m TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



I never was in appearance more neglected, than in this pre- 

 fent moment, by all but the Moors. Thefe were very grate- 

 ful for the fuccefsful attention I had fhewed their children, 

 and very defirous to have me again among them. Hagi 

 Saleh, in particular, could not fatiate himfelf with curfing 

 the ingratitude of thefe cafers, and infidels, the Chriftians. 

 He knew what had paffed at Kofcam, he faw what he 

 thought likely to happen now, and his anger was that of 

 an honeft man, and which perhaps many former inflances 

 which he had been witnefs of might have juflined, but in 

 the prefent one he was miftaken. 



In the evening, Negade Ras Mahoment came to my 

 houfe ; he laid Mahomet Gibberti was arrived, had been 

 twice on private bufmefs with the Ras, but had not yet de- 

 livered him his prefents ; and he had not informed me of 

 this, as he thought I was Hill at Kofcam, and that Saleh 

 his brother knew nothing of it, as he had not feen him 

 fince he came home. He alfo informed me that Ayto Aylo 

 was with the Ras twice the day after he entered Gondar, 

 and once with Mahomet Gibberti : all this was about me ; 

 and that, at Ayto Aylo's propofal, it was agreed that I mould 

 be appointed Palambaras, which is mafler of the king's 

 horfe. It is a very great office, both for rank, and revenue, 

 but has no bufmefs attending it ; the young Armenian had 

 before enjoyed it. I told Mahomet, that, far from being 

 any kindnefs to me, this would make me the moft unhappy 

 of all creatures ; that my extreme defire was to fee the coun- 

 try, and its different natural productions; toconverfc with the 

 people as a ftranger, but to be nobody's mafler nor fervant ; 

 to fee their books ; and, above all, to vifit the fources of the 

 Nile ; to live as privately in my own houfe, and have as 



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