g - TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
lim under at Gondar, he could not, confiftent’ with. the re- 
ceived ufages of the country, if it was but for his’ Own re- 
putation’ s fake, fail in’ receiving me in the very beft man- - 
ner in his power, and entertaining me to the utmoft all the 
time I was in his houfe. 
Satisriep that I underftood him, he put on the moft 
chearful countenance: another cow was killed, great plenty 
of hydromel produced, and he prepared to regale us as fump- 
tuoufly as poffible, after the manner of the country. We 
were there, as ofren before, obliged to overcome our repug- 
nance to eating raw flefh. Shalaka Welled Amlac fet us 
the example, entertained us with the ftories of his hunting 
elephants, and feats in the laft wars, moftly roguith ones. 
The room where we were (which was indeed large, and 
contained himfelf, mother, wife, fifters, his horfes, mules, 
and fervants, night and day) was all hung round with the 
trunks of thefe elephants, which he had brought from the 
neighbouring Kolla, near Guefgué, and killed with his own 
hands, for he was one of the boldeft and beft horfemen in 
Abyffinia, and perfectly mafter of his arms. 
Tuts Polyphemus’s feaft being finifhed, the horn of hydro- 
mel went brifkly about. Welled Amlac’s eldeft fitter, whofe 
name was Melectanea, took a particular charge of me, andI 
began to find the neceflity of retiring and going to bed while 
Iwasable. Herethe former ftory came over again; the invari- 
able cuftom of all Maitfha and the country of the Galla, of 
eftablifhing a relationfhip by fleeping with a near of kin, was 
enlarged upon; and, as the young lady herfelf was prefent, 
and prefented every horn of drink during this polite difpute 
concerning her perfon, I do not know whether it will not be 
3 | thou ght 
