S30 
CHELICUT. 
spent a great part of each day with the Ras, being allowed free 
access to his presence, through a private door communicating 
between the gardens of our respective habitations. Oh these 
occasions I generally found him engaged in the administration 
of justice, or in receiving chieftains and ladies of consequence, 
who came from distant parts of the country to pay their duty ; 
and when otherwise unemployed, invariably occupied in playing 
at chess, a game to which he appeared greatly devoted. I un- 
derstood, indeed, that no surer method could be practised for 
attaining his favour, than that of acquiring a knowledge of this 
game, and when playing with him, ingeniously to contrive that 
he should never be the loser. Ayto Debib, who stood high in 
his favour, was particularly well skilled in this game. In addi- 
tion, he had acquired, by playing with Mr. Pearce, a perfect 
knowledge of the game of drafts. 
During this time our party received daily invitations to the 
Ras*s evening repasts, and at such times, in the presence of his 
chiefs, he always paid us distinguished attention, constantly exhi- 
biting, to their no small admiration, the pistols, spear, knife, and 
other presents which he had received from England ; and the 
conversation generally turning on subjects in which we were 
principally concerned. At these meetings, a more than ordinary 
attention to decorum appeared to be kept up, and a much less 
quantity of maiz, than usual, was drank, owing to the continuance 
of Lent, a fast which is here observed, agreeably to the practice 
of some of the primitive Christians, for fifty-two days. Though 
every kind of flesh was excluded during this period, yet the table 
was plentifully served with wheaten bread, fish, dressed in dif- 
