216 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
the holy {criptures are written in, and you, a prieft, fhould 
underftand it.”—* That is Geez,” fays he; “ I underftand it, 
though I don’t {peak it.”—* Then,” replied I, “ Ayto Heikel,” 
the queen’s chamberlain, who ftood behind me, ‘‘ fhall in- 
terpret for us; he underftands all languages.” 
“ Asx him, Heikel,” fays he, “ how many Natures there 
are in Chrift.” Which being repeated to me, I faid, “I 
thought the queftion to be put was fomething relating to 
my country, travels, or profeflion, in which I poflibly could 
inftrué& him ; and not belonging to his, in which he fhould 
inftruct me. I ama phyfician in the town, a horfeman and 
foldier in the field. Phyfic is my ftudy in the one, and ma- 
naging my horfe and arms in the other. This I was bred 
to; as for difputes and matters of religion, they are the 
province of priefts and fchoolmen. I profefs myfelf much ~ 
_ more ignorant in thefe than I ought to be. Therefore, when 
-I have doubts I propofe-them to fome holy man like you, 
Abba Salama, (he bowed for the firft time) whofe profeffion 
thefe things are. He gives me a rule and I implicitly fol- 
low it.” “ Truth! truth!” fays he; “ by St Michael, prince 
of angels, that is right; it is anfwered well; by St George! 
he is aclever fellow. They told me he wasa Jefuit, Will 
you come to fee me? Will you come to fee me? You need 
not be afraid when you come to me.” “I truft,” faid I, bow- 
ing, “I {hall do no ill, in that cafe fhall have no reafon to 
fear.” Upon this I withdrew from among the crowd, and 
went away, as an exprefs then arrived from Ras Michael. 
Ir was on the 8th or gth of March I met him at Azazo. 
He was dreffed in a coarfe dirty cloth, wrapt about him like 
a2 blanket, and another like a table-cloth folded about his 
4 head; 
