THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 369 
faint. He was a fcourge in God’s hand, as is famine or the 
‘plague, but that does not make either of them a wholefome 
‘vifitation.”——“ What! fays he, Does not God call him his fer- 
vant? Does he not fay that he did his bidding about Tyre, 
‘and that he gave him Egypt to plunder for his recompence? 
Was not it by God’s command he led his people into capti- 
vity? and did not he believe in God, when Shadrach, Me- 
fhech, and Abednego efcaped from the fiery furnace? Sure- 
ly he mutt be a faint.”—“I am perfectly fatisfied, faid I, and 
give my confent to his canonization, rather than either 
upon the queftion.” He now laughed out, and feemed great. 
dy diverted, and was going to fpeak, when Tecla Mariam, 
-and a number of others, came in. I withdrew +o the fide 
with, refpect, as the fecretary had a fmall piece of paper ‘in 
his hand. He ftaid about two minutes with the king, 
when the room filled, and the levee began. I wifhed Tecla 
Mariam might not be the worfe for laft night’s fitting up. 
-“ The better, the better, fays he, much the better. You fee 
we are becoming all good, day and night we are bufy about 
religion.” —“ Are you upon Nebuchadnezzar to-day, friend? 
-faid I; the king fays tome he is a faint.” —* Juft fuch a faint, 
1 fuppofe, fays he, as our Ras Michael, who, I believe, is jea- 
lous of him, for he is going himfelf to decide this difpute 
immediately. Go to the Afhoa* and yeu will hear it.” 
THERE was a number of people in'the outer court of the 
king’s houfe, crying very tumultuoufly for a convocatien of 
the church. At twelve o’clock there was ne word of Mi- 
Vor. II. 3A chael 
# The largeft court, or outer {pace, furrounding the king’s koufe. 
