408 POSTPONE VISIT TO PALACE. 



native princes ; farther than this I was quite 

 ignorant of the purposes for which our Govern- 

 ment had sent political agents into Abyssinia. 

 To learn this, was evidently the chief object 

 that Bethlehem had in view, during our long con- 

 versation; but I think he went away with an 

 impression, that I knew nothing about it, and that 

 the assumed mystery of my hints and suggestions 

 was all affectation to make him believe that my 

 information upon the subject was very valuable 

 indeed. If so, I had reason to be very glad ; for 

 after this interview, no political questions were 

 ever asked me by any of the agents of the Negoos ; 

 and he himself, during the interview the next day 

 but one, confined himself entirely to matters con- 

 nected solely with the improvements and arts, that 

 my education would enable me to introduce a know- 

 ledge of among his subjects. 



I sat all the next morning expecting the sum- 

 mons for me to go up to the palace, but no 

 messenger appearing, and symptoms of the approach 

 of my fever fit coming on, I sent Walderheros to 

 Bethlehem, to represent to the Negoos, the impos- 

 sibility of my going to the palace that day, and to 

 ask for an interview early the next morning, that 

 I might leave Ankobar immediately after, for 

 it was impossible that I could exist many days in 

 that city. 



Oh, the weather in Ankobar ! To look out of 



