548 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
As the boha was the principal tree here, and in great 
beauty, being then in flower, I let the caravan pafs, and a- 
lighted to make a proper choice for a drawing, when I heard 
a cry from my -fervants, “ Robbers! Robbers !” | immediately 
got upon my mule to learn what alarm this might be, and 
faw, to my great furprife, part of my baggage ftrewed on 
the ground, the fervants running, fome leading, others on 
foot driving fuch of their mulés as were.unloaded: before 
them; in a word, every thing in the greateft confufion pof- 
fible. Having got to the edge of the wood, they faced a- 
bout, and began to prepare their fire-arms ; but as I fawthe 
king’s two fervants, and the man that Janni fent with us, 
endeavouring all they could to pitch the tent, and my horfe 
ftanding peaceably by them, I forbade our fugitives to fire, 
till they fhould receive orders) from me. I now rode 
immediately up to the tent, and in my way was faluted from 
among the bufhes with many ftones, one of which gave me 
a violent blow upon the foot. At the fame inftant I received 
another blow with a fmall unripe pumpkin, juft upon the 
belly, where I was ftrongly defended by the coarfe cotton 
cloth wrapped feveral times about me by way of fafh or 
girdle. As robbers fight with other arms than pumpkins, 
when I faw this fall at my feet-I was. no longer under ap- 
prehenfion. | | 
NotwitustTanpinc this difagreeable reception, I advan- 
ced towards them, crying out, We were friends, and Ras Mi- 
chael’s triends; and defired only to {peak to them, and would 
give them what they wanted. A few ftones were the only 
anfwer, but they did no hurt. I then gave Yafine my gun, 
thinking that might “have given offence. The top of the 
tent being now up, two men came. forward making gréat 
8 : complaints, 
