix minutes at a time, and then falling calm. We were now come to the Acaba, the afcent before we arrive d at Chiggre, where we intended to have flopt that night, but we all moved on with tacit confent, nor did one perfon pretend to fay how far he gueiTed we were to go. At thirteen minutes pafl eight we alighted in a fandy plain abfolutely without herbage, covered with loofe flones, a quarter of a mile due north of the well, which is in the narrow gorge, forming the fouthern outlet of this fmall plain. Though we had travelled thirteen hours and a quar--ther this day, it was but at a flow pace, our camels being famifhed, as well as tired, and lamed likewife by the fliarp ilones with which the ground in all places was covered. The country, for three days pafl, had been deflitute of herbage of any kind, entirely defert, and abandoned to moving fands. We faw this day, after pafling Ras el Seah, large blocks and flrata of pure white marble, equal to any in colour that ever came from Paros. Chiggre is a fmall narrow valley, clofely covered up and furrounded with barren rocks. The wells are ten in number, and the narrow gorge which opens to them is not ten yards broad. The fprings, however, are very abundant. Wherever a pit is dug five or fix. feet, deep, it is immediate)- ly filled with water. The principal pool is about forty yards fquare and live feet deep ; but the befl tailed water was in the cleft of a rock, about 30 yards higher, on the weil fide of this narrow outlet. All the water, however, was very foul, with a number of animals both aquatic and land. It was impoflible to drink without putting a piece of our cotton girdle over our mouths, to keep, by filtration, the filth of dead animals out of it. We faw a great many partridges upon the face of the bare rock; but what they fed upon 1 could not guefs, unlefs upon infects. We did not dare to moot at them, for fear of being heard by the wandering Arabs that might be fomewhere in the neighbourhood ; for Chiggre is a haunt of the Bifhareen of the tribe of Abou Bertran, who, though they do not make it a flation, becaufe there is no pailure in the neighbourhood, nor can any thing grow there, yet it is one of the mofl valuable places of refrefhment, on account of the great quantity of water, being nearly half way, when they drive their cattle from the borders of the Red Sea to the banks of the Nile ; as alfo in their expeditions from fouth to north, when they leave their encampments in Barbar, torob the Ababde Arabs on the frontiers of Egypt. Our firft attention was to our camels, to whom we gave that day a double feed of dora, that they might drink for the reft of their jonrney, fliould the wells in the way prove fcant of water. We then warned in a large pool, the coldeft water, I think, I ever felt, on account of its being in a cave covered with rock, and was inaccellibie to the fun in any direction. All my people feemed to be greatly recovered by this refrigeration, but from fome caufe or other, it fared otherwife with the Tucorory; one of whom died about an hour after our arrival, and another early the next morning. 3 Subordination Subordination, if now not entirely gone, was expiring, fo that I fcarcely expected to have in te reft enough with my own fervants to help me to fet up my large quadrant: Yet 1 was exeeedinglv curious to know the fituation of this remarkable place, which Idris the Hybeer declared to be halfway to Affouan. But" it feems their curiofity was not lefs than mine ; above all, they wanted to prove that Idris was mistaken, and that we were confiderably nearer to Fgypt than we were to Barbar. While Idris and the men filled the fkins with water, the Greeks and I fet up the quadrant, and, by obfervation of the two bright ftars of Orion, I found the latitude of Chiggre to be 200 58' 30" N.; fo that, allowing even Fome fmall error in the pofition of Syene in the French maps, Idris's guefs was very near the truth, and both the latitude and longitude of Chiggre and Syene feemed to require no further invciligation. During the whole time of the obfervation, an antelope, of a very large kind, went feveral times round and roin d the quadrant; and at the time when my eyes were fixed upon the flar, came fo near as to bite a part of my cotton cloth which I had fprcad like a carpet to kneel on. Ev< n when I ftirred, it would leap about two or three yards from mc, and then (land andgaze with fuch attc-i>uor,thar it would have appeared to by-(landers (had there been any) thai we had been a long tine acquainted. The firft idea \vas the common one, to kill it. 1 eafily could have done this with a lance; but it fecmed fo interefled in what I was d )-ing, that 1 began to think it might perhaps be my good genius which had come to vifit, protect:, and encourage me in the defperate fituation in which I then was. Vol. IV. CHAP. V^Jw^^^-^-—-—— ----- - CHAP. Xlf. TYiJlrefcs In the Defert—Meet ivitb Arabs—Camels die—Baggage aba &* doncd—Come to Syene. ON the 17th of November, at half pafl ten in the forenoon, wc left the valley and pool of Chiggre. Ifmael, and Georgis the blind Greek, had complained of ihivering all night, and I began to be very apprehenfive fome violent fever was to follow. Their perfpiration had not returned but in fmall quantity ever fince their coming out of the water, and the night had been exceflivcly cold, the thermometer Handing at 63°. The day, however, was infufTerably hot, and their complaints infenfibly wore off to my great comfort. A little before eleven wc were again terrified by an army (as it feemed) of land pillars, whofe march was conflantly fouth, and the favourite field which they occupied was that great circular fpace which the Nile makes when oppofite to AfTa Nagga, where it turns weft to tCorti and Dongola. At one time a number of thefe pillars lars faced to the eaflward, and feemed to be coming directly upon us; but, though they were little nearer us than two miles, a confiderable quantity of fand fell round us. i began now to be fomewhat reconciled to this phenomenon, feeing it had hitherto done us no harm. The great magnificence it exhibited in its appearance, feemed, in fome meafure, to indemnify us for the panic it had firft occafion-cd : But it was otherwifc with the fimoom; we all of us were firmly pcrfuaded that another paffage of the purple meteor over us would be attended with our deaths. At half pafl four we alighted in avail plain, bounded on ■all fides by low fandy hills, which feemed to have been transported hither lately. Thefe hillocks were from feven to thirteen feet high, drawn into perfect:cones, with very fharp points and well-proportioned bafes. The fand was of an inconceivable finenefs, having been the fport of hot winds for thoufands of years. There could be no doubt that the day before, when it was calm, and we fuffered fo much by the fimoom between El Mout and Chiggre, the wind had been raifing pillars of fand in this place, called Umdoom; marks of the whirling motion of the pillars were diflinctly feen in every heap, fo that here again, while we were repining at the fimoom, Providence was bulled keeping us out of the way of another fcene, where, if we had advanced a day, wc had all of us been involved in inevitable dcflruc-tion. On the 18th we left Umdoom at feven in the mornine. our direction N. a little inclined to W.; at nine o'clock wrc paffed through a fandy plain, without trees or verdure. About 300 yards out of our way, to the left, among 4 B 2 fome fome Tandy hillocks, .where the ground feems to be more elevated than the reft, Idris the Hybeer told me, that one of the largeft caravans which ever came out of Egypt, under the conduct of the Ababde and the Bifhareen Arabs, was there covered with fand, to the number of fome thou fands of camels. There are large rocks of grey granite fcattered; through this plain. At ten o'clock we alighted at a place called hrboygi, where are fome trees, to feed our camels. The trees I have fo often mentioned in our journey thro' the defert are not timber, or tail-growing trees ; there are none of thefe north of Scniiaar, except a few at Chendi. The trees I fpeak of, which the Camels eat, are a kind of dwarf acacia, growing only to the height of bufhes ; and the wood fpoken of likewife is only of the dofert kind, ate almoft bare by the camels. There are fome high trees, indeed, on the banks of the Nile. At half pa(l one o'clock we left Erboygi, and came to a large wood of doom (Parma cuciofera).. Here, for the firft time, we faw a fhrub which very much refembled Spanim broom. The whole ground is dead fand, with fome rocks of reddifh granite. Exactly at five o'clock.we alighted in the wood, after having travelled a moderate pace. The place is called El Cowie, and is a flation of the Bifhareen in the fummer months; but thefe people were now eaft of us, three days journey, towards the Red Sea, where the rains had fallen, and there was plenty of pafture. At forty minutes paft twelve we left El Cowie, and at five o'clock in the evening alighted in a wood, called Terfowey, full of trees and grafs. the trees ate the talicll and largeft we had feen fince leaving the Nile, We had this day enjoyed, as it were, a holiday, free from tire terrors of the land, or dreadful influence of the fimoom.. This poifonous wind had made feveral attempts to prevail this tiiis day, but was always overpowered by a cool breeze at. north. On the 19th we left the weft end of the wood, or rather continued the whole length of it, and at a quarter pad cigho in the evening arrived at the well. It is about four fa-thorns deep, but the fpring not very abundant. We drained it feveral times, and were obliged to wait its filling again. Thefe laft two days, fince we were at El Cowie, we had feen more verdure than we had altogether fince we left Barbar. Here, particularly at Terfowey, the acacia-trees are tall and verdant, but the mountains on each fide appear black and barren beyond imagination.. As foon as we alighted at Terfowey, and had chofen a proper place where our camels could feed, we unloaded our baggage near them, and fent the men to clean the well, and wait the filling of the fkins. We had lighted a large fire. The nights were exceiTively cold, though the thermometer was at 530; and that cold occafioncd me incxprcfllble pain in my feet, now fwelled to a monftrous fize, and everywhere inflamed and excoriated. I had taken upon me the charge of the baggage, and Mahomet, Idris's young man, the care of the camels; but he too was gone to the well, though expected to return immediately. A doubt had arifen in my mind by-the way, which was then giving me great uncafinefs. If Syene is under the fame meridian with Alexandria, (for fo Eratofthcnes conceived when lie attempted to meafure the circumference of the the earth), in this cafe, Alexandria being fuppofed to Iyc in long. 300, Syene mutt be in 300 likewife ; but Gooz being in 34% it is impoflible that Syene can be within a trifle north of Gooz ; and therefore we mull have a much greater quantity of welling to travel than Idris the Hybeer imagines, who places Syene a very little well of the meridian of Gooz, or immediately under the fame meridian, and due north from it. Our camels were always chained by the feet, and the chain fccurcd by a padlock, left they fhould wander in the night, or be liable to be ftolen and carried off. Muling then upon the geographical difficulties juft mentioned, and gazing before me, without any particular intention or fuf-picion, I heard the chain of the camels clink, as if fome-body was unloofing them, and then, at the end of the gleam made by the fire, I faw diftinctdy a man pafs fwiftly by, Hooping as he went along, his face almoft to the ground. A little time after this 1 heard another clink of the chain, as if from a pretty fharp blow, and immediately after a movement among the camels. I then rofe, and cried in a threatening tone, in Arabic, ** I charge you on your life, whoever you are, either come up to me directly, or keep at a diflance till day, but come that way no more; why fhould you throw your life away.?" In a minute after, he repaired in the fhade among the trees, pretty much in the manner he had done before. As I was on guard between the baggage and the camels, I was confequently armed, and advanced deliberately fome fleps, as far as the light of the fire fhone, on purpofe to difcovcr how many they were, and was ready to fire upon the next I faw. u If you are an honeft man, cried I aloud, and want any thing, come up to the fire and fear not, I am 1 alone; / alone; but if you approach the camels or the baggage a-gain, the world will not be able to lave your life, and your blood be upon your own head.'* Mahomet, Idris's nephew, who heard me cry, came running up from the well to fee what was the matter. We went down together to where the camels were, and, upon examination, found that the links of one of the chains had been broke, but the opening not large enough to let the correfpouding whole link through to feparatc it. A hard blue ftone was driven through a link of one of the chains of another camel, and left flicking there, the chain not being entirely broken through ; we faw, befides, the print of a man's feet on the fand. There was no need to tell us after this that we were not to fleep that night; we made therefore another fire on the other fide of the camels with branches of the acacia tree, which we gathered. I then fent the man back to Idris at the well, defiring him to fill his Ikins with water before it was light, and tranfport them to the baggage where I was, and to be all ready armed there by the dawn of day ; foon after which, if the Arabs were fufliciently ftrong, we were very certain they would attack us. This agreed perfectly with Idris's ideas alfo, fo that, contenting themfelves with a lefter quantity of water than they firft intended to have taken, they lifted the fkins upon the camels I fent them, and were at the rendezvous, near the baggage^ a little after four in the morning. The Barbarins, and, in general, all the lower fort of Moors and Turks, adorn their arms and wrills with amulets ; thefe are charms, and are fome favourite verfe of the Koran wrapt in paper, neatly covered with Turkey leather. The two Barbarins that were with me had procured for themfelves new new ones at Sennaar, which were to defend them from the fimoom and the fand, and all the dangers of the deh rt. i fiat they might not foil thefe in filling the water, they had tak< a them from their arms, and laid them on the brink of the well before they went down. Upon looking for thefe after the girbas were filled, they were not to be found. I his double attempt was an indication of a number of people being in the neighbourhood, in which cafe our prefent fituation was one of the mofl defperate that could be figured. We were in the middle of the mofl barren, inhofpitable defert in the world, and it was with the utmofl difficulty that, from day to day, we could carry wherewithal to affuage our thirfl. We had with us the only bread it was poflible to procure for fome hundred miles ; lances and fwords were not ne-ceffary to deflroy us, the bui fling or tearing of a girba, the lamenefs or death of a camel, a thorn or fprain in the foot which might difable us from walking, were as certain death to us as a fhot (from a cannon. There was no flaying for one another; to lofe time was to die, becaufe, with the utmofl exertion our camels could make, we fcarce could carry along with us a fcanty proviiion of bread and water fufli. cient to keep us alive. That defert, which did not afford inhabitants for the af-fiflanee or relief of travellers, had greatly more than fuffi-cient for dcflroying them. Large tribes of Arabs, two or three thoufand, encamped together, were cantoned, as it were, in different places of this defert, where there was water enough to ferve their numerous herds of cattle, and thefe, as their occafion required, travelled in parties all that wide cxpanfe of foliiude, frcm the mountains near the Red Sea call, to the ban^s °f tne Kile on the weft, according as their feveral feveral defigns or neceffities required. Thefe were jahelecn Arabs, thofe cruel, barbarous fanatics, that deliberately (lied fo much blood during the time they were eftablifliing the Mahometan religion. Their prejudices had never been re-moved by any mixture of fir angers, or foftencd by fociety, even with their own nation after they were polifhed ; but buried, as it were, in thefe wild defcrts, if they were not grown more favage, they had at leafl preferved, in their full vigour, thofe murdering principles which they had brought with them into that country, under the brutal and inhuman butcher Kalcd Ibn el Waalid, impioufly called The Sword of God. If it fhould be our lot to fall among thefe people, and it was next to a certainty that we were at that very inflant furrounded by them, death was certain, and our only comfort was, that we could die but once, and that to die like men was in our own option. Indeed, without considering the bloody character which thefe wretches naturally bear, there could be no reafon for letting us live: We could be of no fervice to them as flaves ; and to have fent us into Egypt, after having firft rifled and deftroyed our goods, could not be done by them but at a great expence, to which well-inclined people ouly could have been induced from charity, and of that laft virtue they had not even heard the name. Our only chance then remaining was, that their number might be fo fmall, that, by our great fuperiority in fire-arms and in courage, we might turn the misfortune upon the aggreffors, deprive them of their camels and means of carrying water, and leave them fcattcred in the defert, to that death which either they or wc, without alternative, muft fuffer. Vol. IV. 4 C I explained I explained myfelf to this purpofe, briefly to the people, on which a great cry followed, " God is great! let them come.!" Our arms were perfectly in order, and our old Turk Ifmael feemed to move about and direct with the vigour of a young man. As we had no doubt they would be mounted on camels, fo we placed ourfelves a little within the edge of the trees. The embers of our two fires were on our front; our tents, baggage, and boxes, on each fide of us, between the opening of the trees ; our camels and water behind us, the camels being chained together behind the water, and ropes at their heads, which were tied to trees. A fkin of water, and two wooden bowls befide it, was left open for thofe that fliould need to drink. We had finifhed our brcakfafl before day-break, and I had given all the men directions to fire fcparately, not together, at the fame fet of people ; and thofe who had the blunderbuffes to fire where they faw a number of camels and men together, and efpecially at any camels they faw with girbas upon them, or where there was the grcatcft confufion. The day broke; no Arabs appeared; all was flill. The danger which occurred to our minds then was, left, if they were few, by tarrying we fliould give them time to fend off mef-fengcrs to bring afiiflancc. I then took Ifrnacl and two Barbarins along with me, to fee who thefe neighbours of ours could be. We foon traced in the fand the footflcps of the man who had been at our camels ; and, following them behind the point of a rock, which fecmed calculated for concealing thieves, we faw two ragged, old, dirty tents, pitched with grafs cords. The The two Barbarins entered one of them, and found a naked woman there. Ifmael and I ran briikly into the larger!, where we faw a man and a woman both perfectly naked, frightful, emaciated figures, not like the inhabitants of tins world. The man was partly fitting on his hams; a child, feemingly of the age to fuck, was on a rag at the corner, and the woman looked as if fhe wifhed to hide hcrfelf. I fprung forward upon the man, and, taking him by the hair of the head, pulled him upon his back on the floor, letting my foot upon his breafl, and pointing my knife to his throat ; I faid to him flernly, " If you mean to pray, pray quickly, for you have but this moment to live." The fellow was fo frightened, he fcarce could beg us to fpare his life; but the woman, as it afterwards appeared, the mother of the fucking child, did not fcem to copy the paffive difpofition of her hufband ; flie ran to the corner of the tent, where was an old lance, with which, I doubt not, fhe would have fufficiently diftinguifhed herfelf, but it happened to be entangled with the cloth of the tent, and Ifmael felled her to the ground with the butt-end of his blunderbufs, and wrefted the lance from her. A violent howl was fet up by the remaining woman like the cries of thofe in torment. " Tie them, faid I, Ifmael; keep them feparate, and carry them to the baggage till I fettle accounts with this camel-ftealer, and then you fhall flrike their three heads off, where they intended to leave us miferably to perifh with hunger; but keep them feparate." While the Barbarins were tying the woman, the one that was the nurfe of the child turned to her hufband, and faid, in a mofl mournful, defpairing tone of voice, " Did 1 not tell you, you would never thrive if you hurt that good man ? 3 C 2 did did not I tell you this would happen for murdering the Aga?" Our people had come to fee what had pafled, and I fent the women away, ordering them to be kept feparate,. out of the hearing of one another, to judge if in their an-fwers they did not prevaricate. The woman defired to have her child with her, which I granted. The little creature, in Re ad of being frightened, crowed, and held out its little hands as it palled me. We faftened the Arab with the chain of the camels, and fo far was well; but Rill we did not know how near the Bifhareen might be, nor who thefe were, nor whether they had fent off any intelligence in the night. Until we were informed of this, our cafe was little mended. Upon the man's appearing, all my people decla* red, with one general voice, that no time was to be loft, but that they fhould all be put to death as foon as the camels were loaded, before we fet out on our journeyand, indeed, at firft view of the thing, felf-prefervation, the firft law of nature, feemed ftrongly to require it.. Hagi Ifmael was fo determined on the execution that he was already fecking a knife fliarper than his own. " We will ftay, Hagi Ifmael, faid 1, till we fee if this thief is a liar alfo. If he prevaricates in the anfwers he gives to my qucftions, you fliall then cut his head oft', and we will confign him with the lie in his mouth, foul and body to hell, to his mailer whom he ferves." Ifmael anfwered. " The truth is the truth ; if he lies, he can deferve no better. The reader will cafily understand the neccffity of my fpeaking at that moment in terms not only unufual for a Chriflian,, but even in any fqciety or converfation ; and if the ferocity ferocity and brutality of the difcourfc Ihould mock any, efpecially my fair readers, they will remember, that thefe were intended for a good and humane purpofe, to produce fear in thofe upon whom we had no other tie, and thereby extort a confcflion of the truth; which might anfwer two purpofes, the faving the elfufion of their blood, and providing for our own prefervation. " You fee, faid I, placing the man upon his knees, your time is fhort, the fword is now drawn which is to make an end of you, take time, anfwer diftinctdy and deliberately, for the full trip or lie that you make, is the laft word that you will utter in this world. Your wife fhall have her fair chance likewife, and your child; you and all fhall go together, unlcfs you tell me the naked truth. Here, Ifmael, Hand by him, and take my fword, it is,.! believe, the fharpeft in the company." " Now I afk you, at your peril, Who was the good man your wife reproached you with having murdered ? where was it, and when, and who were your accomplices ? He anfwered trembling, and indirlinclly, through fear, u It was a black, an Agafrom Chendi." " Mahomet Towalh, fays Ifmael ; Ullah Kerim ! God is merciful!" " The fame," fays the Jufharecn. He then relatedthe particulars of his death in the manner in which I fliall have occafion to ftate afterwards. " Where are the Bifhareen ? continued I; where is Abou Bertran ? how foon will a light camel and meflengcr arrive where he now is ?" "In lefs than two days; perhaps, fays he, in a day and a half, if he is very diligent and the camel good." " Take care, faid I, you are in danger. Where did you and your women come from, and when ?" " From Abou Bertran, fays he; wc arrived here at noon on the 5th day,. day*, but the camels were all flic-camels; they are favourite camels of Shekh Seide ; we drove them foftly ; the two you law at the tents are lame; befides there were fome others unfound ; there were alfo women and children." " Where did that party, and their camels, go to from this ? and what number of men was there with them ?" " There were about three hundred camels of all forts, and about thirty men, all of them fervants; fome of them had one lance, and fome of them two; they had no fhields or other arms." " What did you intend laft night to do with my camels ?" " I intended to have carried them, with die women and child, to join the party at the Nile." " What mult have become of me in that cafe? we mull have died ?" He did not anfwer. " Take care, faid I, the thing is now over, and you are in my hands; take care what you fay." " Why, certainly, fays he, you mult have died, you could not live, you could not go anywhere elfe." " If another party had found us here, in that cafe would they have flain us ?" He hclitated a little, then, as if he recollected himfelf, faid, "Yes, furely, they murdered the Aga, and would murder any body that had not a Bifhareen with them." A violent cry of condemnation immediately followed. " Now attend and underftand me diftinctly, faid I, for upon thefe two que-ftions hangs your life : Do you know of any party of Bifhareen who are foon to pafs here, or any wells to the north, and in what number? and have you fent any intelligence fince laft night you faw us here ?" He anfwered, with more readinefs than ufual, "We have fent nobody anywnere ; * It is not here to be underflood that the Arab defcribed the day by the 5th, but by a* interval of time which we knew corrcfponded to the jth, anywhere; our camels are lame; we were to follow, as foon as they could be able to travel, to join thofe at the Nile. The parties of the Bifhareen arc always paffing here, fometimes more, fometimes lefs ; they will not come till they hear from the Nile whether the grafs is grown. They have with them two dromedaries, who will carry the news from the Nile in three days, or they will come in fmall parties like the laff, for they have no fear in thefe parts, fhe wells to the north belong to the Ababde. When they pafs by them with cattle they are always in great numbers, and a Shekh along with them ; but thofe wells are now fo lean-ty they have not water for any number, and they mufl therefore all pafs this way." I got up, and called on Ifmael. The pooi; fellow thought he was to die. Life is fweet even to the moll miferable. Fie was flill upon his knees, holding his hands clafjped round the back of his neck, and already, I fuppofe, thought lie felt the edge of Ifmael's knife. He fwore that every word he had fpoken was truth; and if his wife was brought flie could not tell another flory. I thereupon left him, and went to his wife, who, when flie faw Magi Ifmael with a drawn fword in his hand, thought all was over with her hufband, and fell into a violent fit of defpair, crying out, "That all the men were liars and murderers, but that, fhe would have told the truth if I had afked her firft;-' " Then go, Hsgi Ifmael, faid I, tell them not to put him to death till I come, and now you have your chance, which if you do not improve by telling the truth, 1 will firft flay your child with my own hand before your face, and then order you all to be cruelly put to 3 death death together." She began with great earneflnefs to fay, " She could not tell who killed Mahomet Towafh, for flie only heard it in converfation from her hufband, who was there, after he had come home." I then, word for word, put thofe queftions to her that I had done to her hufband, and had precifely the fame anfwers. The only difference was, that flie believed a party of the Ababde would pafs Chiggre foon; but feeing me rife to go away, flic burfl out into a flood of tears, and tore her hair in the mofl violent excefs of paffion; fhrieking out, to have mercy upon her, and pref-fing the little child to her breafl as if to take leave of it, then laying it down before me, in great agony and bitter-nefs of heart, flie again flirieked out, 44 If you are a Turk, make it a flave, but do not kill my child, and fpare my hufband." Though I underflood Arabic well, I did not, till that clay, know it had fuch powen, or that it contained expref-fions at once fo forcible and fo fimple. I found myfelf fo much moved, and my tears came fo faff, that it was in vain to endeavour to carry on a farce under fuch tragical appearances, " Woman, faid I, I am not a Turk, nor do I make flaves, or kill children. It is your Arabs that force me to this ; it was you that attacked me laft night, it was you that murdered Mahomet Towafli, one of your own religion, and bufied in his duty. I am a ftranger, feeking my own fafety, but you are all murderers and thieves."