GUNPOWDER FOR THE NEGOOS. 275 



four times in the course of an hour. Several others 

 were on their knees upon the ground, leaning over 

 coarse flat stones, grinding the sulphur beneath 

 another heavy one they moved about with the 

 hands. Some hours were employed in this occupa- 

 tion, for it was long before the several materials 

 were reduced to a sufficiently fine powder to com- 

 mence mixing them together. It was too much to 

 expect such another fortunate accident, by which 

 the supply of charcoal had been obtained, and as I 

 knew quite as little of the manufacture of gunpow- 

 der, I was very much afraid I should fail in this 

 attempt also ; I determined, however, it should not 

 be for want of pounding, and to encourage the men, 

 sent Wallata Gabriel with an ahmulah to purchase 

 some ale. 



Tinta came very soon after, and with him, a 

 learned scribe, who had been desired by the Negoos 

 to watch the proceedings, and mark the propor- 

 tionate amounts of saltpetre, charcoal, and sulphur, 

 I used. The scales were produced, and then it was 

 discovered there were no weights, but this difficulty 

 I soon got over by employing bullets, and having 

 duly apportioned the necessary amount of each 

 ingredient, they were thrown together into the 

 largest mortar, with water sufficient to make a stiff 

 paste. A second pounding match now commenced, 

 for to do the business effectually, I divided the mass 

 into three portions, which I placed in separate 

 mortars, and set as many couples at work again. 

 t2 



