MEMOIR OF BRUCE. 51 



tionary was first to rob and then to assassinate 

 Bruce. He desired him to prepare three rich 

 presents, to be delivered to him on three separate 

 days ; and when this request was denied, he threat- 

 ened that unless he paid him down three hundred 

 ounces of gold, " he would confine him in a dungeon, 

 without light, air, or meat, until his bones came 

 through his skin." 



At length Bruce succeeded in over-awing this 

 brutal savage (whose naked slaves were ready at a 

 word to plunge their knives into the " Christian 

 dog"), by threatening him with a broadside from an 

 English man-of-war, and telling him that he had 

 already sent forward his despatches to Has Michael 

 and the king of Abyssinia, who would most certainly 

 punish him if he offered any interruption to his 

 journey. The old Naib found himself thus com- 

 pletely outwitted; he dreaded the terrible name 

 of Ras Michael, who made and unmade kings and 

 governors at pleasure ; and after some other ineffec- 

 tual attempts to intimidate Bruce, by pretending 

 that an insurrection had broken out in the country 

 through which he had to pass, he allowed him to 

 proceed. Meantime letters had arrived from Ras 

 Michael, expressing surprise why " the physician 

 sent by the king from Arabia" was detained so long, 

 and commanding the Naib to furnish him with the 

 necessary supplies, and forward him without loss of 

 time. 



Every thing was speedily arranged and ready for 

 his departure. Tbe faithful Achmet still appre- 



