2772 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
ed by a high outer-wall, which may have above an Fnglith 
mile of circumference. This outer precinét is all occupied 
by foldiers, labourers, .and out-door fer¥ants ; within this 
is another large court inclofed by walls likewife, in this the 
“apartments are but of one ftorey, appropriated to the princi- 
pal officers, priefts, and fervants. In this allio is the church, 
built by the prefent Iteghé, herfelf, and reckoned the rich- | 
eft in Abyflinia. They have large crofles of gold for their 
proceflions, and‘kettle-drums of filver. The altar is all co- 
vered with gold plates, all the gift of their magnificent pa- 
tronefs. The priefts, too, were all rich, till Ras Michael 
feized, and applied part of their revenue to his own ufe, and 
that of the ftate, and thereby reduced them to a condition, 
much more agreeable to the vows of poverty, which from 
pride they had made, than was their former one. 
“Tue third, or inner court, is referved for the queen’s own 
-apartments, and fuch of the noble women as are her attend- _ 
JAR 
ants, are unmarried, and make up her court. Behind the 
palace, higher i the hill, are houfes of people of quality, 
chiefly her own relations. Above thefe the mountain rifes 
very regularly, in form of a’cone, covered with herbage to 
the very top; on the eaft fide is the road from Walkayt; on 
the weft from Kuara, and Ras el Feel; that is all the low 
country, or north of Abyflinia, Boke Nine upon the Shan- 
galla, through which lies the road to Sennaar, 2 
Ir was the 26th of December 1771, at one o’clock in the | 
afternoon, that I left Gondar. I had purpofed to fet out early 
in the morning, but was detained by the importunity of my 
friends. The king had delayed my fetting out, by feveral 
orders fent me in the evening cach day ; and! plainly faw rf 4 
2 % there 