—" It is true, fays fhe, they are all murderers and liars, and my hufband, not knowing, may have lied too. Only let me hear what he told you, and I will tell you whether it is truth or not." Day was now advancing apace, and no refolution taken, w/hijft our prefent fituation was a very un.fafc one. Wc 4 carried carried the three prifoners bound, and fet George, the Greek, centinal over them. I then called the people together. I stated fairly, in a council held among ourfelves, the horror of flaughtering the women and child, or even leaving them to flarve with hunger by killing their camels, from whom they got their only fuffenancc; for, though we fliould not flain our hands with their blood, it was the fame thing to leave them to perilh : that we were flrangers, and had fallen upon them by accident, but they were in their own country. On the contrary, fuppofe we only flew the man, any of the women might mount a camel, and, travelling with diligence, might inform the Bifhareen, who would fend a party and cut us off at the next well, where we mufl pafs, and where it would be impoffibie to efcape them. I muit fay, there was a confiderable majority for fparing the women and child, and not one but who willingly decreed the death of the man, who had confeffed he was endeavouring to Ileal our camels, and that he intended to carry them to his party at the Nile ; in which cafe the lofs of all outlives was certain, as we fliould have been flarved to death, or murdered by the Arabs. The very recital of this attempt fo enraged Hagi Ifmael that he defired he might have the preference in cutting off his head. The Barbarins, too, were angry for the lofs of their bracelets. Indeed every one's opinion was, that the Arab fhould die, and efpecially fince the account of their behaviour to Mahomet Towafh, whofe death I, for my own part, cannot fay I thought myfelf under any obligation to revenge. " Since you are differing in your opinions, and Vol. IV. 41) ^ there there is no time to lofe, fa id I, allow mc to give you mine; It has appeared to mc, that often,, fince we began this journey, we have been preferred by vifible inftances of God'i protection, when wc Ihould have loft our lives if we had gone by the rules of our own judgment only. We are, it is true, or diilerent religions, but ali worfhip the fame God. Suppofe the prefent cafe fhould be a trial, whether we trull really in God's protection, or whether we believe our fafety owing to our own forefight and courage. If the man's life be now taken away,,to-morrow we may meet the Bifha^ reen, and then we mall all reflect: upon the folly of our precaution. For my own part, my conflant creed is, that I am in God's hands, whether in the houfe or in the defert; and not in thofe of the Bifhareen, or of any lawlcfs fpoiler. I have a clear conference, and am engaged in no unlawful purfuit, feeking on foot my way home, feeding on bread and water, and have done, nor defign, wrong to no man. We are well armed, are nine in number, and have twice as many firelocks, many of thefe with double-barrels, and others of a fize never before feen by Arabs, armies of whom have been defeated with fewer: we are ragged and tattered in our cloches, and no prize to any one, nor do I think we fhall be found a party of pleafure for any fet of wild young men, to leave their own homes, with javelins and lances to way-lay us at the well for fport and diverfion, fince gain and profit arc out of the queftion. But this I declare to you, if ever we meet thefe Arabs, if the ground is fuch as has been near all the wells we have come to, I will fight the Bifhareen boldly and chearfully, without a doubt of beating them with cafe. I do not fay my feelings would be the fame if my confeience was loaded with that mofl heinous and horrid crime, murder der in cold blood; and therefore my determination is to fpare the life even of this man, and will oppofe his being put to death by every means in my power." It was eafy to fee, that fear of their own lives only, and not cruelty, was the reafon they fought that of the Arab. They anfwered me, two or three of them at once, " That it was all very well; what fhould they do? fliould they give themfelves up to the Bifhareen, and be murdered like Mahomet Towafh ? was there any other way of efcaping ?" " I will tell you, thcn,finee you afk me what you fliould do; You fliall follow theduty of felf-defence and felf-preferva-tion, as far as you can do it without a crime. You fliall leave the women and the child where they are, and with them the camels, to give them and their child milk; you fhall chain the hufband's right hand to the left of fome of yours, and you lhall each of you take him by turns till we fliall carry him into Egypt Perhaps he knows the defert and the wells better than Idris; and if he fhould not, flill we have two Hybeers inflead of one ; and who can fore nil what may happen to Idris more than to any other ot us ? But as he knows the Rations of his people, and their cour-fes at particular feafons, that day we meet one Bifhareen, the man that is chained with him, and conducts him, fhall inflantly flab him tothe heart, fo that he fhall not fee, much lefs triumph in, the fuccefs of his treachery. On the contrary, if he is faithful, and informs Idris where the danger is, and where we arc to avoid it, keeping us rather by fcamy wells than abundant ones, on the day I arrive fafcly in fcgypt I will cloath him anew, as alfo his women, give him a good camel for himfelf, and a load of dora for them all. As for 4 D 2 the the camels we leave here, they are fhe-ones, and necefTary to give the women food. They are not lame, it is faid, but we fliall lame them in earneft, fo that they fhall not be able to carry a meffenger to the Bifhareen before they die with thirfl in the way, both they and their riders, if they fliould attempt it." An univerfal applaufe followed this fpeech ; Idris, above all, declared his warmefl approbation. The man and the women were fent for, and had their fentence repeated to them. They all fubfcribed to the conditions chearful ly; and the woman declared flie would as foon fee her child die as be an inflrument of any harm befalling us, and that, if a thoufand Bifhareen fhould pafs, fhe knew how to mif-lead them all, and that none of them fliould follow us till we were far out of danger. I sent two Barbarins to lame the camels effectually, but not fo as to make them pafl recovery. After which, for the nurfe and the child's fake, I took twelve handfuls of the bread which was our only food, and indeed we could fcarcly fpare it, as we faw afterwards, and left it to this miferable family, with this agreeable reflection, however, that we fhould be to them in the end a much greater blcfling than in the beginning we had been an affliction, provided only they kept their faith, and on their part defcrved it. On the 20th, at eleven o'clock we left the well at Terfowey, after having warned the women, that their chance of feeing their hufband again depended wholly upon his and their faithful conduct. We took our prifoner with us, his right hand beingchaincd to the left of one of the Barbarins. We had no no fooner got into the plain than we felt great fymptoms of the fimoom, and about a quarter before twelve, our prifoner firft, and then Idris, cried out, The Simoom ! the Simoom ! My curiofity would not fuffer me to fall down without looking behind me. About due fouth, a little to the eaft, I faw the coloured haze as before. It feemed now to be rather lefs compreffed, and to have with it a fhade of blue. The edges of it were not defined as thofe of the former, but like a very thin fmoke, with about a yard in the middle tinged with thofe colours. We all fell upon our faces, and the fimoom paffed with a gentle ruffling wind. It continued to blow in this manner till near three o'clock, fo we were all taken ill that night, and fcarcely ftrength was left us to load the camels and arrange the baggage. This day one of our camels died, partly famifhed, partly overcome with extreme fatigue, fo that, incapable as we were of labour, we were obliged, for felf-prefervation's fake, to cut off thin flices of the flefhy part of the camel, and hang it in fo many thongs upon the trees all night, and after upon the baggage, the fun drying it immediately, fo as to prevent putrefaction. At half paft eight in the evening we alighted at a well called Naibey, in a bare, fandy plain, where there were a few (haggling acacia-trees. We had all this day feen large blocks of foffile fait upon the furface of the earth where wc trod. This was the caufe, I fuppofe, that both the fpring at Terfowey, and now this of Naibey, were brackiih to the tafte, and efpecially that of Naibey. We found-near the well the corpfe of a man and two camels upon the ground. It was apparently long ago that this accident happened, for the moifiure of the camel was fo exhaled that it feemed to weigh *veigh but a very few pounds; no vermin had touched it, as in this whole defert there is neither worm, fly, nor any thing that has-the breath of life. On the 21ft, at. fix in the morning, having filled the girbas with water, we fet out from Naibey, our direction due north, and, as we thought, in a courfe almoft ftraight upon Syene. The firft hour of our journey was through lharp-pointed rocks, which it was very eafy to forefee would very foon finifh our camels. About eight we had a view of the defert to the weftward as before, and faw the fands had already begun to rife in immenfe twilled pillars, which darkened the heavens. The riling of thefe in the morning fo early, we began now to obferve, was a fure fign of a hot day, with a-brifk wind at north; and that heat, and the early riling of the fands, was as fure a fign or its faUing calm about mid-day, and its being followed by two hours of the poifon-cus wind. That laft confidcration was what made the great-eft impreflion, for wc had felt its effects; it had filled us with fear, and abforbed the laft remnant of our ftrength; whereas the land, though a deftrudion to us if it had involved us in its compafs, had as yet done us no other harm than terrifying us the firft days we had feen it0 It was this day more magnificent than any we had as yet feen. The fun fhining through the pillars, which were thicker, and contained more fand apparently than any of the preceding days, feemed to give thofe nearer! us an appearance as if fpottcd with .flars of gold. I do not think at any time they fecmed to be nearer than two miles. The moil remarkable circtimftance was, that the fand feemed ,to keep in that vaft circular fpacc furrounded by the Nik 2 on on our left, in going round by Chaigie towards Dongola, and feldom was obferved much to the eaftward of a meridian, pafling along the Nile through the Magiran, before it takes that turn; whereas the fimoom was always on the oppofite fide of our courfe, coming upon us from the fouth-eaft. A little before twelve our wind at north ceafed, and a confiderable quantity of fine fand rained upon us for an hour afterwards. At the time it appeared, the defcription of this phenomenon in Syphax's fpeech to Cato was perpetually before my mind;-— So, where our wide Numidian waftes extend; Sudden th' impetuous hurricanes defcend, Wheel through the air, in circling eddies play, Tear up the fands, and fwecp whole plains away. The helplefs traveller, with wild furprife, Sees the dry defert all around him rife, And fmother'd in the dufty whirlwind dies; Addison. j ■ Thefe lines are capital, and are a fine copy, which can only appear tame by the original having been before our eyes, painted by the great mafter, the Creator and Ruler of the world, The fimoom, with the wind at S. E. immediately follows the wind at N, and the ufual defpondency that always accompanied it. The blue meteor, with which it began, palled over us about twelve, and the milling wind that followed it continued till near two. Silence, and a dofpeiate kind of: of indifference about life, were the immediate effecTs upon us ; and I began now, feeing the condition of my camels, to fear we were all doomed to a fandy grave, and to contemplate it with fome degree of resignation. At half paft eight in the evening we alighted in a fandy flat, where there was great flore of bent grafs and trees which had a confidcrable-degree of verdure, a circumftance much in favour of our camels. We determined to flop here to give them aa opportunity of eating their fill where they could find it. On the aid, at fix o'clock we fet out from the fandy flat, and one of the Tucorory was feized with a phrenzy or mad-nefs. At firfl I took it for a fit of the epilepfy, by the di-flortions of his face, but it was foon feen to be of a more feri-ous nature. Whether he had been before afflicted with it I know not. I offered to bleed him, wfrch he refufed ; neither, though we gave him water, would he drink, but very moderately. He rolled upon the ground, and moaned, often repeating two or three words which I did not underfland. He refufed to continue his journey, or rife from where he lay, fo that we were obliged to leave him to his fortune. We went this day very diligently, not remarkrbly flow nor fall; but though our camels, as we thought, had fared well for thefe two nights, another of them died about four o'clock this afternoon, when wc came t6 Umarack. I here began to provide for the worfl. I faw the fate of our camels approaching, and that our men grew weak in proportion ; cur bread, too, began to fail us, altho'we had plenty of camels flcfh in its Head ; our water, though in all appearance wc were to find it more frequently than in i. the the beginning of our journey, was neverthelefs brackifh, and fcarce ferved the purpofe to quench our thirfl; and, above all, the dreadful fimoom had perfectly exhaufted our flrength, and brought upon us a degree of cowardice and languor that we flruggled with in vain ; I therefore, as the lad effort; began to throw away every thing weighty I could fpare, or that was not abfolutely neceiFary, fuch as all Iheils, folliles, minerals, and petrefactaons that I could get at, the counter-cafes of my quadrant, telcfcopes, and clock, and feveral fuchlike things. Our camels were now reduced to five, and it did not feem that thefe were capable of continuing their journey much longer. In that cafe, no remedy remained, but that each man fhould carry his own water and provifions. Now, as no one man could carry the water he fliould ufe between well and well, and it was more than probable that dillance would be doubled by fome of the wells being found dry ; and if that was not the cafe, yet, as it was impoflible for a man to carry his provifions who could not walk without any burden at all, our fituation feemed to be moll defperate. The Bifhareen alone feemed to keep up his Rrcngth, and was in excellent fpirits. He had attached himfelf, in a particular manner, to me, and with a part of that very fcanty rag which he had round his waiil he had made a wrapper, very artificially, according to the manner his countrymen the Biihareen practice on fuch occafions. This had greatly defended my feet in the day, but the pain occaiioncd by the cold in the night was really fcarce fuffer-able. I offered to free him from the confinement of his left Vol. IV, 4 E hand. hand, which was chained to fome one of the company night and day'; but he very fenfibly refufed it, faying, "Unchain my hands when you load and unload your camels, I cannot then run away from you ; for tho' you did not moot me, I fhould ftarve with hunger and thirfl; but keep me to the end of the journey as you began with me, then I cannot mifbehave, and lofe the reward which you fay you are to give mc." At forty minutes pafl three o'clock we faw large flratas of foffile fait everywhere upon the furtace of the ground. At five we found the body of Mahomet Towafh, on the fpot where he had been murdered, ftript naked, and lying on his face unburied. The wound in the back-finew of his leg was apparent; he was, befides, thrufl through the back with a lance, and had two wounds in the head with fwords. We followed fome footfleps in the fand to the right, and there faw three other bodies, whom Idris knew to be his principal fervants. Thefe, it feemed, had taken to their arms upon the Aga's being firfl wounded, and the cowardly, treacherous Bifhareens had perfuaded them to capitulate upon promife of giving them camels and pro-vifion to carry them into Egypt, after which they had murdered them behind thefe rocks. At fix o'clock we alighted at Umarack, fo called from a number of rack-trees that grow there, and which feem to affect a faltifh foil; at Raback and JVlafuah I had feen them growing in the fea. When 1 ordered a halt at Umarack, the general cry was, to travel all night, fo that we might be at a diflance from that dangerous, unlucky fpot. The fight of the men murdered, and fear of the like fate, had liacl got the better of their other fenfations. In fhort, there was nothing more vifible, than that their apprehenfions were of two fore , and produced very different operations. The fimoom, the flalking pillars of fand, and probability of dying with thirfl or hunger, brought on a torpor, or indifference, that made them inactive; but the difcovery of the Arab at Terfowey, the fear of meeting the Bifhareen at the wells, and the dead bodies of the Aga and his unfortunate companions, produced a degree of activity and irritation that refemblcd very much their fpirits being elevated by good news. I told them, that, of all the places in the defert through which they had paffed, this was by far the fafefl, becaufe fear of being met by troops from Affouan, fceking the murderers of Mahomet Towafh would keep ali the Bifhareen at a diflance. Our Arab faid, that the next well belonged to the Ababde, and not the Bifhareen, and that the Bifhareen had flain the Aga there, to make men believe it had been done by the Ababde. Idris contributed his morfel of comfort, by affuring us, that the wells now, as far as Egypt, were fo fcanty of water, that no party above ten men would trufl their provifion to them, and none of us had the leafl apprchenfion from marauders of twice that number. The night at Umarack was exceflively cold as to fenfation ; Fahrenheit's thermometer was however at 490 an hour before day-light. On the 23d we left Umarack at fix o'clock in the morning, our road this day being between mountains of blue flones of a very fine and perfect quality, through the heart of which ran thick veins of jafper, their flrata perpendicular to the horizon. There were other mountains of marble of the colour called Ifabella. In other places the rock feem- 4 E 2 ed cd compofcd of petrified wood, fuch as we had feen in the mountains near CofTeir. At a quarter pafl eleven, going due N. we entered a narrow valley, in which we paffed two wells ? on our left, and following the windings through this valley, all of deep land, we came to a large pool of excellent water, called Umgwar, flickered from the rays of the fun by a large rock which projected over k, the upper part of which was fhaped like a wedge, and was compofed all of green marble, without the fmalleft variety or fpot of other colour in it. Through this whole valley, to-day, we had feen the bodies of the Tucorory who had followed Mahomet Towafh-, arid been fcattcred by the Bifhareen, and left to perifh with thirll there. None of them, however, as far as we could obferve, had ever reached this well. In the water we found a bird of the duck kind called Teal, or Widgeon. The Turk Ifmael was preparing to-moot at it with his blunderbufs, but I defired him to refrain, being willing, by its flight, to endeavour to judge fomething of the nearnefs of the Nile. Weraifedit therefore by fudden. repeated cries, which method was likely tomake it feck its home flraight, and abandon a place it mufl have been a flranger to. The bird flew flraight weft, rifing as he flew, a fure proof his journey was a long one, till at laft, being very high and at a diflance, he vanifhed from our light, without defcending or feeking to approach the earth ; from which I drew an unpleafant inference that we were yet far from the Nile, as was really the cafe-. Hi tie we threw away the brackifft water that remained in our girbas, and filled them with the wholefome element drawn. drawn from this pool of Umgwat. I could not hoi p reproaching Idris with the inaccuracy of the information he had pretended to give us the day before, that no party a-bove ten men could meet us at any of thefe wells, as none of them could fupply water for more ; whereas in this pool there was certainly enough of excellent water to ferve a whole tribe of Arabs for a month. He had little to fay, further than that Haimer, though near, was a fcanty well, and perhaps we fhould not find water there at all. He truib-ed, however, if our people would take heart, wc were out of all danger from Arabs, or any thing elfe. At a quarter pafl three we left the well, and continued along a fandy valley, which is called Waadi Umgwat. This night it was told me that Georgis, and the Turk Ifmael, were both fo ill, and fo defponding, that they had ref >lved to purfue the journey no farther, but fubmit to their defliny, as they called it, and flay behind and die. It was with the utmofl difficulty I could get them to lay afide this refoht-tion, and the next morning I promifed they mould ride by turns upon one of the camels, a thing that none of us had yet attempted. They had, indeed, often defired me to do fo, but 1 well knew, if I had fet them that example, befides dellroying the camels, it would have had the very worfl effect upon their daflardly fpirits ; and, indeed, we very foon faw the bad effects of this humane confideration for the two invalids. On the 24th, at half pafl fix in the morning we left Umgwat, following the windings of fandy valleys between flony hills. At half pafl nine we found Mahomet Aga-'s horfe dead, fhe poor creature feemed, without a guide,10 have have followed exactly enough the tract of the wells and way to Egypt, and had furvived all his fellow-travellers. At eleven o'clock we came to fome plains of loofe, moving fand, and faw fome pillars in motion, which had not wind to fuflain them for any time, and which gave us, therefore, lit tie concern. At one we alighted near the well Mour, which was to the N. E. of us. At four we left the well Mour: At forty minutes after four pafTcd the well itfelf, which was then dry; and at a quarter pafl fix we found a dead man, whofe corpfe was quite dry, and had been fo a confiderable time. At feven o'clock in the evening we alighted at El Maimer, where are the two wells in a large plain of fand. The water is good. There is another well to the we'! of us, but it is bitter and faltifh, though more abundant than either of the other two, which, by filling our ikins, we had feveral times drained. On the 25th, at half pafl feven in the morning we left the well Ll Haimer, and at ten o'clock alighted among fome acacia-trees, our camels having ate nothing all night, except the dry bitter roots of that drug, the fenna. While wc were attending the camels, and relling ourfelves on the grafs, we were furprifed at the appearance of a troop of Arabs all upon camels, who looked like a caravan, each camel having a fmall loading behind him. They had two gentle afcents before they could arrive at the place where we were. The road is between two fandy hills, at the back of which our camels were feeding in a wood; and near the road was the well El Haimer, where our fkins were lying full of water, it was neceirary then to underfland one another before we allowed them to pafs between the fandy hills. Upon the firft. alarm, my people all repaired to me, 3 bringing bringing their arms in their hands, as well thofe that they carried upon them, as the fpare arms, all of which were primed and charged. The firft queftion was, what to do with the Bifhareen? None of us had any fufpicion of him. We unchained him from the Barbarin, and faftened his other hand, then gave him to the Tucorory, and made them fland behind to in-creafe the appearance of our number. I then advanced to the edge of the hill, and cried out with a loud voice, " Stop !