238 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



hear it all by-and-by, only let us Hop the propagation of this 

 foolifh ftory." 



The Ras in the inflant fent for us. He was naked, fitting 

 on a ftool, and a Have fwathing up his lame leg with a broad 

 belt or bandage. I afked him calmly and pleafantly if I 

 could be of any fervice to him ? He looked at me with a 

 grin, the moil ghaftly I ever faw, as half difpleafed. " What ! 

 fays he, are you all mad? Aylo, what is the matter between 

 him and that mifcreant Guebra Mafcal ?"— " Why, faid I, I 

 am come to tell you that myfelf ; why do you afk Ayto Ay- 

 lo ? Guebra Mafcal got drunk, was infolent, and ftruck me. 

 I was fober, and beat him, as you will fee by his face ; and I 

 have now come to you to fay I am forry that I lifted my 

 hand againft your nephew ; but he was in the wrong, and 

 drunk ; and I thought it was better to chaftife him on the 

 fpot, than trull him to you, who perhaps might take the 

 affair to heart, for we all know your juftice, and that being 

 your relation is no excufe when you judge between man 

 and man. " I order you, Aylo, fays Michael, as you efteem 

 my friendfhip, to tell me the truth, really as it was, and 

 without difguife or concealment." 



Aylo began accordingly to relate the whole hiftory, 

 when a fervant called me out to Ozoro Efther. I found with 

 her another nephew of the Ras, a much better man, called 

 Welleta Selaffe, who came from Kefla Yafous, and Guebra 

 Mafcal himfelf, defiring I would forgive and intercede for 

 him, for it was a drunken quarrel without malice. Ozoro 

 Efther had told him part. " Come in with me, faid I, and 

 you mall fee I never will leave the Ras till he forgive him." 

 " Let him punifh him, fays Welleta Selaffe, he is a bad man, 



but 



