58 MEMOIR OF BRUCE. 



characters written on a tin plate, and then washed 

 off and given him to drink, that the consultation 

 was deferred till next day. Scarcely had he returned 

 home, however, when a second message informed 

 him that Welled was so ill that his mother, the 

 beautiful Ozoro Esther (wife of old Ras Michael), 

 and the Iteghe, hegged him to come again and visit 

 him, with some others who were sick. 



On entering the palace, he found a deputation of 

 monks had arrived to perform a miraculous cure, by 

 laying upon the patient a cross and a picture of the 

 Virgin Mary, sent by three renowned saints from 

 Waldubba. In consequence of this prescription, 

 Brace's skill was not put in requisition ; but he was 

 introduced to the queen-mother, with whom he held 

 a long conversation about the Roman Catholic reli- 

 gion and the healing virtues of miracles. Next 

 afternoon he was informed that "Welled Hawaryat 

 and some others that were sick had died, an event 

 which destroyed all faith in the medical reputation 

 of the saints. 



As the contagion had spread itself all over Gon- 

 dar, Brace was requested to take up his abode in 

 the palace, where the whole children and grand- 

 children belonging to the royal family were placed 

 under his charge. Accordingly, being provided with 

 an Abyssinian dress, with his hair cut round, curled^ 

 and perfumed in the true Amharic fashion, he pro- 

 ceeded to his destination, and entered at once upon 

 the functions of his new profession. His mode of 

 treating the disorder, by the admission of fresh air 



