THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. = 471 
Turkey, and Arabia, where I learned it 5 but I have likewife 
often fpoken it in Abyffinia, where Greek, Turkith, and fe- 
veral other languages, were ufed.” He faid, “ Impoffible! 
he did not think they knew any thing of languages, except- 
ing their own, in Aby‘finia.” 
Tuere were fitting in the fide of the room, oppofite to 
him, four men dreffed in white cotton fhirts, with a white 
fhaul covering their heads and part of their face, by 
which it was known they were religious men, or men of 
learning, or of the law. One of thefe anfwered the king’s 
doubt of the Abyffinians knowledge in languages. “ They 
have languages enough; and you know that Habefh is. 
called the paradife of affes.” During this converfation, I 
took the fherriffe of Mecca’s letter, alfo one from the king 
of Abyflinia; I gave him. the king’s firft, and then the 
fherriffe’s. He took them both as I gave them, but laid 
afide the king’s upon a cufhion, till he had read the fher- 
riffe’s. After this he read the king’s, and called immediate- 
ly again for an Abyffinian interpreter ; upon which I faid no- 
thing, fuppofing, perhaps, he might chufe to make him de- 
liver fome mefflage to me in private, which he would not 
have his people hear. But it was pure confufion and ab- 
fence of mind, for he never fpoke a word to him when he 
came. “ You are a phyfician and a foldier,” fays the king. 
“ Both, in time of need,” faid I. “ But the fherriffe’s letter 
tells me alfo, that you are a nobleman in the fervice of a 
-great king that they call Englifeman, who is mafter 
of all the Indies, and who has Mahometan as well as: 
Chriftian fubjects, and allows them all to be governed 
by their own laws.”—“ Though [ never faid fo to the ther-. 
rifte, replied I, yet it 1s true; 1 am as noble as any indivi- 
| dual 
