Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 3.djvu/481

 THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 457

better than he expected. He had pitched his tent on the high road to Gondar, before Welleta Yafous knew he was decamped, and of this paffage he immediately advifed Mi- chael refreshing his troops for any emergency.

About two in the afternoon Welleta Yafous appeared with his horfe on the other fide of the Nile, but it was then too late. Kefla Yafous was fo ftrongly polled, and the banks of the river fo guarded with fire-arms, down to the water- edge, that Fafd and all his army would not have dared to attempt the paffage, or even approach the banks of the river.

As foon as Ras Michael received the intelligence, he dif- patched the Fit-Auraris, Netcho, to take poft upon the ford -of the Kelti, a large river, but rather broad than deep, about three miles off. He himfclf followed early in the morning, and pafTed the Kelti jufl at fun-rife, without halting ; he then advanced to meet Kefla Yafous, as the army began to want provilions, the little flour that had been brought over, or which the foldiers had taken with them, being nearly ex- haufted during that night and the morning after. It was found, too, that the men had but little powder, none of them having recruited their quantity fince the hunting of the deer ; but what they had was in perfect good order, being kept in horns and fmall wooden bottles, corked in fuch a manner as to be fecured from water of any kind. Kefla Yafous, therefore, being in poffeffion of the baggage, the powder, and the provilions, a junction with him was abfo- iutely neceffary, and they expected to effect this at Waina- -dega, about twenty miles from their laft night's quarters.

Vol. III. 3 M The