364 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
was very much furprifed to hear him fay gravely, and with- 
out hefitation, “ I have as good an opinion of Yafine as 
you can have; and | have as bad a one of Abdel Jelleel as 
any man in Gondar, for which, too, I have fufficient rea- 
fon, as it is but lately the king told me peevifhly enough, I 
did not look to my affairs, (which is true) as he underftood 
that the diftrict was ruined by having been neglected. But ~ 
{am no longer governor of Ras el Feel, I have refigned it. I 
hope they will appoint a wifer and better man; let him 
choofe for his deputy Yafine, or who elfe he pleafes, for 
have fworn by the head of the Itegheé, I will not meddle or 
make with the government of Ras el Feel more.. 
TecLa Marra, the king’s fecretary, came in at that ine. 
ftant with a number of other people. I wanted to take- 
Confu afide to afk him further if he knew who this gover 
nor was, but he fhufHled among the crowd, faying, “ My 
mother will tell you all; the man who is appointed is your 
friend, and I think Yafine may be the-deputy.” I now loft 
no time in going to Ozoro Efther to intercede for the go- 
vernment of Ras el Feel for Yafine.. 
Amonc the crowd I met firft Tecla Mariam, the king’s. 
fecretary, who taking me by the hand, faid, with a laughing 
countenance, “Oho, I wifh you joy; this is like aman; you 
are now no ftranger, but one of us; why was not you at 
court?” Ifaid I had no particular bufinefs there, but that. 
I came hither to fee Ayto Confu, that he might fpeak in fa- 
vour of Yafine to get him appointed deputy of Ras el Feel.. 
“ Why don’t you appoint him yourfelf? fays he; what has 
Confu to do with the affair now? You don’t intend always 
to be in leading ftrings? You may thank the king for your- 
{elf 
