346 
C H E L I C U T. 
and, according to the established rule, which is borrowed from 
the laws of the Mosaic institution, he was given up to the rela- 
tions of the deceased, to do with him as they pleased/' The 
course commonly followed on these occasions is, to take the 
offender to the market-place, and there, in the face of the public, 
to dispatch him, with knives and spears : every relation and 
friend of the deceased making it a point of duty to strike a blow 
at the criminal. The young man was conducted towards the 
market-place, and so much violence was expressed by the rela- 
tions that his fate seemed inevitable. Fortunately for Chelika 
Negusta, he was a particularly handsome man ; which circum- 
stance, together with the intrepidity he had displayed throughout 
the trial, interested all the Ozoros belonging to the court, and 
through their intercession a deputation of priests was immedi- 
ately sent to plead in his behalf ; every lady offering to contribute 
her share towards commuting the punishment. The relations, 
however, appeared inexorable, and he was led in awful silence 
to the place of execution, where their spears were raised in readi- 
ness to strike the final blow, but the priests again interfering, and 
threatening the anger of the church if they persisted, the fear of 
excommunication fortunately produced its due effect, and after a 
long debate it was finally agreed that he should receive a pardon, 
though no less a sum than three hundred wakeas of gold were 
paid down on this occasion as the price of the blood that had 
been shed. Subsequently to this event, Chelika Negusta had 
risen highly in the general esteem, and the confidence placed in 
him by the Ras, in confiding us to his protection, was a sufficient 
testimony of his good opinion. 
