THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 20% 
next morning, and that he fhould carry me to Kofcam and 
introduce me to her. I told him that I was ready to be di- 
rected by his good advice; that the abfence of the Greeks, 
- and Mahomet Gibberti at the fame time, had very much 
diftreffed me, and efpecially the apprehenfions of Petros. 
He faid, {miling, That neither Petros nor himfelf were bad 
men, but that unfortunately they were great cowards, and 
things were not always fo bad as they apprehended. What 
had frightened Petros, was a converfation of Abba Salama, 
whom they met at Kofcam, exprefling his difpleafure with 
fome warmth, that’a Frank, meaning me, was permitted to 
come to Gondar. “ But,” fays Ayto Aylo, “ we fhall hear to- 
morrow, or next day. Ras Michael and Abba Salama are 
not friends; and if you could do any good to Welled Ha- 
waryat his fon, I fhall anfwer for it, one word of his will 
ftop the mouths of a hundred Abba Salamas.” I will not 
trouble the reader with much indifferent converfation that 
paffed. He drank capillaire and water, and fat till paft mid-. 
night. 
Azza Satama, of whom we fhall often fpeak, at that time 
filled the poft of Acab Saat, or guardian of the fire. It is 
the third dignity of the church, and he is the firft religious 
officer in the palace. He had a very large revenue, and ftill 
a greater influence. He was a man exceedingly rich, and 
of the very worft life poflible; though he had taken the 
vows of poverty and chaftity, it was faid he had at that 
time, above feventy miftrefles in Gondar. His way of fe- 
ducing women was as extraordinary as the number fedu- 
ced. It was not by gifts, attendance, or flattery, the ufual 
means employed on fuch occafions ; when he had fixed his 
defires upon a woman, he forced her to comply, under pain 
Vor. Il. Cc | of 
