376 "TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
preparations for the campaign on the king's part, and no fufpicion entertained, for nothing colls .an Abyflinian lefs .than to diffemble.
Tt had been agreed by Gufho and PowufTen before part- ing, in order to deceive Michael, that, fhould Falil retire from Bure at their approach, and pafs the Nile into his own country, the King, Ras Michael, and part of the army mould remain at Bure all the rainy feafon ; that, upon the return of the fair weather, they were all again to aflemble at Bu- re, crofs the Nile into Bizamo, and lay wafte the country of the Galla , that the veftige of habitation mould not be feen upon it.
All this time I found myfelf declining in health, to which the irregularities of the laft week had greatly con- tributed. The King and Ras had fufficiently provided tents and conveniencies for me, yet I wanted to conftruc"t for my- felf a tent, with a large flit in the roof, that I might have an opportunity of taking observations with my quadrant, without being inquieted by troublefome or curious vifitors. I therefore obtained leave from the king to go to Emfras, a town about twenty miles fouth from Gondar, where a number of Mahometan tent-makers lived. Gufho had a houfe there, and a pleafant garden, which he very willing- ly gave me the ufe of, with this advice, however, which at the time I did not understand, rather to go on to Amhara with him, for I mould there fooner recover my health, and be more in quiet than with the King or Michael. As the king was to pafs immediately under this town, and as moft jof thofe that loaded and unloaded his tents and baggage
2 were
