326 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



would be no danger. But, after flaying that time at San- 

 gara, he found that the intention of this delay was only to 

 give time to fonie horfemen of the Guragues to affemble, 

 in order to attack the caravan on the road, which they did 

 foon after; and, though they were repulfed, yet it was 

 with lofs of one of the company, a young man related to 

 Socinios, who, being wounded with a poifoned arrow, died 

 fome days after. 



In the mean time, an A'byffinian, called Manquer^ overtook 

 their caravan. As he was a fchifmatic, his intention was 

 very v/cll known to be that of difappointing their journey ; 

 and he prevailed with Amelmal fo far as to make him 

 . fufpecft that the recommendations which the amballador 

 brought were falfe. He, therefore, infilled on the ambaffa- 

 dor's Haying there till he (hould get news from court. Amel- 

 mal, Manquer, and the ambaflador, each difpatched a mef- 

 fenger, who tarried three months on the road, and at laft 

 brought orders from the king to difpatch them immedi- 

 ately. 



As Amelmal now faw the bad inclination of Manquer, 

 he detained him at Cambat that he might occafion no more 

 difficulties in their way. He gave the ambaflador likewife 

 feven horfes, which v/crc faid to be the bell prefents to the 

 princes or governors that were in his road, and difpatched 

 the travellers with another companion, Baharo, who had 

 brought the letters from the king. 



Prom Cambat they entered the fmall territorj^ of Alaba, 

 independent of the king of Abyflinia, whofe governor was 

 called Aliko^ a Moor. This man, already prejudiced againfl 



the 



