THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 433
ilep they took. The river was very deep, the current, I fup- pofe, fifty yards broader than it was at the cataract ; but the banks were, for a great way on each fide, almoft perfect- ly level, though much obftructed with black ftones. In the middle it was very deep, and the ftream fmooth, fo that it was apparent our horfes mult fwim. For my part I did not like the fmooth ftones at the bottom, as a fall there would have been irrecoverable ; and my horfe was mod with iron, which is not ufual in AbyfTinia. I therefore re- folved to fwim where I could not wade, and, wrapping my cloaths in a bundle, I gave them to a fervant, who carried them over on his head. I then waded in, and found the water unexpectedly cold. Mahomet rode on a mule by my fide, fometimes fwimming, fometimes walking. I attempted to found up towards the lake, and found it deeper there. I re- turned, therefore, being unwilling to try experiments, and, committing myfelf to the ftream, fwam to the other fide, much comforted by the aiiurance that no crocodile palled the cataract.
The beafts having got over, the men followed much quicker; many women, going to join the army, fwam over, holding the tails of the horfes, and we were all on the other fide before twelve o'clock, the beads a good deal tired with the parlage, the fteepnefs of the acceis to it, and the ftill greater depth on the other fide. For my parr, I thought we could not have gone on to Tfoomwa, but it was carried againft me. Tfoomwa is about twelve nules diftant ; and I fuppofe it was not much paft three o'clock when we arri- ved there,which was very fortunate, as we had fcarcely pitch- ed our tents before a molt terrible ftorm of rain, wind, and thunder Overtook us. My tent was happily placed in one Vol. III. 3 I refpect