• for you cannot pafs here." Whether they underflood it I do not know, but they llill perfifted in mounting the hill. i again cried, fhewing my firelock, " Advance a ftep farther and I'll fire." After a fhort paufe they all difmounted from their camels, and one of them, with his lance in his hand, came forward till within twenty yards, upon which Idris immediately knew them, and faid, they were Ababde. " A-babde or not, faid I, they are feventeen men, and Arabs, and I am not of a difpofition, without further furety, to put myfelf in their hands as Mahomet Aga did. I am fure they are perfectly in our power now, as long as they Hand where they are." Idris then told me that he was married to one of the Ababde of Shekh Ammer, and he would go and get a fure word from them. Tell them from me, faid I, that I, too, am the friend of Nimmer their Shekh, and his two fons, and of Shekh Hammam of Furihout; that I am going into Egypt, have been followed by the Bimarecn, and truft nobody ; have twenty men armed with firelocks, and will do them no harm, provided they confent to pafs, one by one, and give a man for a hoflage. Idris Idris, without arms, having joiiied the man who had advanced towards us, went down with him to the body of flrangcrs, and the treaty was foon agreed to. Two of the principal men among them approaching me without their lances, and the compliment of peace, " Salam Alicum ! and Alicum Salam!" was given and returned by both fides. They feemed, however, flartled at feeing the Bifhareen with both his hands chained ; but I told them, that had no regard to them, and defired Idris to order their camels to go on; and one of the barbarins in the meantime brought them a gourd full of water, and bread, for eating together is like pledging your faith. They had not heard of the fate of Mahomet Aga, and fecmed very ill-pleafed at it, faying, that Abou Bertran was a thief and a murderer. All the camels being pafl, I afked them whither they were going ? They faid to Atbieh, weft of Terfowey, to gather fenna for the government of Cairo. I would very fain have had them to fell or exchange with me a couple of camels. They faid theirs were not flrong ; that before they could reach* home they would be much in the fame condition with our own; that they were obliged to load them very heavily, as indeed the bags they had behind them to carry the fenna fecmed to indicate their profit was but fmall, fo that the death of one camel was a mofl ferious lofs. I thought nil) felf obliged in humanity to introduce our prifoner to the two Ababde that had remained with us. They faid, they intended to take water at Terfowey, and we told them briefly the accident by which wc came in company with the Bifhareen. They, on the contrary, thought that we had been a party of foldiers from Affouan who apprehended the A"ab. Immediately after which they con-4 verfed rerfed in the language of Beja, which is that of the Habab, Suakem, and Mafuah. I told them plainly, that, though I knew that language, I would not fuffer them to fpeak any but Arabic, underflood by us all. They immediately complied, and then inquired about the polition of Abou Bertran and his tribe of Bifhareen. This, too, I would not fuffer the Arab to inform them of, but charged them, as he did alfo, to tell his wives that he was well, and ate and drank as we had done, and was within two days of arriving at Alfouan, whence he Ihould be returned to them with the rewards promifcd. I then defired him to lay a lance in a manner that the point ihould be towards Syene, which they accordingly did,and with a long needle of 11inches in a brafs box, having an arch of a few degrees marked on it, I, with the utmofl attention, took the direction from Haimer to Syene N. N. W. or more northerly. I would very willingly have had it in my power to have made an obfervation of latitude, but noon was paft; I contented myfelf, therefore, with keeping my route as diftin&ly as poflible till the evening. At 40 minutes pafl one o'clock we left Haimer, and our friends, the Ababde, continued their route, after giving us great praife, as well for our civility, as our keeping the watch like men, as they expreffed it. At half pad eight we alighted at Abou Ferege, a place where there was very little verdure of any kind. Here, for the firft time on our journey, we met with a cloudy fky, which effectually difap-pointed my obfervation of latitude ; but every noon and night I defcribed, in a rough manner, my courfe through the day, carrying always a compafs, with a needle about five Vol. IV. 4 F inches inches radius, round my neck, by a lace, and refting in my pocket. I thus found that we had kept the line directly upon Syene, which the Ababde Arab had Ihewed us. On the 26th, at half after fix in the morning we fet out from Abou Ferege, continuing nearly in the fame direction upon Syene till eleven o'clock, when, for the purpofe of obfervation only, I alighted at a place called Abou Here-gi, without water, grafs, or food for our camels. We were exceedingly averfe to exertions, and became fo weak and fpiritlefs, that it was not poflible to prevail upon our people to take the large quadrant out of its chefl to put it together, and prepare it for obfervation. I therefore took a Hadley's quadrant, with a mixture I had made, which ferved me better than quick-nlver, and made my obfervation by reflection at Abou Hcregi, and found it in lat. 230, from which I inferred, with fome degree of comfort to myfelf, that the longitude of Syene in the French maps is ill laid down, and that we were now in the direction upon Syene, had no welling to run down, but the journey muff fulfill in a very few days, At two o'clock in the afternoon we left Abou Hercgi, and at four had an unexpected entertainment, which filled our hearts with a very fliort-lived joy. 1 he whole plain before us feemed thick-covered with green grafs and yellow dailies. We advanced to the place with as much fpeed as our lame condition would fuffer us, but how terrible was our disappointment, when we found the whole of that verdure to coniift in fennaand coloquintida, the mofl naufeous of plants, and the mofl incapable of being fubllituted as food for man or beaft. At nine o'clock in the evening we alighted at Saffieha, which is a ridge of craggy mountains to the S, E, and N. W. The night here was immoderately cold, and the wind north. We were now very near a crifis, one way or the other. Our bread was confirmed, fo that we had not fuflicient for one day more; and though we had camels flefli, yet, by living fo long on bread and water, an invincible repugnance arofe either to fmell or tafle it. As our camels were at their laft gafp, we had taken fo fparingly of water, that, when we came to divide it, we found it in-fuflicient for our necellities, if Syene was even fo near as we conceived it to be. Georgis had loft one eye, and was nearly blind in the other. Ifmael and he had both become fo ftifF by being carried, that they could not bear to fet their feet to the ground; and I may fay for myfelf, that, though I had fup-ported the wounds in my feet with a patience very uncommon, yet they were arrived at that height as to be perfectly intolerable, and, as I apprehended, on the point of mortification. The bandage, which the Bifhareen had tied a~ bout the hollow of my foot, was now almoft hidden by the flefh fwelling over it. Three large wounds on the right foot, and two on the left, continued open, whence a quantity of lymph oozed continually. It was alfo with the utmofl difficulty wc could get out the rag, by curting it to fhrcds with fciflars. The tale is both unpleafant and irkfome. Two foles which remained from our fandals, the upper leathers of which had gone to pieces in the fand near Gooz, were tied with a cotton cloth very adroitly by the Bifhareen. But it fecmed impoflible that I could walk further, even with this afliitance, and therefore we determined to throw away the quadrant, telefcopes, and timekeeper, and fave our lives, by riding the camels alternately. 4 F a But But Providence had already decreed that we flmuld not tcrr-niinatc this dangerous journey by our own ordinary lore-fight and contrivance, but owe it entirely to his viable fup* port and. interpofition. On the 27th, at half pall five in the morning we attempted to raife our camels at Saflieha by every method that we could devife, but all in vain, only one of them could get upon his legs, and that one did not Hand two minutes till he kneeled down, and could never be railed afterwards. This the Arabs all declared to be the effects of cold ; and yet Fahrenheit's thermometer, an hour before day, flood at 42V Every way we turned ourfelves death now ilared us in tli3 face. We had neither time nor flrength to wafle, nor provifions to fupport us. We then took the fmall fkins that had contained our water, and filled them as far as we thought a man could carry them with eafe; but after all thefe ihifts, there was not enough to ferve us three days, at which I had eflimated our journey to Syene,. which flill however was uncertain.. Finding, therefore, the camels would not rife, we killed two of them, and took fo much flefh as might ferve for the deficiency of bread, and, from the flomach of each, of the camels, got about four gallons of water, which the Bifhareen Arab managed with great dexterity. It is known to people converfant with natural hillory, that the camel has within him refervoirs in which he can preferve drink for any number of days he is ufed to. In thofe caravans, of long courfe, which come from the Niger acrofs the defert of Selima, it is faid that each camel, by drinking, lays in a flore of water that will fupport him for forty days. I will by no means be a voucher of this account, which carries with it an air of exaggeration ; but fourteen: fourteen or fixteen days, it is well known, an ordinary camel will live, though he hath no frefh fupply of water, When he chews the cud, or when he eats, you conftantlv fco him throw, from this repofitory, mouthfuls of water to dilute his food ; and nature has contrived this veffel with fuch properties, that the water within it never putrilies, nor, turns unwholcfomc. It was indeed vapid, and of a bluifh call, but had neither talle nor fmell. The fmall remains of our miferable flock of black bread' and dirty water, the only fupport we had hitherto lived on amidft the burning fands, and our fpirits likewife, were exhaufted by an uncertainty of our journey's end. Wc were furrounded among thofe terrible and unufual phenomena of nature which Providence, in mercy to the wcak-nefs of liis creatures, has concealed far from their fight in deferts almoft inacceffible to them. Nothing but death was before our eyes ; and, in.thefe terrible moments of pain, fuffcring, and defpair, honour, inftcad of relieving.me, fug-geiled flill what was to be an augmentation to my misfortune ; the feeling this produced fell directly upon mc alone-, and every other individual of the company was unconfeious of it.. The drawings made at Palmyra and Baalbec for the king^ were, in many parts of them, not advanced farther than the outlines, which I had carried with me, that, if leifurc or confinement fhould happen, I might finifh them during my travels in cafe of failure of other employment, fo far at leaft, that, on my return through Italy, they might be in a ftate of receiving further improvement, which might carry them to that perfection I have fince been enabled to cor,* duct. A duct them. Thefe were all to be thrown away, with other not lefs valuable papers, and, with my quadrant, telefcopes, and time-keeper, abandoned to the rude and ignorant hands of robbers, or to be buried in the fands. Every memorandum, every defcription, fketch, or obfervation fince I departed from Badjoura and palled the defert to Coffeir, till I reached the prefent fpot, were left in an imdigcfted heap, with our carrion-camels, at Saffieha, while there remained with mc, in lieu of all my memoranda, but this mournful confidcration, that I was now to maintain the reality of thefe my tedious perils, with thofe who cither did, or might affect, from malice and envy, to doubt my veracity upon my ip-fe dixit alone, or abandon the reputation of the travels which I had made with fo much courage, labour, danger, and difficulty, and which had been confidcred as defperate and impracticable to accomplilh for more than 2000 years. I would be underflood not to mean by this, that my thoughts were at fuch a time in the leaft dillurbed with any reflection on the paltry lies that might be propagated in malignant circles, which has each its idol, and who, meeting, as they fay, for the advancement of learning, employ themfelves in blafting the fame of thofe who muft be allowed to have furpafled them in every circumfiance of intrepidity, forethought, and fair atchicvemcnt. The cenfure of thefe lion-faced and chicken-hearted critics never entered as an ingredient in my forrows on that occafion in the fad-nefs of my heart; if I had not poflefled a fhare ot Spirit enough to defpife thefe, the fmalleft trouble that occurred in my travels muft have overcome a mind fo feebly armed. My forrows were of another kind, that I fliould, of courfe, be deprived of a confiderable part of an oflering I meant 3 as as a mark of duty to my fovereign, that, with thofe that knew and elleemed me, I fhould be obliged to run in debt for the credit of a whole narrative of circumflanccs, which ought, from their importance to hiftory and geography, to have a better foundation than the mere memory of any man, con fide ring the time and variety of events which they embraced ; and, above all, I may be allowed to fay, I felt for my country, that chance alone, in this age of difcovery, had robbed her of the fairefl garland of this kind flie ever was to wear, which all her fleets, full of heroes and men of fcience, in all the oceans they might be deftined to explore, were incapable of replacing upon her brow. Thefe fad reflections were mine, and confined to myfelf. Luckily my companions were no fharers in them; they had already, in their own fuffcrings, much more than their little flock of fortitude, philofophy, or education enabled them to bear. About three o'clock in the afternoon of the 27th we faw two kites, or what are called Haddaya, very numerous in Egypt; about a quarter of an hour afterwards, another of the fame fort, known to be carrion-birds, probably going in fcarch of the dead camels. I could not conceal my joy at what I regarded as a happy omen. We went five hours and a half this day, and at night came to Waadi el Arab, where are the fi>ft trees we had feen fince we left El Hammer. On the 28th, at half paft feven in the morning we left Waadi el Arab, and entered into a narrow defile, with rugged, but not high mountains on each fide. About twelve o'clock we came to a few tree* in the bed of a torrent, 111 as- as I was, after refrefhing myfelf with my Lift bread and water, I fee out in the afternoon to gain a rifing ground, that I might fee, if poflible, what was to the weftward ; for the mountains feemed now rocky and high like thofe of the Kennoufs near Syene. I arrived, with great difficulty and pain, on the top of a moderate hill, but was exceedingly di{'appointed at not feeing the river to the weftward ; however, the vicinity of the Nile was very evident, by the high, uniform mountains that confine its torrent when it comes out of Nubia. The evening was ftill, fo that fitting down and covering my eyes with my hands, not to be diverted by external objects, I liftened and heard diftinctly the noife of waters, which I fuppofed to be the cataract, hut it feemed to the fouthward of us, as if we had pafled it. I was, however, fully fatisfied that it was the Nile. Just before I left my flation the fun was already low, •when 1 faw a flock of birds, which, in Syria, where they are plenty, are called the Cow'Bird. In Egypt they are alfo numerous upon the Nile, but I do not know their name. They are a fmall fpecies of the heron, about a third of the fize of the common one, milk-white, having a tuft of flefh-coloured feathers upon their breaft, of a coarfer, ftronger, and more hairy-like quality than the fhorter feathers, A flock of thefe birds was flying in a flraight line, very low, evidently feeking food along the banks of the river. It was not an hour for birds to go far from their home, nor does this bird feed at a diftance from its accuflomed haunt at any time. Satisfied then that,continuing our courfe N. W. we fhould arrive at or below Syene, 1 returned to join my companions, but it was now dark, and I found Idris and 2 the the Barbarins in fome pain, endeavouring to trace me by my footfteps. I communicated to them this joyful news, which was confirmed by Idris, though he did not himfelf know the juft diftance from this place (Abou Seielat) as his ufual way had been to Daroo, not to Affouun, which he did not choofe to approach, for fear of the vexations from the Turkifh gar-rifon. A cry of joy followed this annunciation. Chriftians, Moors, and Turks, all burft into floods of tears, kif-fing and embracing one another, and thanking God for his mercy in this deliverance, and unanimouily in token of their gratitude, and acknowledgment ol my conftant attention to them in the whole of this long journey; fainting me with the name of Abou Ferege, Father Forefight, the only reward it was in their power to give. On the 29th, at feven o'clock in the morning we left Abou Seielat j about nine, we faw the palm trees at Aflbuan, and a quarter before ten arrived in a grove of palm-trees on the north of that city. ■Vol. IV, CHAP, &m..... • - i—*g CHAP. XIII. A'/W reception at Affhuan—Arrival at Cairo—Tranfaclions with tfie Bey there—Land at hlorfciUcs.. "fITITHOUT congratulating one another on their ▼ V efcape and fafe arrival, as they had the night before at Abou Seielat, my companions with one accord ran to the Nile to drink ; though they had already feen, in the courfe of the journey, two or three tragical in fiances, the conferences of intemperance in drinking water. I fat myfelf down under the fhade of the palm-trees, to recollect myfelf. It was very hot, and I fell into a profound ileep. but Hagi Ifmael, who was neither flecpy nor thirfty, but exceedingly hungry, had gone into the town in fearch of fomebody that would give him food. He was not gone far -before his green turban and ragged appearance flruck fome brethren janizaries, who met him; one of whom afked hini the reafon of his being there, and whence he came? Ifmael,, m a violent paflion, and broken Arabic, laid, that he was a. i janizary Janizary of Cairo, was laft come from hell, where there was not one devil, but thoufands, from a country of Kafrs that called themfelves Muflulmen ; that he had walked through a defert where the earth was on fire and the wind was flame, and in fear of dying every day with thirfl: and hunger. The foldier who heard him talk in this disjointed, raving manner, defired him to go with him to the Aga. This was the very thing that Ifmael wanted. He only defired time to acquaint his companions. " Have you companions, fays the foldier, from fuch a country?"—" Companions? fays Ifmael ; what the devil! do you imagine I came this journey alone ?"—" If the journey, fays the man, is fuch as you defcribe it, I do not think many would go with you ; well, go along with my companions, and I will feek yours, but how fliall I find them ?"—" Go, fays Ifmael, to the palm-trees, and when you find the talleft man you ever faw in your life, more ragged and dirty than I am, call him Yagoube, and defire him to come along with you to the Aga." The foldier accordingly found me ftill fitting at the root of the palm-tree. The fervants, who had now fatisfied their thirfl, and were uncertain what was next to be done, were fitting together at fome diftance from me. They began to feel their own wcarinefs, and were inclined to leave me to a little repofe, which they hoped might enable me to overcome mine. For my own part, a dullncfs and infenfibility, an univerfal relaxation of fpirits which I cannot defcribe, a kind of flupor, or palfy of the mind, had o-vertaken me, almoft to a deprivation of underftanding. I 4G 2 found found in myfelf a kind of ftupidity, and want of power to reflect: upon what had paffed. I feemed to be, as if awakened from a dream when the fenfes are yet half afleep, and we only begin to doubt whether what has before paffed in thoughts is real or not. The dangers that I was juft now delivered from made no impreflion upon my mind, and what more and more convinces me I was for a time not in my perfect fenfes, is, that I found in myfelf a hard-he artednefs, without the leaft inclination to be thankful for that fignal deliverance which I had juft now experienced. From this ftupor I was awakened by the arrival of the foldier, who cried out to us at fome diftance, u You muft come to the Aga to the caftle, all of you, as fall as you can, the Turk is gone before you." " It will not be very fall, if we even fliould do that, faid I; the Turk has ridden two days on a camel, and I have walked on foot," and do not know at prefent if I can walk at all." I endeavoured, at the fame time, to rife and Hand upright, .which I did not fucceed in, after feveral attempts, without great pain and difficulty. I obferved the foldier was in a prodigious aflonifliment at my appearance, habit, and above all, at my diftrefs. " Wc fliall get people in town, fays he, to aflifl you, and if you cannot walk, the Agp will fend you a mule." '. The Turk and the Greeks were cloathed much in the fame manner; Ifmael and Michael had in their hands two monflrous blunderbuffes. The whole town crowded after us while we walked to the caftle, and could not fatiate themfelves with admiring a company of fuch an extraordinary appearance. The Aga was ft ruck dumb upon our, 4. entering- entering the room, and told me afterwards, that he thought me a full foot taller than any man he had ever feen in his life. I faw he was embarrafTed whether he mould defire irie to fit down or not, fo that I faved him the deliberation, by faying, immediately after faluting him, " Sir, you will excufe me, I mull fit." He bowed, and made a fign, complacently afking me, " Are you a Turk ? Are you a Muf-fulman ?" u I am not a Turk, faid I, nor am I a Muffulman \ I am an Englifhman, and bearer of the grand fignior's firman to all his fubjeets, and of letters from the regency of Cairo, and from the Porte of Janizaries, to you." « Caz Dangli, fays Ifmael, they are the fame as Turks, they came firlt from Anatolia, I have been at the place." Upon my mentioning the grand fignior, the Aga got upon his feet, and, without heeding Ifmael's fpeech, faid, very politely, " Do you choofe to have your fervants fit?" " In fuch a dif-aflrous journey as I have made, Sir, faid I, our fervants mull be our companions ; belides, they have a flrong excufe for fitting, neither they nor I have a foot to Hand upon." Aga. " Where are thofe letters and firman ?" Ya. " Where they may be now I know not, we left them at Saffieha with all the rell of our baggage ; our camels died, our provifions and water were cxhaufled, we therefore left every thing behind us, and made this one effort to fave our lives. It is the firft favour I am to ails of you, when I fliall have relied myfelf two days, to allow me to get frefh camels, to go in fearch of my letters and baggage." Aga. " God forbid I ihould ever fulfer you to do fo mad an action. You are come hither by a thoufand miracles, and after this, will you tempt God and go back? we fhall take it for granted what, thofe papers contain. You will have no need of a firman - firman between this and Cairo." Ta. " We fhall leave it upon that footing for the prefent, allow me only to fay, I am a fervant of the king of England, travelling, by his order, and for,my own and my countrymen's information ; that I had rather rifk my life twenty times, than lofe the papers I have left in the defert." Jga." Coin peace, and eat and fleep, Carry them, fays he, fpeaking to his attendants, to the houfe of the Schourbatchie." Thus ended our firft interview with the Aga, who put us in poffeflion of a very good houfe, and it happened to be the very man to whom I was recommended by my correfpondents at Cairo when I was firft here, who had abfolutely forgotten, but foon remembered me, as did many others, but my ojd friend the Aga had been changed, and was then at Cairo. We were not long arrived before we received from the Aga about fifty loaves of fine