- 
160 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
officers were moftly difaffected, engaged in private treaties, 
and in daily expectation of peace. 
A very fhort council was held at the king’s tent; all 
that could be reiolved upon had been already fixed the 
day before, and little had happened fince to occafion any 
alteration. All the young nobility were, as ufual, at Ozoro 
Efther’s. It was with infinite pity I heard them thought- 
lefsly praying for a warm and fair day to-morrow, the eve- 
ning of which many of them were never to fee. 
Besipes the ftores that Ozoro Efther always was provid- 
ed with, the king had fent her two live cattle, wine, bran- 
dy, and hydromel; and what was a very unufual conde- 
fcenfion, the Ras, immediately after council, came into the 
tent, and brought with him a frefh fupply. He was very. 
gracious and affable, faid a number of kind things to eve- 
rvbody, and afked me particularly how we drank in Eng- 
land? 
I EXPLAINED to him as well as I could the nature of our 
toafts, and drinking to the health of our miftreffes by their 
names in bumpers; that our foldiers toafts on fuch a night 
as that, if the general honoured them as he did us now 
with his company, would be, A fair morning, and {peedy 
fight of our enemy. He comprehended it all very eafily, 
and when I faw he did fo, I afked if I fhould give my toatt? 
and he audall the company joining in a loud cry of appro- 
bation, I flled a horn with wine, and ftanding up, for he - 
had forced us all to be feated, I drank, Long life to the king, 
health, happinefs, and victory, to you, Sir, and a fpeedy fight - 
of king Theodorus. A violent fhout of appiaufe followed. 
3 He 
