THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 505
Though the fun was very warm, the water was intenfe- ly cold, owing to the many frefh ftreams that pour them- felves continually into the lake Tzana from the mountains. The country here is fown with dora, which is maize, or millet ; and another plant, not to be diftinguifhed from our marigold either in fize, fliape, or foliage ; it is called Nook *, and furnilhes all Abyllinia with oil for the kitchen, and other ufes.
At a quarter paft nine we refted a little at Delghi Mariam ; the village called limply Delghi, adjoining to it, is but fmall, and on the S. W. is the hill of Gov Mariam, where the queen-mother has a houfe. All the habitations in this country were burnt by Ras Michael in his return toGondar after the battle of Fagitta. The mountain Debra Tzai above Kofcam, was feen this day at N. E. and by E. from us.
At a quarter paft ten we again fet out, our route being S. W. at eleven we left the fmall village Arrico, about two miles on our right. At a quarter paft eleven we halted to reft our men ; we palled the church of St Michael on our right, and at a quarter paft one we palled two fmall illands in the lake, called Kedami Aret ; and, half an hour after, we pafTed a fmall river, and came to Melcala Chriftos, a large village upon a high mountain, the fummit of which it occupies en- tirely ; it is furrounded on both fides by a river, and the de- scent is fteep and dangerous. We thought to haveftaid here all night ; but, after mounting the hill with great fatigue and trouble, we found the whole village abandoned, on intelli- gence that Waragna Fafil was on his march to Gondar, and not far diftant.
Vol. III. 3 S This
- Polymnia frondoL,
