92 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



this fincc his return from Tigre, was the reafon of coldnefs 

 between him and the Ras, and of Michael's putting the 

 king on fo Ihort allowance on his firfl coming to Gondar : 

 but all that was now removed by the neceflities of the times; 

 gold came from Tigre in plenty ; even Powuflen had fenc 

 fome of the revenue of Begemder, all the other provinces, a 

 proportion, with butter,^ cattle, and cotton cloths, for the 

 maintenance of the king's houfehold and troops : for my 

 part, though I enjoyed the name of feveral pofts, I had par- 

 taken fmce this laft revolution of a very fmall part of their 

 revenues ; I had been liberally fupplied in the king's abfence 

 by Ozoro Eflher and the queen. I had few fervants, and lived 

 cheaply in the Iteghe's palace at Kofcam ; but after my arri- 

 val, the king, on purpoie I believe to difconcert my journey, 

 ran me grievoufly into debt with the foldiers, and other 

 expences that were, as I was told, abfolutely neceJTary ; it is 

 true, thefe were paid in part at times but very irregularly. 

 Ras Michael was not a man to be craved, nor was my tem- 

 per fuch as could be brought to crave him ; from this it 

 arofe that often I had been in great llraits, and obliged to 

 live fparingly, which luckily was never a great hardfl:iip up- 

 on me, in order to fulfil my promife to others. And now the 

 campaign was beginning, horfes, and mules, and every 

 thing neceflary were to be purchafed, and I was in debt a- 

 bove one hundred pounds, nor would it have been poilible 

 I ever lliould have cleared myfelf, for my daily expences 

 were enormous, if it had not been for the fituation that a 

 certain Greek, named Petros, was in, from whom I borrowed 

 about three hundred pounds, as I fliall after mention. With 

 regard to Kafmati Fafil, he fent me, twice, two large jars of 

 honey from my lord£hip of Geefli, at two different times : 

 the firft was taken by Coque AbouBarea, the lail tailed fo bit- 

 ter 



