CHELICUT. 
285 
Ras Gabriel, after the conversation was finished, declaring, that 
his opinions were very just, and that his religion was a good 
one/' From this time his treatment of Mr. Fearce became very 
kind ; bot he continued from day to day to delay granting him 
permission to proceed,and tried, with great earoestness, to persuade 
him to return back to Antalo : with this judicious advice, how- 
ever, the latter could not, for the present, be induced to comply. 
About this time, Mr. Fearce, who had for some days before 
felt a sharp pain in his eyes, was seized with a violent disorder, 
which, from his description of it, appears to have been a com- 
plete attack of ophthalmia. This disease occasioned a temporary 
loss of sight, and confined him almost entirely to his bed. 
During this period, he received a friendly visit from one of his 
most intimate female acquaintance in Tigre, called Wirkwa, who 
was accompanied by a young man named Guebra Merri,whom she 
introduced as her brother. At the time of their happening to call, 
Mr. Fearce' s servants were both absent ; his boy being engaged 
in looking after the mule, and the girl having gone out for a 
supply of water. The visitors, on entering, took a seat by his 
bed-side, and the lady began, with great apparent fondness and 
commiseration, to condole with him upon his ill health. In this 
her brother appeared very heartily to join, and they both toge- 
ther displayed so much tenderness respecting his misfortunes, 
and expressed so many kind wishes for his welfare, that Mr. 
Fearce, after they were gone, felt quite overcome with the interest 
they seemed to take in his welfare, being delighted to find, that 
so much true friendship existed in the country. He had not, 
however, long enjoyed the pleasure resulting from such feelings. 
