THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 473
are clofed." It will be eafily guefled this rendered the con- verfation a chearful one. Faiil's fervants retired to fet out the next day, gratified to their utmoft wifh, and, as foon as the king was in bed, I went to my apartment likewiie.
But very different thoughts were then occupying Mi- chael and his officers. They could not truft Fafil, and, be- fides, he could do them no fervice ; the rain was fet in, and he was gone home ; the weftern part of the kingdom was ready to rife upon them ; Woggora, to the north, immedi- ately in his way, was all in arms, and impatient to re- venge the feverities they had fuffered when Michael firft marched to Gondar. The Tacazze, which feparates Tigre from Woggora, and runs at the foot of the high mountains of samen, was one of the largeft and moll rapid rivers in Abyffinia, and, though not the firft to overflow, was, when f welled to its height, impaflable by horfe or foot, rolling down prodigious Hones and trees with its current. Danger- ous as the paflage was, however, there was no fafety but in attempting it : Michael, therefore, and every foldier with him, were of opinion that, if they muft perifli, they mould rather meet death in the river, on the confines of their own country, than fall alive into the hands of their enemies in Amhara. For this, preparation had been making night and day, fince Ras Michael entered Gondar, and probably before it.
There was in Beleflen, on the neareft and eafieft way to
a ford of the Tacazze, a man of quality called Adero, and
his fon Zor Woldo. To thefe two Ras Michael ufed to truft
the care of the police of Gondar when he was abfent upon
. any expedition ; they were very active and capable, but had
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