428 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER. 
our kind Shum, we were joined by Seide his eldeft fon, and 
our Englifh friend Drink, each upon a mule, with two fervants 
on foot, his father, as he faid, being unwilling to fpare 
more people, as the whole inhabicants of Alata, their 
neighbours and friends, intended foon to furprife Guebra 
Mehedin, if a feafible opportunity offered. | 
TuoucH we went brifkly, it was paft five before we ar- 
rived at Dara. Netcho had not flirred, and had procured 
another cow from Mahomet, of which all the ftrangers, and 
foldiers who remained, partook.. Mahomet, I believe, out of 
kindnefs to me, had convinced them of the neceflity of ta- 
king along with them the Shum of Alata’s moncy ; and 
Netcho well knew that thofe who brought any part of the 
revenue to Ras Michael were always received kindly ;' and: 
he was not imterefted enough in the caufe to make more: 
hafle than neceffary to join the king, 
Srrates. was completely cloathed, and received his fafly 
upon my arrival. He feigned to be wonderfully hurt at my 
having left him behind in my excurfion to the cataract. 
At fupper I began to queftion him, for the firft time, what: 
had happened to him with Guebra Mehedin. “ Sure, Strates,, 
{aid I, you two were once friends; I have dined with you 
together many atime at Ayto Engedan’s, and often feen. 
you with him in Gondar.”—“ Gondar! fays he, I have knowm 
him thefe fourteen years, when he was a.childin his father 
Bafha Eufebius’s houfe; he was always playing amongft 
us at his uncle Kafmati Efhté’s ; he was juft one of us ; nay,, 
he is not now twenty-fix.. 
STRATES: 
