A NE W CHURCH 



229 



ing service in a small church close by, soon joined me, and 

 took me round, pointing out the solidity of the building, 

 and drawing attention to the fact that all the woodwork 

 exposed to the sun was thickly smeared with fat to 

 prevent its cracking. A large retinue accompanied 

 us round and returned with us to the reception tucul 

 inside the enclosure. The town itself was situated 



Ras Wurgay and his ShOms. 



between the church and the stockade, but it was com- 

 paratively small, for most of the soldiers live in an 

 encampment, and accompany the Ras on his journeys. 

 Before leaving, Basha Kassa, the man who was told off 

 to be my guide, received many instructions, and was also 

 handed a written order bearing the impress of the Ras's 

 great silver seal. The Ras himself presented me with a 

 Gojam barbed -headed spear, and bade me farewell, 

 saying that, although I should return to my people and 

 forget him, he would ever remember me and my visit. 



