8 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



him under at Gondar, he could not, confident with the re- 

 ceived ufagcs of the country, if it was but for his own re- 

 putation's fake, fail in receiving me in the very befl man- 

 ner in his power, and entertaining me to the utmoft all the 

 time I was in his houfe. 



Satisfied that I underftood him, he put on the moll 

 chearful countenance : another cow was killed, great plenty 

 of hydrorael produced, and he prepared to regale us as famp- 

 tuoully as pofTible, after the manner of the country. We 

 were there, as often before, obliged to overcome our repug- 

 nance to eating raw flefh. bhalaka Welled Amlac fet us 

 the example, entertained us with the (lories of his hunting 

 elephants, and feats in the lafl wars, moftly roguifli ones. 

 The room where we were (which was indeed large, and 

 contained himfelf, mother, wife, fillers, his horfes, mules, 

 and fervants, night and day) was all hung round with the 

 trunks of thefe elephants, which he had brought from the 

 neighbouring Kolla, near Guefgue, and killed with his own 

 hands, for he was one of the boldeil and beil horfemen in 

 AbylTinia, and perfecftly mafter of his arms. 



This Polyphemus's feaft being finifhed, thehornof hydro- 

 mel went brilkly about. Welled Amlac's eldeft filler, whofe 

 name was Mele6lanea, took a particular charge of me, and I 

 began to find the necellity of retiring and going to bed while 

 I was able. Here the former ftory came over again ; the invari- 

 able cuftom of all Maitflia and the country of the Galla, of 

 eflabliiliing a relationfliip by lleeping with a near of kin, was 

 enlarged upon ; and, as the young lady herfelf was prefent, 

 and prefented every horn of drink during this polite difpute 

 concerning her perfon, I do not know whether it will not.be 



3 thouglu 



