Volume 2

A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen / edited by Robert Chambers.

Date:
1854-1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen / edited by Robert Chambers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    .nnny set out from Gondar to meet tl’.e rebel Fasil, and Bruce toolc that share in the fatigues and perils of the campaign which his office rendered necessary. Ho was of great service in improving the discipline of the army, and was looked upon as a iinished ivarrior. After a good deal of marching and countermarch- ing, the royal forces gained a complete victory over Fasil, who tvas consequently obliged to make his submission. This rebel now lived on amicable terms with the king and his officers, and Bruce, recollecting the interesting site of his go- vernment, busied himself in performing medical services to his principal officers. When the king came to ask Bruce what reward he would have for his share in the campaign, the enthusiastic traveller answered, that he only wished tw'O favours, the property of the village of Geesh, Avith the spot in its neighbourhood tvhere he miderstood the Nile to arise, and a royal mandate obliging Fasil to facilitate his journey to that place. The king, smiling at the humility of his desires, granted the request, only regretting that Zagoube (such was the name assumed by Bruce in his travels,) could not be induced to ask something ten times more precious. The attention of the sovereign and his minister Avere noAV distracted by the iieAVS of another insurrection in the Avestern parts of the kingdom; and it Avas necessary to move the army in that direction. Bruce made the excuse of his health (Avhich Avas really bad) to avoid attendance in this campaign; and at length, Avith some difficidty, he obtained the king’s permission to set out for Geesh, Avhich Ite Avas noAV resolved on, notAvithstanding that the breaking out of another rebellion omened ill for the continued submission of Fasil, and conse- quently for the safety of the travellei’. Bruce set out upon this last great stage of his journey on the 28th of October, 1770, and heAvas introduced to the pre- sence of Fasil at a place called Bamba. Fasil, partly through the representations of those officei's to Avhom Bruce had recommended himself, Avas in reality favour- ably disposed to him; but he at first thought proper to affect a contrary senti- ment, and represented the design as impracticable. In the course of the Avrang- ling Avhich took place betAveen the tAVO on this subject, Bruce Avas so much in- censed that his nose spontaneously gushed Avith blood, and his servant had to lead him from the lent. Fasil expressed sorroAV at this incident, and immediately in.ade amends by taking measures to facilitate Bruce’s journey. He furnished him Avith a guide adled Woldo, .as also seven savage chieftains of the country for a guard, and furthermore added, Avhat AA'as of greater avail than .all the rest, a hoi-se of his OAvn, richly c.ap.arisoned, Avhich Avas to go before the tr.avelling party, as a symbol of his protection, in order to insure the respect of the natiA'es. By Avay of giving a feasible appearance to the journey, Bruce Av.as invested by Fasil Avith the property and governorship of the district of Geesh, in Avhich the Nile rises, so that this striingely disgiised native of Stirlingshire, in the kingdom of Scotland, looked entirely like an Abyssinian chief going to take possession of an estate in the highlands cf that remote and tropictil country. Bruce left Fasil’s house on the 31st of October, and as he travelled onAvard for a few days through this rude ten'itory, the people, instead of giving him any .annoyance, overyAvhere fled at his approach, thinking, from the appe.arance of Fasil’s horse, that the expedition Avas one of Ux.ation aiid contribution. Those fcAV Avhom Bruce came in contact Avith, he found to h.ave a religious veneration for the Nile, the remains of that Fagan Avoi-ship Avhich Avas originally paid to it, and Avhich Avas the sole religion of the country before the introduction of Christianity. Even the sav.ages Avho firmed his gu.ard, avouUI have been apt, as he found, to destioy him, if he had crossed the river on hoi-seback, or employed its Avaters in Avashing any p.art oi hi.i dress. He .also learned that there Avaa still a kind of priest of this Avorship, Avho dwelt at the fountain of the Nile, and av.os c.alled “ the serv.ant cf the river.” It I thus iippe.ared that, .as in the ruder p.arts of Bruce’s n.ative country, the aboriginal