678 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



" them at the well of Fernay *, before one Galla fhould 

 *' drink there, or advance a pike-length into Begemder." 



This declaration was, by orders of Ras Michael, entered 

 into the Deftar, and written in letters of gold, after Mariam 

 Barea's death, no doubt at the inftigation of Ozoro Efther, 

 jealous for the reputation of her dead hufband. It is inti- 

 tled, the dutiful declaration of the governor of Begemder ; and is 

 figned by two Umbares, or judges. Whether the original 

 was fo or not, I cannot fay. 



The return made to this by the king was of the harfli- 

 efl kind, full of taunts and feoffs, and prefumptuous confi- 

 dence ; announcing the fpeedy arrival of Brulhe^ as to a 

 certain vii5tory ; and, to flicw what further ailiflance he 

 trufted in, he ordered Ras Michael to be proclaimed gover- 

 nor of Samen, tlic province on the Gondar fide of the Ta- 

 cazze, that no obftacle might be left in the way of that ge- 

 jicral from Tigre, if it Ihould be reiolved upon to call him. 



In Abyffinia there is a kind of glafs bottle, very light, 

 and of the fize, fliape, and ilrcngth of a Florence winc- 

 flafk ; only the neck is wider, like that of our glafs decan- 

 ters, twiftcd for ornament fake, and the lips of it folded 

 back, luch as v/e call cannon-mouthed. 1 hcfe are made 

 at Triefte on the Adriatic ; and thoufands of packages of 

 thcfc are brought from Arabia to Gondar, where they 

 are in ufe for all liquors, which are clear enough to 

 bear the glafs, fuch as wine and fpirits. They are very 



thin 



* A well near Karoota, inimcdiattly on the fiontkrs of Begemder. 



