366 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
Denghel, all my great friends and the hopes of this coun- 
try, I for the firft time, fince my arrival in Abyflinia, aban- 
doned myfelf to joy. 
My conflitution was, however, toomuch weakened te 
bear any exeefles. The day after, when I went home to 
Emfras, I found myfeif attacked with a flow fever, and, 
thinking that it was the prelude of an ague, with whichI 
was often tormented, I fell totaking bark, without any remif- 
fion, or, where the remiffion was very obfcure, I fhut my- 
felf upin the houfe,upon my conftant regimen of boiled rice, 
with abundant draughts of cold water. 
I was at this time told that there was a great commotion 
at Gondar; that a monk of Debra Libanos, a favourite of the 
Iteghe and of the king too, had excommunicated Abba Sa- 
lama in a difpute about religion at the Itrchegué’s houfe; and, 
the day after, Hagi Mahomet, one of Ras Michael’s tent-ma- 
kers, who lived in the town below, through which the high 
road from Gojam pafles, came to tell me, that many monks 
from Gojam had pafled through the low town, and exprefl- 
ed themfelves very much diffatisfied by hearing that a 
frank (meaning me) was in the town above. He faid that 
when they came in fixes and fevens at a time, there was no 
fear; but when they returned altogether (as Michael fome- 
times made them do) they were lke fo many madmen; 
therefore, if I refolved to ftay at Emfras, he wifhed I would 
order him fend me fome Mahometan foldiers, who would 
firictly act as 1 commanded them. 
Ar the fame time I received news that my great friend, 
Tecla Mariam, and his daughter of the fame name, the. 
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