296 TAKEN TO THE HOUSE 



broiderecl pattern surprised and gratified the Negoos 

 exceedingly. He threw it over his face to look 

 through it, tried the strength of the thread, and 

 seemed much amused at the idea of its being 

 merely a " guftah" (woman's head dress), for he 

 had taken it to be intended for some dignitary of 

 the Church, to be worn over the shoulders. How- 

 ever, the usual 4f Egzeer ista," and what I required 

 from him, being asked, after I had stated that I had 

 only to return my thanks for the house he had 

 given to me, and had no request to make, the usual 

 abrupt recommendation of me to the care of Heaven, 

 and "you may go," terminated the interview. 



I was not taken back to the shed outside the 

 palace courts, but into a much more comfortable 

 apartment between the two stockades, where I 

 found several priests sitting upon the ground on 

 low chairs, employed perusing a book themselves, 

 or attending to some boys, who, in the usual school 

 tone, were practising a reading lesson, that I was 

 told soon after I went in was a chapter of St. Luke. 

 A few pupils were also receiving their first in- 

 structions in writing. It appeared that this was a 

 religious institution connected with the palace, 

 being the residence of these priests, who about 

 midnight begin chanting their orisons, and keep 

 the howling concert up until daylight. How it is 

 possible for the Negoos, or any one residing within 

 ear-shot of them, to sleep, I do not know, but I do 

 not exaggerate when I say, that to my ears their hoi} 



