230 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER | 
Ayto and Heikel had gone on to the palace, wondering, 
as did the whole company, what.could.be:my private con- 
ference with Michael, which, after playing abundantly 
with their curiofity, I explained to them next day. 
‘I went afterwards to the king’s palace, and met Aylo 
and Heikel at the door of the prefence-chamber. Tecla 
‘Mariam walked before us to the foot of the throne; after 
which I advanced and proftrated myfelf upon the ground, 
“JT have brought you a fervant,” fays he to the king, “ from 
fo diftant a country, that if you ever let him efcape, we fhall 
never be able to follow him, or know where to feek him.” 
This was faid facetioufly by an old familiar fervant; but 
the king made no reply, as far as we could guefs, for his 
mouth was covered, nor did he fhew any alteration of 
countenance. Five people were {tanding on each fide of the 
throne, all young men, three on his left, and two on his 
right. One of thefe, the fon of Tecla Mariam, (afterwards 
my great friend) who ftood uppermoft on the left hand, 
came up, and taking hold of me by the hand, placed me 
immediately above him ; when feeing I had no knife in 
my girdle, he pulled out iis own and gave ittome. Upon 
being placed, I again kiffed the ground. 
Tue king was in an alcove; the reft went out of fight from 
where the throne was, and fat down. The ufual queftions 
now began about Jerufalem and the holy places—where my 
country was? which it was impoflible to defcribe, as they 
knew the fituation of no country but their own—why I came 
fo far?-—whether the moon and the ftars, but efpecially the 
moon, was the fame in my country as in theirs?—and a great. 
many fuch idle and tirefome queftions. I had feveral times 
gy, offered © 
