100 
AXUM. 
" A bullock was sent to me by the master of the house in which 
I lodged, who is a brother of Nebrida Aram, and bread and booza 
were supplied twice a day by a daughter of Ras Michael, styled 
Ambati Ozoro Tuckai. I had not however the pleasure of seeing 
her. Having staid one day longer than was expected at Axum, we 
found some difficulty in getting provisions. Our guide, who had 
great respect paid him wherever he went, from being in the imme- 
diate service of the Ras, laid this tax upon my friend the priest, 
who thought himself, however, amply compensated by a piece of 
muslin and a small cornelian cross, which I presented to him. This 
was indeed but a small return for the uniformly kind attention with 
which he had treated us. There feil much rain accompanied by 
lightning in the evening. 
" September 19. — While our attendants were getting the mules 
ready for our departure, I set out with Pearce to the inscription, 
which I again copied with the utmost care and attention. The 
morning was particularly favourable for seeing every part dis- 
tinctly, and I hoped, in which I was not disappointed, that when 
compared with the copy finished the day before, there would be 
found but little difference. At all events I felt satisfied that every 
possible care had been taken to avoid error; wherever a letter was 
doubtful, or wanting, I marked it as such, and wherever there was 
the appearance of a date, I copied it separately upon a large scale. 
I had again an opportunity to compare the copy with the inscrip- 
tion, and to add a few letters at the bottom which, had before 
escaped observation, when I visited Axum on my way to Masso- 
wah. I shall give a fac-simile of it when I come to that part of ray 
work. 
