212 CLAIMANTS SATISFIED. 



improving upon the general system, of making the 

 exchange of old worn out things for nearly new 

 ones, they now appealed to a cloud of witnesses, 

 who took part with them, to testify that many of 

 the jars, baking pans, and instruments for clearing 

 and spinning cotton that were in the house, 

 absolutely belonged to them, and which at various 

 times they had lent to their deceased brother. 

 Tinta, to prove his devotion to me, for being now 

 considered to be in great favour with the Negoos, 

 my friendship was valuable, demurred to the claims 

 of the women ; but Walderheros, who knew me a 

 little better, put an end to their vociferous claims, 

 and recommending them to see me upon the 

 subject, said it would probably be all settled 

 satisfactorily without a complaint being made to 

 the Negoos, which had been threatened by Tinta. 



The market value of every thing that formed 

 their claim did not amount to half a dollar, but as 

 the matter seemed to interest all the inhabitants of 

 the town, it must have been considered of some 

 importance in their eyes, so when they came to 

 appeal to me, and I fully understood, by the 

 interpretation of some Arabs resident in Aliu 

 Amba, what it was that was required, I told the 

 two women they had my consent to take away 

 whatever they chose, only to be quick about it, so 

 that on the morrow I might enter upon my new 

 possession without any more trouble. 



July 23d. — This morning, my house having 



