THE SPY SYSTEM. 191 



by certain little acts of my servant ; led me at last 

 to reconcile the apparent anomaly of a very rascally 

 proceeding, according to our ideas of social pro- 

 priety, being quite compatible in Shoa with real 

 fidelity, for my servant, the best that any man by 

 good fortune could have fallen in with, reported 

 every day to Tinta, whilst he remained in Aliu 

 Amba, every visit I made or received, and I could 

 not propose to go even to the next town for a morn- 

 ing's walk, but some reason would be found to defer 

 it until after a consultation with my balderabah, or 

 at least my intention made known to him. 



This system of surveillance was most unpleasant 

 to me, because of the groundless suspicions it seemed 

 to betray ; but I was sensible that my best policy 

 was to pretend not to see this jealous care, but by 

 every endeavour on my part, to deserve and secure 

 the confidence of a prince whom I admired for his 

 virtues, and the respect of a people, none but the 

 most depraved themselves, could help liking for their 

 simplicity, and for the extreme goodness of their 

 disposition. 



