134- TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



camp, without any adventure, bringing the news of Wel- 

 leta Selafle's death, which feemed to caufe neither furprife 

 nor forrow, and was never after fpoken of either by the Ras 

 or Ozoro Ellher ; but very great rejoicings were made at the 

 good accounts of Ayto Confu, with very kind expreffions of 

 me, both from the Ras and Ozoro Efther. 



Before he went to bed, the king had examined Mahomet, 

 and drawn from him the true Hate of the kingdom of Sen- 

 naar; he then fent for me, and ordered me to deUver him 

 my letters, which I did, interpreting them to him, word for 

 word. He faid, however, but httle at this time, as he 

 thought that that door, being fo effecftually fhut againft me, 

 lefs could be urged againft the fafer, and more known road 

 through Tigre, which, of courfe, it was prefumed 1 fliould 

 more eagerly embrace ; he kept my letters, and ordered me 

 to choofe two of the horfes for myfelf, which I did, one of 

 them near feventeen hands high, I fuppofe one of the moft 

 powerful horfes in the world. The reft he diftributed a- 

 mong the black troops ; the fame he did with the coats of 

 mail. I found the army in great fpirits, but ftill the ftory 

 of fighting only at Serbraxos feemed to be obftinately per- 

 fifted in. I alked Ozoro Efther if St Michael had yet appear- 

 ed to the Ras; Ihe anfwered, " Hulh ! for God's fake, don't 

 make a joke of this, one word of this kind repeated to him 

 would prevent your ever receiving a favour from Michael. 



It happened that, the day after I had attended Ayto Con. 

 fu to Gondar, Ras Michael fent fome foldiers into Dembea 

 to forage, thefe had been intercepted by a party pofted on 

 purpofe by Kafmati Ayabdar and Gufho, confifting of Ed- 

 joyv Galla, with fome horfe from Foggora and Amhara. An 

 3 engagement 



