Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 4 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773Bruce, James
History
Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 4 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773
Bruce, James
Egypt -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- History; Natural history -- Ethiopia; Nile River
On the 15th of November, from Degwassa we entered Gonzala, immediately
bordering upon it: heavy rain prevented our setting out till noon.
Gonzala is full of villages, and belongs to the queen-mother. At a
quarter after one we passed a large marsh, in the midst of which runs
a small river which here falls into the lake. We rested here half an
hour; and, at three quarters past one, we entered the great road which
we had passed to the left in going to Degwassa. At two o'clock we came
still to a distincter view of the lake, as also where the river enters
and goes out; it appears here to enter at S. W. and go out at N. E.
and is distant about eight or nine miles. At three quarters past two,
we arrived at Dingleber, having this day travelled only two hours and
a half, or five miles.
On the 16th we left Dingleber at seven o'clock in the morning; it was
very hot; and, a little before we came to Mescalaxos, in a stripe of
land, or peninsula, which runs out into the lake, we halted a short
time under the shade of some acacia-trees. Here we saw plenty of
water-fowl, and several gomaris. A small river crosses the road here,
and falls into the lake: and, at one o'clock in the afternoon, we
continued our journey, and overtook a troop of Agows, who were going
to Gondar, laden with honey, butter, and untanned hides. They had with
them also about 800 head of cattle. These people accustomed to the
road (though heavily laden) go long journies: they had at this time 50
miles to make by nine o'clock in the morning of the 18th, and it was
now the 16th, past one o'clock.
A Shower overtook us soon after passing Mescalaxos, and forced us to
take refuge in some small huts near the lake, called Goja, where we
remained. The inhabitants of this and the neighbouring villages speak
Falasha, the language anciently of all Dembea, which, as has been
already observed, in most of the plain country, has now given place
to Amharic. Here we saw two gomari come out of the lake and enter the
corn, but speedily, upon the dogs of the villages attacking them, they
ran and plunged into the water; we could not have a distinct view of
them, nor time enough to design them, but they were very different
from any draught we had ever seen of them. The head seemed to me to
resemble that of a hog more than of a horse. We had this day travelled
six hours and a half, or about thirteen miles.
On the 17th, at a quarter past seven, we left Goja. At one o'clock
we halted at Sar Ohha, after a journey of five hours and a half, or
about eleven miles; and on the 18th, at half past six, left Sar Ohha.
At three quarters past seven we passed the river Talti, and at half
past eleven halted at Abba Abram, near the church, under a large
sassa-tree. At one, continued our journey, and at a quarter past two
arrived at Kemona.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account