PREFACE. Vll 



I take this opportunity also of expressing to Capt. 

 Haines, the political resident in Aden, my lively 

 feelings of respect and gratitude for kindnesses the 

 most disinterested, and for that assistance without 

 which I could never have undertaken my subse- 

 quent journey. 



Of my reception in Abyssinia by Captain Harris, 

 I speak elsewhere, but the spirit with which my 

 arrival was hailed may be supposed by the fact that 

 during the first evening I managed, according to 

 the notes of our conversation taken by my very 

 courteous entertainer, to assert a falsehood, to 

 which, however, when I became aware of the 

 circumstance I gave an unqualified contradiction, 

 and so ended all friendly intercourse until some 

 months after, when a peace was negotiated through 

 the mediation of Capt. Graham. 



The circumstances of this quarrel were most 

 embarrassing to me, and have, I believe, occasioned 

 considerable indignation on the part of those who 

 had assisted me so far on my travels. Some respect, 

 however, I do owe to myself, and feeling annoyed 

 at being the subject of unworthy imputations, I 

 have abstained from making any explanation 

 whatever. Circumstances already have, in a great 

 measure, exonerated me. The confidence of public 

 men may be abused for a time, but it cannot long 

 be imposed upon. 



Before laying down my pen, I must remark that I 

 am not learned either in the Arab or the Amharic 



