I* TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



pied at Gondar. To him the patriarch gave his firft injunc- 

 tions as to watching the motives of the Naybe, and prevent- 

 ing any ill-ufage from him, before the notice of my arrival, 

 at Mafuah mould reach Abyffinia. 



Mahomet Adulai difpatched his mefTenger, and Maho- 

 met Gibberti repaired that fame night to the Naybe at Ar- 

 keeko, with fuch diligence that lulled him afleep as to any 

 prior intelligence, which otherwife he might have thought 

 he was charged to convey to Tigre ; and Mahomet Gibberti; 

 in his converfation that night with Achmet, adroitly con+ 

 firmed him in all the ideas he himfelf had firft ftarted in 

 council with the Naybe. He told him the manner I had 

 been received at Jidda, my protection at Conftantinople, and 

 the firman which I brought from the grand fignior, the 

 power of my countrymen in the Red Sea and India, and my 

 perfonal friendlhip with Metical Aga. He moreover •infinu* 

 ated, that the ccafts of the Red Sea would be in a dangerous 

 fituation if any thing happened to me, as both the merriffe 

 of Mecca and emperor of Conftaminople would themfelvesj, 

 perhaps, not interfere, but would nioft certainly confider the 

 place; where fuch difobedience mould be fhewn to theiF 

 commands, as in a ftate of anarchy, and therefore to be a- 

 bandoned to the'juft correction of the Englifh, if injured.. 



On the 20th, a. perfon came from Mahomet Gibberti to 

 conduct me on more. The Naybe himfelf was ftill at Ar- 

 keeko, and Achmet therefore had come down to receive the 

 duties of the merchandife on board the veiRl which brought 

 me. There were two elbow-chairs placed in the middle of 

 the market- x ace. Achmet fat on one of. them, while the 



feveral 



