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Bruce was now legally wedded to the fountains' of the Nile; but, like the young Eastern prince, he was yet doomed to linger, till relentless time should permit him to view the real object of his affection-the sole subject of his dreams and thoughts.

Very different notions, however, were occupying Michael and his officers. They were afraid to trust Fasil, and, besides, he could do them no service; the rain was set in, and he was gone home the western part of the kingdom was ready to rise against the Ras; Woggora, to the north, immediately in Fasil's way, was in arms, and impatient to revenge the severities they had suffered when Michael first marched to Gondar; and the next morning the whole army was in motion.

Bruce had a short interview with the king. He frankly told him that he was weak in health, and quite unprepared to attend him in Tigré; that his heart was bent on completing the only object which had brought him into Abyssinia; and that, should he be disappointed in effecting that object, he could only return to his country in disgrace. The young king appeared affected by Bruce's statement, and, with great kindness, desired him to remain for the present with the Iteghe at Koscam.

Ras Michael, having in vain urged certain brutal measures of violence on the king, now retired, in considerable disgust, into his own province, Tigré ; on the 10th of June Gusho and Powussen entered Gondar; and, for several months, the capital, as well as the country, of Abyssinia was convulsed with a series of petty disturbances.

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CHAPTER XIII.

BRUCE AGAIN ATTEMPTS TO REACH THE FOUNTAINS OF THE NILE, AND SUCCEEDS.

ALTHOUGH the Iteghe showed great aversion to Bruce's design of exploring the source of the Nile, in times of such trouble and commotion, yet she did not positively forbid the attempt; and therefore, on the 28th of October, 1770, he and his party commenced the undertaking. Bruce's quadrant required four men, relieving each other, to carry it, and his timekeeper and telescopes employed two men more. However, his difficulties were now all in his own cause; he had no longer to place himself in danger, to be an unwilling spectator of the quarrels and jarring interests of others; his own great object was now before him, and he had long determined to attain it, or to perish in the attempt.

After passing a number of torrents, which were all rushing through the flat country of Dembea towards the great lake Tzana, they came to Gorgora, an elevated peninsula, running into the lake for several miles. This is one of the pleasantest situations in Abyssinia. The eye passes rapidly over the expansive lake, through which run the waters of the Nile; it then views with pleasure the flat, rich countries of Dembea, Gojam, and Maitsha; the high hills of Begemder and Woggora close the prospect. It was this healthy,

beautiful situation which was chosen by Peter Paez for the site of a most magnificent church and monastery.

On reaching the borders of the lake on the 30th, neither the fear of crocodiles nor of hippopotami could prevent Bruce from swimming in it for some minutes; although the sun was exceedingly hot, the water was intensely cold, owing to the streams which came into it from the mountains.

Proceeding on their journey they now met multitudes of peasants, flying before Fasil's army, which he had lately, for some unknown purpose, suddenly put in motion. Fasil was at Bamba, a collection of small villages, placed in a valley, and as Bruce knew it was in this chieftain's power to forward him to his object, thither he anxiously repaired. The following day he received a message to attend; and his interview with this great rebel he thus describes :

After announcing myself, I waited about a quarter of an hour before I was admitted. Fasil was sitting upon a cushion, with a lion's skin upon it, and another, stretched like a carpet, before his feet. He had a cotton cloth, something like a dirty towel, wrapped about his head; his upper cloak, or garment, was drawn tight about him over his neck and shoulders, so as to cover his hands. I bowed, and went forward to kiss one of them, but it was so entangled in the cloth that I was obliged to kiss the cloth instead of the hand. This was done either as not expecting I should pay him that compliment, (as I certainly should not have done, being one of the king's

servants, if the king had been at Gondar,) or else it was intended for a mark of disrespect, which was very much of a piece with the rest of his behaviour afterwards.

'There was no carpet or cushions in the tent, and only a little straw, as if accidentally, thrown thinly about it. I sat down upon the ground, thinking him sick, not knowing what all this meant. He looked stedfastly at me, saying, half under his breath, “Endet nawi? bogo nawi?' which, in Amharic, is, "How do you do? are you very well?' I made the usual answer, 66 Well, thank God." He again stopt, as for me to speak. There was only one old man present, who was sitting on the floor mending a mule's bridle. I took him at first for an attendant, but, observing that a servant, uncovered, held a candle to him, I thought he was one of his Galla; but then I saw a blue silk thread, which he had about his neck, which is a badge of Christianity all over Abyssinia, and which a Galla would not wear. What he was, I could not make out: he seemed, however, to be a very bad cobbler, and took no notice of us.

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I am come," said I, "by your invitation, and the king's leave, to pay my respects to you your own government, begging that you would favour my curiosity so far as to allow me to see the country of the Agows, and the source of the Abay (or Nile), part of which I have seen in Egypt." "The source of the Abay!" exclaimed he, with a pretended surprise, "do you know what you are saying? Why, it is God knows where, in the country of the Galla, wild, terrible

people. The source of the Abay! are you raving?" repeats he again : "Are you to get there, do you think, in a twelvemonth, or more, or when?" "Sir," said I, "the king told me it was near Sacala, and still nearer Geesh; both villages of the Agows, and both in your government." "And so you know Sacala and Geesh?" says he, whistling and half angry. "I can repeat the names that I hear," said I; "all Abyssinia knows the head of the Nile.' "Ay," says he, imitating my voice and manner, "but all Abyssinia won't carry you there, that I promise you." "If you are resolved to the contrary," said I, "they will not: I wish you had told the king so in time, then I should not have attempted it; it was relying upon you alone I came so far-confident, if all the rest of Abyssinia could not protect me there, that your word singly could do it."

He now put on a look of more complacency. "Look you, Yagoube," says he, “it is true I can do it; and, for the king's sake, who recommended it to me, I would do it; but the chief priest, Abba Salama, has sent to me, to desire me not to let you pass further; he says it is against the law of the land to permit Franks, like you, to go about the country, and that he has dreamed something ill will befal me, if you go into Maitsha." I was as much irritated as I thought it possible for me to be. "So so," said I, "the time of priests, prophets, and dreamers is coming on again. "I understand you," says he, laughing for the first time; "I care as little for priests as Michael does, and for prophets too, but I would have you consider the men of this country are not like yours;