224 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
heavens, from which I drew knowledge very ufeful to pre- 
ferve man’s health and life; that I was no merchant, and 
had no dealings whatever in any fort of mercantile matters ; 
and that I had no need of any man’s money, as he had told 
Mahomet Gibbertito provide for any call Imight havein that 
country, and for which he would anfwer, let the fum be 
what it would, as he had the word of my countrymen to 
repay it, which he confidered better than the written fecurity 
of any other people inthe world. He then repeated very nearly 
the fame words ufed in the beginning of the letter; and, 
upon this particular requeft, Metical Aga had fent him a 
diftinét prefent, not to confound it with other political 
and commercial affairs, in which they were concerned to- 
gether. | 
Upon reading this letter, Michael exclaimed, “ Metical 
Aga does not know the fituation of this country. Safety! 
where is that to be found? Iam obliged to fight for my 
own life every day. Will Metical call this fafety? Who 
knows, at this moment, if the king is in fafety, or how long 
I fhall be fo? All I can do is to keep him with me. If I 
lofe my own life, andthe king’s, Metical Aga can never think 
it was in my power to preferve that of his ftranger.”—* No, 
no,” fays Ayto Aylo, who was then prefent, “ youdon’t know 
the man; he is a devil on horfeback ; he rides better, and 
fhoots better, than any man that ever came into Abyfiinia; 
lofe no time, put him about the king, and there is no fear 
of him. Heis very fober and reli gious ; he will do the king 
good. * Shoot!” fays Michael, “he won’t fhoot at me as the 
Armenian did; will he? will he?” “ Oh,” continued Aylo, 
** you know thefe days are over. What is the Armenian? a 
boy, a flave to the Turk. When you fee this man, you'll not 
2 think 
