INTRODUCTION. lxxii 



abating juft as much of that in private as fuited their 

 humour and inclinations. I foon acquired a great fup- 

 port from thefe at court ; jealoufy is not a paflion of the 

 Abyilinians, who are in the contrary extreme, even to in- 

 difference. 



Besides the money I had with me, I had a credit of L. 403 

 upon Youfef Cabil, governor of Jidda. I had another upon 

 a Turkim merchant there. I had flrong and general re- 

 commendations, if I (liould want fupplies, upon Metical Aga, 

 iirit minifter to the llierrifle of Mecca. This, well managed, 

 was enough; but when I met my countrymen, the captains 

 of the Englifh mips from India, they added additional 

 flrength to my finances ; they would have poured gold 

 upon me to facilitate a journey they fo much defired upon 

 feveral accounts. Captain Thornhill of the Bengal Mer- 

 chant, and Captain Thomas Price of the Lion, took the con- 

 duct of my money-affairs under their direction. Their Sa- 

 raf, or broker, had in his hands all the commerce that pro- 

 duced the revenues of Abyffinia, together with great part 

 of the correfpondence of the eafc ; and, by a lucky accident 

 for me, Captain Price flaid all winter with the Lion at Jid- 

 da ; nay, fo kind and anxious was he as to fend over a fer- 

 vant from Jidda on purpofe, upon a report having been 

 raifed that I was fla.in by the ufurper Socinios, though it 

 was only one of my fervants, and the fervant of Metical 

 Aga, who were murdered by that monfter, as is faid, with 

 his own hand. Twice he fent over filver to me when I had 

 plenty of gold, and wanted that metal only to apply it in 

 furniture and workmanmip. I do not pretend to fay but 

 fometimes thefe fupplies failed me, often by my negligence 

 Vol. I. k m 



