3 53 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



for the ftricleft friendfhip fubfifted between them. We met 

 there with Ozoro Either, who was vifiting the beautiful Te- 

 cla Mariam in her indifpofition. Seeing Aylo, Heikel, and 

 me together at that time of night, fhe infilled that the 

 young lady and I mould be married, and fhe declared 

 roundly fhe would fee it done before fhe left the houfe. As 

 neither of my patients were very ill, a great deal of mirth 

 followed. Ozoro Efther fat late; there was no occafion for 

 the compliment of feeing her home, fhe had above three 

 hundred men with her. 



After fhe was gone the whole difcourfe turned upon 

 religion, what we believed or did not believe in our coun- 

 try, and this continued till day-light, when we all agreed 

 to take a little fleep, then breakfaft, and go to court. We 

 did fo, but Aylo went to Kofcam, and Tecla Mariam to the 

 Ras, fo I met none of them with the king. When I went 

 in he was hearing a pleading upon a caufe of fome confe- 

 quence, and paying great attention. One of the parties had 

 finifhed, the other was replying with a great deal of grace- 

 ful action, and much energy and eloquence. — They were 

 bare down to their very girdle, and would feem rather pre- 

 pared for boxing than for fpeaking. 



This being over, the room was cleared, and I made my 

 proftration. " I do demand of you, fays the king abruptly, 

 Whether Nebuchadnezzar is a faint or no ?" I bowed, fay- 

 ing, " Your majefty knows I am no judge of thefe matters, 

 and it makes me enemies to fpeak about them." — " I know, 

 fays he gravely, that you will anfwer my queftion when I 

 afk it ; let me take care of the reft." — " I never thought, laid 

 I, bir, that Nebuchadnezzar had any pretenfions to be a 



o faint. 



