THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 507
Ayto Aylo's fervant, who was with me, prcfently made acquaintance with this man, and I traded him to learn from ■him as much as he knew about Fafil ; the refult was, that Fafil pretended to be in a violent hurry, from what motive was not known ; but that he, at the fame time, marched very flowly, contrary to his ufual cuftom ; that his fpecch and behaviour promifed peace, and that he had hurt no- body on the way, but proclaimed conftantly, that all people mould keep their houfes without fear ; that Ayto Woldo of Maitfha, a great robber, was his Fit-Auraris, and never diftant from him more than three miles ; that the troops of A- gow, Maitfha, and Damot, were with him, and with fome Galla of Gojam and Metchakel compofed the van and cen- ter of his army, whilft his rear confided of wild lawlefs Galla, whom he had brought from the other fide of the Nile from Bizamo, his own country, and were commanded by Ayto Welleta Yafous, his great confident ; that thefe Gal- la were half a day generally behind him, and there was fome talk that, the fame day, or the next, he was to fend thefe invaders home ; that he marched as if he was in fear ; always took ftrong pods, but had' received every body that came to him, either from the country or Gondar, affably and kindly enough, but no one knew any thing of his in- tentions.
About half pad four o'clock we fell in with Woldo, his Fit-Auraris, whom I did not know. Ayto Aylo's fervant, however, was acquainted with him ; we afked him fome quedions about his matter, which he anfwered very candid- ly and difcreetly ; on his part he made no inquiry, and feem- ed to have little curiofity about us ; he had taken his pod, and was advancing no farther that night. I made him a
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