z 4 6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Mafcal could do. We have one half of the candle left ftill; 

 it is the thinneit, weakeft half, and I fhall put the wick fore- 

 moft, becaufe the cotton is fofteft." The table being now 

 properly placed, to Engcdan's utmoft aftonilhmcnt the can- 

 dle, with the wick foremoit, went through the table, as the 

 other had gone through the three fhields. " By St Michael! 

 fays Engedan, Yagoube, hereafter fay to me you can raife 

 my father Efhte from the grave, and I will believe you." 

 Some priefts who were there, though furprifed at firft, feem- 

 ed afterward to treat it rather lightly, becaufe they thought 

 it below their dignity to be furprifed at any thing. They 

 laid it was done (mucktoub) by writing, by which they 

 meant magic. Every body embraced that opinion as an 

 evident and rational one, and fo the wonder with them 

 ceafed. But it was not fo with the king : It made the mod 

 favourable and lalling impreflion upon his mind ; nor did 

 I ever after fee, in his countenance, any marks either of 

 doubt or diffidence, but always, on the contrary, the mofl 

 decifive proofs of friendfhip, confidence, and attention, and 

 the moft implicit belief of every thing I advanced upon any 

 iubject from my own knowledge. 



The experiment was twice tried afterwards in prefence 

 of Ras Michael. But he would not riik his good fhields, 

 and always produced the table, faying, " Engedan and 

 thofe foolifh boys were rightly ferved ; they thought Ya- 

 goube was a liar like themfelves, and they loft their fhields; 

 but I believed him, and gave him my table for curiofity only, 

 and fo I faved mine." 



As I may now fay I was fettled in this country, and had 

 an opportunity of being informed of the manners, govern- 



2 ment, 



