272 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



ed by a high outer- wall, which may havo above an Englilh 

 mile of circumference. This outer precinct is ail occupied 

 by foldiers, labourers, and out door I'ervant,- ; within this 

 is another large court inclofed by walls likewife, in this the 

 apartments are but of one Itorey, appropriated to the princi- 

 pal officers, priells, and fervants. In this alio is the thuich, 

 built by the prefent Iteghe herfelf, and reckoned the nch- 

 efl in Abyffinia. They have large crofTes of gold for their 

 proceilions, and kettle-drums of filver. The altar is all co- 

 vered with gold plates, all the gift of their magnificent pa- 

 tronefs. The prieils, too, were all rich, till Ras Michael 

 feized, and applied part of their revenue to his own ufe, and 

 that of the flate, and thereby reduced them to a condition 

 much more agreeable to the vows of poverty, which from 

 pride they had made, than was their former one. 



The third, or inner court, is referved for the queen's own 

 apartments, and fuch of the noble women as are her attend- 

 ants, are unmarried, and make up her court. Behind the 

 palace, higher up the hill, are houfes of people of quality, 

 chiefly her own relations. Above thefe the mountain rifes 

 very regularly, in form of a cone, covered with herbage to 

 the very top ; on the eaft fide is the road from Walkayt ; on 

 the well: from Kuara, and Ras el Feel ; that is all the low 

 country, or north of Abyfllnia, bordering upon the Shan- 

 galla, through which lies th€ road to Sennaar. 



It was the 26th of December 1771, at one o'clock in the 

 afternoon, that I left Gondar. I had purpofed to fet out early 

 in the morning, but was detained by the importunity of my 

 friends. The king had delayed my fetting out, by feveral 

 wOrdejs fcnt me in the evening each day ; and I plainly faw 



2 there 





