Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 3.djvu/477

 THE SOURCE OF THE NTLE. 453

interceding with him to procure their pardon and difmif- fion. He was a man, as I (kid, of the greateft affability and complacency, and heard every one fpeak with the utmoft pa- tience. Thefe priefls, terrified to death left Michael mould pull their eyes out, or exercife fome of his ufual cruelties upon them, which was certainly his intention by bringing them with him to Gondar, frankly declared to Kefla Yafous what they apprehended. They fa id that they had never known a ford there before, though they had lived many years in the neighbourhood, nor had ever heard of one at Kerr, the firft cataract, which the guides had perfuaded the rather of the two ; they did believe, therefore, that Michael's guides had deceived him on purpofe, and that they intend- ed the fame thing by him to-morrow, if he attempted to pafs at Kerr. They told him further, that, about three days before Michael had arrived in the neighbourhood of Samfeen, they had heard a nagareet beat regularly every evening at fun-fet, behind the high woody hill in front, whereon was the church of Boikon Abbo ; that they had feen alfo a man the day before who had left Welleta Ya* fous, Fafil's principal officer and confident, at Goutto, wait- ing the arrival of fome more troops to pafs the Nile there; whence they doubted not that there was treachery intend- ed..

The fagacious and prudent Kefla Yafous weighed every word of this in his mind, and, combining all the circum- ftances together, was immediately convinced that there had been a fnare laid by Falil for them. Entering further in- to converfation with the prieits, and'encouraging them with affurances of reward inftead of punifhment, he inquired if they certainly knew any better ford below. They anfwer-