wheat bread, and feveral large dilhes of drell meat. But the fmell of thefe laft no fooner reached me than I fainted upon the floor. I made feveral trials afterwards, with no better fuccefs, for the firft two days, nor could I reconcile myfelf to any fort of food but toafted bread and coffee. My fervants had none of thefe qualms, for they partook largely and greedily of the Aga's bounty. I had kept the houfe five or fix days after my arrival, daring which I corresponded with the Aga only by meiiages, and from my fervant who had paffed between us he had learned the whole of our adventures. I then went to the caftle for an audience, and in treated the Aga that he would proem c fix or eight camels to mount my men upon, and bring bring my baggage from SafEeha. He gave a flart at the firft requeft, and would not by any means hear of that pro-pofal; he called it tempting God, and affured me I (hould be cut ofF by the very men that had murdered .Mahomet Aga ; that, having feen the cafes and things which 1 had thrown away at Umarack, they would follow my tract on to Saffieha, would have taken ever thing that I had left, and would be now purfutng me up to the gates of Aflbuan. All this was extremely probable, but it was not to fuch reafon-ing that I could be a convert. I had infinuated that the well-fare of mankind was concerned in the recovery of thofe papers; that there was among them recipes, which, if they did not totally prevent the plague, and the fmall-pox, would at leaft greatly leilen their violence and duration. This, and perhaps a more forcible infinuation, that he fliould not be without a recompence for any trouble that he gave himfelf on my account, brought him at laft to confent to my requeft, and we arranged our expedition accordingly. Our firft ftep was to fend for Idris and the Arab from Daroo, for neither of them would enter the town with us,, for fear fome ftory fhould be trumped up againfl them regarding Mahomet Towafh's murder, which would not have failed to have been the cafe had not we been with them; but upon the Aga fending a man of ^confidence for them, they both came without delay, and were lodged in my houfe, under my protection.. The night following, everything being ready, we fet out after it was dark from the caftle, all upon dromedaries,, The gates of the town were open for us, and were immediately fhut upon our pafling through them ; the Aga fear-fog ing his own people as much as the Bifhareen ; and faying always, by way of proverb, " Every body is an enemy in the defert." The Aga had fent four fervants belonging to his Rabies to accompany us ; active, lively, and good humoured fellows. Our people too, were all recruited. Ifmael, and blind Georgis, were left to take care of the houfe in my abfence. About twelve o'clock we got into a valley, and hid ourfelves in the lowefl part of it, under a bank, for the night was exceeding cold ; but we had fi^irits with lis, which we drank with moderation. We there refrefhed our beafts about half an hour, and again flopt in a valley among trees. I was afraid that wc had palled our baggage in the dark, as none of us were perfectly fure of the place ; but as foon as light came, we recovered our tract as frelh and entire as when we made it. After having gone about half an hour in our former footfleps, we had the unfpeak-ablc fatisfaction to find our quadrant and whole baggage; and by them the bodies of our flaughtered camels, a fmall part of one of them having been torn by the haddaya, or kite. It was agreed wc fliould not flay here, but load and depart immediately; this was done in an inllant; five camels eafily carried the loads, with a man upon them befides; and there were three more camels, upon which we rode by turns. We made a briik retreat from Saffieha to Syene, which is about forty miles. At a little pafl four in the afternoon we entered the town again, without any accident whatever, or without having feen one man in our journey. Here Heue then wc were to clofe our travels through the defert, by difcharging the debts contracted in it. We had now p-ot our credit and letters, which furniflicd us with moncv. 1 began by recoinpenfing Idris Welled Hamran, the Hybeer, for his faithful fervices. The next thing was to keep our faith with our prifoner. I had made Idris chufe him a good camel, cloathed him anew, and gave him d relies for his two wives, with a load of dora. I then difpatched him with the Aga's protection, wondering what men we were, who, without compulfion or fubterfuge, kept our words fo exactly. Though rich beyond his hopes, and fo very lately our enemy, the poor fellow, with tears in his eyes, declared, if I would permit him, he would only go back and deliver up what I had given him to his family, and return to me at Syene, and follow mc as my fervant wherever I Ihould Although we had wherewithal to have bought proper drefles, I thought it better to do this when we fhould come to Cairo. We got each of us a coarfe barracan, for cleanlinefs only, and a pair of trowfers. I ftirniilicd Ifmael with a green turban, to give us fome weight with the vulgar during our voyage down the Nile. I then went to my friend the Aga, to concert the meafures that remained ncceffary for leaving Affbuan and beginning our journey. He te(lined the grcatcft joy at feeing us again. Fie had been informed of our whole expedition by his fervants the night before, and praifed us, in the prefence of his attendants, for our alacrity, fleadinefs, and courage under the great fatigues of travelling. Ifmael had told him of the trees and plants which I painted, and he expreffed great curiofity to ice them when I fliould find it convenient. From the Vol. IV. 4II known known difpofition of thofe people, that what they defire muft be granted inftantly, I afked him whether he was at leifure or not to fee them? He faid, " By all means; it was a good time." I then fent Michael my fervant fora book of trees, and one of fiflies. In the interim arrived one of their priefts, or an Imam, who are efteemed the mofl learned of their clergy. Ill-humour and ill-breeding is the characteriftic of violent people of all religions ; a Chriflian fanatic is not one bit more charitable towards thofe that differ from him than a Turkifh faint; the greater! difference between them is the turban. Though I was the only reafon of his coming there at that time, he paffed me with the mofl contemptible indifference, his eyes half fhut and lifted up to heaven, full of that exalted pride by which his great matter fell from happinefs. " I wifh. to know, (fays he to the Aga, rcgardlefs of me) if that Kafr faw any thing of Mahomet f owafli in the defert." The Aga afked mc, I faw, with fome degree of fhame, and I anfwered him :—" I faw Mahomet Towafh alive at Chendi, richly cloathed as if he had been at Mecca. He had twelve or fourteen men armed with firelocks, and about fourfcorc Tucorory, each with a lance in his hand, to wThom he was to give food and water in crofhng the defert. There were three Hybcers, all Bifhareen, who had come from Suakem with the caravan, and were carrying back fenna to the neighbourhood of Syene. I offered to join company with them ; and though one Hybeer was enough for him, yet, to diftrefs me as being a Chriflian, he took the whole three along with him. In vain Sittina, Wed Agccb's filler, and Wed el FaaFs mother, defired him to leave one of the Bifhareen rcen Hybeers for me, or rather to join our companies together, for the Bifhareen were not to be truftcd. Contrary to the defire of the chief of the Arabs, he took away the three Hybeers, to difappoint me ; he found them three murderers, and left me the only honeft man whom he did not know. God punifhed the prefumption and pride of which he was full, juft as this Moullah, who laft came in, and fits before you, appears to be." The Aga then afked me, if I faw him afterwards ? " You know, I fuppofe, the ftory. One of the three Hybeers went to Abou Bertran, a principal Shekh of the Bifhareen, and prepared a party to meet them on the road at the next fta-tion, while the other two Hybeers, their guides, took care to deceive him by lies, and carried him directly upon the road where the plot was laid. About twenty men on camels, armed with lances, and as many young men on foot, with fwords, came to meet him, and thofe upon camels made their beafts kneel down at fome diftance from him, as out of refpeet coming to kifs his hands, as of a holy perfon belonging to the Caaba, their fanctuary at Mecca. " The vain, imprudent man difmountcd from his camel to give them a more eafy opportunity of paying him their refpects, and when one of them held him by the hand in token of friendfhip, another cut him acrofs the hams with a broad-fword, and a third run him through the back with a lance. He endeavoured to put his hands to his piftols, but it was too late. They afterwards perfuaded his fervants, who had fire-arms in their hands, and, like fools, did not ufe them, to capitulate ; and, after they had difarmed them, they carried them afide and murdered them alfo, then 4 H 2 took took away all the water and camels, and left the Tucorory' to die with third. You a(ked me when I law him after his leaving Chendi ? I tell you it was at a'flation of the Bifhareen, two hours before you come to Umarack ; his body lay upon the land withered and dried, but not corrupted ; his hough of the right leg, and back-finew of the left, jud above the heel, were cut afunder by a fword. The wounds through his body were, apparent. The lance, I apprehend, had fome crooks below the head of it, as is their cullom, becaufe a confiderable quantity of his bowels were drawn out at the back. He had two wounds upon his head, which I fuppofe were given him after he was dead, for they had cut through the fkull entirely, and any one of them would have been mortaLin a moment. Ifmael and the Barbarin threw fand over him. For my part, I paid no fort of refpect to the carcafe of a man, who, when living, had fliewed fo little for my prefervation. Y/c went to the right, and followed fome footfleps; we faw three men dead, all big and corpulent; they were all thrufb through with three lances; each of them had his throat cur,,, and one his jaw.broken.. "All the next day the road was flrewed with the bodies of the Tucorory,. and the day after, at nine o'clock in, the morning, we. found his horfe dead ; the day following we found dead bodies of people, who had pcrifhed with thirfl,. fcattered here and there like the tract of a purluit after a batile; their dry bottles, made of gourds, were grafped in their hands, and fomeheld them to their mouths as if fucking-them. God, as I fay, punifhed this man, by allowing his pride and prcfumption to blind him; for, had wejoined--unr companies, there could not have been a better place; imagined: imagined to have fought the Bifhareen than that fpot, had they dared to attack, which is not probable. It was a narrow, deep, fandy flrait, and rugged on each fide of it. We could have put our camels, with our water, in perfect fecuri-tv behind us, while our fire-arms, fafely from the rock,, would, with the firft difcharge, have deftroyed the beft men among them, and fcattered the herd of them into the defert. The Tucorory would have feized their camels and water, of. which they had but a fmall quantity, or we fhould have, fhot the fkins through, or the Aga's horfe would have overtaken them. In either cafe, as they were two days journey from Abou Bertran, the greateft part of them would have, died with third ; and if they had chofen to follow us, which after this rude treatment they would not have done, they could never have reached us till we had got out of their territory into thofe of the Ababde, where they were as much ftrangers, and in as great danger as we, and the wells not capable of filling their girbas, fo that they would have, brought themfelves both into diftrefs and difputc. This is. all that I know of Mahomet Towafh.." The Aga faid to himfelf, " Ullah Akbar;" and feveral of the company made their private ejaculations. The Imam had not yet fpoke, but addrefling himfelf to the Aga, " True it is, fays he, God is great, and does what feems to him beft; or who would have thought that a fervant of the Caaba mould be forfaken, wdiile Kafrs like them, a thoufand of them not of the account of one hair of that man's head, were protected by him, and arrived fafe and unhurt !" TWASs I was exceedingly angry, but weak in health and fpirits; bcfides, I defpifed the Imam heartily, and was determined to be lilent. But directly addreffing himfelf to me, which he hitherto had not done, " I wonder, fays he, how a Kafr like you, a man of no more worth than the dufl under a mullulman's feet, mould dare to wear a white turban, which none are permitted to do but true believers, and men of confidcration in learning, or in the law!" I could hold no longer. " Kafr ! faid I, do you call me ? You arc a Kafr yourfelf. I worfhip God as you do, and Jefus Chrill, whom Mahomet calls Rouch Ullah, the Spirit of God. Kafrs worfhip Hones and trees, are ill-bred, and rude in manners, fuch as you arc. Sir, faid I to the Aga, I demand of you if the grand fignior, whofe firman you have in your hand, when writing of me, calls me Kafr ? Docs Ali, Bey, and the Porte of Janizaries, ufe fuch opprobrious exprellions? if they do not, you fuffer me to be affronjjjd in contempt of their orders, in a fortrefs which you command in the grand fignior's name, which is not to your credit either as a muflulman or a foldier."—" He is right," fays an old man, who feemed to be a fecretary. " Moullah, fays the Aga, I did not expect this from you ; I did not think you could be fo abfurd as to afk any man, returning from fo dangerous a journey as his, the reafon of the colour of his turban."—" I do not refer that to his difcretion, faid I, there is my firman ; I infill upon its being read at the divan, and I will afterwards drefs my head and my body in any colour that is permitted me therein, and that L know is every fort of colour *, and I infill that my firman may be read in the Divan." Moullah, . * It is-always the pnrt of a firman from the Porte, that the bearer is at liberty to wear Avliat colour, drefs, or aims he pleafes. " Moullah, fays Flagi Ifmael, add re fling himfelf to the Imam, who had twice attempted to fpeak but could not get permiflion, you pur me in mind of thefe liars and thieves at Teawa; all their turbans were white or green; they call themfelves muffulmen, and fheraffe, and men of learning like you ; but I fwear, greater Kafrs than they were never in hell. I wifh. you may not be fomething of that kind. Hagi Ifmael was Handing behind. He had a barracan like us, a red cap and no turban, and the Moullah, I believe, did not know he was a Turk, and flill lefs that he was a Ilierriffe ; I fancy he rather took him for a Greek, from the bad manner in which he pronounced the Arabic. " Friend, faid the prieft, take this piece of advice from me, and fpeak more reverently of your betters, or you may have a chance to get your tongue fcraped." Hagi Ifmael was never bleiTed with much temper. He was very honcft, but, though feventy years old, was as paflion-ate as a child, and the more fo, as he did not under/land the language. He was an officer in the Porte of Janizaries, befides being a ilierriffe ; had been fent, as I have already faid, by the Bey to efcort the Abuna to Abyflinia. Unluckily at this time he underflood what was faid diftinctly, and came up clofe to the Moullah, faying, in a violent paf-fion, " Kafr Meloun Ibn kclb, i. e. Pagan accurfed, and race of a dog!" do you threaten me, a Ilierriffe, with a grey beard ? Who are my betters ? The Aga is not my fuperior, were he a fherriffe, which hevis not. He is an officer of the janizaries as I am ; he commands me to-day, and I command him to-morrow ; but, if it was not for his prefence, I would not leave that beard of yours till I had fhaken your head from your moulders." 3 Ai4 All now was confufion. I cried, " Hagi Ifmael, for GocFs fake forbear." Every body fpoke, no body heard. The Moullah had croffed the room and fat down befide the Aga, who faid to him very ftcrnly, " What Yagoube may do, and what he may not do, in Syene, has never been confided to you, though it has been to me, and I have not thought it -neceffary to take your advice upon it. This man is the fervant of a king. Were you to infult him in Conflantinople, his complaint would cofl a much greater man than you his life, even this day before fun-fet. Who taught you to call him Kafr whom you had never before feen, and then a-bufe the janizary, who, befldes, is a fherrifTc, and an aged mao, whole hand better men than you kifs when they meet him in the flreet ? Co home and learn wifdom, fince you cannot teach it; at leafl, don't miike the grand fignior's Caftle the fcene of your abufeand folly." The Moullah tip-on this rebuke departed, very much humbled. As Michael had brought the drawings, I turned to the trees and llowers. The Aga wTas greatly plcafed with them, and laughed, putting them up to his nofe as if Imelling them. They did not offend him, as they were not the likenefs of any thing that had life. I then mewed him a fdh, and reached the book to an old man with a long beard, but who had a very chearful countenance. He looked at it with great furprife, 1 he Aga had feveral times called him his father. " Do not be angry, fays he to me, if I all: you a queiUon, I am not fuch a man as the Moullah that is gone," 11 I will anfwer all your qucftions with pleafure, fakl I, and, in )our turn, you muft not take the anfwer ill." " No., no, faid two or three of them, Hagi Soliman knows better." So-J an. *' Do you not believe, fays he, that that fifh will rife againfl againfl you at the'day of judgment ?" Ta, " I do not 'know, but 1 lhall be very much furprifed if it does." " I alTure you he will, fays Hagi Soliman." Yd. M Be it fo, it is a matter of indifference to me." Sol " Do you know what God wdl fay to you about that fifli ? Shall I tell you? Ta, " I have not the lead idea, and you will oblige me." Sol. M God will fay to you, Did you make that fifli ? What will you anfwer ?. Ya. u I will anfwer, I did." Sol. " He will fay to you again, Make a foul to it." Ya. " I will anfwer, I cannot." Sol. " Fie wili fay, Why did you make that fifh's body, when you was not capable to give it a foul? What can you anfwer then?" Ya. " 1 made that body, becaufe thou gavefl me talents and capacity to do it. I do not make the foul, becaufe thou hall denied me power and ability, and referved that to thyfelf only." Sol. " Do you think he will be contented with that anfwer?" Ya. " I do moll certainly think fo. It is truth, and I do not think a more direct one can be given." Sol. " Aha ! the Moullah would tell you that will not do; painting things that have life is idolatry, and the punifhmcnt is hell-fire." Ta. a Patience, then, my cafe is defperate, for it is not a fin I intend to repent of." Thus ended this curious difcuflion, and we went away in perfect good humour one with the other. A number of the better fort drank coffee with mc in the evening. The Aga fent me two fheep, and, obferving mv feet much inflamed and wounded, made me likewife a prefent of a pair of flippers of foft Turkey leather to defend them from the inclemency of the weather. It was the 1 ifh of December when wc left Syene ; we cannot fay failed, for our mall being down, we went with the current and the oars, when the wind was againfl us. In our voyage down the Nile we had but very Vol. IV. 4 I indifferent indifferent weather, clear throughout the day, exceedingly cold in the night and morning; but, being better cloathed, better fed than in the defert, and under cover, we were not fo fenuble of it, though the thermometer ihewed the fame degrees. Above all, we had a good decent proviiion of brandy on board, part of which I had procured from the Aga, part from the Schourbatchie my landlord, neither of whom knew the other had given me any, and both of them pretended to each other, and to the world, that they never tailed fermented liquors of any kind, nor kept them in their euflody,. I had given to each of my fervants, to Soliman and to the Greeks likewife, a common blanket called a barracan, of the warmeft and coarfefl kind, with a waiflcoat and trowfers of the fame, and all of us, I believe, had configned to the Nile the clothes in which we paffed the defert. The meannefs of our appearance did not at all fliock us, fince nothing contributes more to fafety in a country like this. 1 palled Shekh Nimmer not without regret, but it was night* and I was very ill. On the 19th we arrived at How, where the intermitting fever, which I had at Syene, again returned, with unufual. violence, and, what was mofl unlucky, n\y ilock of bark was almoft exhaufled, and the Rais had bufmefs that obliged him to lie by for a day. As we were within a fmall diflance of Furfhout, I difpatched one of the Barbarins, with a camel, to the fathers at the monaftery of Furfhout informing them of my arrival and very bad flate of health, and. leAuefting them to fend me fome wheat bread, as mine was all confirmed, and likewife fome rice, if they had any. Upon the Arab's firft delivering his meflage the fathers treated him as an impoftor, declaring that they knew from good authority that I was drowned in the Red Sea, which another of them contradicted, being equally pofitivc, from the fame good authority, that my death had happened from robbers in Abyflinia. The Barbarin (a fhrewd fellow) defired the fathers to obferve, that, if I had been drowned in the Red Sea, it was not poflible I could be flain by robbers on land two years afterwards ; therefore, as one report was certainly falfe, both might be fo, and he affured them this was the cafe, and that I was at Flow ; but they laughed him to fcorn, andthreatened tocarry him to Shekh Flamam to punifh him* The poor fellow anfwered very pertinently, If I had come in Yagoubc's name for gold or filver, then you might have diftrufted me ; but fure it is not worth my while to hire a camel to come here from How, and go back again to cheat you out of two loaves of bread and a pound of rice, which I never tafted myfelf till I was with Yagoube, who made us partake of every thing that he ate as long as itlaftcd, and fafted with us when our meat was exhaufled." They continued to afk him, where he had found me ? The fellow faid, At Ras el Feci; and not being able to defcribe where that was, a frefh altercation began, in which it was concluded betwixt the two reverend difputants, that I had been drowned three years before in the Red Sea, and therefore ali the flory of Ras el Feel muft be a lie. It happened, as indeed was often the cafe in thefe letters, that my Greek fervant Michael had been more provident than I. He had thought fomething of this kind might be poflible, and therefore had defired the Barbarin, if 10 it 41 2 happened happened, to call at Shekh Ifmael's at Badjoura,and inquire of, him in my name for a loaf or two of wheat bread and fome rice. This the Barbarin did with fome diffidence, after the refufal received from the fathers, and was very much fur-prifed at the chearful reception Shekh Ifmael gave him.. The bread and rice were fent; he too had heard of my death, but was much eafter convinced that I was Hill alive than the reverend fathers had been, becaufe more deflrous th&t it mould be fo. Next day, the 20th, we arrived at Furfhout, though Hagi Ifmael's invitation, and the unkindnefs of the fathers, had. ftrongly tempted me to take up my quarters at Badjoura to guard him againfl thepleurify, and the miftaking again the month of Ramadan. Some aukward apologies pafled at meeting ; and if thefe fathers, the fole object of whofe mif-fion was the converfion of Ethiopia and Nubia, were averfe before to the undertaking their miflion, they did not feen* to incrcafe in keennefs from the circumflanccs which thew learned from mc. On the 27th we failed for Cairo. At a fmall village before we came to Achmim we were hailed by a perfon, who* though meanly dreffed, fpoke with the tone of authority,, and afked for a paiTige to Cairo, which I would have denied him if 1 could have had my own will; but the Rais readily proniifed it him upon his firfl application. He afterwards told me he was a Copht and a Chriflian, employed to gather the Bey's taxes in fuch villages as were only inhabited by Chriflians, to which the Bey did not permit his-Turks to go. " I heard, fays he, you was coming down the Nile, and I way-laid you for a palfagc ; the Rais knows. who* who I am, and that 1 fhall not be troublefomc to you ; but I have a large fum of money, and do not chufc to have it known, I hope, however, you will give mc your protection fctr the fake of my mailer."—" Indeed, friend, faid I, I have but feven fhillings in the whole world, and my cloaths, I believe, are not worth much above that fum, and it is but a few days ago I was rejoicing at this as one of mygreateil fecurities. But fince Providence has, I hope for your good, thrown you and your money in my way, I will do the beil for you that is in my power, the fame as if it was my own." On the 10th of January 1773 we arrived at the convent of St George, all of us, as I thought, worfe in health and fpirits than the day wc came out of the defert. Nobody knew us at the convent, either by our face or our language, and it was by a kind of force that we entered. Ifmael, and the Copht went ilraight to the Bey, and I, with great difficulty, had intercfl enough to fend to the patriarch and my merchants at Cairo, by employing the two only piaflrc3 I had in my pocket. If the capuchins at Furfhout received us coldly, thefe Caloyeros of St George kept us flill at a greater diflance. It was half by violence that we got admittance into the convent. But this difficulty was to be but of fhort duration ; the morning was to end it, and give us a fight of our friends, and in the meantime we were to fleep foundly. We had nothing elfe to do, having no victuals,, and the Caloyeros nothing to give us, even if they had been inclined, of which we had not feen yet the fmallefl token. Tins we thought, and this, in the common view of things, we were intitled to think ; but we forgot that wc were at Cairo-p Cairo, no longer to depend upon the ordinary or rational courfe of events, but upon the arbitrary, oppreffive will of irrational tyrants. Accordingly I had, for about an hour, loft myfelf in the very uncommon enjoyment of a mofl profound fleep, when I was awakened by the noife of a a number of ftrange tongues; and, before I could recollect myfelf fufFiciently to account what this ftrange tumult might be, eleven or twelve foldiers, very like the worft of banditti, furrounded the carpet whereon I was afleep. I had prefence of mind fufficient to recollect this was not a place •where people wererobbedand murdered without caufe; and, convinced in my own mind that I had given none, from that alone I inferred I was not to be robbed or murdered at that inflant. Without this, the appearance of the ftrangers, their drefs, language, and behaviour, all joined to perfuade me of the contrary. I afked them, with fome furprife, *' What is the matter, Sirs ? What is the meaning of this freedom ?" The anfwer was in Turkifh, " Aya ! Aya ! Get up! the Bey calls you."