THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 201 



next morning, and that he mould carry me to Kofcam and 

 introduce me to her. I told him that I was ready to be di- 

 rected by his good advice ; that the abfence of the Greeks, 

 and Mahomet Gibberti at the fame time, had very much 

 diltreffed me, and efpecially the apprehenfions of Petros. 

 He faid, fmiling, That neither Petros nor himfelf were bad 

 men, but that unfortunately they were great cowards, and 

 things were not always fo bad as they apprehended. What 

 had frightened Petros, was a converfation of Abba Salama, 

 whom they met at Kofcam, exprefling his difpleafure with 

 ■feme warmth, that a Frank, meaning me, was permitted to 

 come to Gondar. " But," fays Ay to Aylo, " we fhall hear to- 

 morrow, or next day, Ras Michael and Abba Salama are 

 tfior friends ; and if you could do any good to Welled Ha- 

 waryat his fon, I mall anfwer for it, one word of his will 

 .flop the mouths of a hundred Abba Salamas." I will not 

 trouble the reader with much indifferent converfation that 

 .pafTed. He drank capillaire and water, and fat till pail mid- 

 . night, 



Abba Salama, of whom we fhall often fpeak, at that time 

 filled the poft of Acab Saat, or guardian of the fire. It is 

 the third dignity of the church, and he is the firft religious 

 officer in the palace. He had a very large revenue, and ftill 

 a greater influence. He was a man exceedingly rich, and 

 of the very worft life pofhble ; though he had taken the 

 vows of poverty and chaftity, it was faid he had at that 

 time, above feventy miftrefles in Gondar. His way of fe- 

 ducing women was as extraordinary as the number fedu- 

 ced. It was not by gifts, attendance, or flattery, the ufual 

 means employed on fuch occafions ; when he had fixed his 

 defires upon a woman, he forced her to comply, under pain 



Vol. III. C c of 



