AGORA. 349 
in single combat, with no other weapon than those ordinarily 
used by the Abyssinians ; an instance of intrepidity that I can 
very well believe him to have shewn, from the little that I saw of 
his general character. His features were completely Roman, 
and there was a manliness in his walk, an openness in his man- 
ner, and a contempt of all artifice displayed in his conduct, 
strongly indicative of a brave man. Even the very horse on 
which he rode, seemed to partake, in a certain degree, of the 
same spirit which animated his master, and v/ould not, as I 
understood, let any one else mount upon his back. 
At the house of this chief we spent one of the most agreeable 
days I ever recollect passing, in a company not indeed the most 
polished, but where so much genuine character, native worth, and 
real independence were displayed, that it made ample amends 
for the absence of more refined conversation and manners. 
Towards evening, the view of the mountains of Samen became 
exceedingly magnificent, and I sat for a long time watching 
the gradual descent of the sun behind the stupendous forms 
which these grand masses exhibited, feeling a melancholy sensa- 
tion of awe stealing over my mind, that I shall not venture to 
describe ; though in this place I cannot help observing, that, if 
ever I for a moment felt, that the frailty of human nature stood 
excused in offering up its adoration to this glorious luminary, it 
was when I witnessed its setting behind the mountains of Samen. 
On the 8th of April we left Agora, at an early hour, and pro- 
ceeded westward, about three miles, when, having arrived in one 
of the most picturesque scenes that can be imagined, among 
some rude rocks, rising by the side of the river Arequa, we left 
