284. TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
anion on the mule was a liar, and that I fhould not be a- 
fraid, for there was no danger on the road, and that Ayto eg 
Confu would be at Tcherkin as foon as I; from which, and 
his faying juft the contrary to you, I do believe the whole is 
a ftratagem of the king. 
Aut agreed in this. Hagilfmael mentioned it as a proof 
of the worthlef{nefs of Chriftians, that even their kings 
were as great liars as common men; and we had fcarcely 
done with this confultation, and difpelled our fears, when 
word was brought to the tent, that the chiefs of two of 
the principal villages were at the door, defiring to be ad- 
mitted, and had with them feveral fervants loaded with: 
provifions. They were immediately introduced, and they 
prefented us with two goats, feveral jars of bouza,and 
a quantity of bread, which I divided among my retinue, — i 
now become half Chriftians and half Mahometans, neither _ 
‘of wliom ate meat killed by the other. | 
Arrer the firft civilities were over, I afked the governor i 
of Waalia all the queftions that were needful “about the 
ftate of the roads and the country, and whether the Shan- 
galla ever made an attempt upon Tcherkin? They faid, All 
was 'peace ; that the people came and went to the market / 
without being interrupted. They laughed at the queftion 
about the Shangalla. Ayto Confu, they faid, fometimes i 
went down and deftroyed many of that people, and brought f 
others away as flaves ; but the Shangalla were not men to at- 
tack a place where there was anumber of horfe, nor toclimb 
mountains to deftroy houies well flored’ with fire-arms. 
Have you, faid I, feen nobody pafs by from Ayto Confu 
lately? About four or five days ago, anfwered he, a fervant 
was here, with orders to have victuals ready for you; whoa 
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