98 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
animated and intelligent countenance. He was in- 
vited to breakfast, where brinde was copiously serv- 
ed up. Our traveller declining this food, was suppli- 
ed with curry, and with round balls made of wild 
cellery, curds, and ghee. The Ras, in sign of pe- 
culiar favour, fed him with his own hand, thrust- 
ing the balls into his mouth in the same manner 
as boys among us feed their magpies. In the outer 
hall, meanwhile, the attendants were scrambling 
violently with drawn knives for the pieces of brinde. 
Welleta Selasse, in Mr Bruce's time, was a young 
man about four or five and twenty ; he was of 
some consequence at court, and is enumerated by 
that traveller among his friends. The first im- 
portant place to which he was appointed, was that 
of protector of the salt caravans. Having quarrelled 
with Ras Michael, he was obliged, on that chief's 
return to power, to take shelter in the mountain- 
ous districts, where he maintained a predatory war- 
fare. At this time he challenged any two chiefs 
of the army to fight him in single combat ; and two 
of distinguished bravery having presented them- 
selves, he killed them both with his own hand. 
This exploit, which was rendered more conspicu- 
ous by his slender and delicate form, raised him to 
high consideration throughout all Abyssinia. On the 
death of the " old lion," as Ras Michael was call- 
ed, he openly contended for the government of the 
provinces east of the Tacazze, of which a succes» 
