150 WATTING ROOM. 



roof. This I was given to understand by Walcler- 

 heros, who followed close behind me, was a court 

 of justice, from whose decision, if the parties did 

 not feel satisfied, they appealed to the King. As 

 we passed through a third wicket, a small enclosure 

 on one side attracted my attention, from the circum- 

 stance of several prisoners, shackled by the wrists 

 and ancles with bright and apparently much-worn 

 fetters, endeavouring to get a peep at me through 

 the interstices of their wooden prison. In the 

 next court was collected a great heap of stones, 

 upon which a number of people were sitting ; and 

 here also I was desired to be seated, as I found out, 

 among the noblemen of the country ; for at first I 

 objected to such a lowly couch, until I saw the 

 Wallasmah, whom I knew to be the most powerful 

 of any of the subjects of Sahale Selassee, sitting 

 very contented, wrapt up in his white tobe, his black 

 bald head, little eyes and snub nose, alone appearing 

 from above its ample folds. There were many others 

 of nearly equal rank, who were waiting to see the 

 Negoos ; so choosing the sunniest spot unoccupied, 

 did in Shoa as I saw the Shoans do, and sat down 

 with the rest upon the hard stones. 



I had scarcely comported myself so unassumingly 

 when its due reward followed, by being summoned 

 immediately afterwards into the presence of the 

 Negoos. I found his majesty in the next court, 

 which was nearly circular, and surrounded by a low 

 stone wall instead of the high, ragged palisades, that 



