ANTALOW 
51 
of which the whole base of the mountain consists. At the bottom 
we passed two villages, and after crossing a few low ridges, reached 
Antalow, where we were received by some hundreds of the inha- 
bitants who had assembled to view the strangers. 
" On our arrival, we found the Ras at breakfast, and were invited 
to join him ; the dishes were the same as usual, with the addition 
of boiled cow-heel. The Ras was in good humour, and asked many- 
questions about our churches, our king, kc. An old woman was 
standing behind himj whom he very significantly introduced as a 
proper person for us to become acquainted with, as she had many 
young ladies under her care. He had often before joked with us on 
•the same subject, but had never gone so far as on the present oc- 
casion. After taking our usual quantity of maize, the Ras shew- 
ing an inclination to sleep, we retired. 
" In the evening we went into the hall, and found the Ras at 
chess in the midst of his chiefs. The chess men, which are coarsely 
made of ivory, are very large and clumsy ; when they have occa- 
sion to take any one of their adversary's pieces, they strike it with 
great force and eagerness from its place. I observed that their 
game differs much from ours. Bishops jump over the heads of 
knights, and are only allowed to move three squares. The pawns 
move only one step forward at starting, and get no rank by reach- 
ing the end of the board ; they play with much noise, every person 
around, even the slaves, having a voice in the game, and seizing 
the pieces at pleasure, to shew any advisable move. We observed, 
however, that they always managed with great ingenuity to let the 
Ras win every game. 
" A repast was afterwards served up, at which many ladies were 
VOL. in. H 
