Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 3.djvu/489

 THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 465

Just as the king fat down to dinner an accident happen* ed that occafioned great trepidation among all his fervants. A black eagle* was chafed into the king's tent by fome of the birds of prey that hover about the camp ; and it was after in the mouth of every one the king would be dethro- ned by a man of inferior birth and condition. Every body at that time looked to Fafil : the event proved the applica- tion falfe, though the omen was true. PowufFenof Begem- der was as low-born as Fafil, as great a traitor, but more fuc- cefsful, to whom the ominous prefage pointed ; and, though we cannot but look upon the whole as accident, it was but too foon fulfilled.

In the evening of the 29th arrived at Dingleber two horfe- men from Fafd, clad in habits of peace, and without arms ; they were known to be two of his principal fervants, were grave, genteel, middle-aged men ; this meffage had nothing of Doho's buffoonery. They had an audience early after their coming, firft of the Ras, then of the King. They faid, and faid truly, that Fafil had repafled theKeki,was encamp- ed on the oppofite fide, and was not yet joined by Welleta Yafous. Their errand was, to defire that the Ras might not fatigue his men by unneceffarily hurrying on to Gondar, becaufe he might reft fecured of receiving no further mo- legation from Fafil their mafler, as he was on his march to Bure. They told the Ras the whole of the confpiracy, as far as it regarded him, and the agreement that PowufTen and Gu- fho had made with their mailer to furround him at Derde- ra: they mentioned, moreover, how fenfible Fafil was of their Vol. Ill, 3 N treafon

See a figure of this bird in the Appendix.