BOOKS [JN THAT LANGUAGE. 197 



application. With this work I therefore got on 

 very well, for one great advantage was, the interest 

 my teacher took in the subject, which, of all others, 

 next to sacred writings, is most calculated to excite 

 the attention of an active but ignorant mind. 

 Long after Sheik Tigh had given up his duty of 

 attending me, when he returned again to Aliu 

 Amba from Bulga, he reminded me of my promise 

 to bestow upon him my geographical lesson-book, 

 and I was pleased to see wdth what reverence he 

 received, and the care with which he prevented it 

 from receiving any injury, by making a strong 

 leathern case, in which he deposited it when not in 

 use. 



This was not the only instance, I observed, of 

 the desire on the part of the people of Shoa, 

 both Christians and Mahomeclans, to possess the 

 Amharic translations published by the Church 

 Missionary Society. The Christians, of course, 

 generally asked for the books of Moses, and of the 

 four Evangelists. Tinta, in return for some trifling 

 memolagee, or gift, desired me to procure him both 

 these works, but before I could oblige him, an 

 opportunity offered, of purchasing the latter in the 

 market. He immediately bought it, and the next 

 time he called upon me, one of his servants carried 

 the purchase before him in triumph, and I was 

 desired to get him a geography instead of the book 

 lie had procured himself. 



Tinta, in his character as my " balderabah," 



