368 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
for the ftricteft friendfhip fubfifted between them. We met 
there with Ozoro Efther, who was vifiting the beautiful Te- 
cla Mariam in her indifpofition. Seeing Aylo, Heikel, and 
me together at that time of night, fhe infifted that the 
young lady and I fhould be married, and fhe declared 
roundly fhe would fee it done before fhe left the houfe. As. 
neither of my patients were very ill, a great deal of mith 
followed. Ozoro Efther fat late; there was no occafion for 
the compliment of feeing her home, the had above three 
hundred men with her. 
Arter fhe was gone the whole difcourfe turned upon 
religion, what we believed or did not believe in our coun- 
try, and this continued till day-light, when we all agreed 
to take a little fleep, then breakfaft, and go to court. We 
did fo, but Aylo went to Kofcam, and Tecla Mariam to the 
Ras, fo met none of them with the king. When I went 
in he was hearing a pleading upon a caufe of fome confe- 
quence, and paying great attention. One of the parties had 
finifhed, the other was replying with a great deal of grace-. 
ful action, and much energy and eloquence.—They were 
bare down to their very girdle, and would feem rather pre- 
pared for boxing than for fpeaking. 
Tus being over, the room was cleared, and I made my 
proftration. “ I do demand of you, fays the king abruptly, 
Whether Nebuchadnezzar is a faint or no?” I bowed, fay- 
ing, “ Your majefty knows I am no judge of thefe matters, 
and it makes me enemies to {peak about them.”—*T know, 
fays he gravely, that you will anfwer my queftion when I 
afk it; let me take care of the reft.”——“J never thought, faid 
I, Sir, that Nebuchadnezzar had am pretenfions to be a 
B faint. 