—The Bey, fays I, certainly calls at a very unfeafonable hour." The anfwer was, " Get up, or we will carry you by force."—I fancy friends, faid I, you have miftaken me for fome other perfon, I have not been here above two hours, and fince that time have never been out of the convent. It is impolTible the Bey mould know that: I am here."—" What flgnifies it to us, fays one in lingua Franca, whether he knows you arehcre or not ? he has fent us for you, and we are come, Aya! Aya! get up!" Fie put his hand forward to take me by the arm. " Keep your diftance, you infolcnt blackguard, faid I, remember I am an Englifhman ; do not lay your hands upon me.. If the Bey calls me, he is mailer in his own country, and I will wait upon him; But hands off: though I have not feen Mahomet Bey thefe three three years, he knows what is owing to his own character better than to fufFer a flave like you to lay his filthy hands on a Rranger like me."—" No ! No ! Mallem, fays the man that fpoke Italian, we will do you no harm. Ifmael, that you brought from Habefh, has been with the Bey, and he wants to fee you ; and that is all."—Then flay without,, faid I, till I am ready, and I will come to you prefently." Out they went: I heard them crying to the Caloyeros for drink, but they never in their lives were in a place where they could addrefs themfelves worfe for either meat or liquors; on the other hand, I did not keep them long in dreff-ing. I had no fhirt on, nor had I been mailer of one for fourteen months pafl. I had a waillcoat of coarfe, brown, woollen blanket, trowfers of the fame, and an upper blanket of the fame wrapt about me, and in thefe I was lying, I had cut off my long beard at Furfhout, but flill wore prodigious muflachoes. I had a thin, white, muflin cloth round a red Turkifh cap, which ferved me for a night-cap, a girdle of coarfe woollen cloth that wrapt round my waif! eight or ten times, and fwaddledme up from the middle to the pit of my flomach, but without cither fhoes or flockings. In the left of my girdle I had two Englifh piflols mounted with filvcr, and on the right hand a common crooked Abyf-fmian knife, with a handle of a rhinoceros horn. Thus* cquipt, I was ufhered by the banditti, in a dark and very windy night, to the door of the convent. The Sarach, or commander of the party, rode upon a mule, and, as a mark of extreme confideration, he had brought an afs for mc, with fods, or a carfaddle upon his back, the only animal that, to the fliame of our Chriflian rulers, any of our 4 faith, faith is fuffered to ride on in Cairo. The bead had not a •light load, but was flrong enough. The difficulty was, his having no faddle, and there were no ftirrups, fo that my feet would have touched the ground had I not held them up, which I did with the utmofl pain and difficulty, as they Were all inflamed and fore, and full of holes from the inflammation in the defert. Nobody can ever know, from a more particular defcription, the hundredth part of the pain I fuffered that night. I was happy that it was all external. I had hardened my heart; it was flrong, vigorous, and whole, from the near profpect I had of leaving this molt accurfed country, and being again reftored to the converfation of men. The mule on which the Sarach rode went at a very brifk pace; my animal did her bell, but fhe could not keep up with the mule. Each man of the foldiers, belides the reft of his arms, had a quarter Half like a watchman's pole, a-bout nine feet long, with which every one in his turn laid heartily on the afs to make her keep up with the Sarach's mule. 1 had every reafon to fympathize with the beait for the fevcrity of the blows, of which I was a perfect judge, as whether through malice or heedleffnefs, every fourth ltroke landed upon my back or haunches, fo that rny flclh was difcolourcd for more than two months afterwards. Speaking was in vain; you might as well have cried to the wind not to blow, few people walk in the itrcets of Cairo at night; fome we did meet who made us way, only obfer-ving to each other, when we paffed, that I was fome thief the Janizary Aga had apprehended. In this moil difagree-jable manner, I had rode near three miles, when I arrived at J ihe the Bey's palace. There all was light and all was buftle, as if it had been noon-day. 1 alighted with great difficulty from my difconfolate afs, but with much greater pleafurc than ever I mounted the fine.fl horfe in the world. None of |he people there knew what I came for, but thought 1 was fome Arab from the country. At laft I faw a Copht who had been a fervant of Ali Bey. I told him who I was, and he immediately knew me, but had not heard that I was arrived, and flill lefs that I was fent for ; but he went in to the Bey's fecretary, who ordered my immediate admiftion. In the mean time, my Sarach and company, who had ufed me fo tenderly, came round me, defiring the Bacfifh, or money to drink. " Look you, friend, faid I, your mailer knows me well, and you fhall fee what is the Bacfifh he will give you." A number of Turks Handing by aiked, " What did he do to you ? Did he ufe you ill ? Tell the Bey, and he will do for him." My friend feemed to be fanfible he was in a fcrapc, and, though the order of the Bey came for my being admitted, he would not allow me to pafs, but put his back againfl the door till I promifed to fay nothing to the Bey. I was introduced to Mahomet Bey Abou Dahab. He was fon-in-law to Ali Bey my friend, whom he had betrayed, and forced to fly into Syria, where he flill was at the head of a fmall army. He had been prefent with him the day 1 had my laft audience, when he was plainly dreffed as a foldier. A large fofa, or rather two large fofas furnifhed with cufhions, took up a great part of a fpacious faloon. They were of the richeft crimfon and gold, excepting a fmall yellow and gold one like a pillow, upon which he was leaning, Vol. IV. 4 K. fupponing fupporting his head with his left hand, and fitting juft in the corner of the two fofas. Though it was late, he was in full drefs, his girdle, turban, and handle of his dagger, all flii-ning with the fincft brilliants, and a finer fprig of diamonds upon his turban than what I had feen his father-in-law wear once when I was with him. The room was light as day, with a .number of wax-torches or candles. I found myfelf humbled at the fight of fo much greatnefs and affluence. My bare feet were fo dirty, I had a fcruple to fet them upon the rich Perfian carpets with which the whole floor-was covered, and the pain that walking at ali oecafioncd gave me altogether fo crouching and cringing a look, that the Bey, upon feeing me comein, cried out, "What's that? Who is that? From whence is become? His fecretary told him, and immediately upon that I faid to him in Arabic, with a low bow, "Mahomet Bey, I am Yagoube, an Fnglifhman, better known to your father-in-law than to you, very unfit to appear before you in the condition I am, having been forced out of my bed by your foldiers in the middle of the only found ileep I have had for many years." He feemed to be exceedingly fhocked at this, and faid to his attendants in Turkifh, " My people! who dares do this ? it is impofliblc" Thofe that were privy to the meffage reminded him of his fending for mc, and the caufe, which he had forgot. They told him what Ifmael had faid, and what the Copht, the tax-gatherer, had mentioned, all very much in my favour. He turned himfelf with great violence on the fofa, and faid, " I remember the man well, but it was not a man; like this, this is bad payment indeed. I was going to afk you, Yagoube, fays he, who thofe were that had brought you out Lufuch diftrefs, and.I find that I have done it myfelf; but take. take my word, as I am a muflulman, I did not intend it, [ did not know you was ill." My feet at that time gave me fuch violent pain that i was like to faint, and could not anfwer, but as there were two flowered velvet cufhions upon one of the fteps above the floor, I was obliged to kneel down upontmc of them, as I did not know how fitting might be taken. The Bey immediately law this, and cried out, " What now ? what is the matter ?" 1 faw he thought 1 had fome complaint to make, or fomething to aik. I ihewed him my feet in a terrible fituation, the effects, I told him, of my palling through the defert. He defired me immediately to fit down on the cufhion. " It is the coldnefs of the night, and hanging upon the afs, faid I, occafions this ; the pain will be over prefently." " You are an unfortunate man, fays the Bey, whatever I mean to do for your good, turns to your mif-fortunc." " I hope not, Sir, faid I ; the pain is now over, and I am able to hear what may be your commands." " I have many queflions to afk you, fays the Bey. You have been very kind to poor old Ifmael, who is a flierrifle, and to my Chriflian fervant likewife ; and I wanted to fee what 1 could do for you ; but this is not the time, go home and fleep, and I will fend for you. Eat and drink, and fear nothing. My fathcr-in-laW is gone, but, by the grace of God, I am here in his place ; that is enough." I bowed, and took my leave. The Bey had fpoken feveral times to his fervant in Turk-ilk ; but thefe interruptions are too common at fuch audiences to be taken notice of. I went out to the anticham-bcr attended by five or fix people, and then into another 4K2 room room, the door of which opened to the lobby where his foldiers or fervants were. There was a Have very richly dref-fed, who had a fmall baikct with oranges in his hand, who came out at another door, as if from the Bey, and faid to. me, " Here, Yagoube, here is fome fruit for you." In that country it is not the value of the prefent, but the character and power of the perfon that fends it, that creates the value; 20,000 men that flept in Cairo that night would have thought the day the Bey gave them at an audience the word orange in that bafket the happiefl one in their life. It is a mark of friendfhip and protection, and the befl of all affurances. Well accuflomed to ceremonies of this kind, I took a fingle orange, bowing low to the man that gave it me, who whifpered me, " Put your hand to the bottom, the befl fruit is there, the whole is for you, it is from the Bey." A purfe was exceedingly vifible. It was a large crimfon one wrought with gold, not netted or tranfparciu as ours are, but liker a flocking. I lifted it out; there were a confiderable number of fequins in it; 1 put it to my mouth and kiffed it, in refpect from whence it came, and faid to the young man? that held the bafket, * This is, indeed, the befl fruit, at leafl commonly thought fo, but it is foibidden fruit for me. The Bey's protection and favour is more agreeable to me than a thoufand fuch purfes would be." The fervant fhewed a prodigious furprife. In fhort, nothing can be more incredible to a Turk, whatever his quality may be, than to think that any man can refufe money offered him. Although I expreffed myfelf with the utmofl gratitude and humility, finding it impoffible to prevail upon me, the thing appeared fo extraordinary, that a beggar 3 *n in 11 barracan, drelletl like thofe flaves who carry water, and waili the flairs, fhould refufe a purfe of gold, he could no longer confent to my going away, but carried me back to where the Bey was flill fitting. He was-looking at a large piece of yellow fattin. He afked the ufual queflion, " How, now ? What is the matter ? To which his flave gave him a long anfwer in Turkifh. He laid down the fattin, turned to me, and faid, " Why, what is this ? You mufl furely want money; that is not your ufual drefs ? What! does this proceed from your pride ?" " Sir, anfwered I, may I beg leave to fay two words to you ? There is not a man to whom you ever gave money more grateful, or more fenfible of your generofity in offering it me, than I am at this prefent. The reafon of my waiting upon you in this drefs was, becaufe it is only a few hours ago fince I left the boat. I am not however a needy man, or one that is diflrefFed for money ; that being the cafe, and as you have already my prayers for your charity, I would not deprive you of thofe of the widow and the orphan, whom that money may very materially relieve. Julian and Rofa, the firfl houfe in Cairo, will furnifh me with what money I require; befides, I am in the fervicc of the greatefl king in Europe, who would not fail to fup-ply me abundantly if my ncceflitics required it, as 1 am travelling for his fervice."—" This being fo, fays the Bey, with great looks of complacency, what is in my power to do for you ? You arc a ftranger now wdicre 1 command; you are my father's flrangcr likewife, and that is a double obligation upon me : What fliall I do ?"—" There are, faid I, things that you could do, and you only, if it were not too. great great prefumption for me to name them."—" By no means, if I can I will do it; if not, I will tell you fo." I saw by the Bey's manner of fpeaking that I had rifen confiderably in character in his opinion fince my fefufal of the money. " I have, Sir, faid I, a number of countrymen, brave, rich, and honed, that trade in India, where my king has great dominions." He faid, as half to himfelf, " True, wc know that." " Now there are many of thefe that come to Jidda. I left there eleven large mips belonging to them, who, according to treaty, pay high duties to the cuflom-houfe, and, from the dictates of their own generofity and magnificence, give large prefents to the prince and to his fervants for protection; but the merrifle of Mecca has of late laid duty upon duty, and extortion upon extortion, till the Englifh arc at the point of giving up the trade altogether." 11 Ibn Cahaba, fays he, (which is, fon of a wh—re,) he paid for that when I was at Mecca." The Bey took Mecca," lays a man at my fhouldcr. " Why, fays the Bey, when they fay you are fuch a brave nation, why don't you beat down Jidda about his ears r Have you no guns in your iliips ?" " Our fhips, Sir, faid I, are all armed for war; flout yeffels, full of brave officers and fkilful feamen : Jidda, and much flronger places than Jidda, could not refill one of them an hour. But Jidda is no part of our dominions; and, in countries belonging to flranger princes we cany ourfelves lowly, and trade in peace, and never ufe force till o-bligcd to it in our own defence." " And what would you have me to do ?" fays he. " Our people, replied I, have taken a thing into their head which I am fatisfied they are well founded in: They fay, that if you would permit them to bring their fhips and merchandize to Suez, 4 and and not to Jidda, they might then depend upon your word, that, if they were punctual in fulfilling their engagements, they fhould never find you failing in yours." " That they fliall never have to fay of mc, fays the Bey; all this is to my advantage. But you do not tell mc what I am to do for you?" " Be Ready, Sir, faid I, in your promife; it is now late, but I will come again to fettle the duties with you ; and be affured, that when it is known at home what, at my private defire, you have done for my country in general, it will be the greater! honour that ever a prince conferred on me in my life." " Why, let it be fo, fays he, bring cofFee; fee you admit him whenever he calls ; bring a caftan*." Coffee was accordingly brought, and I was cloathed in my caftan. I went down flairs with my barracan hid under it, and was received with greater refpect by the bye-flanders than when I came up ; the man was the fame.; but it was the caftan that made the difference. My friend the Sarach and his banditti were ready at the door with a mule, which had. gilt ftirrups, and was finely capari* foned. I went back with full as much fpeed as I came, but free from thofe falutations of the quarter-ftafT, which I flill felt upon my haunches. The fcale of politenefs was now turned in my favour; and to fhew their refpect for me, the foldiers knocked down every perfon they overtook in the flreets, giving him firft a blow with the quarter-ftafF upon the head, then afking him, why he did not get out of the way ? All my people at St George had given me over for loft*. * It is a loofe garment like a night-gown -7 it is a gift of ceremony,.and rnatLof.f-ivoujc,. loft, or thought I had gone home to the French merchants, and taken my bed there. I was twice after this with Mahomet Bey, in which time I concluded the agreement in favour of the Englifh merchants, lnftcad of 14 per cent, and an enormous prefenr, the Bey agreed for 8, and no prefent at all, and at his own cxpence fent the firman to Mocha, together with my letter, a copy of which, and inftructions given in India in confequence, i have here fubjoincd. Mr Greig, capt, ThornhilFs lieutenant, whom I have mentioned as having feen at Jidda, was the firft who came down the Gulf to Suez in the Minerva, and in the whole voyage, both by fea and after at Cairo, behaved in a manner that did honour to his country. In the two fubfequcnt vifits which I paid to Mahomet Bey, I received the firman, and had a converfation before the Bey with the man that was to go exprefs to Mocha ; not that I thought my recommendation was of any confequence after his receiving orders from the Bey, but I knew very well, as diligence was recommended to him, that it might be fecured by a fmall gratuity given unknown to the Bey. Two other limilar prefents, of no great value, were likewife given to the two fervants who had aftifted me in procuring the firman, the original of which I left with the Venetian conful. I thought it was unbecoming of me to ftarve a caufe that promifed to be both a private emolument and public benefit; and, as I never expected, fo I never received the fmalleft return or acknowledgement either public or private. .It It may be faid, that the trade carried on there by Suez and the ldhmus would not be of any advantage to the India Company, but rather a detriment to it. Such was the anfwer I got from Lord North upon my fird interview with his LordQiip after my return, and upon which I fliall not pretend to decide. But this 1 ihall fubmit to the public, whether, when a great object, fuch as that was, is unexpectedly in the power of an individual, he is not obliged, as a good citizen, to avail himfelf of the occafion that offers, and leave it to that part of the public concerned, to determine whether they can make it of fcrvice to them or not. I have read, cither in Abbe Prevot or M. dc Maillet, (the reader will aflifl me, as neither of thefe books are in my hands at prefent) that the French, in the beginning of this century, offered a very large fum of money to the government of Cairo, to be allowed to fend only an advice-boat to Suez, to carry and bring back their difpatches from their fettlements in India, but they were conftantly refufed ; both the India Company and Britifh Government are, by iny means, now in poffeflion of that privilege, and I am informed it has already been of ufe, both in public and private difpatches. I must further be permitted to fay, that, independent of thefe particulars, it feemed very flrange that, confidering the immenfe empire which belonged to Britain in the Eaft Indies, the Company and their fervants fhould be, to a man, fa perfectly ignorant of the Red Sea and ports in it, and fo indifferent as to the means of being better informed ; a fea Vol. IV. 4 L which which warned the mores of their conquefls, and came, at the fame time,within two days journey of the Mediterranean. To my endeavours it is owing that fo many ingenious gentlemen have had an opportunity of lending their hands to perfect the chart of that fea, which I hope is now in great forwardnefs* It would perhaps, too, have been more generous and liberal-minded in them, had they honoured the author of the liberty and fafety they enjoyed, with at leafl a word of their approbation. Prifbns and chains, ranfoms, torments, and perhaps death itfelf, were the calamities they cfcaped by my preparing their way, and to this would have been added the mifcarriage of their defign and their undertaking likewife*. Copy-: * Not one fhip has ever yet entered the Red Sea, as 1 am informed, without a copy of mjh-Ictter and iimian. Copy of Mr Bruce's Letter to the Gentlemen trading to the Red Sea from the Britifh Settlements Bombay and Ben* gal. Cairo, \Jl February, 1773. Gentlemen, a T the defire of feveral of the gentlemen trading to XJL Jidda in the year 1769,1 have fpoken to the Bey of Cairo (Mahomet Bey,) that he would give permilFion for bringing the India ihips directly to Suez, without Hopping at J id-da, where they were conftantly ill-treated by the ilierriffe, and neither payments punctual nor their effects in fafety. Mahomet Bey expreffed all the defire poflible to have this fpcedily executed. He difpatched this exprefs, in which I i 1 clofe you the terms of agreement, with a tranflation from the Arabic original. You will fee he renounces all prefents, which, however, it will be always prudent to give. Moderate ones will ferve, provided he behaves faithfully and gencroufly, as I believe firmly he will. He feeks 8 per cent, cuftoms, and leaves it in your option to pay this in goods or money, and 50 patackas anchorage for each vcffel; this, is for the captain of the port of Suez. " Arrived at Suez, you will do well to give notice to any of the houfes you chufe to addrefs yourfclves to. There are three French houfes of note here ; Mcff Napollon and Co. Meff Rofa and Co. and Mcff FAnglade and Co. ; and thefe three are rich houfes, in great credit, and with whom you arc very fafe. There is alfo an Italian houfe of 4 L 2 credit credit equal to thefe, but not fo rich; it is Pini and Co,. It will always be your intereft, if more than one fhip comes, to addrefs yourfelves to feparate houfes, for by this means you will be fooncr difpatched, have more friends, lefs rifk,, and more intelligence. " As I have no view in this but your advantage, fo I will not take upon myfelf to anfwer for any confequences, You know what Turks are. I never faw one of them to be trufted in money affairs. You mull keep your eyes open, and deal for ready money. You will, however, be much fa-fcr, be better ufed, have better markets, and be fooncr difpatched ; and if any of your cargo remains unfold, you may leave it here in great fecurity, with a certainty of its felling in winter; and the money will be either remitted to England, or ready for you here at your return, as you direct. ** Cairo is in lat. 300 2' 45"; two days and a half eafy journey from it is Suez, in lat. nf fat 15". Ras Mahomet, the Cape that forms the eaftern fhore of the entrance into the Gulf of Suez, is in lat. 270 54' 10". You fliould make this Cape while it bears N. E. or N. E. by E. at farther!:, for farther call is the entrance of a gulf, which has often been miflaken for that of Suez Lazily, Tor, the firft inhabited place after pafling the Cape, is in lat. £8" 12' 4"; here you may have provifions, water, and a pilot. " There are no Englifh mer - :u Cairo ; but tliere comes, from time to time, a •-. 