THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 449
fun was hot, and the ground again beginning to become dry.
Netcho, Ras Michael's Fit-Auraris, with about 400 men, had pa(Ted in the morning, and taken his ftation above us in little huts like bee-hives, which the foldiers, who carry- no tents, make very fpeedily and artificially for themfelves, of the long, wild oats, each iiraw of which is at lead eight feet long, and near as thick as an ordinary man's little fing- er. He had fent back word to the king, that his men had pailed fwimming, and with very great difficulty ; that he doubted whether the horfes, or loaded mules, could crofs at any rate; but, if it was refolved to make the trial, they fliould do it immediately, without flaying till the increafe of the river. He faid both banks were compoled of black earth, flip- pery and miry, which would become more fo when horfes had puddled it; he advifed, above all, the turning to the right immediately after coming afhore, in the direction in which he had fixed poles, as the earth there was hard and firm, be- sides having the advantage of fome round ilones which hindered the beafts from flipping or finking. In Head, therefore, of retting there that night, it was refolved that the horfe fliould crofs immediately.
The firfl who paffed was a young man, a relation of the king, brother to Ayamico killed at the battle of Banja ; lie walked in with great caution, marking a track for the king to pafs. He had gone upon rather folid ground, about twice the length of his horfe, when he plunged out of his depth, and fwam to the other fide. The king followed him immediately with a great degree of hade, Ras Michael call- ing to him to proceed with caution, but without fuccefs. Vol. III. 3 L Afterwards
