94« TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
Abyssinia ; so that it made no addition to the 
sphere of his travels. These considerations can- 
not, indeed, weigh against positive proof ; but they 
may make us require a higher degree of evidence, 
and more strictly scrutinize any deficiencies, if they 
really exist. It can only be added, that if, from 
some absurd and inconceivable caprice, Mr Bruce 
has really feigned these voyages, he has at least not 
made them the vehicle of any erroneous informa- 
tion as to the countries or their inhabitants. This 
was indeed precluded by his choosing a theatre, where 
he was checked by other travellers of good autho- 
rity. He appeacs, in fact, to have at all events used 
the best materials that were to be had at the time ; 
and his descriptions of the places are good, whether 
he visited them or not. I am far from insinuating 
that such forgeries are not highly culpable, under 
any modification ; but they certainly hold a very 
different place from those of Psalmanazar or Dam- 
berger, who, having chosen for their theme regions 
where neither they themselves, nor any one else, 
had ever travelled, described countries and scenes 
which never existed. 
Lord Valentia having occasion, in 1805, to be 
in the Red Sea, Mr Salt, a very well informed and 
intelligent gentleman, attached to his suite, deter- 
mined to undertake a journey into Abyssinia, which, 
since the time of Bruce, had remained entirely un- 
explored by Europeans. Mr Salt was sent also on 
