THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 231 



offered to take my prefent from the man who held it, that 

 I might oiler it to his Majetty and go away; but the king 

 always made a fign to put it oil, till, being tired to death 

 •with Handing, I leaned againft the wall. Aylo was fait afleep, 

 and Ayto Heikel and the Greeks curling their matter in 

 their heart for fpoiling the good fupper that Anthuie his 

 treafurer had prepared for us. This, as we afterwards 

 found out, the king very well knew, and refolved to try 

 our patience to the utmoft. At laft, Ayto Aylo Hole away to 

 bed, and every body elfe after him, except thofe who had 

 accompanied me, who were ready to die with thirit, and 

 drop down with wearinefs. It was agreed by thofe that 

 were out of fight, to fend Tecla Mariam to whifper in the 

 king's ear, that I had not been well, which he did, but no 

 notice was taken of it. It was now pad ten o'clock, and he 

 mewed no inclination to go to bed. 



Hitherto, while there were ftrangers in the room, he 

 had fpoken to us by an officer called Kal Hatze, the voice or 

 word of the king; but now, when there were nine or ten of 

 us, his menial fervants, only prefent, he uncovered his face 

 and mouth, and fpoke himfelf. Sometimes it was about Je- 

 rufalem, fometimcs about horfes, at othertimes about fhoot- 

 ing ; again about the Indies ; how far I could look into the 

 heavens with my telefcopes : and all thefe were deliberately 

 and circumftantially repeated, if they were not pointedly an- 

 fvvered. I was abfolutely in defpair^ and fcarcely able to 

 fpeak a word, inwardly mourning the hardnefs of my lot 

 in this my fir ft preferment, and fincerely praying it might 

 be my laft promotion in this court. At laft all the Greeks 

 began to be impatient, and got out of the corner of the. 

 room behind the alcove, and Hood immediately before the 



throne. 



