2i6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



the holy fcriptures are written in, and you, a prieft, ftiould 

 underftand it." — " That is Geez," fays he ; "I underfland it, 

 though I don't fpeak it."—" Then," replied I, " Ay to Heikel," 

 the queen's chamberlain, who flood behind me, " mall in- 

 terpret for us ; he understands all languages." 



" Ask him, Heikel," fays he, " how many Natures there 

 are in Chrift." Which being repeated to me, I faid, " I 

 thought the queftion to be put was fomething relating to 

 my country, travels, or profeflion, in which I poflibly could 

 inftruct him ; and not belonging to his, in which he mould 

 inftruct me. I am a phyfician in the town, a horfeman and 

 foldier in the field. Phyfic is my ftudy in the one, and ma- 

 naging my horfe and arms in the other. This I was bred 

 to ; as for difputes and matters of religion, they are the 

 province of priefls and fchoolmen. I profefs myfelf much 

 more ignorant in thefe than I ought to be. Therefore, when 

 I have doubts I propofe them to fome holy man like you, 

 Abba Salama, (he bowed for the firft time) whofe profeflion 

 thefe things are. He gives me a rule and I implicitly fol- 

 low it." " Truth ! truth!" fays he; " by St Michael, prince 

 of angels, that is right ; it is anfwered well ; by St George ! 

 he is a clever fellow, They told me he was a Jefuit. Will 

 you come to fee me ? Will you come to fee me ? You need 

 not be afraid when you come to me." " I truft," faid I, bow- 

 ing, " 1 Ihall do no ill, in that cafe fhall have no reafon to 

 fear." Upon this I withdrew from among the crowd, and 

 went away, as an exprefs thexi arrived from Ras Michael. 



It was on the 8th or 9th of March I met him at Azazo. 

 He was drefled in a coarfe dirty cloth, wrapt about him like 

 a blanket, and another like a table-cloth folded about his 



4 head; 



