THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 495 



A nephew of Abba Salama*, the Acab Saat, a young man 

 of no common genius, afked leave from his uncle before he 

 began the tranflation ; to which Salama anfwered, alluding 

 to an old law, That, if he attempted Rich a thing, he mould 

 be killed as they do flieep ; but, if I would give him the mo- 

 ney, he would permit it. I mould not have taken any no- 

 tice of this ; but fome of the young men having told it to 

 Ras Michael f, who perfectly guefled the matter, he called 

 upon the fcribe, and afked what his uncle had faid to him, 

 who toid him very plainly, that, if he began the tranflation, 

 his throat mould be cut like that of a fheep. One day Mi- 

 chael aflced Abba Salama, whether that was true ; he anfwer- 

 ed in the affirmative, and feemed diipofed to be talkative. 

 " Then," faid the Ras to the young man, " your uncle de- 

 " clares, if you write the book for Yagoube, he mall cut 

 " your throat like a flieep ; and I fay to you, I fwear by St. 

 " Michael, I will put you to death like an afs if you don't 

 " write it ; confider with yourfelf which of the rifks you'll 

 " run, and come to me in eight days, and make your choice." 

 But, before the eighth day, he brought me the book, very 

 well pleafed at having an excufe for receiving the price of the 

 copy. Abba Salama complained of this at another time when 

 I was prefent, and the name of frank was invidioufly men- 

 tioned ; but he only got a flcrn look and word from the Ras : 

 " Hold your tongue, Sir, you don't know what you fay ; you 

 " don't know that you are a fool, Sir, but I do ; if you talk 

 " much you will publifh. it to all the world." 



After 



* I (hall have occafion to fpeak much of this prieft in the fequel. He was a raoft inveterate 

 and dangerous enemy to all Europeans, the principal ecclefiaftical officer in the king's ho- f.-. 



f Then Prime Minifter, concerning whom much is to be faid hereafter.. 



