172 PREPARATIONS FOR AN 



was about three feet, and about one foot in height, 

 was reached down from a peg, where it had been 

 suspended against the wall, and laid upon the floor 

 before me. In the centre of this, Eichess, the lady 

 of the house, placed a round saucer-like dish of 

 red earthenware, full of the cayenne pottage, which 

 had been long preparing upon the fire, and in which 

 were boiled to a hot fricassee the disjointed limbs 

 of a fowl. A separate heap of three or four of 

 the thin teff crumpets, folded four-fold, was then 

 put for each person. 



Walclerheros, for a few beads, had purchased at 

 the palace about a yard of yellow wax taper, which 

 was merely a long rag dipped into the melted 

 material. Having cut off and lighted a portion of 

 this, he carried it flaring about in his left hand, as 

 he assisted most busily in the arrangement of the 

 supper things. Musculo, not to be idle, had seated 

 himself upon one corner of the bed I occupied, 

 and with the bullock's horn upon his knee occa- 

 sionally replenished my drinking horn, and as 

 frequently assisted me in finishing its contents. 



Everything at length being pronounced ready, I 

 was requested to take my seat at the table, a boss 

 of straw being placed for my accommodation. I, 

 however, preferred remaining on the bed, watching 

 their whole proceedings for want of other amuse- 

 ment. The company, who soon seated themselves, 

 consisted of Eichess, Mahriam, Walclerheros, Mus- 

 culo, and a younger brother of the latter, named 



