94 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER . 
Mariam and Guebra Menfus Kedus, and prevented from kiff- 
ing the ground ; the king held his hand uncovered, but not 
extended, that is, as if he did not intend or expect that he 
fhould kifs it. Ambha Yafous, after:the ftruggle was over 
about the proftration, fuddenly feized the king’s hand and 
kiffed it, with fome refiftance on the part of the king, who, 
when he had kiffed the back of his hand, turned the 
palm likewife; a great mark of familiarity and confidence 
in this country. There was a fmall ftool, about half a foot 
from the ground, covered with a Perfian carpet. Amha 
Yafous attempted to {peak ftanding, but was not fuffered, 
but conftrained by the two noblemen to fit down on the 
little ftool; they then deluged him fo with rofe-water, that 
I do believe he never in his life was fo wet with rain. Af. 
ter fome general queftions the tent was cleared. All this ce- 
remonial was premeditated and ftudied ; the etiquette could 
not have been more punctually and uniformly obferved 
in any court:of Europe, and would have juft fignified what 
at did here. 
Amua YAsous was a man from twenty-fix to twenty-eight 
years of age, tall, and of a juft degree of corpulence, with 
arms and legs finely made; he had avery beautiful face, 
{mall features, and the moft affable manners. I have thought, 
when I have feen them together, that the king, Engedan, 
and himfelf, were three of the handfomeft men I had ever 
beheld in any country ; befides this, all three had fine under- 
ftandings, noble fentiments, and courage fuperior to the 
greateit danger; charitable too, and humane inclinations, 
were it not for that accurfed indifference, or rather pro- 
penfity, one of them had to fhed human blood; this the 
4 young 
