THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 49 
pulled out in a moment, and your carcafe to be thrown to 
thedogs.” | 
Wuat he faid was true; bad kings have moft execu- 
tioners. I was not, however, difmayed ; 1 was in my own 
mind, ftranger and alone, fuperior to fuch a beaft upon a 
throne. “ The Iteghé, faid I, is at prefent at Kofcam, and 
will inform you if I told her of any gold that was ftolen from 
me, except a gold-mounted knife which the late king gave 
me at Dingleber the day after the battle of Limjour, and 
which was accidentally left in my houfe, as] had not worn 
it fince he went to Tigré.” He fquirted at this moment an 
arch of tobacco-fpittle towards me, whether on purpofe or 
not I do not know. I felt myfelf very much moved; it nar- 
rowly miffed me, At this inftant an old man, of a noble 
appearance, who fat in a corner of the room next him, got 
up, and, in a firm tone of voice, faid, “Ican bear this no 
longer; we fhall become a proverb, and the hatred of all 
mankind.. What have you to do with Yagoube, or why did 
you fend for him? he was favoured by the late king, but 
not more than I have feen Greeks or Armenians in all the 
late reigns; and yet thefe very people confefs, in their own 
country, they are not worthy of being his fervants. He is 
a friend, not only to the king, but to us all: the whole peo- 
ple love him. As for myfelf, I never fpoke to him twice 
before; when he might have gone to Tigré with Mi- 
chael his friend, he ftaid at Gondar with us:.fo you, of all 
others, have leaft reafon to complain of him, fince he has 
preferred you to the Ras, tho’ you have given him nothing. 
As for riding, I wifh Yagoube had juft rode with you as 
much as with Tecla Haimanout, and you fpent as much 
time with him as your predeceflor did; laft night's difgrace 
Vou. IV. G | would 
