182 DURGO ARRANGEMENTS 



As I had then no more than sixteen dollars, all 

 of which I might be called upon to pay at any 

 moment to different parties of my escort and 

 Kafilah friends, I was in some measure obliged to 

 be dependent upon the hospitality of the Negoos, 

 upon whom the information that I was very poor 

 had a very contrary effect to what was intended by 

 the embassy. In fact, the chief object of Tinta in 

 following me was, to arrange with me in what 

 manner I would receive the durgo of bread and 

 wine which he, as Governor of Aliu Amba and my 

 balderabah, had to provide. Walderheros, upon 

 whose sagacity and honesty I could depend, advised 

 me that I should make a composition or agreement 

 with Tinta, that instead of receiving all the rations 

 of bread, honey, butter, &c, to deliver which, daily, 

 at my house would have been very inconvenient to 

 him, I w T ould take the same quantity of grain as 

 Sheik Tigh, and although three times more than I 

 should actually require for making bread, that 

 which would remain, Walderheros remarked, he 

 could easily exchange in the market for fowls or 

 sheep. 



The proposition being both reasonable and con- 

 venient, Tinta agreed immediately, but added, that 

 the honey and the butter coming direct from the 

 stores of the Negoos, he had nothing to do with them, 

 and they would be continued every month in the 

 same quantities that I had just received them, aiid if 

 this were not done, I was to complain to him. 



