THE EGYPTIAN SUDAN imagined that it was the true Nile, and at length, early in November, he arrived at Sakkala, where he observed that the Abai had dwindled to a small brook. He ran down to a grassy spot, where he found two or three springs of different sizes, some of which were enclosed within mounds of turf. These mounds had been made by the Agows, who had of old worshipped the river, and who, even in Bruce's time, paid adoration to it.

Bruce's joy was very great, for he believed that he had really discovered the source of the Nile, and that he had seen with his own eyes that which had been unknown to the ancients and had never been seen by any European before. He then drank the healths of his sovereign and his absent friends in water from the springs before him, a proceeding which filled his companion, Strates, with wonderment. Bruce took up his abode in the house of Kefla Abai, a descendant of the heathen priests who had in days of old worshipped the river, and he celebrated his discovery by making a feast for all the people, which lasted for five days.

From Gish Bruce returned by the Gondar road, but instead of going into the capital he turnea aside and came to Koskam.

It was fortunate that he did so, for whilst he was there the usurper of the throne sallied out from the palace with his friends one night, and went to Bruce's house in Gondar with the intention of murdering him. In December, 1770, the king was enabled to take vengeance upon his foes, and for several weeks innumerable men were beheaded in the city. Besides this, men were hanged by hundreds in the public square, and their bodies were left there to be eaten by the dogs and hyenas. The result of all this was to make Bruce repent that he had ever entered Abyssinia, and he gave himself up to thinking out a plan whereby he might make his escape from that country to Egypt by way of Sennaar. He approached the king on the subject, but after many words and high disputes he onl}' agreed to allow Bruce to go to Egypt if he would promise to stay in Abyssinia till the end of the war, and to return from Egypt very soon accompanied by his relations and friends, who were to be armed with English weapons. On May 19th, 1771, the battle of Serbraxos was fought, and victory was claimed both by the king and by his enemies. Bruce was present and seems to have taken part in it, for when 20