THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 397
Nile ? Are you angry with me, Yagoube, or are you afraid of Woodage Afahel ? Were you in earned, prince, in what you now fay, replied 1, you fuppofe two things, both greater re- proaches than that of being overtaken with wine. Aflure yourfelf I am, and always fhall be, your moft affectionate and mod faithful fervant ; and that I fhall think it an honour to follow you in Maitfha, or elfewhere, even as a common horfeman, though, inftead of one, there were in it ten thou- fand Woodage Afahels. O ho ! fays the king, then you are all friends; and I muft tell you one thing, Georgis is more drunk with the thoughts of his command to-day than any foldier in my camp will be to-night with bouza. And this, indeed, feemed to be the cafe, for he was elfe a prince ra- ther referved and fparing of words, efpecially before his brother.
Tell me, Yagoube, continues the king, and tell me truly — at that very inllant came in a mellenger from Ras Michael, who, going round the chair without faluting, fpoke to the king, upon which the room was cleared ; but I after learn- ed, that news were received from Begemder, that Powuffen and his troops were ready to march, but that two of Gufho's nephews had rebelled, whom it had taken fome time to fubdue; that another meffenger was left behind, but had fallen lick at Aringo, who, however, would come forward as foon as poffible with his mailer's meffage, and would be probably at the camp that night. He brought alfo as undoubted intelligence, that Fafil, upon hearing Ras Mi- chael's march, was preparing to repafs the Nile into the country of the Galla. This occafioiud very great doubts, becaufe difpatches had arrived from Nanna Georgis's fon, the day before at Tedda, which declared that Fafil had de- camped
