488 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Ageeb had been fent to by the king, to colledl all his forces 

 among the Arabs, and join him between Herbagi and Sen- 

 naar. It was forefeen, that if this was true, a revolution of 

 fome kind was near at hand, probably the depofmg and 

 death of the king, and that, in the interim, all fubordina- 

 tion would ceafe in the town, and every man do what feem- 

 ed good in his own eyes. 



Hagi Belal had, befides, told rac that Shekh Fidele of 

 Teawa had been feveral days in the palace with the king, and 

 had informed him that I was laden with money, befides a 

 quantity of cloth of gold, the richeft he had ever feen, 

 which the king of Abyflinia had deftined as a prefent to 

 him, but which I had perverted to my own ufe : He add- 

 ed, that the king had exprefled himfelf in a very threaten- 

 ing manner, and that he was very much afraid I was not 

 in fafety if Shekh Adelan was gone from Aira. Upon this 

 I delired Hagi Belal to go to the palace, and obtain for me 

 an audience of the king. In vain he reprefented to me the 

 rilli I ran by this meafure ; 1 perfifted in my refolution, I 

 was tied to the flake. To fly was impoffible, and I had often 

 overcome fuch dangers by braving them. 



He went then unwillingly to the palace. Whether he 

 delivered the meflage I know not, but he returned faying, 

 the king was bufy, and could not be feen. I had, in the in- 

 terim, fent Soliman to the Gindi, or Sid el Coom, telling him 

 my difficulties, and the news I had heard. In place of re- 

 turning an anfwer, he came directly to me himfelf ; and 

 was fitting with me when Hagi Belal returned, who, I 

 thought, appeared fome what difconcerted at the meeting. 

 4 He 



