TRAVELS TO DISCOVER ' 



The payment of the money, perhaps the refentment of 

 the family trepanned, and the appearance of equity which 

 the thing itfelf bore, fuggefted to theMoorim merchants that 

 there was fome more profit, and not more rifk, if they car- 

 ried off the old priefl likewife. But as he had come to Dixan, 

 as it were under public faith, in a trade that greatly interefted 

 the town, they were afraid to attempt any thing againfl him 

 whilil there. They began then as it were to repent of their 

 bargain, from a pretended apprehenfion that they might be 

 Hopped and queflioned at going out of town, unlefs he 

 would accompany them to fome fmall diftance ; in confi- 

 deration of which, they would give him, at parting, two 

 pieces of cloth to be added to the other forty, which he was 

 to take back to Tigre with him upon his return. 



The beginning of fuch expeditions is in the night. When" 

 all were afleep, they fet out from Dixan ; the buyers, the 

 feller, and the family fold ; and, being arrived near the 

 mountain where the .way turns off to the defert, the whole 

 party fell upon the old pried, threw him down, and bound 

 him. The woman infilled that me might be allowed to 

 cut, or tear off the little beard he had, in order, as fhe faid, 

 to make him look younger ; and this demand was reckon- 

 ed too jull to be denied her. The whole five were then 

 carried to Mafuah ; the woman and her two children were 

 fold to Arabia ; the two priefts had not fo ready a market,, 

 and they were both in the Naybe's houfe when I was at 

 Mafuah, though I did not then know it. 



The Naybe, willing to ingratiate himfelf with Ras Mi- 

 chael at a fmall expence, wrote to him an account of the- 

 tranfaction, and offered^as they were priefts, to reftore them 



to 



