4 54 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
ed him they knew of no ford but the common one of Dc- lakus, about eight miles below ; that it was true it was not "good, and it was deeper than ordinary, as the rainy feafon had begun early, but that it was fo perfectly fordable that all the country people had gone with affes loaded with but- ter and honey, and other provifions, for the market of Gon- dar laft week ; from whence they inferred that he could eafdy ford it, and fafely, even with loaded mules. They advifed him farther, as the night was dry, and the rain fell generally in the day, to lofe no time, but to collect his troops, weary as they were, as foon as poffible, and fend the heavy baggage before ; that there was no river or tor- rent in their way, but Amlac Ohha, which, at that time of night, was at its loweft, and they might then pafs it at their leifure, while he covered them with his troops behind ; that in fuch cafe they might all be fafe over the ford by the time the fun became to be hot in the morning, about which hour they did not doubt he would be attacked by Welle ta Yafous. They faid farther, that, though they could claim little merit, being prifoners, by offering to be his guides, yet he might perhaps find his ufe in the meafure, and would thereby prove their faith and loyalty to the king.
Although all this bore the greateft fhew of probability, and the lives of the informers were in his hands, that cau- tious general would not undertake a ftep of fo much con- fequence, as to feparate the rear of the army from the king, without further inquiry. There was then in his camp, waiting the event of next day, two of the guides who had brought them to this ford ; a third had gone over the ri- ver with Ras Michael. There was likewife in his camp a fervant of Nanna Georgis, who had arrived fome days be- 4 fore
