INTRODUCED TO THE NEGOOS. 293 



wicket in the second enclosure, I got up, and 

 followed by Walderheros, entered the inner court, 

 where I found the Negoos reposing upon a couch 

 placed on one side of the porch, that leads into 

 the principal apartment of the palace. All the 

 buildings were of the same description as those of 

 the other Royal residences, consisting of a wall of 

 splintered ted, six or seven feet high, plastered 

 inside with common red clay, and thatched. Out- 

 side from the projecting eaves were hung in great 

 numbers, the disgusting trophies of Abyssinian 

 warfare stuffed with dry grass. 



My memolagee, on the occasion of this visit was, 

 the gunpowder, which, although Tinta had carried 

 it in previously, with the written account of the 

 mode of preparing it, had been returned to 

 Walderheros, so that I might deliver it in person. 

 The usual Arab word " kaphanter" did duty for 

 " How do you do % " and, disfigured as the counte- 

 nance of the monarch is by one sightless orb, which 

 is more striking from its mottle pearly hue, 

 contrasting with the dark brown colour of his face, 

 still, I consider, the expression of the monarch's 

 features to be pleasing and good-natured. He 

 received the bottle containing the gunpowder, and 

 uncorking it, poured out a little into the palm of 

 his hand, and examined it attentively, and evi- 

 dently with the eye of a man of business. Sahale 

 Selassee, in fact, is particularly interested in the 

 production of a good article of the kind, as, could 



