42S TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



our kind Shum, we were joined by Seide his eldeft fon, and 

 our Englijh friend Drink, each upon a mule, with two fervants 

 on foot, his father, as he faid, being unwilling to fpare 

 more people, as the whole inhabitants of Alata, their 

 neighbours and friends, intended foon to furprife Guebra. 

 Mehedin, if a feafible opportunity offered. 



Though we went brifkly, it was part five before we ar- 

 rived at Dara. Netcho had not ftirred, and had procured 

 another cow from Mahomet, of which all the flrangers, and 

 foldiers who remained, partook. Mahomet, I believe, out of 

 kindnefs to me, had convinced them of the neceffity of ta- 

 king along with them the Shum of Alata's money ; and 

 Netcho well knew that thofe who brought any part of the 

 revenue to Ras Michael were always received kindly ; and 

 he was not interested enough in the caufe to make more 

 hafle than neceilary to join the king. 



Strates was completely cloathed, and received his faili. 

 upon my arrival. He feigned to be wonderfully hurt at my 

 having left him behind in my excurfion to the cataract. 

 At fupper I began to queftion him, for the firft time, what 

 had happened to him with Guebra Mehedin. " Sure, Strates,. 

 faid I, you two were once friends ; I have dined with you 

 together many a time at Ayto Engedan's, and often feen 

 you with him in Gondar." — " Gonclar! fays he, I have known 

 him thefe fourteen years, when he was a child in his father 

 Bafha Eufebius's houfe ; he was always playing amongft 

 us at his uncle Kafmati Eflite's ; he was juft one of us ; nay,. 

 he is not now twenty-fix.. 



Strates- 



