“As to the course of the Nile, its waters, after their first rise, run towards the east, about the length of a musket-shot; then, turning northward, continue hidden in the grass and weeds for about a quarter of a league, when they reappear amongst a quantity of rocks.  The Nile, from its source, proceeds with so inconsiderable a current that it is in danger of being dried up by the hot season; but soon receiving an increase from the Gemma, the Keltu, the Bransa, and the other smaller rivers, it expands to such a breadth in the plains of Boad, which is not above three days’ journey from its source, that a musket-ball will scarcely fly from one bank to the other.  Here it begins to run northward, winding, however, a little to the east, for the space of nine or ten leagues, and then enters the so-much-talked-of lake of Dambia, flowing with such violent rapidity, that its waters may be distinguished through the whole passage, which is no less than six leagues.  Here begins the greatness of the Nile.  Fifteen miles farther, in the land of Alata, it rushes precipitately from the top of a high rock, and forms one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.  Lobo says, he passed under it without being wet, and resting himself, for the sake of the coolness, was charmed with a thousand delightful rainbows, which the sunbeams painted on the water, in all their shining and lively colours[e].  The fall of this mighty stream, from so great a height, makes a noise that may be heard at a considerable distance:  but it was not found, that the neighbouring inhabitants were deaf.  After the cataract, the Nile collects its scattered stream among the rocks, which are so near each other, that, in Lobo’s time, a bridge of beams, on which the whole imperial army passed, was laid over them.  Sultan Sequed has since built a stone bridge of one arch, in the same place, for which purpose he procured masons from India.  Here the river alters its course, and passes through various kingdoms, such as Amhara, Olaca, Choaa, Damot, and the kingdom of Goiama, and, after various windings, returns within a short day’s journey of its spring.  To pursue it through all its mazes, and accompany it round the kingdom of Goiama, is a journey of twenty-nine days.  From Abyssinia, the river passes into the countries of Fazulo and Ombarca, two vast regions little known, inhabited by nations entirely different from the Abyssins.  Their hair, like that of the other blacks in those regions, is short and curled.  In the year 1615, Rassela Christos, lieutenant-general to sultan Sequed, entered those kingdoms in a hostile manner; but, not being able to get intelligence, returned without attempting any thing.  As the empire of Abyssinia terminates at these descents, Lobo followed the course of the Nile no farther, leaving it to rage over barbarous kingdoms, and convey wealth and plenty into Aegypt, which owes to the annual inundations of this river its envied fertility[f].  Lobo knows nothing of