THE SOURCE OF THE NILF, ars 
Again all was wonder. It occafioned me many idle hours 
before the curiofity of the palace was fatisficd, {[ faw the 
_ queen once every day at her levee, fometimes in the even- 
ing, where many priefts were always prefent., I was, for 
the moft part, twice a-day, morning and evening, with Ozo-. 
ro Efther, where I feldom. met with any. 
One day, when I went early tothe queen, that I might 
get away in time, having fome other engagements about 
noon, juft as I was taking my leave, in came Abba Salama. 
At firft he did not know me from the change of drefs; but,. 
foon after recollecting me, he faid; as. it were, pafling, “ Are 
yyou here? I thought you was with Ras Michael.” I made 
him no anfwer, but bowed, and took my leave, when he 
called out, with an air of authority, Come back, and beckon- 
ed me with his hand.. 
Severat people-entered the room at that inftant, and F 
ftood ftill in the fame place where I was, ready to receive> 
the Iteghé’s orders: fhe faid, “Come back, and fpeak to 
Abba Salama.” I then advanced:a. few paces forward, and: 
faid, looking to the Iteghé, “ What has Abba. Salama to. 
fay tome?’ Hebegan directing his difcourfe tothe queen,. 
“Is he a-prieft?. Is he a:prieft?’ The Iteghe anfwered very 
gravely, “Every good manis a prieft to himfelf ; in that fenfe, 
and no other, Yagoube is a prieft.”—“Will you anfwer a.que- 
ftion that I will afk you?” fays he to me, with.a-very pert 
tone of voice. “I.do not know but I may, if it is a difcreet 
one,” faid I, in Tigre. “ Why don’t-you fpeak-Amharic ?” 
fays he to me ingreat hafte, or feeming impatience.. “ Be- 
eaufe I cannot {peak it well,” faid I. “ Why don’t you, on 
the other. hand, fpeak Tigré.to me?.it is the languase’ 
the 
