136 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
being frightened at the Arabs with their libds, had thrown 
him, after which he had run off and left the horfe among 
the enemy. He begged to have his horte reftored at any 
price, if the man that had taken him was allowed to fell 
him. He at the fame time fent a prefent of a large quan- 
tity of fruit and frefh fifh from the lake. The meffenger 
was a prieft well known by Ras Michael, and warmly at- 
tached to the king, and it was thought came with an er-’ 
rand of more confequence than either about the horfe or 
the fifh. The Ras fent him for his-anfwer to the King, who 
told him, the horfe being taken by the troops of Ras‘el 
Feel, belonged to me, and with me he mutt make his bar- 
gain: chat | was at Gondar, and my return uncertain ; but 
that the next day he might have my anfwer. This was the 
better to conceal the prieft’s real bufinefs, for the King and 
Ras knew how they were to difpofe of the horfe; at leaf 
they certainly knew I was not to return him without their 
orders. 
THE morning after my arrival this fame prieft came to 
me with a mefflage from Gutho, defiring I would fend him 
his horfe, as a proof of the friendfhip which he faid had al- 
ways fubfifted between us, at the fame time offering me any 
fum of money that I might have promifed to content the 
foldiers who took him. As I had before obtained leave 
from Ras Michael to reftore the horfe, fo I did it with the 
very beft grace poflible, fending Yafine himfelf, chief of the 
troops of Ras el Feel, with the metlage to Gutho, that I rec- 
koned myfelf exceedingly happyin having that opportunity 
of obliging him, and of fhewing the value I had ever fet 
upon his friendfhip; that he very well knew the little re- 
gard I had for money, and that the foldier who took the 
I ; horfe 
