ANTALOW. 37 
provisions, and were much pressed to eat and drink profusely, by 
way of doing honour to the house. In the evening we had several 
pohte messages from the Ras, who sent for our fire-arms, and treated 
Pearce and Ibrahim who took them to him, with great attention, 
seating them on his couch, and giving them plenty of maize. He 
was highly delighted with the guns, and in return sent us a fishing 
net, acquainting us at the same time, that he seldom staid at home 
in the night, but took his pleasure in fishing and hunting. He sent 
us also a dish of stewed fish, which was thought very delicious 
by some of our party. We had a pretty good example of the Ras's 
watchfulness, for about twelve o'clock he sent us some clouted 
cream, and at four 1 was called up to receive the compliments of 
the morning. 
" August 29. — At about ten in the morning we were invited to 
breakfast with the Ras, and were received with the same distinction 
as yesterday, being seated on a sofa, while his minister was placed 
close by on the carpet. We Avere very plentifully fed by the Ras 
himself ¥/ith eggs, fowl in curry, and balls of a mixed composition 
of wild celery, curds and ghee, after which we were offered brinde ; 
but on our expressing a wish to have it dressed, the meat was after- 
wards brought grilled, and cut into small pieces by one of the at- 
tendants, and handed to our mouths by the Ras, much in the same 
way as boys in England feed young magpies. It is scarcely possible 
to describe the scene that was going on in the mean time in the hall, 
where the people were squabbling and almost fighting, with their 
drawn knives, for the raw meat that was handed about, and the teff 
bread that lay heaped up around the table ; there were, however, 
some masters of the ceremony who carried long white sticks, with 