1 f fharpers under that name, either from ' k ifland?, or 2 Leghorn; Leghorn ; and after an eftablifliment of one year, break and difappcar. Be careful of having any thing to do with thefe, for they will either rob you themfelves, or betray you to the govern mem, or both. There is no fafety but with the three French and one Italian houfe, before- mentioned. If you addrefs y. utrfelf to the government, in your affairs of tariffs and fu mans, you may do it through means of the Venetian conful, immediately upon your arrival, putting yourfelves under his protection. He is a man of honour and credit, and is a colonel in thefervicc of his Hate. Let him fend you the tariff of the Bey before you come to Cairo, or land an ounce of cargo, and you will fatisfy him for his trouble. He does not trade, but is very well-affcctcd to our nation, and there is no conful here but the French and Venetian. V In a word, Gentlemen, I have feen your trade to Jidda, and it is a ruinous one, and the ilierriffe, now poor and hungry, will every day rob you more and more. After the fealing up the houfe, and exacting part of the effects of the captains who died at Jidda, there is no fafety for you but either at Mocha or Suez.. I am always, Gentlemen, Your mofl obedient and mofl humble ferv1, JAMES BRUCE." " To Captain Thornhill of the Bengal Merclf, Captain Thomas Price of the Lion, or any other of the Englifh vefjels trading to Jidda." P. S. " I fend you a copy of the firman ; alfo letters for the governors of Bombay and Bengal, inclofing the fame ; you will fee the tranflator be a perfon of trull, and have no intcrefl in deceiving you. If I did not think you very fafe at Suez I would not write you. You arc to bring no coffee, or any produce of Arabia, at leafl the firil voyage, till you make your terms here. I inclofe you a letter from ,the chief of the cuflomhoufe. J. B" Copy of Inflructions from the Managers of the Suez Adven-venture, to Mr John Shaw, and Captain William Greig. M Gentlemen, T^HE proprietors of the Suez Adventure having made JL choice of you to conduct the undertaking, it is our duty as managers to give you the ncceffary inflructions. Jnclofcd you will receive invoice and bills of loading of the cargo, and likewife of the freight loading on the Bengal Merchant, on account and rifk of the concerned, which you are to difpofe of in the gulf of Mocha, Jidda, or Suez, on the mofl advantageous terms, obferving at the fame time, as nearly as poflible, the following inflructions: " As many unforefeen accidents may happen that we cannot guard againfl, and as the proprietors have placed in us an implicit confidence, we now delegate to you, Gentlemen, full power and authority to conduct and manage this new undertaking, for which your credit, as well j as as ours, is engaged ; and though we hope it is unneceffary to recommend to you as an object of the greater! importance, and on which the fuccefs of all undertakings depends, a good underftanding and harmony between thofe who are to execute, we are fatisfied that your attention to the in-tereft of the proprietors, and your own reputation, will outweigh every other confideration, and that nothing will interrupt that union which is fo abfolutely necefFary to infure fuccefs in new undertakings like the prefent. " You are to draw a commilTion of 5 per cent, on the files. Mr Shaw, as chief fupercargo, will draw 3, and Capt. Greig 2 per cent, and on all freight in the fame proportion as the cargo. Paffengers, or other emoluments that are cuftomary, are to be equally divided between you, and no feparate inter-eft to be allowed. As it is ufual in all voyages from this port, where there is a fupercargo, to allow one-fixth of the cargo as privilege, in lieu of which 12,000 rupees will be divided between you and the officers on return of the vef-fel • "Mr Shaw, as chief fupercargo, is to have the fole management and difpofal of the cargo, and Captain Greig to have the entire management of the navigation of the veffels employed. At the fame time, we recommend and defire, that, in all points which require advice in either of the departments, you confult with each other, and that no material Hep be taken without fuch advice and confultation ; and, mould there be a difference in opinion, wc expect a minute be made, and the reafon for fuch difference fully fet forth, in order to be laid before the proprietors at your return. To prevent any mifunderftanding of the general inRructions,, we: • we mall feparate, in the latter part, the two branches of the naval and mercantile, and be more clear and explicit in each particular department. 11 The yefTels to be emploved in the vovag? are the Bengal Merchant, on board of which the cargo is hVpped. The Cuddilore fehooner, Captain Wedderburn, is granted by the governor* to the proprietors as a tender, to i It 1 in the dif-covery. of the paffage to Suez, and the pr >pciet >rs are to pay half the failing charges. On her Mr Cunningham, a fur-veyor, is appointed, and both he and the veffel are entirely under your direction, and they are to receive, from time to time, fuch inflructions as you may judge neceflary. The Suez pacquet is a fmall, fehooner equipped for the purpofe of attending the Bengal Merchant in the moil difficult parts of the navigation ; and as ihe cannot be further ufeful after your return from Suez to Mocha, we defire flie may be fold there, where frequently fmall veffels fell to advantage* " On your leaving the pilot you will make the bed of your way, with the other two veflcls under your charge, to the Malabar coail, and touch at Anjango and Cochin, taking in there coir, hawfers, and water, or any thing you may (land in need of, and without lofs of time proceed direct to Mocha. On your arrival there you mult make inquiry if any pilots are come clown from Suez; ihould none be arrived, lofe as little time as poflible, and proceed up-a-bove Jidda to Yambo, provided you hear no unfavourable accounts from Suez, fuch as war, or any commotions at * Cairo, * Warren Hailing*, Efij, Cairo, which you might think may endanger the fuccefs of the voyage. " If fuch accounts arc rumoured at Mocha, trace them fo as to be fully fatisfied there is foundation for them, and if you have good authority to credit the reports propagated, and are certain they are not fpread with a view to difcourage your proceeding, in that cafe we advife your proceeding to Jidda as molt for the intereft of the concerned. At Jidda you will deliver the cuftomary letters to the baflia and fherriife, and, without taking notice of any further project, difpofe of your cargo, as the articles are all of the proper affortment for that market, and we defire, in that cafe, you collect: your returns as expeditioufly as poflible ; and if you find any confiderable freight for Bombay, and the feafon will admit your going there from Mocha, fo as to arrive in Bengal by the middle of October, in that cafe you will purchafe a cargo of cotton, and proceed here directly. Whatever filver you may have after the purchafe of the cotton, you will pay into the Company's trcafury for bills on this prefidency. If you cannot procure a good freight at Jidda for Bombay, we defire you will proceed from Mocha to the coaft of Coromandel, and touch at Negapatnam, where letters will be lodged for you. " On your arrival at Mocha, mould you hear no unfavourable accounts of war, or any diflurbances at Cairo, you will proceed to Yambo, where you will again inquire if there are any pilots acquainted with the paffage to Suez. If you meet with any who, upon examination, appear capable of conducting the veffel, we recommend your taking Vol. IV. 4 M them them on board, but flill be very cautious how you truft them; order them to conduct: you up the common tract, and keep the two veffels with you till you are fatisfiedof their abilities, then we advife your difpatching the Cuddalore the outward paffage, in order to furvey it up to Suez, and give them orders to join you there. But fliould you be fo unlucky as not to meet with pilots, there will be no alternative but to proceed with the greateil care and caution the outward paffage, with your two tenders a-head both day and night, till you reach Tor, where you will meet with pilots and water; and as we have reafon to believe the danger of the paffage is then over, if you find it to be the cafe, you will difpatch back the Cuddalore to make a correct furvey as far down as Jidda, in the lat. of 210 30/ As it cannot be fuppofed you will be able to make an exact furvey in going up in mid-channel, you will inllruct Captain Wedderburn to follow the fur-veyor's order, but at the fame time to make all ncceffary remarks himfelf, as alfo his officers, and to finifh the furvey as expeditioufly as poflible, and to return to the fhip at Suez; but fhould more time be taken up, and he finds it impracticable, he mufl endeavour to go to Yambo, and there wait for the difpatches, if he can do it with fafety ; if not, to return to Mocha, and remain there to fupply himfelf with fuch neceffaries as he may fland in need of, to be ready to make the befl of his way to Bengal, as foon as he receives your difpatches, and the monfoon will allow him to proceed. " On your arrival at Suez you will inquire of the ma-fler of the port, or governor, whether or not he has any letters, &c. from his mafler the Bey, refpecting you ? Should he have none, you will defire him to forward the fhort letter from the governor, informing him of the arrival of 3 fbtf the fhip at his port. Yon muft not land a piece of goods, or enter into any agreement or contract:, &c. till you hear from the Bey, and, from the anfwer you receive, confult how to act; but let it be with great caution, till you are perfectly fatisfied of the friendly difpofition of the Bey towards.you, as wc have reafon to expect the Bey's anfwer will be polite and favourable, and an invitation to vifit Cairo. Mr Shaw will then proceed with the purfer, and any other of the officers you may think proper, with a few laf-cars and fervants, properly equipped, to make the embaffy brilliant and refpectable. The letters, prefents, and mufters of the cargo Ihould go at the fame time; and we recommend that, on Mr Shaw's arrival at Cairo, after he retires from the Bey, he makes a vifit to the Venetian Conful, whom Mr Bruce has mentioned very particularly in his letter. If he finds him the fame perfon he has defcribed, he will receive from him fuch ncceffary information as may be ufeful in his future tran fact ions, and will put himfelf under his protection in preference to the French houfes; but he will act with extreme caution, till he difcovers fuch connection is not difagreeable to the Bey, with whom he milA appear to be, «*n 7 71 72 71 5' 71 72 71 68 72 72 72 67 72 72 71 57 2 77 965 972 72 7 7 1 65 72 772 77 1 68 972 3 9 8 9 73 73 73 68 NNE N E S W ditto. NW S N W ditto, ditto. E W N W ditto, E W N W ditto. S by W W S W N W S E w N W ditto. SE W s w w S E SSE WbS NW E WNW S S Heavy clouds all over the Iky. Ditto. Clea »ar. White clouds flying. Ditto. Little wind, clear. A few white clouds flying, but feem very light. The whole fky covered with light flying clouds. White flying clouds, little wind. Ditto. Little wind, and clear. White flying clouds. Ditto. Ditto. Clear, and nearly calm. A light breeze, and white flying clouds. Ditto. The clouds becoming a little heavier. The fky covered with flying clouds. Light white clouds fcattered. Little wind, the weather overcaft. Ditto. Clear and calm. Small white light clouds in the S. W. All the fky clear, excepting four fmall clouds in the South. Ditto. Cleai and calm. White flying clouds in confiderable numbers. Light white clouds flying to the Eaft. Weather clear. Little wind, clear and cloudlefs. Ditto. A few white clouds flying to the fouth-weft. Clear. Ditto. All the fky is covered with darkifh clouds. The clouds are (fill turned heavier and thicker. The clouds are a little broken. The fky perfectly clear. _ Months' Honrs, i Barome '.Ther. Marci 2fE. 6 m. 2 e. 6 * e. 5yM. 6£m. 12 n. 2 e. 61 e. 2 i 21 2 i 21 21 21 21 21 2 i 21 2 i 6|m. 2 1 12 n.21 2 e. 2 i 6', e. 5 M-6'-m. 12 n. 2 i 21 2 i 21 e. 2 i 6■ i e. 6 'm. 12 n. 2 e. 2\- e. 6^e. 6^m 12 n. 2 e. 6$ e. 6>m 12 n. 2 e. 6|e. 6 \;m. 12 n. 2 i 2 i 21 2 i 2 i 2 i 2 i 2 i 2 i 2 i 2 i 2 i 2 i 21 2 i 2 i 2 e. 21 6 6 6 6 5 3 6 o 6 3 5 8 4 9 5 6 5 4 5 6 6 5 i 5 4 6 3 5 2 4 8 5 2 5 2 6 q Winds. Remarks on the feather 73 73 71 68 / 72 69 65 73 74 73 68 73 82 74 63 63 82 78 71 62 80 78 73 69 60 78 78 72 59 79 79 73 4! 61 6 81 3! 80 S NE ditto EbS SW N W ESE EbN ssw w w SbE SW W w E E SbW W S E S s S E SW EbS W W N S SSW N W WNW ditto S S E NW White heavy clouds, the fun entirely covered. A few big drops of rain. White clouds which cover the fun. ■ Thick clouds at the horizon at north and weft. Clear, and little wind. Ihe whole heavens full of white thick clouds. A good breeze, and heavy clouds throughout the Iky. Lightning at north. Clear and cloudlefs. Ditto. White flying clouds throughout all the fky. The day all overcaft, fo is the fun. Very cloudlefs everywhere but at the horizon and fouth-weft. Clear. A quantity of white thick clouds fill all the air. Ditto. Clear. Ditto. Ditto. All the air is full of white flying clouds, the fun appears faintly. Many clouds. The fun is hid only a little at weft-Clear. Many clouds throughout the whole fky. Calm and Clear. Clouds fill the whole air. Overcaft, with thick clouds and thunder. Clouds cover the whole air, and the fun hid. Small rain. Overcaft with clouds, all but at north. White clouds thro' the whole fky, the fun not feen. Ditto. A few clouds and high, but clear in the horizon. The fky is clear, with very white thin clouds. Great white flying clouds. Ditto. Clear and cloudlefs. Perfectly clear and cloudlefs. Large white clouds flying all through the fky. Ditto. Mouths! J Hours. Barometer. Ther j Winds. Remarks on the Weather. March ; 0 0 1 Large white clouds flying all through the fky. E. 2 i 5 3 73 ditto io s M. 2 i 6 360.;- W Clear. 6 M. 2 i 6 3 60 w Small white clouds flying to the fouth. 12 N. 2 i 1 5 80 w The white clouds are become much larger. 2 E. 2 i 5 1 80 w Ditto. 6 E. 21 5 0, 75 j NW Light clouds throughout the air, but heavy at N. W. i i 6 M. 2 i 5 7 68 N Ditto. 11^ M. 21 6 2 62 N Very clear. 12 N.j 2 i 6 4 79 NW All the air is covered with very thin clouds, but large white clouds in the horizon to the fouth. 2 E.| 21 5 0 80 W White clouds, flying throughout the fky. 6 E. 2 1 5 2 74 WNW Clear fmall clouds at the horizon in the north. 12 6 M. 2 i 6 2 65 N E The fky is covered with thin clouds like a veil. 12 N. 2 i 5 3 79 NW A few light flying clouds throughout the fky. 2 E. 2 i 5 0 80 W Ditto. 6 E. 21 5 4 73 NW Clear and cloudlefs. 13 6 m. 2 i 6 7 60 W Clear and calm. 12 n. 2 i 5 0 81 NW Clear, only a few light clouds to the fouth-eaft. 6 E. 21 5 5 74 ditto Clear, and a few fmall clouds near the horizon. *4 6 M. 2 i 6 6 63 N E Clear and cloudlefs. 12 N. 2 i 5 0 79 W Large flying clouds, the fun is covered. The whole fky is covered with heavy clouds, only a 2 E. 21 5 0 79 S i fmall part of the horizon clear at north, a fmall fhower of rain for a few minutes. 6 E. 2 i 5 6 72 s Flying clouds throughout the air. 16 6 M. 21 6 5 62 SS E A few clouds at eaft, the reft clear. 12 N. So w 1 i Flying clouds throughout the air, a fudden violent wind from the weft which killed ^ min. 2 i 5 4 6 E. 21 5 5 72 NW Clear. 7- - E 21 6 0 70 w Clear and cloudlefs. l7 6 M. 2 1 6 J 63 S E Clear. 12 N. 21 5 2 80 S W Flying clouds throughout the air. 1N. B. Thermometer expofed to the fun, and in half > a minute mounted to 1060. 2 E. 21 4 9 80 WbS t Ditto, Thermometer expofed to the fun, in half a £ minute mounted to 1 io°. 1 6 E. 21 5 2 72 w Clear, only a few clouds to the weft. 18 4 M. 2 i 6 4 60 s Calm and hazy. 6 M. 2 i 6 8 i 58 s Calm, all the air covered with thin clouds like a veil. Months Hours. | Barometer. Ther. Winds. March Remarks on the Weather l8j 2 e. 21 50 l9 20 2 i 22 23 6 e. 6 m. 12 n. 2 e. 6 e. 6 m. 12 n. 2 e. 6 e. 6 m. 12 n. 2 e. 6 e. 6 m. i e. 2 i 2 i 2 i 2 i 21 2 i 21 21 21 2 i 21 2 i 21 2 b.u 6 e.|2 6 m.;2 12 n.2 2 e. 2 6 e. 24 12 n. 2 e e. 2 5 5 6 8 5 5 5 o 5 6 6 8 5 6 5 0 5 6 6 7 5 3 4 9 5 0 5 2 4 5 6 5 4 5 4 4 7 b 4 r 3! 71 6 81 72 53 80 81 73 62 79 80 73 62 80 80 74 62 81 81 74 62 81 35 W w WNW S NW WNW E W NW ditto E NW W N -Thermometer expofed to the fun, mounted to 100°. A few light clouds in the eaft. -Thermometer expofed to the fun, mounted to 1070. Clear. Ditto. Ditto, Ditto, Ditto. Ditto. Thermometer expofed to the fun, 105 0 Thermometer Do. 113 Large heavy clouds to the fouth and to the ea?ft, the fun hid. Thermometer expofed to the fun, 105°. c Ditto,-Ditto,-in half C a minute mounted to ioi°. j Heavy clouds to the eaft and weft, j Clear and cloudlefs. CThin clouds like a veil cover the fky.-Thermo- ( meter expofed to the fun, 1060. Clear, only a few thin clouds to the north.-In half a minute the thermometer expofed to the fun, mounted to 106°. All the air is covered with thin clouds like a veil. E WbN E QJJ I N O X. Clear. A few light clouds flying in the fouth.- -Thermo- 75 83 NNE NNW E meter, in half a minute, rofe to 1 io°. Clear, thermometer in half a minute rofe to 111 ■ A few ftreaky clouds like a veil to the eaftward. Clear and cloudlefs. C Large white clouds, the fun covered.--Thermo WbN { meter 88°. g g Yy;5 All the fky is covered with white heavy clouds.—^" I Thermometer expofed to the fun, rofe to 106 • 5 ?. S w 81 WNW 73! N (' Ditto. Heavy clouds throughout the air, the fun covered. Ditto---Ditto. Clouds at the W. and N. W. towards the horizon. Months March 25 26 27 28 Hours. • Barometer. ,Thcr.; Winds. Remarks on the Weather, 6 m. 2 12 n. 2 2 e.}2 6 e/2 4 m.!2 6 m.'2 3?E- 29 3° 31 6 M. 12 n. 2 e. 6 e. 6 m, 12 n. e. 6 e. 6 m. 12 n. 2 e. 6 m. 12 n. 2 e. 6 e. 2 m. 2 12 n. 2 2 e. 2 6 e. 2 6 3,63 4 78i 3 4 5' 2 6 o 6 3 5 2 5 5 6 3 6 1 5 5 5 ^ 6 658 4 6 4 4 5 7 6 7 5 4 8 81 68 63 63 77 72 56 76 77 70 81 S3 71 59 80 80 6 4)63 5 380 4 8 5 2 6 1 4 S 80 72 61 S3 5 ° 82 5 o73 W WNW W W W w s w s WNW NW W SbE S E N W E w w w w w NW w Clouds to W. and N. W. towards the horizon. I White flying clouds throughout all the air. S Short claps of thunder, with a fmall iliower of rain V for a few minutes at different times. Heavy clouds, with a violent wind. Clouds and lightning, very pale towards the fouth. All the fky covered with clouds. Violent fhowers of hail, without any mixture of rain, for 157, the hail as big as a meddling cherry. Thunder, but not loud, and of fhort duration. \ Hail and rain, mixed in fhowers, with fhort intervals, that may have lafted an hour. Clear. •Flying clouds all throughout the air. Ditto. Violent wind in blafts, whieh lafted for 5 or 67 at a time. All the fky is covered with large heavy j clouds, efpecially at north ; thunder, with violent I blafts of wind alternately every 8 minutes. (Clear till ten o'clock, and the fky obfeured with £ white clouds. C Large clouds cover the fky, going violently to thej l fouth-weft. Large clouds, and the fun covered. Small clouds to the caftward. ( Clear till nine, when the fky is covered with white c clouds. Clouds through all the fky, and the fun covered. All the air is full of fmall white clouds. Clear. Small white clouds flying throughout the air. Wind varying to north. Clouds towards the horizon. A few clouds in the fouth towards the horizon. White flying clouds fcattcred thro' all the air. Thermometer expofed to the fun, in half a minute rofe to 101 °. Clouds as above, but thinner and fmaller.--Thermometer expofed to the fun, in half a minute rofe to 113°* j Clear. _ Vol. IV. 4O JMontlis 'XprT Hours. 6 m. i 2. Jfc 2. e, 6 i n, e, e, m, 6 m 12 2 6 6 12 n. 3 E< 6 e. io-;m. 12 k>. 2 e. r> e. 6|e. Barometer. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 6" o 4 o Ther.' Winds. 59 84 3 a 84 75 64 4. 8 6 2 ^ 6j85 4 6 4 9 6 4 5 1 4 7 5 3 2 o 22 00 21- ii 8 21 11 4 74 7 E- 9' 6 m, 12 n. 2 e. 6 e. 2 1 ii 2 21 ii 5 22 00 21 116 21 11 3 21 11 2 2 1 ll8 2 1' ii 4 21 11 : 6 M.J22 o c 12 n.Ul ii 5 2 e.'2i i i 3 6 e.'2i ii 4 12 6. m. 2 2 oo io i i 6 m. 2 e. 6 e. 80 75 6.3 821 82. IS-72 74s 751 SbE SW w w JW byS SE W N by E E by S SE E S E Remarks on the Weather. 76 74i 72 -6 77-y /— I— 1 7/a /0 78 76 68 76 76| 741 67 S W NW ditto ditto Perfectly clear and cloudlefs. All the air covered with white flying clouds. Ditto. . frequent clouds^ throughout the air, which come from the eaft againft the wind. Clouds throughout the air. Ditto Ditto,--the fun is covered. A few flying clouds,^ Clear and cloudlefs. A few flying clouds, efpecially at the weft and north Ditto. Ditto.- IA few clouds through all the air. , Rain, the drops large and diftant, that lafted a quarter of an hour. Thunder, and very thick' clouds at north-weft, fud-den blafts of wind which lafted with intervals a bout a quarter of an hour at a time. CThe clouds a little lighter, but the wind ftill ftrong; C with intervals.' (Thunder at the eaft fouth-eaft,, the clouds are very ( thick at eaft and irorth-weft. N N E I wm(l blows like a tempeft, with lightning at eaft 11 7 and north, black clouds at north-weft and north. NE NW W N W N W 'N W ditto N There begins a fmall fhower, then comes thunder, the rain increafes with a flrong wind for 2 hours. Clouds- all thro* the air, efpecially at N. W. and S. W, Great heavy clouds all over the horizon, efpecially at north-we ft. Ditto. . Heavy clouds at north-weft, and thunder fdl half an hour. Clear- Small clouds in the horizon at north-wefT. . Clear. Ditto, and cloudlefs. All the air is covered with a light veil/ Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. t Months Howi. Baromct cr. Apr 1 0 ' 12 12 N. 2 1 II 1 6 2 E. [21 1. 4 6 E. 2 1 II 2 6 M. 2 1 II 8 L2 N. 21 II 5 2 E. 121 II 4 E. 3 6 M. 22 O 2 I 2 N. 8 2 E. 21 II 5 6 E. 2 1 II 5 ls 2 M. 2 1 II 6 7t M. 22 3 0 12 N. 21 I I 7 2 E. 2 1 II 4 3 E. 2 1 II 4 6 E. 2 1 II 4 16 7 M. 22 O 0 12 N. 21 ri 8 2 Et 21 11 5 6 E. 2 1 II 4 6 M. 22 O 0 li E. 2 1 II 7 2 E. 2 1 II 5 41 E. 21 II 4 6 E. 2 1 II 3 18 1 M. 21 II 8 12 N. 22 0 1 2 E. 2 1 ;II 8 3? E. 21 I I 5 6 E. 21 II 5 6 M. 22 0 6 1 1 Ther. Winds. Rcmurkl on the Weather. 79 A few clouds towards the horizon. N W White clouds all flying over the air. - I Clouds towards the horizon at weft and fouth-weft. 'Clear. Clouds towards the'horizon at north. Small clouds at. eaft. A thin veil has covered the heavens* A light veil over the fky. White clouds in the eaft. Ditto, lighter in the fouth. A veil of white clouds cover the whole air. Clear and cloudlefs. White clouds like a veil flying through the air. Clouds as -above, but more united. Clouds at jftorth-weft, clear at fouth-eaft. Ditto. Clear. Ditto. CWhite light clouds at nordi-weft north and north-c eaft, all the reft clear. CWhite flying clouds through all the air, the fun is £ covered. Heavy clouds all over the air, but clear at weft. Clear. Flying clouds throughout the air. Ditto.-•—« A fmall part clear towards ditto. N the zenith at fouth-eaft. Flying clouds throughout the airf efpecially at north north-weft and north eaft. Heavy clouds throughout the air. Heavy rain for 10 min. thunder in the north, and lightning in the north and fouth. Large white clouds fcattcred throughout the fky. Clouds as above, but very heavy to the eaftward. Heavy thick clouds at the north,dighter at eaft and •weft, the fouth clear towards the zenith, but heavy clouds in the horizon, the wind very violent. Clouds thro' all the air, and great appearance of rain. At feven o'clock there was at the S. S. E. a fmall white cloud, from which came a great quantity of lightning. Thunder thro' the night, but no rain. 4o Months Hours. ( Barometer. April x9 20 21 22 12 N* 2 E. 21 i i 6 E.J2I i i 6 M.j22 12 N. 2 i i i 3 E 1 I 2 i i i 6 E. 2 i i i 8 E. 21 ii 6 M. 21 12 N. 22 1 E. 2 i i i 6 E. 2 i i i 8* E. 2 i i i M. 22 12 N. 2 2 1 E. 2 i i i 2 E- 2 i i i 3 E. 2 i i i 4 E. 2 i i i 5 E. 21 11 6 E. 21 7 E. 2 i ii 8 E. 21 ii 9 E. 21 ii 10 E. 22 O 11 E. 22 q 12 E. 22 O 1 M. 22 O 2 M. 22 O 3 M. 2 2 O 4 M. 22 O 5 M. 22 O 6 M.I22 O 7 M. 22 O 8 M. 21 i i 9 M.122 O 10 M.|22 O I11 m.I22 O 112 N.!2I i i Ther.| Winds. Remarks on the Weather. 91 78 77 9 77'. 378 3 377 o 77 65 77 79 78 75 763 0 77t 6 79 3 79 79 80 80 78 76 6 75 674 74 73 73 70 66 68 66 65 66 o o o c o o 1 2 2 2J7O 9i79 2J76 2 77 078 6!79 WN W N W ditto. N NW W N E ENE S E N W W S E E NE W W WNW W W W N W NE Small flying clouds through the air. Clear. Clear and cloudlefs. The fky covered with a very light veil. Small flying clouds. Clear, at four o'clock, the wind changed to eaft. Clear and cloudlefs. Ditto. Ditto. Clear, only three fmall clouds near the zenith. Calm and a few very light clouds. Clear for three nights paft All the air is covered with thin clouds like a veil. Clear. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. S Clouds all over the horizon efpecially at weft am V north weft. S Great clouds towards the horizon and black at north I weft. N I Ditto. NE Clear and cloudlefs. SE Ditto. ENE Djtto. NE Ditto. 1 ESE Small light clouds in the eaft. SE Clear. E Ditto. SE Ditto. EN E Ditto. ditto Ditto. ESE Clear and cloudlefs. ditto. Ditto. WNW Ditto. NW Ditto. ditto Ditto. W j Ditto. Months Hours. Barometer, i Ther. Winds, Remarks on the Weather. April n 0 1 2 E. 21 I I 0 82 NE Clear, only a few clouds at the north-weft. 6 , 21 I I 2 77 ditto " Clouds all throughout the horizon except at north-weft. 24 6 M. 22 O 2 65 S e Clear. 12 N. 2 I I I 7i79 S W A few clouds to the north and eaft. 2 E. 2 1 I I 2 81 W Ditto. 6*E. 78 N | Clouds all over the horizon, and a veil all over the 21 I I 2 . fly. 6 M. 22 O 0 64 ESE Clear. 2-j E. 21 I I 0 82 W Clouds throughout the air, but clear at fouth-weft. 67 E. 21 I I 0 79 . N Flying clouds throughout all the horizon. 26 6 M. 2 2 0 1 64 SE Clear. 12 N. 2 I I I 6 791 WNW; Flying clouds all over the fky efpecially at north-weft. 2 E. 2 I I I 2 79 ditto. All the air covered, the fun likewife covered. 6± E. 2 I I I 2 78 N | Flying clouds all over the iky, efpecially at north-weft. 27 I2~M. 22 0 2 66 N Clear. 6 M. 2 2 0 4 63 NE Small clouds through the horizon. 12 N. 2 I 11 10 78 WNW White clouds in the north and eaft. 2 E. 2 I 11 3 80 N W Ditto. All the Iky is covered with heavy clouds, which go 6|- E. 21 11 5 77 ditto, < againft the wind, that is to the north-weft, a few drops of rain fall. 28 6 M. 22 0 6 65 e : : Clouds in the horizon, and a thin veil covering all > the iky at north-caft and fouth up to the zenith. 12 Ni 2 2 0 2 78 N W White and hoary clouds flying all over the fky. 2 E. 21 11 7 80 N Large flying clouds. Flying clouds throughout all the air, they go towards 6± E. 21 11 10 77-' NbE « the weft, a violent wind about mid-night from the eaft.. 29 5tM. 22 0 6 67 ENE Clear. 2 2 11 9 69 S rMoftly clear, with fome part of the heavens covered I with a thin veil. 12 N. 22 0 3 79 E Light clouds flying in the fky. 2 E. 22 0 0 80 NE Strong blafts of wind from time to time. 6 ^E. 2 I 11 9 78 N by W Clouds throughout the horizon. 3° 6 M. 2 2 0 7 65 E Clouds flying to the north and eaft. 12 N. 22 0 0 81 NW ; | Large white clouds all over the horizon, efpecially I at north-caft. 2 E. 21 11 5 81 WNW | Ditto. Months April 3° MAY i 0 Hourt. 61B 1 M. 6 M. I 2 N. 2 .E. 61 E, ■81 -E. 6 M Biromcter. Ther. 21 ii 6 2 2 03 22 8l 68 12 o 46c 21 11 51801 21 ii i 811 21 it 3 78 21 11 7 7t M. 22 •0 E. 21 it e. 21 i i 12 N. 2 2 O E. 2 i i i 6^ E. 2 i i i Mr 2 2 0 12 N. 21 i i 2 E. 2 i i i 61- h. 21 it 6 M. 22 D 12 N. 22 O 2 E. 21 i i E. 21 i i 6 Mi 22 O 12 n. 2 i i i 4t E. 22 . O Si E. 22 O E. 22 0 6 M« 22 0 12 n. 21 q 2 e. 21 11 H E. 21 i i 77 867 77' 9 75 1 77t 380 5 7*4 64* 79 380 4 77/ 4 71 80 #1 4 8 66 8 80 73 76! 