THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, 115 
’  Tsasiny faw that fo much poverty, joined to fo much 
avarice and pride, made the pofleffor a proper fubject to be 
employed. My young favourite, who had made fo frank 
an offer of her kindnefs, had brought me her brother, beg- 
ging that I would take him with me to Gondar to Ras Mi- 
chael, and allow him to carry one of my guns, no doubt with 
an intention to run off with it by the way. I told her that was 
a thing eafily done; but I muft firft have a trial of his fide- 
lity, which was this, That he would, without fpeaking to 
- anybody but me and her, go ftraight to Janni at Adowa, and 
carry the letter I fhould give him, and deliver it into his 
own hand, in which cafe I would give him a large parcel 
of each of thefe beads, more than ever fhe thought to pof- 
fefs in her lifetime. She frankly agreed, that my word was 
‘more to be relied upon than either her own or her brother’s; 
and, therefore, that the beads, once fhewn to them both, 
were to remain a depofit in my hand. However, not to fend ~ 
him away wholly deftitute of the power of charming, I 
prefented him the fingle ftring of white bugles for his ancle. 
Janni’s Greek fervant gave him a letter, and he made fuch 
diligence that, on the fourth day, by eight o’clock in the 
morning, he came to my tent without ever having been 
miffed at home. } 
Ar the fame time came an officer from Janni, with a vio- 
fent mandate, in the name of Ras Michael, declaring to the 
perfon that was the caufe of our detention, That, was it not 
for ancient friendfhip, the prefent meflenger fhould have 
‘carried him to Ras Michael ia irons; difcharging me from 
all awides ; ordering him, as Shum of the place, to furnifh 
me with provifions ; and, in regard to the time he had cau- 
fed us to lofe, fixing the awides of the whole caravan at 
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