THe SOURCE .OY TH Ee NTL E. 222 
much time to myfelf as poflible; and what I was moft an- 
xious about at prefent, was to know when it would be con- 
venient for them to admit me to fee the Ras, and deliver. 
my letters as a ftranger. 
MAHOMET went away, and returned, bringing Mahomet 
Gibberti, who told me, that, befides the letter I carried to 
Ras Michael from Metical Aga his mafter, he had been 
charged with a particular one, out of the ordinary form, 
dictated by the Englifh at Jidda, who, all of them, and par- 
ticularly my friends Captain Thornhill, and Capt. | homas 
Price of the Lyon, had agreed to make a point with Metical 
Aga, devoted to them for his own profit, that his utmoft 
exertion of friendthip and intereft, fhould be fo employed 
in my recommendation, as to engage the attention of Ras 
Michael to provide in earneft for my fafety and. fatisfac- 
tion in every point. 
Tus letter I had myfelf read at Jidda; it informed Mi-- 
chael of the power and riches of our nation, and that they 
were abfolute mafters of the trade on the Red Sea, and 
ftri@ly connected with the Sherriffe, and in a very particular 
manner with him, Metical Aga; that any accident happen- 
ing to me would be an infamy and difgrace to him, and 
worfe than death itfelf, becaufe, that knowing Michael’s 
power, and relying on his friendfhip, he had become fecurity 
for my fafety, after Larrived in his hands; that | was a man 
of confideration in my own country, ae, to the king of 
it, who, though himfelf a Chriftian, governed his fubjects 
Muffulmen and Pagans, with the fame impartiality and juf 
tice as he did Chriftians. That all my defire was to examine 
fprings and rivers, trees and flowers, and the ftars in the 
heavens. 
