214 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



flae has flaid till the very laft day before flie ventured, for 

 fear of accidents. Gufho's men fet the liih down at the 

 advanced guard, and returned with the officer who had at- 

 tended me, while I went towards the king's tent, mufmg 

 what all this might mean, what power was to carry us to 

 Gondar, difband the army, depofe Michael, and not hurt 

 the king. 



I FOUND the king had not been well, and had taken 

 warm water to vomit, a remedy I adviCed him fometimes 

 to make ufe of, not choofmg to venture on all occafions to 

 give him medicines, and he was then quiet. I therefore 

 went to Ras Michael, who was alone, and feemingly much 

 chagrined. He interrogated me flriftly as to what paffcd 

 between me and Gufho. I told him the difcourfe about 

 Woodage Afahel's death, and about Fafil ; then about the 

 fick family I had feen, the offer of money, the fifli, &c. 

 The fame I repeated when I went back to the king, but 

 nothing about our meeting at Gondar. I begged, however, 

 as he flill complained a little of his head, that he would fee 

 nobody that night, but lie down and compofe himfelf, al- 

 lowing me to wait in the fecretary's apartment till he fliould 

 awake. I thought he embraced this propofal willingly, 

 Ozoro Eflher having had a long conference with him the 

 night before. I do not imagine the flate of the realm had 

 much fliare in their converfation. After he was laid down, 

 I went and found Azage Kyrillos, and with him the beau- 

 tiful daughter of Tecla Mariam, who was juft dreffed to go 

 t© Ozoro Eflher's. She faid fhe would either take me along 

 •with her to Ozoro Efther's, or flay, and the king would fend 

 us fupper at her father's. I excufed myfelf from either, 

 on account of the king's indifpofition, and my bufmefs with 

 3 her 



