266 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
ment every morning fafting, and after that, about eight 
o'clock, he goes to breakfaft. 
Tuere are fix noblemen of the king’s own choofing, 
who are called Baalomaal*, or gentlemen of his bed-cham- 
ber; four of thefe are always with him. There is a fe- 
venth, who is the chief of thefe, called Azeleffa el Camifha, 
groom of the robe, or ftole. He is keeper of the king’s. 
wardrobe, and the firft officer of the bed-chamber. Thefe 
officers, the black flaves, and fome others, ferve him as me- 
nial fervants, and are ina degree of familiarity with him 
unknown to the reft of the fubjects.. 
Wuen the king fits to confult upon civil matters of confe- 
quence, he is fhut up in a kind of box oppofite to the head of 
the council table. The perfons that deliberate fit at the table, 
and, according totheir rank, give their voices, the youngeft or 
loweft officer always {peaking firft. The firft that give their 
votes are the Shalaka, or colonels of the houfehold-troops.. 
The fecond are the great butlers, men that have the charge 
of the king’s drink. The third is the Badjerund, or keeper: 
of that apartment in the palace called the Jion’s houfe; and: 
after thefe the keeper of the banqueting-houfe. The next 
is called Lika Magwafs, an officer that always goes before 
the king to hinder the preffure of the crowd. In war, when. 
the king is marching, he rides conftantly round him at a 
certain diftance, and carries his fhield, and his lance; at 
leaft he carries a filver fhield, and a lance pointed with the: 
fame metal, before fuch kings as do not choofe to expofe 
their perfon. That, however, was not the cafe in my time,, 
as the king carried the fhield himfelf, black and unadorn-. | 
! ed, 
* Baalomaal, which, literally tranflated, is, Mafter of his effects, or goods. 