77 73', 62 74 74-; 7o\ &3 69 68 65 ^3: 671 68V 673 4 4 68 4 ° &74 Winds. Remarks on the Weather. NNWj Flying 1 bowers for ten minutes, the fun clear. p ( Thick black clouds, thunder at fouth-eaft and vio- SE ditto N W ditto. NE ditto lent lightning. A large thick cloud at weft, all the reft clear. Ditto. ( heat clouds flying to north and eaft, zenith clear. White clouds towards the horizon, zenith clear. One iingle cloud covers the whole fky equally. Clear, only a very few white clouds at the horizon ditto, j Clear, only a few white clouds at weft, s s E vary-C Large clouds at N. N. W. all the heavens covered as mg to s w i with, a veil, wind changing to N. N. \V. N A great cloud covers the zenith. . E N E United clouds cover the whole air. ditto. Clear* Thick clouds to the north-weft, and thunder from WN\V< the fame quarter, and the other part of the fky, [ clouds flying againft the wind. N E j All the fky is covered with clouds, it threatens rain xt xt 11 r) All the fky is covered with black clouds, it lightens (. alio, and threatens rain. C The weft is all full of heavy clouds, which reaches £ from the horizon to the zenith. N j It begins to rain heavily, and large drops* , ^ C All the air covered with thick clouds, efpecially &j ( the fouth and weft* [Between this and the laft obfervation three or four < fmall fhowers, and the whole fky covered with [ thick clouds. an hour. j Heavy clouds throughout the air efpecially to the S Clouds throughout the air, it has rained for three times violently, but of fhort duration. Black clouds throughout the air, with violent lightning. ! Flying clouds throughout the air, efpecially in the E. $ Light clouds, but clofely united all over the fky like a veil,, and fomething blacker to the S. S. W. Black clouds throughout the air, a violent rain has fallen for a quarter of an hour the wind S. S. W and N. N. E. alternately. About half paft one, a moft violent rain which lafted a quarter of an hour violent, and conitant [ thunder with lightning the whole afternoon. (Sky covered with dark clouds, and a violent rain be-£ gun which Lifted two hours. $ Flying clouds throughout the air but heaviell to C wards the fouth* Heavy {lettered clouds throughout the air. Clouds a:- above, only the horizon at S. S.W. is clear Thick black clouds throughout the air efpecially at J fouth fouth-weft.. _ I Clouds fcattcred every where throughout the air. [Thick clouds throughout the air. The higheft cur rent from the fouth, the loweft comes from the. north with, great rapidity, rain and thunder. Clouds as above.. 'Rain and violent thunder, which began at five in the evening and lafted till midnight without intennii-fion. (Clear, only a very few clouds in the horizon to ? the fouth-weft. Months JUNE 21 22 23 24 26 Hours. ! Barometer. I I-jM. 2 12 N. 2 2 E. 2 6[- E. 7 M. 12 N. 2 E. 61 e. 7 m. 12 n. 2 e. 6;- e. 6-2 m. 2 B. 7 E-7 M. 12 n. 2 e. 6 1 e. 6-'-m. 1 2 n.12 2 e-'2 67 e.12 7 m, 2 ■ I 12 n. 2 I 2 e.'2 5 o Tlier. 66 5 9|65i 4 6.64 4 6 63I 4 8 4 8 4 564 4 463 63 64J 5 1 4 9 61 64 62-i 5 063 4 9 4 7 6 4 63 4 5 o 4 6 64 4 3 ■ 1 ■ ■ ■ .1.1 ■ 1 -i.. 1.. rXH— ■' .ii i»„. 4? 2 66S Regifter of the Barometer aba* Thermometer in fibyftmii* Remarks on the Weather. Thick clouds to the north-eaft and north, clear in the weft and fouth, quite clear in the zenith. Light clouds all over the fky,, but in the fouth a little heavier. jTFeavy clouds, the higher current of wind fouth-weft the lower north-eaft, it threatens rain and violent thunder and lightning.. Small rain and thunder, f Thick clouds through all the air. There are currents \ of air which carry the clouds fome to the W, and [ and others to N. the lower current N. N. E. C Clear, there arc a few ftreaky clouds in the horizon to the fouth Light flying clouds, thicker towards the horizon in the fouth-weft The air quite overcaft. Clear only a few clouds at the horizon* r Light flying clouds throughout the horizon efpecially to the fouth-eaft and fouth-weft. I-eavy clouds through all the air, it rains; two currents of wind from the N. W. and N. E. c Clear, excepting a few clouds in the horizon towards the -fouth-eaft, it thunders. ( Heavy clouds throughout the air, great appearance £ of rain*. Many clouds flying throughout the air.. Ditto. Ditto.—Efpecially at fouth-eaft. Thick heavy clouds throughout the air. Flying clouds throughout the air. "White flying clouds throughout the air, they feem higher towards the horizon, the low clouds covering the north-eaft. f Ditto. C Thick clouds to the north and north-weft, lighter in / all other places. Many fmall clouds throughout the air. Rain and very thick clouds throughout the air. Frequent clouds throughout the air. Ditto* Months Hours. Barometer. Thcr.J Vvindi,. | Remarks on the Weather. JULY-5 si M. 0 2 I 6 0 NW | Light flying clouds throughont all. the air, and darker towards the horizon* N. 2 1 7 1 60 NbE 1 Thick clouds with violent rain. E. 21 6 B 62 NNW| The clouds are Scattering, but remain thick at W. 64 E. 2 I 6 j 59 N N E i Very thick clouds to north, north-welt and north-eaft, the. reft clear 6 . 5} M, 2 I 7 2 sH N j White flying clouds throughout all the air fecming to unite in fouth.. I 2 N. 2 i 6 S 62 N N W 1 Very thick clouds, thunder and lightning in the S. 2 E. 2 I 6 6 59 )7 N Clouds uniting throughout the air. 7 5t M. >*# T 7 j NE | Clear,.only a very few fmall clouds in the horizon towards the eaft.. 6 W ! Violent rain, the windchanged firft from north then 12 N. 2 I to weft. Thick clouds throughout the air, rather clear "in the eaft. 2 E. 2 I 6 7 59v N N W1 /* E. N 1 Clouds through the whole air, but efpecially in the 0 21 0 5 57? horizon to the north. «! "Dark clouds in the horizon, everywhere but in the 8 St M. 2 I 7 **, - a 1 O f • * north is clear. 12 N, 2 I 6 N N W White clouds throughout the whole air. 2 E. 2 I 6 ( C'3t N varying by S J •Ditto. 67 E. 2 j. 6 m - n »; r Thick clouds in the horizon, everywhere but in the 59 north, where they are very black. 9 5i M. 2 I 7 c •7; N by E- 1 Clouds united all through the air, the north only J. clear. 12 N. 2 I 6 N varying S- > Clouds all over the horizon, they feem to crofs one r another in the zenith, which as yet is clear* E. 2 I 6 4 56 i N varying t.j N W ' 1 Thick clouds over the horizon, thefe from north-eaft y and north crofs one another in the fouth. E. 2 I 6 5 N varying to N W [Thick clouds unite in the fouth. 10 -M. 2 I 6 r 7 w > The north, the fouth, fouth-eaft and fouth-weft are / 3 / (. covered with clouds. T2 N. 2 1 6 5 6< N [White clouds in great maffes all over the horizon, j I the zenith clear. 2 E. 21 6 1 ^5; N (Great thick clouds throughout. - E. 2 I 6 i- 59 N varying j White flying clouds throughout the air, only black to E & W I at weft near the horizon. 11 $1 rift 2 I 6iT W ! Clouds united through all the air* 12 N. 21 6 1 611 ! w f Thick black clouds throughout the air, thunder at a ( diftance, with fome drops of rain. Monchsl Hours. .1 Barometer. JULY I I 12 *3 Ther. *5 26 2 e. 6; e. 12 N. 2 E. 6{E. 5^-M. 12 N. 2 e. 6^-e. 12 N. 27 28 2 I 2 I 2 I 21 2 I 21 21 2 I 2 I 2 I 21 21 3 E-21 6| e. 21 5JM.21 12 n.21 21 21 2 I 21 6iE. 5Vm. 12 n. 2 e. 6; e. 6 m. 2 e. 6'5 E.J2I 2 I 2 I 2 1 29 6 m- 12 it. 2 e. 61-E. 6 M. 21 21 21 21 21 6 6 7 7 6 594 59' 57-4 59-4 6 7 7 7 6 7 7 6 59: 59-; 561 5« 60 9 58! 56 60 7 60 7 59i 57 960] 6 8 59* 57 8 65i 64 61 7 6 6 6 7 6 (» 6 6 59 764 59 57 61 J>74 Winds- Remarks on the Weather. w N N N NNE $ Thick black clouds cover the Iky, there has fallen a fmall ihower. 5, Thick black clouds through all the air, they come from the north above the Mountain of Kofcam. Ditto, Ditto, Ditto. NE ditto. W varying to N N varying toE&W N NE NNE W n varying to nne N N N N NW N N N ( Clouds throughout the whole air, excepting the weft £ which is clear. Clear, only a fmall cloud in the weft. Rain, and the whole air covered with clouds. Moderate rain, the air covered as above. Large maffes of clouds cover the whole air* NNE $^ear» on^y two yery fmall clouds vifible in thehori-l zon to the eaft. S Very thLk clouds through all the air, excepting in C the eaft, which is clear. mm w$^ne C1°U(1S intercept one another from the fouth-N N VV I eaft and fouth-weftV Rain. All the air is covered with very thick clouds. Ditto.—With rain. Very thick black clouds come from north-eaft, and fouth-eaft, a thick mift at north which is very low. Thick clouds at north, and very low. .White clouds flying throughout the air, heavy at S.I 3 Thick clouds united throughout the air, heavier at V fouth and north-eaft. I Very thick mift to the north. All the air is covered with clouds joined together, j Thick fiat clouds through all the air. I Ditto. ^ Flying but fcattered clouds through all the air, they (. come from call and fouth. S W j Thick clouds through all the air, efpecially at S. W. ^ri xT(Clouds throughout all the air, but biacke.il towards C north-eaft, and north. (Thick clouds, which come in great quantities from C the north. Clouds throughout all the air, but thickeft towards C weft and north-weft. Months Hours, j Barometer. 1 Hier. Winds. ! 1 Rrimrks on the Weather. july 29 3® 31 aug. I 1 3 4 5 C 12 n. 2 e. 6i- e. 6 M. 12 n. 2 E. 6j- E. 6\ M. 2 e. 6i e. 6 M. 12 n. 2 e. 6; e. 6 M. 2 e. 6 m. 12 n. 2 e. 4i e. 6 M 12 n. 6j e. j M. 12 n, 2 e. 6;-e. i 2 n 2 a 21 6 5 21 61] 21 64 21 6 6 21 6 6 21 60 21 62 21 6 6 21 62 21 62 21 6 6 21 62 2* 5 9 21 ft .9 21 6 a 21 6 6 21 5 9 21 6 3 21 6 6 21 61 21 62 2165 21 67 2 1 62 2 1 67 21 6 5 21 60 2 1 6l 2 1 6 A 21 6 t .21 6 ] 0 >i 58 Si'i 63 5« 61 59 58 «3 64 60; 57-! 6l | 611 58 59 59 i 59 58 59 56 58! 58 i 58 59 i 59 1 N \ N NW N N W | N N N W WNW N N E ] j NNE WS Wj w n varying to n n e WNW NNE NN W SWbN N N NNE NW NE N N by E W NNE ditto, ditto. s w NW Large flying clouds throughout all the air, two currents of wind, one horn S. the other from N. Clouds cloiely united throughout all the air. Clouds come from north-eaft are very low and heavy, All the air is covered with clouds clofely united* Large clouds flying through all the air, they come from north-weft aim north-eaft. All the air is covered with clouds. The clouds come from north-eaft, and are very thick. All the air is covered with clouds. 1 nick united clouds through all the air-Large flying clouds very black efpecially in the horizon at fouth and north, loud thunder and the .fun covered* Clouds flying throughout the air. Thick flying clouds from the eaft, likewife fome come to meet them from the weft-Rain for a few minutes. Thick clouds at north they come from north-caft. Thick flying clouds throughout all the air* Rain. Great maffes of clouds at north-weft-All the air is covered with clouds. It rained for fome minutes. flying clouds throughout the air. Rain, with clouds united all over the air. [The clouds are joined all over the air, and a mift ) comes from fouth.. Heavy clouds throughout the air, it rains. The whole fky is covered with clouds, it rains. All the air is covered with clouds. £ Moderate rain, the clouds crofs from north-weft I north and fouth-eafl. Large flying clouds at north which come from eaft. Large clouds remain in the horizon. Flying clou.Is, they come frequent all over the air. I Large clouds all over the air. ^United clouds through all the air, and are very low, £ a ftream of mift goes coiiftantly to the S. i < Months! Hour?. aug. H:n omttef. iTher. 6 6^e. 6 M. 12 N. 2 e. 6*7 e. 6 M. 12 N. 2 e. 6| e, 6 M. I 2 N. 2 e. 6{ e. 6 M. 2 12 W> 3 2 e. 6' E. (5 m, 12 N. 2 I 2 E,!2 1 I 6 xi59 7 O 6 S 6 2 6 456 6 755. 6 560 6 2 62 6 2 57} 57 6 360J 6 1 6 r 6 6 54i 58 66i N SW w SW Nb W N N W W varying to WS W S varying to S S W NbyW NE 'NW wsw N varying to N W NE W NNE N NE SE N by £ N va tying to NE NNE ( All the fky is covered with thick clouds, the low-£ eft come from fouth very quickly. A thick mift covers the whole ait. Ditto. The clouds heavier to the fouth. { The clouds are all joined throughout the air, there (. -is a ftream of /mift coming from the north. I All the air is covered with clouds, it rains, j Thick clouds through all the air, they come from v fouth-eaft, and north-caft. ! Ditto. (Thick clouds throughout the air efpecially at north, C they come from fouth-eaft, fmall rain. Thick clouds in great maffes through all the horizon. (Clouds flying throughout all the air, they come C from north and fouth. £ Rain from the north, and very thick clouds through-? out the air, they come from north and fouth. Rain and thick clouds throughout the air. Two currents of wind, the one from the fouth the other from the north. ( Thick clouds cover all the air. j" Clouds mixed with large fpaces of clear. The clouds < oome from the eaft with great violence againft the wind. Thick clouds throughout the air, two currents of wind, one from north-eaft the other from north-weft, crofs one another. Thunder in the W. All the iky it. covered with thick clouds. The upper current from the eaft, the next from north, and 1 the laft fo low as to touch the earth. They crofs I with great velocity and force, f Clouds cover the whole face of the fky, C Clouds throughout the air, the wind in two currents { north and fouth; [Moderate rain the whole fky overcaft with clouds. Very thick clouds throughout the air. Two currents of wind, the higheft from north, the loweft from north-eaft. Light clouds cover the iky like a veil. Months Hours. AUG. 12 N. 2 E. 6l-M. I 2 N. 2 E. 6^E. *5 6~M. 12 N. 6} E. 16 6jM. I 2 N. 2 E. 6y E. 6 M. I 2 N. 2 E. 6|E. 18 6 Mi Barometer. *9 20 12 N. 2 E, 61 E. 6iM< l 2 N. 2 E, 6-L E. 6 M, 12 n. 2 6 f) 6 4 6 9 6 4 6 3 6 2 6 6 9 Ther, 6l 554 61? 60 4 56 60; 7 57 E 2 61 Winds. Remarks on the V. either. 6 46 60 «64 3 61 55: 461] 6 461] 8 56 j 3)58 9 56i W NW N NE ditto. ryoi N NNE W N NNE ditto. N 6 5 61 Vol- IV- .C Large clouds near the horizon, efpecially at north north-caft. The Iky is overcaft with thick clouds and clofely united at fouth. Black clouds, and very low in the horizon. Two currents of wind, the one eaft fouth-eaft the other north, which crofs each other. Clouds blowing about the horizon, the zenith clear. A current of clouds from north and fouth, thunder and lightning through all the iky. w varv'mg C Violent rain, it has thundered two hours without in-{ tcrval. Large Hying clouds throughout the air. Ditto. Clouds through all the air, and it begins to rain. Black clouds. Two currents of air come from the N. and S. along the Mountain of the Sun. It has thundered and lightlied all afternoon, and the lightning runs in fheets upon the earth like water. The fky overcaft with thick clouds. Ditto. N N v S *nc nvercaul w^'u clouds, excepting in the fouth, weit clear. Thick clouds throughout the air. Thin clouds like a veil cover the fky. Thick black clouds cover the fky, and come from N. Clouds as above but thickeft at fouth. ? ^ Black clouds throughout the air, efpecially at north weft. j Thin clouds cover the air like a veil. Very thick clouds throughout the air, it rains,clouds come from north and iouth. Ditto. Black clouds all over the ajr* Small light clouds By throughout the air-Rain, thunder, and lightning. Black clouds ail over the Iky. Ditto. Flying clouds cover the whole air. N N W ^L kegi™ t0 ra'in> clouds very heavy, they come from _\ north and fouth, and meet in the zenith. ditto-ditto-N N tjryioi; to NNE N by I NE NW N W NNE ditto. ! ditto. jN by E j N N E ditto. 1 Months AUG. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Hourr 2 E. 6^E. 6 M. 12 N. 2 E. 6y E. 12 N. 6i E. 6 m. 12 N. 2 E. 67 E. 7 H. 12 N. 2 E. 6^ E. 7 m. I 2 N. 2 E. 6- E. 6-Jm. 12 N, 6l E. Barometer. iTher.I Winds 6 m. 12 N, 27E.I 62i 59 9 55i 3^4 5 59l 6 6 4 63 6 4 58] 6 8 6 4 594 6 3 6 3 6 7 6 3 6 e 6 * 6 1 6 8 6 J 6 4 s8 6*l 60; 57 597 58I >2 59i 5 / 55-5 sH -9 Remarks on tli? Weather. N ["Great clouds throughout the air, the S. W. is clear. NNE ditto. to N NE Clouds throughout the air, they come from the N. Clear and cloudlefs. N varying [Thick clouds come from the fouth, fome fmall ones from the north. N N wi^^k clouc^s cover the whole air> they come with 1 great violence from the north, j Thick clouds and very low from the north, thunder 1 and rain without ceaiing. [Clouds with violent rain thunder and lightning. ["Broken clouds throughout the air, but black ones \ come from the north, j Flying clouds cover the air, j"Thick clouds throughout the air, but thickeft at north. Thick clouds throughout the air, rain in the S. Rain and thick clouds. Clear, except a little hazy at S. S. W. Thick clouds throughout the air, it rains at north. It rains at eaft. [Rain and thick clouds throughout the air, efpecially [ in the weft. f Great clouds throughout the air, efpecially at fouth and north, a ftream of dark mift comes from the fouth very low. W S W/ ^reat aa<^ {hick clouds throughout the fky, efpecially 1 at fouth and north, ditto. [Moderate rain, thick clouds throughout the Iky. JDark clouds very low throughout the air, it is very N N N N N N by E NNE NE N N N NE 1 co Id. N N E W Light clouds, but frequent throughout the air. It rains violently efpecially from the fouth-weft. j^^y j Very thick clouds throughout the air, a low ftream \ comes from north. ^ I Light clouds fly throughout the air, they come from ,| eaft and weft. ._->- . c f Large thick clouds efpecially at north, the loweft' 1 bJb{ come from the weft, -j. ("Thick clouds in the horizon, it rains hard, the air I is all covered. Months' Hours. 28 AUG 27] 6{-E. 6 M. 12 n. 2 E. 6 m. 29 3° Barometer. 31 SEPT, 12 n. 2 r,. 6 m. 12 n, 6£ e. 6 m. 12 N. 2 e. 6y e. 6 m. 12 n. 2 e. 6^ e. 6 M. 1 2 n. 2 E 6T e 6 m i 2 K, 2 61 e 21 21 2 I 2 I 21 2 I 2 I 21 2 I 21 2 i 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 r 21 21 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 6 6 6 7 6 6 6 6 8 Ther. 4 59 57 4.61 458 I °|57 5 62 4 62 459 Winds. Remark* 011 the Weather. 6 , 6 3 03 64 4 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 8 N NE N N NE W N N W N N N NN1 N 57 62 5 ■ 364 3 8 561 62 61 63 60 £ Thick clouds, all the air is covered efpecially at fouth and north. All the air is cloudy-Clouds as above a ftormy rain at north-weft. Thick clouds in the horizon. ^ Large clouds flying throughout the air, efpecially at \ fouth. Wandering clouds throughout the air. Clouds as above, but thicker. Large malTes of clouds from the N. W-Both eaft and Weft are covered with thick clouds. (Great clouds throughout the air, violent rain, thurw-C. der, and lightning. , (Large clouds throughout the air, and a moderate ' \ rain. [Very thick clouds through the whole horizon, thefe 1 go in currents to the fouth-weft and north-eaft, but leave the zenith clear. N Light clouds throughout the air. N 1 lying clouds, but dark to the fouth. N Large clouds efpecially at fouth and north. NNE Very thick black clouds cover the air* NE N 57 464 65t 61j 658! 6 4 6>| 463l 6 56; N N E N NE N N Clear and cloudlefs-t Thick clouds cover the air, they come from north I and fouth. I Thunder at fouth-weft. I Dark clouds in the horizon, efpecially at S. W. 1 j Clear and cloudlefs. J Thick broken clouds, they ftream from north and fouth. Ditto. Clear fmall clouds in the horizon atN-W. and S. Clear. C Clouds throughout the air efpecially at north, thun-( der in the eaft. Nvarying (Moderate DUt conftant rain, coming from the north-to n E £ weft. N N E j Clouds in the horizon to the north and north-weft. N by Ef Clear. j__^_____1 ontfc»1 liours. : Bimrr.eter. rher. sepi\ ■! J 10 L 4 12; 1 0-12 n.2I. 2 e. 2 I 6: ,. 2 1 6 m. 2 I 12 n. 2 I 2 e. 2 I 6te. 2 I 6 m. 2 I 12 n. 2 1 2 e. 2 1 6! 1 . 2 I 6 m. 2 I 12 n. 2 I 2 e, 2 I ■6<-e. 2 I 6 m. 2 I 12 n. 2 [ 2 e. 2 1 61 e. 2 I 6.jM. 2 I 12 n. 2 I 2 I 6"'- e. 2 I 6 m. 2 I I 2 n. 2 I 2. e. 2 I 6; e. 2 I 6 m. 2 I ' 1 2 N. 2 1 1 2, e. 1 2 1 (>\ & |2 I 6tm. 121 ; 1 - i-,. 1 2L 6 7j6i 6 460 7 3;5& 7 OJ62 6 5 7 0601 7 *57 6 6; 6 3: 6 4!66 6 4?6i 6 8!5;< 676M 4 62 VV'in'is. Remarks on the Weather. ENE N E N N N E N N N W NNE N E NNE ditto* N' NE W & 4 60 7 6 6 6 7 6 6 67 6I65 t 67 3 7 5 N 6 4 6 5 7 0 0 5 s«4 v 66 53: 68 f 69 64 60] 6r; 57 r 65- N N E WNW NV/ N NE S E NE NNE NW to n i N N E ditto N NNE N E N varying to me N N Clouds throughout the air .efpecially at weft, violent thunder and lightning.,. S Clouds throughout the air, and rain which feems to ( be violent to the weftward. j Very thick clouds throughout the air, efpecially at ' eaft, fouth, and fouth -weft. All the air is covered with light clouds-Clouds which have overcaft all the air. Ditto. Violent rain-and clouds everywhere efpecially at N. C Small clouds throughout the air, they come from £ the fouth and north Large clouds throughout the horizon. Ditto. Large dark clouds from the north and eaft. Light clouds flying throughout the air. A moil violent rain, which began with north-eaft winds* but changed to weft, and ended in a hail I fhower. { Rain and thick clouds, the rain comes mod violently (_ from north-weft. The clouds are united through the whole air. Lin:ht clouds in the horizon. Ditto. Ditto. Low dark clouds in the north-weft and fouth-weft.. Small white clouds fcattcred through the horizon. Light fmall clouds through the air. Great clouds through ali the horizon. Black clouds in the horizon to the W. N. W. and S. W. Clear and cloudlefs. Thick clouds throughout the air. Small Hying clouds throughout the air. Large clouds occupy the air* Ditto. Ditto-Violent rain from N. E. and the whole fky overcaft Thick clouda throughout the air. j Light douds cover the fky like a veil, j Clouds cover the air which come from the north-eaft.]. Months Hours. SEPT I2f 6-L E. Barometer. iTher.' Winds. l3 14 i 15 16 17 18 19 20 6 M. 12 N. 2 e. 6l e. 6 M. I 2 N. 2 N. 6y e. 12 n, 2 e, 6" m. 12 n. 2 e. 6 -j E. 6 M. 12 N. 6^ e. 6 m ■ 12 n. *ft. 6jE. 6 m. 12 n. 2 e. 6i e. 6 M, 12 n, 6; 21; 6 m 12 n, 21 21 21 21 2 I 21 2 I 2 I 2 I 21 21 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 21 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 21 2 I 2 I 2 I 21 Remarks on the Weather. 6 ^61 N b F ^ ^ight clouds towards the zenith, heavy one3 tc • 1 ^ C the horizon at north and weft, lightning al N N E I Clear. / ,'W S WC White clouds fly throughout the air, 54 ^T ( from north-eaft and fouth-weft. 9,67 6 6 4 6 /6 4°5 6 9 58JN N E 7 6 6 6 7 6 6 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 N N, wnica come 465 66 63 59 66 66 61 59 61 4l°5 61 53.', 05 62 58; N N W ditto. N varying to W N N E S varying to S e N ■ N N N E ws w ditto. N 407 62 4 8 4 4 4 8 4 6 o :> 0 66 64i (>3 59 66 6*04 57 601 N N NW N NE & N varying to N N vv N N E N by E ditto, ditto Clouds as above but more frequent. Large black clouds in the horizon at fouth. Clouds cover the whole air. Large clouds from N. W.; and S. E. Large clouds thro' the whole air. Black clouds in the horizon at north*. Ditto. Ditto, The clouds are lighter. All the air is covered with thick clouds, lightning at north-we ft The whole air is covered with thick clouds. Ditto. Ditto. It rains violently, the iky all overcaft. £ jThe iky clear, except a fmall cloud in the horizon C at weft. if Great clouds cover the air, which come north-eaft and fouth welt Thick clouds to the horizon. Clear. Clouds fly through the air. Ditto. Ditto. Clear. Many clouds throughout the air. N E Large clouds darken the whole air. All the air is covered with clouds, tight clouds cover the air thicker towards the hoii-zon. yy C Thick clouds throughout the sar, they come from 1 £ weft* N E Ditto. NbyE Clear. Kj xrr $ A Quantity of black clouds throughout the horizon. _ ^ they mnv from the north-caft. Months SEPT. 2 I 22 23 25 26 27 28 Hours. 2 E. 6^-E. 6 M. 12 N. 2 E. G\ E. 6 M. I 2 n. 2 Ei 6.', E. 6 M. I 2 N. 2 E. 6iE. 6 M. I 2 IT. 2 E. 6'2 E. 6|M. I 2 N. 2 E. 6^-E. 6 M. 12 N. 2 E. 6^E. 6 M. 12 N. 2 E. 6 E. 6 M. 12 N. 2 E. Barometer. 464 564 7 57- 6 3 C 3 Ther. Winds. 367 68 67 6l 3 858 365-l 6.3 ^ 4 59 -6 366^ 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 6 4 6 . 6 7 0 6 4 6 3 ditto. N E Remarks on the Weather, N E 68 62 59 68 68; % 68 H\ 63 57.; 68 ?o 364 58 67i 69 Ditto. C Thick clouds throughout the air, the lower current \ comes from the fouth the other from north-eaft. C Clear everywhere, excepting one cloud in the hori-) zon to the weft. ^ C A dark cloud is fplit into many and covers the whole £ air. N N E j Flying white clouds throughout the air. ^ j, (Small rain, the clouds are thick and heavy, they C come with the wind from north-eaft. j Clear fmall clouds to the horizon at weft y Thick heavy clouds throughout the air, which come \ from north-eaft. Thick clouds and thunder at weft. Thick black clouds throughout the air* Ditto. Ditto. , Ditto. (Thick heavy clouds throughout the air, efpecially 1 at fouth and weft. Thin clouds cover the whole air. Ditto. Ditto. The clouds are heavier. Ditto. k j^C Strong fqualls of wind come in ftarts, white clouds ' through the air, coming from north-eaft. Ditto. Clear. Clear. Ditto.—But a few flying clouds, m ju- -i Thick clouds fcattered about the air. W N W I Black clouds in the horizon to the S. and W. N E I Small black clouds flying in the weft, ditto S Small white clouds in the north north-eaft and north- £ weft, ditto. Ditto. N Clear, excepting a few fmall clouds to the W. N E Clear. ESE Ditto, ditto. Ditto. ditto, ditto. NW N E ditto. S E N W N N E E N E NW N N E E NE N NN E E by N N E Months Hours. Barometer. Ther Wind*. Remarks on the Weather. sept 1 E. 0 21 0 661- n : ' Flying couds throughout the air, they come from 29 0 3 i the E. N. E. and S. E. 3° 6 M. 2 I 6 7 sH n E ( Clear. 2 E. 21 6 3 70 ESE White light clouds throughout the air. 1 Clear except a few fmall clouds in the horizon to [ the weft. E, 21 6 4 66 n ; OCT I 6 M. 21 6 9 58 NE Clear, only a few clouds atfouth-wcft- 12 N. 21 6 4 69 W Clouds cover the whole air. E. 2 I 6 4 66 Nby w Clear. 2 6 M. 2 I 6 8 59i NE Ditto. 12 N. 2 I 6 4 69t ditto Ditto. 2 E. 2 I 6 3 69 n Clouds throughout the whole air, clear in the EJ 1 E. 6 4 66 N ] Clear, excepting a very few fmall clouds at fouth- 2 I eaft and fouth-weft. 3 6 M. 2 I 6 6 60 NNE Clear. 12 N. 2 I 6 --> 3 NE Ditto. 1. 12 N. 2 e. 6ve. I 2 N. 0' B. 6«-M. 12 6 12 2 6 6 N. e. .vi. N. E. e. aM. 12 N. 2 e. 6l e. 6^M. 1 2 N. 2 e. 2 6' e.I2 6\m. 2 12 n.12 2 e#l2 6: L/2 I f j 6TM. 2 12 N. 2 1 2 e. 2 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 0 611 8c8 o-66 1 • 60 ehi 36* v- mils. Remarks qq tiu- Weather. N N 8 N E ditto, ditto, ditto. C Clear, imlefs fome clouds in the eaft and weft near ( the horizon. Small clouds fcattered thro' the air. Large clouds come from fouth-weft. Dark clouds throughout the air. Clear. 