THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 1C3 



encouraged by this and the perfed: indifference and ilea- 

 dinefs of his cow, began to ad: his part with great humour 

 and conlidence : he was born in the neighbourhood of 

 thefe very Galla, knew their manners, and fpoke their 

 language perfedly. Amha Yafous, Confu, Aylo brother to 

 Engedan, fome fervants of the king, ad;ed the part that 

 we did in the tent the day of the audience, that is, flood on 

 each fids of the king's chair : the cow was brought into 

 the middle of the room, and Guangoul defcended with his 

 lance and fhield in great flate ; a cafhion was not fpared, 

 nor did Doho fpare the cufhion ; the butter fliewed very 

 diflindlly where he had been fitting : v/e all fell upon him 

 and belaboured him heartily, and chaced him to the door. 

 His fpeedy retreat was not counterfeited. Ozoro Altafh, 

 Eflher's fiiler, and a number of the ladies of the court, 

 were prefent. Ozoro Eflher declared fire would fend for 

 the Ras, he had been in great good humour fince the ar- 

 rival of Amha Yafous. 1 had not feen him fince the reco- 

 very of his fon, and happened to be at the door next him ; 

 he took me by the hand, and faid, " Welleta Hawaryat (that 

 is the name of his fon) is well, you arc very kind." 



Michael was efleemed the befl orator in his country, ■ 

 and fpoke his own language, figran, with the utmofl purity 

 and elegance ; yet in common converfation he was very 

 fententious, two or three words at a time, but never obfcure ; 

 this he had contra<5led by a long pracfice of commanding 

 armies, where he faw as inllantly and clearly, as he fpoke 

 fhortly and diftindly. He bowed very civilly to the ladies, 

 and pointed to me to fit down on the feat by him. Amha 

 Yafous was flanding before him, I haflened to fit down on 

 the carpet at his feet, and he fecmed to recoiled himfelf 



and 



