338 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



Wallata Gabriel dismissed.' — Reinstated. — Comparison of different 

 races of man. — Of human varieties. — Of the process of brewing. 

 — Abyssinian ale. — Ingredients. — The horn of plenty. 



August l&h. — Wallata Gabriel was a very good 

 housekeeper, but unfortunately, like most other 

 young women in Shoa, and, I believe, in all Abys- 

 sinia, she had a great many followers. Whenever 

 Walderheros and I walked out, some one or other 

 would always be manoeuvring to get out of the house 

 unobserved on our return ; and although I was 

 rather suspicious of some of her lovers making free 

 with what little property I had, still I had as yet 

 never missed anything. I had frequently reminded 

 Walderheros of this weakness in his wife, but he 

 always, in reply, appealed to me if she was not a 

 good servant, although, he added, that it was 

 for my convenience that he recognised her as his 

 wife, and would previously have divorced her, only 

 he thought that together they were so well 

 adapted to manage my domestic affairs, that he 

 could not do better than keep her. Coming in 

 rather inopportunely this afternoon, after a long 

 walk round the town, I could do nothing else but 