4163 1 60 \ 3 8 60 sr> 63l *J\ ^3t Hi 63 SH 66 % 663 691 66 59 66 59 P Clouds flying throughout the air, the fun covered, j Yioleut rain thunder and lightning. C Clear, only fome fmall clouds in the horizon at N.W, £ fouth and fouth-weft. White Hying clouds from the S. E- and fouth-weft. The fky is overcaft, and there is appearance of rain, The air overcaft with thick clouds. Thin flying clouds throughout the air. Thin white clouds to the weft and to the north. Large moving clouds throughout the air, Ditto. Ditto, the fun covered. .AH ihe air is -covered with clouds. Clear. Light flying clouds throughout the air. Clear, Ditto. -Ditto. White clouds flying throughout the air. Ditto,—They come from fouth-eaft Clear. Cloudy* White clouds come from the fouth-eaft. Clear. Ditto. Clouds throughout the air. Ditto. Clear. Thin clouds like a veil cover the wkole fky. White flying clouds throughout the air. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. 1 67 'NNE j Small flying clouds throughout the air. 01674-N by E I Ditto-_ ditto. S W N N N E w s w *N N E NbyW N N E ditto. N NNE N W W N N E S W N W N E NW N by W N j 1 o i]59|!N by E ditto. S W N W N E o]6o| 4.5-J Months Hours. Barometer. Ther. Winds. Remarks on the Weather. OCT. 20 E. 0 2 I 6 1 0 N by £ Ditto. 21 6* Mi 2 I 6 4 594 674 N E Ditto. 12 N. 21 6 0 NNE Ditto. 2 E. 2 I 6 0 -NW Ditto. 64. E. 2 I 6 1 67 N Ditto. 22 Si m. 21 6 4 61 NE Clear. T SSW; 1 White flying clouck throughout the air the fun is 12 N. 21 6 O 68} fometimes darkened. 2 E. 2 I 6 O 70 N Ditto. 6^ E. 2 I 6 O 67 N Clear. H 6? m. 2 I 6 I 61 N by E Ditto. {p. m. 2 I 6 o 69 s w White clouds flying throughout the air. 2 E. 2 I c Q 69', ws w There has fallen three or four fmall fhowers- 6i E. 1 T j 6 o 661 N Thick clouds throughout the air. 24 6i M. 21 6 2 61 N E Clear. 12 N. 2 I 6 0 66-; »j Flying clouds throughout the air, they come from N. E. and S. E. 2 E. 2 I 5 6 8 661 N W The fky overcaft, fmall fhowers and thunder. NOV. 20 6i E. 2 I 0 65 N Clear. 12 m ■ 2 I 4 9 71 NbNW Flying clouds throughout the air. 2 E. 2 I 4 c 72 N N W Ditto. 6 E. 2 I 5 N Black clouds near the horizon. 21 6 M. 2 I 6 660 N E Clear. 12 N. 2 I 5 771 W varying to S W Ditto. E. 73 W ; Little clouds flying throughout the air, they come 2 2 I 5 1 [ from north-eaft. 6 E. 2 I | 7 69-i- N Clear. 2 2 6 m. 2 I 6 7 61 N E Ditto. 12 N, 2 I 5 571 W Flying clouds throughout the air. 2 E. 2 I 4 9 74 W Ditto. 61 E. 21 5 769 N E Black clouds in the horizon at weft. 23 6* m. 21 6 5 61 ditto. Clear. 1 2 N. 21 5 4 71 W Light clouds throughout the air- E. i I 4 8 74 NbyW Ditto. 6 E. 21 5 4 69 N W Clear. 6 m. 2 I 6 61 N by E Ditto. 12 N. 21 4 9 72 WS W > White clouds flying throughout the air, they come I from north-eaft. 2 E. 2 I 4 7 71 W Ditto. 6 .2I J 3 70 NNW All the fouth is covered with thick clouds. Vol. IV. 4 R (Motlthal Hours. ncTvTi 6 M. 12 n. 2 Ei 6 E. 2S\ Barometer. 26 27 28 29 30 6{M. 12 N, 2 e. 6 k. 6^M. 12 N. 2- E. 6 E, 6'2M. 12 n. 2 e. 6 e. 6yM. I 2 n. 6 e 64M. 12 n.J2 ft H 2 6 E,|a dec. I 6-[-M, 2 12 N 2 2 " e, 2 2 6|m 2 .12 n. 2 6 e : 3 6 m 1 i 2 n. s 2 e 6 e. Ther.! U'inih. Remarks on the Weather. 360'- N E j Clear, only a thin veil covers the fky fouth. 2|7aa| NNE Ditto.. 6 I 8J71 j N W o 'cl c w(AH the fky is covered with very thick clouds, which 864^0 o come from north-eaft. 5-5 6 5 5. 6 5 5 6 5 4 5 3;59 5p 660 69 67 -r 60 V 8'69 271 7^7 S59 869 8J65-;-959 0 69* 471 767 £ come from north-eaft. (Small fpotted clouds near the horizon, all the reft £ clear. x .xt i«r?The air is covered with clouds which come from \ the fouth. N E N N W N s 59t 960 272 25-; 69 68 59i 4 7^ 4 73 Small white clouds throughout the horizon. Clear, only fmall clouds in the horizon, at north. Ditto- yr,)A quantity of clouds thro' the whole air, efpecially W b VW at fouth • Clouds as above, there have been three blafts of wind NW which lafted for about half a minute each, them calmed. N N W Clear, N C-lear, except a few fmall clouds to the W. S. W. N b W Flying clouds throughout the air, the fun is covered, ditto. "Flying clouds from the fouth. 'S N W Light clouds like a veil. Si N E Clear and cloudlefs. _ \ Clouds flying throughout the air, efpecially at fouth, C the fun h covered, ditto. I Clear and cloudlefs. W N W j Thin clouds throughout the air. n varyirg ) Thick clouds throughout the air,, which come from to n w £ eaft^ the fun covered. N W j Thin clouds throughout the air. ditto. I Ditto. N N W ditto. Nb E N W Nb iv NE N W N b W \6g 1 N N E Clear. White flying clouds throughout the air. Ditto. Clear. Thin white clouds throughout the air.. Clear. Clear and cloudlefs. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. dec. 7 10 11 I 2 L3 Hours. t remoter. — Ther. Winds. 6 M'j o 2 I 6 4 0 59 NE 12 N. 2 1 S 8 6yi N W - : N v.TTvin, 2 £. 2 I 5 to N W 6 E, 2 I 5 6 69i N W 6 1 M 2 I 6 4 59 N N E 12 K, 21 5 5 <>9: N W 2 E 2 1 4 9 73 tlkto. 6 E. 2 I 5 4 Kfafc N 6 M- 2 I 6 3!59t N E 12 N. 21 5 4 7° W byN E» 21 4 ditto. 6 E. 21 5 3 !63 N W 6i M 2 1 6 6oi N E 12 N. 21 5 6y WNW 2 E- 2 1 5 2 70 1- N W E. 2 I 6 0 654- ditto. M. 2 I 6 6 60 N E I 2 N* 2 I 5 7 70 I S W 2 E, 2 I 5 2 711 N 61 E 21 6 r 66 NW 61 M. 2 I 6 8 60 N E >' 2 N. 2 I 7 70 ditto. 2 E. 21 5 0 72 " N W E. 2 1 5 8 67\ N M. 2 I 6 6 59* N E 12 N. 2 I 6 1 ditto. ft Ei 2 I 5 7 68 N H - Ei 2 I 6 0 J67 NbyW -M. 2 1 6 8 6oi NE 2 1 6 1 69 N \\r - E. 2 1 6 c ;67' N 61 M. 2 1 L 6460^- N by E 2 1 5 s; 69 N N W 61 - E. ^ 1 5 8'|67i N 7 M, 2 1 6 460 N E Remarks on ihe Weasher. Ditto. Ditto. Clear, except fome fmall clouds to the fouth. Clear aud cloudlefs. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Small flying clouds throughout the air. Ditto. Thick heavy clouds throughout the air, they come i from the fouth-eaft. j Clear. j Small clouds fcattcred like a veil about the air. I Ditto. (Clear, except fome fin all ftre&ks in the horizon, at ( weft and fouth-weft. Clear. Large clouds throughout the air, which come from north-eaft, the fun is covered. Ditto. Large dark clouds throughout the air, they come from the north-eaft. Clear and cloudlefs. Flying clouds-come from the north-weft. The clouds are increafed in number. C Large clouds throughout the air, they come from \ north-weft. Clear. Heavy clouds covei the air from the north-eaft. Ditto. Clouds in the fouth-eaft and fouth. Clear. Clouds throughout the air. the fun covered. Flving clouds throughout the air, efpecially atS. W. Clear!' Small flying clouds throughout the air. Ditto. Clear.________ 4 R 2 T" Months'. Hours, j Barometer. Ther. Winds. Remarks on the Weather. dec- l 0 0 «3 12 n. 21 5 969 w Ditto. 2 e.: 2 I 5 2 7°t N W Small clouds flying through the fouth. 7 e.2I 5 7 67 NNW Clear. H 7 M'! 2 I 6 3 60 NbyW Ditto. 7 * 21 5 567 W Ditto. *S 7 M. 2 I 6 759 N N E Ditto. 2 e. 2 I 5 7°t NbyW Ditto. 7 *. 2 I 5 9 66l N Ditto—Only a fmall white ftreak of clouds in the horizon, to the fouth-weft. 16 7 M. 2 I 6 7 59i NE Clear and cloudlefs. 12 n. 21 6 0 691 W Small clouds, near the zenith. 6l E. 21 6 0 69 W ! ' Clear, only fome fmall ftreaks of clouds in the horizon, to the S. W. «'? 6lM. 21 6 5 59t N E Light clouds like a veil cover the air. 12 n. 21 6 5 691 W Small clouds throughout the air. 2 e. 2 I 4 7 72 w Dhto. 61 e. 2 I 5 4 68 N W Dark clouds in the horizon to the W. and S. W» 18 6lM. 2 I 6 3 60 N E Clear- 12 n. 2 I 5 2 70 W Light clouds throughout the air- 2 e. 2 I 4 6 72 69 W Ditto. 6i e. 2 I 5 2 n varying \ toN W " ' Large black clouds cover the whole iky, they come from the eaft. *9 6lM. 2 I 6 3 62 NE Clear, only fmall ftreaks of black clouds to the W. 12 N, 2 I 5 3 70 N W White clouds through the air, they come from N. E. 2 e. 2 I 5 0 69; W Ditto- 5tE. 21 5 2 70 N w ! ^ Great clouds throughout the air, a fmall rain for 1 feven minutes, the fky cloudy to the N. 6| e. 2 I 5 3 69 ditto. Ditto. 20 6lM. 2 I 6 2 H\ NE Clear, except a few ftreaks of clouds at the horizon. 12 N. 2 I 5 3 71 ditto. Many clouds throughout the fky, the fun is covered. 2 e. 2 1 5 1 7° W Ditto. 6; e. 2 1 5 4 70 NNE Clear. 21 6iM, 2 I 6 6 62 N E Ditto- 12 N. 2 I 5 s 71 ditto. Ditto. 2 e. 2 I 5 3 70 NNE Clear and cloudlefs. 6-le 21 6 c 71 N E ! ' Clear, but fome ftreaky clouds in the horizon at fouth » and ibiuh-weft- 22 6iM. 2 I 7 0 63 ditto. Clear and cloudlefs. 12 K. 2 I 5 8 72 W Ditto. 2 e. 21 5 2 74 N E Ditto. 67 e. 2 I 6 1 707 W Ditto. Months j Hours. Barometer. Ther. Winds, Remarks on the Weather. DEC. j 0 23! 6^M. 2 I 7 2 NE Ditto. 12 N. 21 5 7 71 W Ditto. 2 E. 2 I 5 0 73 W Ditto. 6^ E. 2 I 5 6 71 w i Ditto.—Only a few ftreaks in the horizon to the fouth. 24 6 M, 21 6 6 60 N E Clear and cloudlefs. 12 N. 2 I 5 3 71 W Ditto. 2 E. 21 5 0 73 w Ditto. 6 E. 21 5 5 71 w Ditto. 25 6|M. 21 6 4 611 N E Ditto. 12 N. 21 5 3 W Ditto. 2 E. 21 4 7 71 w Ditto. 6^ E. 2 I 5 6 7°i w Ditto. 26 6|m. 2 J 6 4 62 N E Ditto. 12 n. 21 5 6 7°T W Ditto. 2 E. 2-1 5 0 73 w Ditto. 6^E. 2 I 5 9 7H w Ditto. 27 21 6 4 62 NE Ditto. 12 N« 21 J 6 7°T W Ditto. 2 E. 2 I 5 0 73 w Ditto. 6i E. 2 I 5 9 71* w Ditto. 28 21 6 4 63 NE Clear. 12 n. 2 I 5 4 71 AV Ditto, 2 E. 2 I 4 9 73 W Small flying clouds throughout the air. Small ftreaky clouds in the horizon ; at weft fouth- 6-^E. 21 5 2 71 , W i weft, about ten at night, there came violent blafts of wind which lafted only a few minutes. 29 6^m. 2.1 6 2 ^3 N E Small thin clouds throughout the air. 12 n. 2 I 5 4 71 wsw Small flying clouds. 2 E. 2 I 4 7 73 v w The clouds increafe, and the fun covered. 6| E. 2 I 5 3 70 w Streaky clouds to the weft and fouth-weft. 6^m. 21 6 4 62I NE Light flying clouds throughout the air. 12 n. 2 1 5 4 70 w The clouds are turned heavier. 2 E. 2 I 4 2 72 w Heavier llill and the fun covered. 6^E. 2 I 5 2 70 w Large clouds in the horizon to the fouth. 31 6^m. 2 I 6 c N E Thick clouds flying throughout the air. 12 n. 2 1 5 7 7M W kThe clouds are larger and more united, the fun is { covered, and the fouth only clear. 2 E. 2 I 4 6 72 w 1 Ditto. 6l E. 2 I 5 7 69 i- WNW 1 Many clouds at the fouth fouth-eaft and eaft. I Mon.hr. | Hours JAN."' I oUi. Barometer. 2 I 12 n.21 5 2 E. 6; k. 6*M. I 2 N.: 2 E. 6.k. 6; M. i 2 N. {■P.M. 2 E. 6y E. 6}M. 1 2 N. 2 E. 6 V E. 6' M. 2 I 21 2 I 21 21 2 I 2 1 2 I 2 i 2 I 21 21 _ I 12 Is, 2 E, 6^E. 2 E, 7 6tM, 12 N. 21 21 2 r 21 21 ,2. Ther.; Winds. I 6 4j6ji 5 6|72 5 5 5 5 6 5 O72 -r 869 7 69 0?2i 5 68 1I70 Gondar, 1771. Remarks on the Weather. 4 5 6 5 4 8 21 5 7i 71 6 68 4l6i 4J70 9 7* 668 '6 5J62 5 670 4 5 4 5 6 5 72 69 972 5\7° 6J62-V <>73 -» 5 3 72 21 5 1*7.3 N E I Small ftrcakes of clouds in the horizon at fouth-weft. \VSWrreat white elouds throughout the air, the .'fun co-Jlj. vered. ditto* Ditto. W Clouds near the horizon• N E Streaky clouds in the horizon at weft. W Small white flying clouds. W S W Clear, only, a few ftreaks in the horizon. \V Many clouds throughout the air. W Clear, except a little mift at weft. W j Small flying clouds throughout the air, (A violent ftorm of wind changing to all points of C the compafs. W Great clouds.to the fouth. N E Clear, ditto. Ditto. \V N-W .Ditto. W Small white clouds flying about the air. ■yy S Clear, onlv a fmall ilrcak of clouds at fouth and t and. fouth-weft. N E Ditto. W S W Ditto. \V Clouds flying to the north. r\V Clouds flying td the fouth-eaft. \V Flying clouds in the north. W flying clouds to the fouth-eaft. \V S W Clouds throughout the air. W Overcaft and the fun is covered. Ditto.—A violent ftorm of wind, which lafted four minutes. W I Clouds cover the whole air. \VbyN£ Months' Hours. Barometer. | Ther.j Winds. jan- t /' ■ 0 7 6* s. 2 I $ 7691 N 8 6^M, 2 I 6 4;64 W • 12 n. 2 I 5 w 2 E. 62^E. 21 21 4 5 874r w w 9 12 M. 2 1 6 3 NE 12- n. 2 i 5 3I71 7\7*> ssw 2 E. 2 1 4 WNW 6!rE. 2 I 5 4179 W IO 6yM. 21 6 0 60 N E 12 N. 21 4 9 ditto. 2 E. 2 I 4 6 7*^ ditto- 6fE- 2 I 5 0 7** W 21 6 1 64 NNE 12 n. 2 I 5 5 75 S W T E. 2 I 5 4 74 W s w 3° 2 I 7 3 66^ -------- 12 N« 21 6 4 7° N W 2 E. 21 6 3 70 ditto. 6^ E. 2 I 6 6 69 ditto/ 31 2 I 7 4 *5 L2 N. 21 6 8 70; S S W 2 E. 21 6 4 73 NN W 6^ E. 21 6 9I70 N W ■ i 6iM. 2 I 7 4 65 s s w I-2T n: 21 7' 0 60 ditto. 2 E. 21 6 5|72 N W &f Jt. 2 I 7 0 ,68 N 2 6»M. 21 7 2 65 N by E 12 N. 2 I 6 8 72 N 2 E, 2 I 6 4 74 N W 6*5. 2 I 6 9 68 NN W 3 6fM. 2T 6 8 65 NN'E I 2 N. 2 I 6 6 73 W 2 E. 21 6 1 74 w - 67 E. 21 6 4 69 N N W ; 4 64.M. 2 I 7 1 65 N 1*2 n. 2 I 7 0 72 S W 2 E. 2 j 6 7 72T ' N W Remark*, on the Weather. Clear, but a black ftreak of clouds to fouth and S. W. Clear. Flying clouds through the air and the fun covered. Ditto. Clear. Ditto. Small clouds flying through the air. Ditto.—The fun covered. A very few fmall clouds in the air. All the air is overcaft.- Ditto, Ditto. Small but black flying clouds through the air. Clouds flying through the horizon, Flying clouds throughout the air. Ditto. A little thicker at the horizon. Ditto.—With appearance of rain* Overcaft. A little clearer; the'clouds come from fouth-weft. Overcaft, efpecially at eaft and nojth-caft, the cloud4 coming from tlte north-weft. White clouds come from the north-eaft. Light white clouds from the fouth-weft. Clear, except a few clouds from the north-eaft.- All overcaft, and the fun covered. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. White clouds in the fouth and eafV Ditto—But a violent wind* Clear-Ditto-Ditto- White clouds flying throughout the air. 1 Clear, but. a violent ftorm of wind. Clouds throughout the air* Ditto- Ditto—But the fun.covered. Months 4 5 io 11 12 15 16 Hours. 12 N. 2 E. () V I. 6yM 12 N, 2 E 6\ E, Earome'er. Tlu-r 6 '. m.2 14|l2 2 6 12 N. 2 E. 6^- E. 6~M. 12 N. 2 E, 6y E. (); a; 12 N 2 E 6^- E 6yM 12 N 12 N, 2 E. 64- E. 12 n. 2 E, 6f E, N, I, M. N, E. M. N. E. E. M, N. 12 2 6 12 2 6 6 12 7 o 7 5 7 o 6 8 7 6 6 7 7 7 6 7 / 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 / 6 6 6 7 7 7° 64 7° 71 68 663 7 464 o 73 74 769l 5 8 71 71 68 66 73 5 75 o 70 3 63 72 5 74 69 463; 7^ 7 73 5 75 6 70 772 75 70 72* 1* / j 70 7i72 5 75 5,75 8 70 6 o 71 Winds. N . 8 6 E • 9 6 Iff, ? ■ I 2 N. — 6 R, 2 1 I 0 6 M. 2 12 N. 2 6 E. 2 11 6 M. 2 ■ •- 12 N. 2 12 6 M. 2 12 N.j 2 f3nmmtt' 5 6 5 j 6 5 5 6 6 6 *3 *5 16 6 6 12 6 6 12 6 6 12 6 E. 2 M.|2 nj2 i I E.'2 M. 2 N.j2 E-.|2 M.|2 N.J2 E.t2 I 6 M.f2 j I 2 I 6 1 7 6 12 6 18 6 .12 N ,2 B 2 m • 2 N. 2 E.j2 m -'2. n ■ 2 1 6 E. 2 If) f) 12 6 20 6 M.i2 n-.J2 e, 2 M-,2 1 . Ther 4.71 ;l64 2;8o °; 74 2 74 0182 #71 3; 7° T 7 "9--t 6 3 6 6 6 7 6 7 7 6 7 7 6 7 6 6 6 7 6 70 7°- 71 Wiii'ls. w NNE W N W NNE W NW N W N by £ N W N N W Remarks on the Weather, ! Ditto, (Hear. White thin clouds very hot in the fun. Clear. White thin clouds throughout the air. . Clear. I/itto. Sky is covered with a thin veil. , Clear, only finall clouds appear in the auv The fky is covered with a thin veil. Overcaft with thick clouds, which come from inorth* eaft and fouth-weft, it is likely to rain, cold an# N N N 71 67! o 69 !r 664 7°i 69t 465l lj unpleaiant. ^Cloudy to the north and warm. It rained hard for j three quarters of an hour immediately after noon, I Cloudy everywhere, i Cloudy and cold. vt iu( A thick veil covers the fky, clouds in the horizon I to the iouth' N Overcaft all round. N W Clouds all round, with fmall drops of rain. Nby W Cloudy everywhere except in the zenith. N A thin veil covers the fky, faint fun-lhine. N W Cloudy all round, and a few drops of rain. N b W Cloudy everywhere except in the zenith. 7 0 NWbN N W NWbN N N W N b W N N W N W ditto, N I N W ! ditto. 75-®9i 56 77 7" 65} 77 73 67r 76 77: N (Small white clouds united all over head, high wind (. all night. Large.white clouds in the eaft. Clear. Ditto-Ditto- Cloudy, hut the fun fets clear. A thin veil covers the fky. Light flying clouds, but a clear fun-fhinc. C Clear all above4 and without clouds, but hazy in the \ horizon. Perfectly clear everywhere* Cloudy, but fun-fhine. Clear and ferene. C Clear above, but hazy in the horizon at north-eaft, \ and fouth. _______ Mouths! Hours. :er. jTher. 6|77t 3 73i 9 foi 4 75i 73i 69\ March ; 1 0 20 12 N. 21 6 I 6 E.| 2 1 6 2I| 6 M. 2 I 6 12 N* 2 I 6 6 e. 21 6 22 6 m. 21 6 12 N. 2 I 6 6 E. 21 6 23 6 m. 2 I 6 12 N. 2 I 7 6 e. 21 6 24 12 N. 2 I 7 6 e. 2 I 0 27 6 m. 2 I 1 28 6 m. 2 I 0 12 N. 21 0 6 I. 21 0 29 6 m. 2 I 0 12 N. 21 11 2 IN. 20 11 4. e. 20 11 5 1 e. 4 *" 20 1 11 6 e. 21 i 11 3° 2 Jm. 2! 0 6 m. 21 0 8 M. 2 I j 12 N. 21 0 3l 6 Mi 21 0 8 W iuds. O77 75 4 676 70;-73? V v>4 75 7°t 7°t 7 and fouth. Overcaft with fmall broken clouds. Cloudy* Cloudy all over and clofe. Cloudy, efpecially at fouth, clofe. Large heavy white clouds and clofe. (Cloudy to the fouth, a violent ihower of hail and C rain which lafted 18 minutes. Cloudy and warm. Ditto. Cloudy and clofe. Ditto.—Heavy towards the fouth. Sun-fhine, with large white clouds. (Rains, overcaft with dark heavy clouds. The firft C violent lightning and thunder. (All overcaft, heavy and dark clouds come from weft, C loud thunder in the night. ( Cloudy and clofe,wind varying to fouth, clouds come £ from north-weft and weft. A violent blaft which lafted a few minutes- Loud thunder in the zenith and fouth, clouds, with rail i, drive from eaft and fouth-weft. It has rained till now and cleared, with the wind at north-eaft, thunder and cloudy ftill in the fouth, clouds drive from north-weft. Clear fun-fhinc, clouds fly fwiftly from weft. Lightning, clouds from weft and north, clofe. fit has thundered, Ughtned, and rained violently all ) night; clouds.from weft and eaft fly moderately, j Conftant heavy rain, clouds fly all round. (It has ceafed raining with wind at north varying to £ north-we ft. Heavy white clouds from north-weft, faint fim-ftunc Cloudy, the clouds come from northvweft, faint fun-fhine. Months Hours. March 31 12 N. 6 E. April I 6 M» 12 N. Barometer. /Ther.- 6 6 i 2 6 6 12 2 1 2 i 2 i 21 2 1 e *2 I M, N. E. Ma N. 6 E. 21 21 6 12 6 12 -M, N. ,E. M. ■N. 4-E. 2^E. iO 6 6 12 6 3 6 6 21 2 I 2 i 2 i 21 2 i 21 2 i 21 21 2 I 2 i M.|2i N'j2 I E- 21 E.j2i E.|2i M.j2i I 12 N.2i I 6 6 E. 2 i t M.?2 i O / Winds. Remarks on the Weather. i O 21 04 70.} I O O o i 0:8 3 71 66 _T , ., (Cloudy all round, clouds come,from north, dark in 1 ■ the eaft. o 4 70 ~N N W Cloudy, the clouds come from north and fouth-eaft. 684 E Faint fun-fhine with a light veil over the fky. 72V N E Cloudy and dark, ftormy like to the fouth. . F C A violent fhower of hail which lafted nine minutes, 72 M 1 I and cleared with wind at north north-eaft. ditto, j Cloudy and clofe, dark and ftormy like to fouth. _^ C Clear fun-thine, with large white, clouds, lightning j> and rain all the night. 69} NW j Cloudy all over. NT M F \ R0U(^7 *n mo^ Partsi which fly fwiftly from eaft and y j ditto. Cloudy to the fouth and dark, clear to the northward 9 72 ditto. Cloudy, they crofs ftom weft and eaft. 5 72 J Tit? Rata and cloudy all over. 4 70 3 N N E Cloudy throughout. 5 67 N E Clear and ferene everywhere, no rain laft night. tobtoi% Cloutly> the clouds drive from eaft and weft- ^ C Cloudy, with a violent high wind, clouds crofs the £ zenith fwiftly from well. N E h E I High wind, hut clear. N W I Large white clouds,- but clear fun-fhine. ( Heavy rain, thunder in the fouth, clouds from eaft ? and weft. [It is all overcaftyand thunders in the zenith ; it has 7 69 N W \ rained till now, there has been a rtrong wim which lafted 25 minutes..... Clear, with a few clouds in the horiaon at north 7° (. and fouth* o 8.68-1 NEb E I Cloudy, high white clouds cool and freftv . E j Cloudy, dark and rainy like in the fouth. NNE i Large clouds chiefly to the north and clofe* • 8 67 73t 7H 4 73 4 73i 0 N 7 73 73-1 1 o 1%\ 73 in SE varying I . to 5 I Clouds with imail rain. S £ E High, light white clouds clofe and warm* Dappled fky, and faint fun-fhine. S E [ It has thundered all day, but no Fain.r N F $ m^ t0 ant* north> dark and ftormy like / all round. 7^684|N N E j Cloudy all over, it rained in the night one hour. Regifter of the Barometer and Thermometer in Abyiiinia.-- 695, Months' Hours. I • Ther. April IO 12 21 I 6 21 I 11 6 1 2 I I 12 N.j 2 I. I 6 E.; 21 I 26 6 M. 21 I 12 N. 21 I 27 6. Mv 2 I I 12 N. 2 I 28 6 M. 2 1 r 12 N. 2 1 1 6 E. 21 29 6 M. 2 I 1 12 2* 1 6 e. 2 I 1 3° 6 M. 2 1 1 12 N. 21 0 6 E. 21 . 0 31 6 M. 2 I 0 12 N. 21 0 ! Y I 6 M. 2 I 1 12 N. 2 I 1 6 E. 21 1 2 6 "M. 21 1 6 E. 21 *. 0 3 6 M. 21 1 12 ,N. 2 I 0 6 E. 2 I 0 4 6 M. 2 1 0 12 N. 21 0 6 ,E. 2 1- 0 5 6 M. 21 1 12 N. 21. 1 6 E. 21 0 6 6 M. 21 1 12 . N. 2 I 0 67: 67i 467I v2t 4,67 0 73 5 67 87ii 467 7 72 8 70 7 684 467 o 70 769 73 71 70 75:} Winds. N-E N.. N E Remarks on the Weather. C Faint fun-fhine, with fome high white clouds, it I rained half an hour in the night, and thundered, j Cloud and ftormy-Iike, dark clouds 'fly from E. toW, C Faint fun-fhine, with fome high white clouds,it rain-? ed a little. 473* 765 I to? 663 978 75 7I78 7 63 77 n •» 1 7-Vi-j 7 m 478 754 65 79 W S W Heavy white clouds. N Clofe clouds flying from eaft and weft.!. N E Sun-fhine and cloudy by turns. S E' Sun-fhine, but faint large wiiite clouds- - N E . Clear and ferene. N Fligh wind, and clouds from north-eaft. N E Clear, but cold and windy. S S E Cloudy and dark both in the fouth and wefli , N High wind fince noon. NNE Cloudy, windy, and ftormy like, it begins to rain. N Cloudy to the fouth and north. N' Wind cold bleak, but clear* N Cloudy, it rained in the night. N W Cloudy and windy. N High wind, bleak and cool, cloudy in the fouth. NE Cloudy and heavy to the fouth. . ditto. Rain, heavy and dark clouds to the weft. N Fleavy rain, with intervals. NNE Cloudy in the weft. N E Cloudy all over, it thunders in the fouth. ( Cloudy, and like to rain, the clouds come from north-I eaft. ! Cloudy and heavy in fouth and weft. C All overcaft, cloudy in north-caft, it rained hard in \ the night. Cloudy, but not like rain. Cloudy all over head, but high, ditto- Clear and ferene, but hazy in the horizon to the S. N'W Cle^r, and without clouds-ditto. All overcaft, it lightens violently. N E' Clear, and ferene, it rained a few drops in the night. N W '-ear a few white c v.is Lome fwiiiiy from eaft. ditto 1 Clovrdy and dark in the fouthr .clouds, come from c foiilh-caft and fouth-weft N E ] Heavy clouds in the fouth. N W i All overcaft, clouds come from fouth-eaft, and eaft. S E N-W. ditto. N^N. E 74- N E Months Hour*. ! Hiromettr. may 6 m. I 2 n. 6 E. 8: 6 m, 14 iq 21 2 2 i 10 6|m. I 2 n. 6 Ei 11 6 m. 12 n. 6 e. 6 m. 12 n. 6 e. 15I 6 m ■ 12 n. 6 e. 6 M. 12 n. 6 E. 6 m. ! 2 N. 6 m. 1 2 N. 6 e, 6 M. 12 N, 6 E. 23J 6 M. j I l K. 21 21 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I 21 2 I 2 i 2 I 2 1 2 I 2 I 2 I j2i 21 21 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 I ! ['her 1 W : Is. 6 6 e. 21 o -8,70 21 1 959 1 2 21 1 4 21 ■ 1 o I I 2 n.2 I o 5 6 E.21 o 6 72- 1 1 o o I o o I o o I o I 74 7ii 64i 73 S E Remarks on tht Weather. 62 O78 770j 7j6iV 0 74 4 03 5J74 6 60 o|66 *73 7C-* 78 ^4 74 6j6j 072 7 62 It has rained violently fince three, overcaft: all roand. Clear, though there are flill clouds to the fouth, it rained heavily in the night, wind varying all round from fouth to. north. NW Cloudy to windward and to S. E. clouds fly rapid-i ly different ways, but chiefly from fouth-weft. ^Cloudy and warm, heavy to the fouth, lightning and j fmall rain. 1 Clear and pleafant light, white clouds from eaft. J Cloud/, clouds fly from north-weft, north-caft, fouth-weft and fouth. 0 73 1 7 1 o 02 76 74 61 2'/3 E \ \ I ditto N N E fSmall rain, wind varying to fouth-eaft, fouth fouth-dltt0* ) eaft, dark in the fouth. ENE [Clear fun-fhine,a few thin clouds to the eaft. N E Light clouds in the fouth-eaft. ditto. Thin narrow ftreaks of red clouds to the W. N W Clear everywhere, and warm. A heavy cloud rifes in the fouth, light clouds at N. Nby W N W It has rained fmall rain by intervals, but is very dark. dilto. Cloudy everywhere hut in the zenith. ditto. Overcaft clouds come flowly from fouth and north. N E Clear, only a few light clouds to the fouth. N E Ditto. N W Cloudy in the fouth and north, but the zenith clear. S W Cloudy all round, and likely to rain, clofe and warm. N E Clear, bright funfhine. S W Cloudy and dark to the fouth and north-weft. E S E Cloud y, it has rained a few drops. N W Clear, unlcfs in the fouth-eaft a few clouds. S S E High white clouds, but no rain. N E Clear, with a few white clouds to the north and eaft. N by W Ditto.—They fecm ftaticnary. NWbW Cloudy, it lightens j thunders heavily in the fouth. N W Clear and ferene, but warm A final I black cloud afcends from the eaft, turning W \ round like a wheel upon its axis, quicker as it appro; chfS the zenith. S £ [Heavy and cloudy, it lighten* greatly. M W j Large heavy white clouds all round, ditto* I Cloudy and bleak._______. Moatlis Houn. may* 23 6 e. 25 6 m. 12 N. 6 E. 26 6 m. 12 N. 6 e. 29 6 m. 12 N. 6 e. 3° 6 m. 12 N. 6 e. 31 6 m. 12 N. :i___ 6 e. Barometer, Ther/ Wind*. 21 2 i 2 i 21 21 21 2 I 2 I 2 i 2 i 21 21 2 i 2 i 21 Remarks on the Weaih 1, i 367 i 663 o 3! 75 o 470 o 8 0 5 1 o 1 463 1 6 1 4 1 6 21 1 6 61 1 o 1 62 73 72 75 1 764 4 7. 70 - ditto. Cloudy and eloie. Some white heavy cloud? to the fouth-eaft and eaftJ ditto. \ they ily fwiftly, and turn as a wheel as before j L at ten o'clock heavy clouds, ditto, j Cloudy, the fun covered, dark in the north-weft. N varying 1 C It began to rain, thunder and lightning about three,! and fo continues dark every where. It has rained heavily all night, the fun at times overcaft. N W I Cloudy, it has rained feveral times this forenoon. ''It has rained heavily fince two, dark and cloudy; when the wind comes fouth it falls calm, and then is the heavieft rains. High white large clouds to the weft and eaft, it rained all night. Large white clouds all round the horizon. Ditto. Cloudy to the fouth, but the fun clear and pleafant. Cloudy. Cloudy in the fouth, but clear everywhere elfe. to e & 3 N N w vary ing to S < N N W N P ditto, ditto-ENE N E ' 5 ^o;ms vcry mSn» tney come from the eaft towards C the zenith. N W S^oudy a^ round> clouds crofting from fouth and £ eaft, and north-weft. N j It has rained a few drops, and thundered. £nd op the fourth yolvmz*