60 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



On the 15th, early in the morning, I flruck my tent again, 

 and had my baggage prepared, to mew we were determined 

 to flay no longer. At eight o'clock, I went to the Naybe, 

 and found him almofl alone, when he received me in a 

 manner that, for him, might have paffed for civil. He be- 

 gan with a confiderable degree of eloquence, or fluency of 

 ipeech, a long enumeration of the difficulties of our journey, 

 the rivers, precipices, mountains, and woods we were to 

 pafs ; the number of wild beads every where to be found ; 

 as alfo the wild favage people that inhabited thofe places ; 

 the moll of which, he faid, were luckily under his com- 

 mand, and he would recommend to them to do us all 

 manner of good offices. He commanded two of his fecre- 

 taries to write the proper letters, and, in the mean time, 

 ordered us coffee ; converfing naturally enough about the 

 king and Ras Michael, their campaign againft Fafil, and 

 the great improbability there was, they mould be fuccefs- 

 ful. 



At this time came in a fervant covered with duft and feem- 

 ingly fatigued, as having arrived in hafte from afar. The 

 Naybe, with a confiderable deal of uneafinefs and confufion, 

 opened the letters, which were faid to bring intelligence, 

 that the Hazorta, Shiho, and Tora, the three nations who 

 poffeffed that part of Samhar through which our road led 

 to Dobarwa, the common paffage from Mafuah to Tigre, had 

 revolted, driven away his fervants, and declared themfelves 

 independent. He then, (as if all was over) ordered his fecre- 

 taries to flop writing ; and, lifting up his eyes, began, with 

 great feeming devotion, to thank God we were not already 

 on our journey ; for, innocent as he was, when we fhould 



have 





