fi.o TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



It was now, however, near eight at night of the 30th be- 

 fore I received a meflage to attend him. I repaired imme- 

 diately to his tent. After announcing myfelf, I waited about 

 a quarter of an hour before I was admitted ; he was fitting 

 upon a cufhion with a lion's fkin upon it, and another 

 ftretched like a carpet before his feet, and had a cotton cloth, 

 fomething like a dirty towel, wrapped about his head; his 

 upper cloak, or garment, was drawn tight about him over 

 his neck and moulders, fo as to cover his hands ; I bowed 

 and went forward to kifs one of them, but it was fo entan- 

 gled in the cloth that I was obliged to kifs the cloth inftead 

 of the hand. This was done either as not expecting I mould 

 pay him that compliment, (as I certainly mould not have 

 done, being one of the king's fervants, if the king had been 

 at Gondar) or elfe it was intended for a mark of difrefpeet, 

 which was very much of a-piece with the reft of his beha- 

 viour afterwards. 



There was no carpet or cufhions in the tent, and only 

 a little ftraw, as if accidentally, thrown thinly about it. I fat 

 down upon the ground, thinking him fick not knowing 

 what all this meant; he looked lledfaftly at me, faying, half 

 under his breath, Endett nawi ? bogo nawi ? which, in Am- 

 haric, is, How do you do? Are you very well? I made the 

 ufual anfwer, Well, thank God. He again flopt, as for me 

 to fpeak ; there was only one old man prefent, who was fit- 

 ting on the floor mending a mule's bridle. I took him at 

 firft for an attendant, but obferving that a fervant unco- 

 vered held a candle to him, I thought he was one of his 

 Galla, but then I faw a blue filk thread, which he had about 

 his neck, which is a badge of Chriftianity all over Abyf- 

 iinia, and which a Galla would not wear. What he was I 

 1 could 



