394 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



after this the glafs went chearfully about ; there was ex- 

 cellent red wine, but ftrong, of the nature of cote-roti, 

 brought from Karoota, which is the wine country, about lix 

 miles fouth-eaft from the place where we then were ; good 

 new brandy ; honey- wine, or hydromel, and a fpecies of beer 

 called Bouza, both of which were fermented with herbs, 

 or leaves of trees, and made very heady ; they are difagree- 

 able liquors to ftrangers. Our kind landlady, who never bad 

 quitted her fofa, preffed about the glafs in the very brifkeft 

 manner, reminding us that our time was fhort, and that the 

 drum would prefently give the fignal for Unking the tents. 

 For my part, this weighed exceedingly with me the contrary 

 way to her intentions, for I began to fear I ihould not be 

 able to go home, and I was not prepared to go on with the 

 army ; befides, it was indifpenfibly necefTary to fee both 

 the king and Ras Michael, and that 1 by no means chofe 

 to do when my prefence of mind had left me ; I therefore 

 made my apology to Ozoro Efther, by a menage delivered 

 by one of her women, and llipt out of the tent to wait upon 

 the king. 



I thought to put on my mod fedate appearance, that 

 none of my companions in the king's tent mould fee that I 

 was affected with liquor ; tho' intoxication in Abymnia is 

 neither uncommon nor a reproach, when you are not en- 

 gaged in bulinefs or attendance. I therefore went on as 

 compofedly as poffible, without recollecting that I had al- 

 ready advanced near a hundred yards, walking on that for- 

 bidden precinct or avenue between the king's tent and Ras 

 Michael's, where nobody interrupted me. The cafe with 

 which I proceeded, among luch a crowd and buflle, foon 



brought 



