594 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Gondar, and who all welcomed me with the greateft de- 

 monftrations of joy, as if I had come from a long journey. 



I WAS then taken to an inner apartment, where, to my 

 great furprife, inftead of Ayto Confu, 1 faw his mother, Ozo- 

 ro Efther, fitting on a couch, and at her feet the fecretary's 

 daughter, the beautiful Tecla Mariam ; and, foon after, the 

 fecretary himfelf, and feveral others belonging to the court. 

 After having made a profound obeifance, " Ozoro Efther, 

 faidi, I cannot fpeak for furprife. What is the meaning of 

 your having left Gondar to come into this wildernefs ? As 

 for Tecla Mariam, I am not furprifed at feeing her ; I know 

 fhe at any time would rather die than leave you ; but tiiat 

 you have both come hither without Ayto Confu, and in fo 

 Ihort a time, is what I cannot comprehend " — " 1 here is no- 

 thing fo ftrange in this, replied Ozoro tllher; the troops of 

 Begemder have taken away my hufband, Ras Michael, God 

 knows where ; and, therefore, being now a lingle woman, 

 I am refolved to go to Jerufalem to pray for my hufband, 

 and to die there, and be buried in the Holy Sepulclire. You 

 would not Hay with us, fo we are going with you. Is there 

 any thing furprifing in all this ?" 



" But tell me truly, fays Tecla Mariam, you that know 

 every thing, while peeping and poring througli thefe long 

 glafles, did not you learn by the ftars that we were to meet 

 you here ?"---" Madam, anfwered I, if there was one liar in 

 the firmament that had announced to me fuch agreeable 

 news, I fnould have rclapfed into the old idolatry of this 

 country, and worfhipped that ftar for the reft of my life." 

 Brcakfaft now came in ; the conyerfation took a very lively 

 turn, and from the fecretary I learned that the matter flood 



I thus : 



