ANTALO W 
55 
distance from all habitations ; one we passed on our way from the 
residence of the amiable Ozoro Mantwaub, and another on our way 
to the mansion of Debib, chief of Negashe. In all these many hun- 
dred men were assembled, who therefore do not consider it infa- 
mous (as Bruce asserts) for them to attend a market. 
" At twelve o'clock I sent Hamed Chamie to the Ras to solicit the 
promised audience, but hearing that he stood unnoticed in the hall, 
I determined at once to go without ceremony into the presence, 
attended by Captain Rudland ; thinking it absolutely necessary to 
come to an immediate explanation concerning the absence of 
Hadjee Hamed, and other unpleasant circumstances which had 
reached our ears; more especially as all the persons with me had 
expressed great uneasiness about our situation, being in consider- 
able alarm lest we should be detained m the country. We found 
the Ras engaged at chess with one of his chiefs ; on seeing us he 
offered his hand, seating me by his side, and Captain Rudland next 
to me. Our patience however was nearly exhausted before the 
game was completed, not a single word during this time being 
spoken to us. Some of his people who had been waiting for a con- 
siderable time presented him cakes of bread, honey, a sheep, and 
fire-wood. He now dismissed the whole party, and after a few 
minutes conversation with a priest, who was to give us intelligence 
concerning the latter portion of the Abyssinian history, the room 
was cleared. 
" 1 proceeded to express my regret at the conduct of Hadjee 
Hamed, whom I most solemnly declared I had always treated with 
the greatest attention, as being sent to me by the Ras ; 1 stated also, 
that this man, on leaving me, had given an entirely different reason 
