THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 367 
moft beautiful woman in Abyfiiaia after Ozoro Efther, 
were both ill at Gondar. There needed no more for me to: 
vepair inftantly thither. I muted my head up as great of- 
ficers generally do when riding near the capital. I paffed at: 
different'times above twenty of thefe fanatics on the road, fix: 
and feven together; but either they did not know me, or 
at leaft, if they did, they did:not fay any thing; I came to Ay-~ 
to Aylo’s, who was fitting, complaining of fore eyes, with: 
the queen’s chamberlain, Ayto Heikel,. 
Arrterthe ufual falutation,I afked Aylo whatwas the mat-- 
ter in town? and if it was true that Sebaat Gzier had excom-- 
municated Abba Salama? and told-him that I had conceived 
thefe difputes about faith:had been long ago fettled. He an- 
fwered with an affected gravity, “That it was not fo.;. that. 
this was of fuch: importance that he doubted it would 
throw the country into great convulfions ; and. he would 
mot advife me to-be feen:in the ftreet.’—“ Tell:me, I befeech: 
you, faid I, what it is about.. I. hope not the old ftory of the 
Franks ?’-—“ No, no, fays he, a great deal worfe than that, it 
is about Nebuchadnezzar :’—and he broke out in a-great fit 
ef laughter. “The monk of Debra Libanos fays, that Ne- 
buchadnezzar is afaint ; and Abba Salama fays that he was. 
a Pagan, Idolater, and a: Turk, and that he is burning in 
hell fire with Dathan and Abiram.’—‘ Very well; faid I, I 
cannot think.he was a.Mahometan if he was a Pagan anc 
Idolater ; but I am: fure I-fhall make’no.enemies upon this 
difpute.’—* You are deceived, fays he; unlefs you tell your 
opinion in this country you are reckoned:an cnemy to both 
parties. Stay, therefore, all night, and do not appear on the 
ftreets ;” and, upon my telling them I was going to Tecla 
Mariam’s, who was ill, they rofe with me to go thither, , 
for 
