MASSOWA. . 449 
coDVeyance, and to this occurence, together with the kind and 
uniform attention of Mr. Smith, who had gone up with me into 
the country, I consider myself as indebted for my life. On the 4th 
of June I was carried on board, and on the 5th, after having re- 
munerated all my Abyssinian attendants, aod taken leave of 
Ayto Debib, we set sail. As I had a particular opportunity of 
observing the good qualities which this young man possessed, I 
shall here give a short sketch of his life, as I consider that it 
affords a favourable specimen of the Abyssinian character. 
Debib was the son of a chief on the coast, commanding a small 
district called Biir, and early in life, in one of the Ras's excur- 
sions, he was taken prisoner. His manners, even when a boy, were 
so engaging, that he was taken much notice of by the Ras, and 
put with several other young prisoners (a general policy, for which 
the Ras deserves much credit) under the care of a learned priest 
to be educated.* At the period of my first arrival in Abyssinia, he 
had reached the sixteenth year of his age, had made consider- 
able progress in his education, and was remarked for the propriety 
and steadiness of his conduct. About two years after I left the 
country he became so distinguished among his companions for 
the prudence of his conduct, and the superiority of his manners, 
that he rose into favour with the Ras, and was employed on 
several missions to the Governor of Samen, and other chiefs. This 
kind of trust is attended with great advantage, as on departure of 
a messenger, the Ras generally presents him with a dress and a 
mule ; and the chief to whom the message is sent^ takes an oppor- 
* The discipline under which these young men were kept was strict, not to say severe^ 
the whip on many occasions not being spared. 
