3 t>© TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



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Aylo and Heikel had gone on to the palace, wondering, 

 as did the whole company, what could be my private con- 

 ference with Michael, which, after playing abundantly 

 with their curiofity, I explained to them next day. 



I went afterwards to the king's palace, and met Aylo 

 and Heikel at the door of the prefence-chamber. Tecla 

 Mariam walked before us to the foot of the throne ; after 

 which I advanced and proftrated myfelf upon the ground. 

 " I have brought you a fervant," fays he to the king, " from 

 fo diftant a country, that if you ever let him efcape, we fhall 

 never be able to follow him, or know where to feek him." 

 This was faid facetioufiy by an old familiar fervant ; but 

 the king made no reply, as far as we could guefs, for his 

 mouth was covered, nor did he mew any alteration of 

 countenance. Five people were Handing on each fide of the 

 throne, all young men, three on his left, and two on his 

 right. One of thefe, the fon of Tecla Mariam, (afterwards 

 my great friend) who flood uppermoft on the left hand, 

 came up, and taking hold of me by the hand, placed me 

 immediately above him ; when feeing I had no knife in 

 my girdle, he pulled out his own and gave it to me. Upon 

 being placed, I again killed the ground. 



The king was in an alcove ; the reft went out of fight from 

 where the throne was, and fat down. The ufual queftions 

 -now began about Jerufalem and the holy places — where my 

 country was ? which it was impoffible to defcribe, as they 

 knew the lituation of no country but their own — why I came 

 fo far? — whether the moon and the Mars, but efpecially the 

 moon, was the fame in my country as in theirs? — and a great 

 many fuch idle and tirefome queftions. I had feveral times 



2 oiFered 



