49.8 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
with a lance, as a retaliation for his father's death. Netch-D and the reft of the garrifon being pardoned, all joined Ras Michael's army. I looked upon thefe news as a good omen, and experienced a degree of confidence and compofure of mind to which I for a long time had been a ftranger. I ilept found that night, and it was not till half after nine in the morning that 1 was ready, for my journey*
In the evening before, I had endeavoured to engage my old companion Strates to accompany me on this attempt as he had done, on the former ; but the recollection of paft dan- gers and fufferings was not yet baniihed from his mind ; and upon my aiking him to go and fee the head of this famous river,, lie coarfely, according to his ftile, anfwered, Might the devil fetch him if ever he fought either his head or his taiL again..
't> i
It was on the 28th of October, at half pail nine in the morning, that we left Gondar, and palled the river Kahha at the foot of the town; our route was W. S. W. the road. a little rugged upon the fide of a hill, but the day was fair, with funihine ; and a fmall breeze from the north had rifen with the fun, and made the temperature of the air per- fectly agreeable. We left the church of Ledeta about a mile on the right, and paned by feveral poor villages called Abba Samuel ; thence we came to the fmall river Shimfa, then to the Dumaza, fomething larger. Upon the banks of this river, very pleafantly fituated, is Azazo, a country- houfe built by the late king Yafous, who often retired here to re- lax himlelf with his friends. It is furrounded, I may fay covered, with orange-trees, fo as to be fcarcely feen ; the trees are grown very large and high; they are planted
without;
