40 A SOBER GOVERNOR. 



invaders from the low plains of Adal occurred no 

 later than the year 1537. 



From the 27th to the 31st of May, Mr. Scott 

 and I remained in easy durance at Farree. We 

 were frequently summoned to the presence of the 

 Wallasmah, whom we would amuse by firing off 

 my gun, or teaching his son, a boy about fourteen 

 years old, to let off percussion caps without shutting 

 his eyes. The dreadful experiment would never be 

 attempted by papa, but he wonderfully enjoyed the 

 bright promise of his hopeful progeny, the child of 

 his old age, who, on the other hand, annoyed us 

 not a little by the unsatisfied pertness with which 

 he demanded to be so indulged. 



Day after day were we most solemnly promised 

 that we should start upon the morrow, but without 

 any intention of being permitted to do so, beyond 

 the accident occurring of our being sent for by 

 the King. Perhaps our importunity excited a 

 desire to gratify us, and what they wished for our 

 sake the kind-hearted people of Farree asserted 

 would be, because of the great probability that the 

 messenger who had been sent to the King to receive 

 his commands, would return sooner than he did. 



I am not going to acquit the Wallasmah on this plea, 

 for his want of courtesy towards us; for from some 

 incomprehensible antipathy, he would, had he dared, 

 have placed us in irons, and even on occasions of 

 our visiting him, when we endeavoured to do every- 

 thing we could to please him, a surly smile was our 

 only return for some little gratification we might 



