TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
73 
Nile, which appeared to him yet undiscovered, 
though they had long excited the curiosity of the 
most celebrated philosophers, and even conquerors. 
On this subject, he laboured under some errors. 
The object at best was a very secondary one to that 
which he really accomplished, of exploring the phy- 
sical and moral character of a region so vast, and 
presenting so many interesting features. Mr Bruce 
was aware, that the journey was dangerous. He 
fortified himself, therefore, by a firman from the 
Porte, and by letters from the sheriffe of Mecca, 
and his minister, Metical Aga. He was warned 
that all these would but imperfectly protect him 
against the Naybe of Arkeeko, a stupid and blood- 
thirsty wretch, who, in the confusion of the coun- 
try, had rendered himself nearly independent, and 
made it a regular practice to rob and murder every 
stranger. Our traveller, however, was not to be 
easily intimidated. He had been preceded by his 
guide, Mahomet Ghiberti, who spread the report 
that a great prince, son or brother to a king, was 
soon to arrive at Massuah, This boasted extrac- 
tion did not prevent the Naybe from proposing in 
council, that he should be put to death, and his ef- 
fects seized upon. His nephew Achmet, however, 
strongly objected to such a measure, not on the 
ground of honour, which would have made little im- 
pression in such a quarter, but in consideration of the 
danger of committing this outrage upon so mighty 
