132 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
nies. The caufe was never properly known; fome attri- 
buted it to the jealoufy of Ozoro Efther, others alledged 
that fhe had taken poifon from apprehenfion of falling inta 
the hands of Ras Michael: whatever was the truth, her fer- 
vants certainly told me, that fhe had confeffed fhe had taken 
poifon, and not till the pain became violent, and then fhe 
turned afraid, would fhe confent to have an exprefs fent to 
Ozoro Efther, to bring me from the camp. I had unluckily 
left it before to attend Ayto Confu, neither is it probable I — 
could have been of any fervice, as the poifon fhe had taken | 
was arfenic. This accident detained me that whole day, fo 
that, inftead of returning to the army, I went to Ayto Confw 
at Kofcam, where I found another meflenger in fearch of 
me. 
Tue king’s Mahometan was returned from Sennaar, and 
with him Soliman my fervant, who brought me anfwers to 
the letters I had written; they had come by Beyla to Ras el 
Feel, by Sim Sim, and the weftern deferts, the way to Teawa 
being much infefted by gangs of Arabs, and Ganjar horfe, 
who murdered every body they found in their way. They 
brought with them only twelve horfes, eighteen coats of 
mail,and about thirty libd*; thefe were moftly returns made. 
by the principal members of government to the prefents. 
the king had fent them, for every body at Sennaar now fet 
too great a value upon the armour, and horfes, to part ea- 
fily with them, on aecount of the unfettled ftate of the 
times, the hiftory of which we thall give afterwards. 
My 
* Thefe are leather coats quilted with cotton, ufed inftead of coats of mail: both maa andi 
horfe are covered with them, and they give to both a monflrous appearance. 
7 
