268 CHELICUT. 
words, occasionally interspersing a few observations which may 
serve to illustrate and connect the chain of the narrative. 
I have mentioned in my former journal the reasons which 
induced me to leave Mr. Pearce in Abyssinia, at the urgent 
desire of the Ras, and the promises which he had made me 
respecting the treatment, which, as a stranger, he should expe- 
rience. For some time after I had left the country, it appears 
that the Ras had strictly adhered to the good intentions which 
he then expressed, and, at his particular desire, Mr. Pearce con- 
tinued to remain attached to the service of Ozoro Setches, the 
legitimate wife of the Ras. This lady bore a very high character, 
being descended from one of the first families in the country, and 
by a stipulation, made at her marriage, claimed a right of 
receiving a tenth of every musket and cow paid in tribute to the 
Ras. It may be necessary to observe, in this place, that, although 
the chiefs of the country by ancient custom assume the privi- 
lege of marrying several wives, yet, that one alone is considered 
legitimate by the church ; the only marriage, regarded as indis- 
soluble by the priests, being that in which the parties have taken 
the sacrament together subsequently to the celebration of the 
rites. This ceremony the Ras had gone through with Ozoro 
Setches, and, in consequence, notwithstanding that his affections 
had been long weaned from her, yet he found it impossible to 
dissolve the tie. 
With this lady, Mr. Pearce remained, as a sort of confidential 
friend, for about half a year, through whom the Ras conveyed his 
wishes, when, owing to the influence of Basha Abdalla^ who 
appears to have been in the interests of the Nayib of Massowa, and 
