THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. jir
could not make out; he feemed, however, to be a very bad cobler, and took no notice of us.
Ayto Aylo's fervant, who flood behind me, pufhcd me with his knee, as a fign that I mould fpeak, which I ac- cordingly began to do with fome difficulty. " I am come, faid I, by your invitation, and the king's leave, to pay my refpects to you in your own government, begging that you would favour my curiofity fo far as to fuffer me to fee the country of the Agows, and the fource of the Abay, or Nile, part of which I have feen in Egypt." " The fource of the Abay! exclaimed he, with a pretended furprife, do you know what you are faying ? Why, it is, God knows where, in the country of the Galla, wild, terrible people. The fource of the Abay! Are you raving! repeats he again: Are you to get there, do you think, in a twelvemonth, or more, or when ?" 44 Sir, faid I, the king told me it was near Sacala, and ftiH nearer Geefh; both villages of the Agows, and both in your government." " And fo you know Sacala and Geefh ? fays he, whittling and half angry*." " I can repeat the names that I hear, faid I ; all Abyflinia knows the head of the Nile." — " Aye, fays he, imitating my voice and manner, but all Abyffinia won't carry you there, that I promife you." " If you are refolved to the contrary, faid I, they will not; I wifli you had told the king fo in time, then I mould not have at- tempted it ; it was relying upon you alone I came fo far, con- fident, if all the reft of Abyffinia could not protect -me there, that your word fingly could do it."
IiE
- This afFefted ignorance was probably intended to bring me to mention the donatioo,
the king had given me of Geefh, which lie never much relifhed, and made effeclually.ufelef' - so me.
