392 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
On the 14th, at day-break, I mounted my horfe, with all 
my men-fervants, leaving the women-fervants and an old 
man to take care of the houfe. It was very unfafe to tra- 
vel in fuch company at fuch an hour. We croffed the river 
Arno, a little below Emfras, before we got into the plain ; 
after which we went ata fmart gallop, and arrived at Lam- 
gué between eight and nine o’clock. 
EARLY as it was, the king was then in council, and 
Ras Michael, who had his advifers affembled alfo in his 
tent, had juft left it to goto the king’s. There was a- 
bout 500 yards between their tents, and a free avenue is 
conftantly left, in which it is a crime to ftand, or even to 
crofs, unlefs for meflengers fent from the one to the other. 
The old general difmounted at the door of the tent; and 
though I faw he perceived us, and was always at other times 
moft courteous, he paffed us without taking the leaft no- 
tice, and entered the tent of the king. 
AtTHOuGH my place in the houfehold gave me free ac 
cefs to wherever the king was, I did not choofe, at that time, 
to enter the back tent, and place myfelf behind his chair, as 
I might have done; | rather thought it better to go to the 
tent of Ozoro Efther, where | was fure at leaft of getting a 
good breakfaft : Nor was I difappointed. As foon as | fhew- 
ed myfelf at the door of the tent of that princefs, who was 
lying upon a fofa, the moment fhe caft her eyes upon me, 
cried out, There is Yagoube! there is the man I wanted! 
The tent was cleared of all but her women, and fhe then 
began to enumerate of feveral complaints which fhethought, 
before the end of the campaign, would carry her to her 
grave. It was eafy to fee they were of the flighteft kind, 
2 though 
