Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 3.djvu/468

 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER

ligence than I in every article but this lair, frefli news ha- ving arrived the night before by way of Delakus. He laid, the rebellion of Gufho and PowufTen was certain ; that the King and Ras knew every circumftance of it, and that Gourt-ohha was the place appointed with Fafil to meet and cut them off; he had not heard of Woodage Afahel's march, but feemed to give full credit to it ; he faid it was certain, likewife, that Fafil had advanced towards Maitiha ; but where his quarters were he did not know, probably they were not at a great diftance, He complained violently of his march, and of the number of beafts which they had loft; he wifhed alfo that Fafil would be induced to give battle where they were encamped, as his horfe would probably be of little ufe to him among fo many torrents and rivers, and mult fuffer confiderably in their advancing hither.

I asked him whither they were now marching? He faid, that, as foon as the news of the confpiracy were known, a council was held, where it was the general opinion they mould proceed, brifkly forward, and attack Fafil alone at Bure, then turn to Gondar to meet the other two ; but then they had it upon the very bell authority that great rain had fallen to the fouthward ; that the rivers, which were fo frequent in that part of the country, were moftly impaffable, fo there would be great danger in meeting Fafil with an army fpent and fatigued with the difficulty of the roads. It was, therefore, determined, and the Ras was decidedly of that opinion, that they mould keep their army entire for a better day, and immediately crofs the Nile, and march back to Gondar ; that they had accordingly wheeled about, and that day was the firft of their proceeding, which had been in- terrupted by the accident of the firing. Kefla Yafous of- fered