Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 3.djvu/488

 464 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER

but a repetition of the circumilances that induced Keila Ya- fous to advance to Delakus, for, after fupper, juft before the king went to bed in the evening, a man from Kefla Yafous brought the four prieils of Mariam Net, who had been the guides to the ford at Delakus. The king ordered meat to be let before them, but they had done very well already with Keila Yafous, and, therefore, only took a fmall piece of bread and a cup of bouza, the eating and drinking in prefence of the king being an affurance that their life was fafe and pardon real. They had then five ounces of gold, and feveral changes of clothes given to each of them, and the king took them to Gondar with him, to provide for them there, out of the reach of the revenge of Fafil, and placed them in the church of Hamar Noh*.

The army marched next day toDingleber, a high hill, or rock, approaching fo clofe to the lake as fcarcely to leave a paflage between. Upon the top of this rock is the king's houfe. As we arrived very early there, and were now out of Fafil's government, the king infilled upon treating Ras Michael and all the people of confideration. A great quan- tity of cattle had been fent thither from Dembea by thofe who had enates in the neighbourhood, out of which he gave ten oxen to Ras Michael, ten to Keila Yafous, the fame number to feveral others, and one to myfelf, with two oun- ces of gold for Strates and Sebaftos to buy mules ; but they had already provided themfelves ; for, befides the two they rode upon of mine, they and my fervants had picked up four others in very good condition, whofe mailers had pro- bably perifhed in the river, for they were never claimed af- terwards.

Just


 * This is a Urge church belonging to the palace, called by this extraordinary name, Noah's Ark,