THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. ~ 53 
prevent me, repeated the words in a hurry, le gzeir, be gzeir, 
or, for God’s fake don’t, for God’s fakedon’t. However, the 
compliment was paid. As foon as I arofe, without defiring 
me to fit down, he afked aloud, Have you feen the king? I 
faid, Not yet. Have you any complaint to make againft any 
one, or grace to afk? I anfwered, None, but the continuance 
of your favour. He anfwered, That lam fure I owe you; 
go tothe king. I took my leave. I had been joftled and 
almoft {queezed to death attempting to enter, but large 
room was made me for retiring. - 
Tuer reception I had met with was the infallible rule 
according to which the courtiers were to {peak to me: 
from that time forward. Man is the fame creature every- 
where, although different in colour.: the court of London 
and that of Abyflinia are, in their principles, one. I then 
went immediately to the kingin the prefence-chamber. His 
largeft tent was crowded to a degree of fuffocation ; I re- 
folved, therefore, to wait till this throng was over, and was 
going to my own tent, which my fervants pitched near that 
of Kefla Yafous, by that general’s own defire, but before I 
could reach it I was called by a fervant from the king. 
‘Though the throng had greatly decreafed, there was itill a 
very crowded circle. 
Tue king was fitting upon an ivory ftdol, fuch as are re- 
prefented upon ancient medals; he had got this as ‘a pre- 
fent from Arabia fince he went td Tigré; he was plainly, but 
very neatly drefled, and his hair combed and perfumed. 
When I kiffed the ground before him, “ There, fays he, is 
an arch rebel, what punifhment fhall ‘we infli@ upon him?” 
_* Your majefty’s juftice, faid I, will not fuffer you to infli@ | 
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