TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
69 
fifteenpence, and a hen a penny. The market 
was held daily in an open square, in the centre of 
the city. There was also a slave market in the 
square before the palace. An extensive trade was 
carried on by way of Saquem, (Suakem,) on the 
Red Sea. The exports were ivory, tamarinds, ci- 
vet, gold dust, &c. : the imports very various, chief- 
ly spices, hardware, toys, particularly a species of 
black beads made at Venice. 
Our traveller, for what reason we know not, 
spent three months at Sennaar, during which time 
he was treated with the greatest honours. It then 
appeared time to proceed on his destination. He 
was delayed nineteen days at Geasim, (Giesim.) 
Here the plain terminating, and the country rising 
into mountains, they were obliged to sell all their 
camels, as unfit for travelling a rough and uneven 
ground. After passing for some days through vast 
groves of tamarind trees, they arrived at Serka, the 
frontier town of Abyssinia. The route lay now 
over mountains, cultivated to the summit, and co- 
vered with fine trees unknown to Europe. On 
the road, Father Brevedent died, an event deeply 
lamented by Poncet, who, besides various other 
eminent qualities, ascribes to him the gift of pro- 
phecy, and the power of working miracles. On 
the 21st July he arrived at Gondar, and the very 
next day received a private visit from the emperor, 
whom he continued to see almost daily $ but it wa£ 
