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Rudland, and Mr. Carter ; to which we returned suitable com- 
pliments. The day passed without any thing worthy of remark. 
I was engaged in penning my sketches of Axum, and Captain Rud- 
land in copying our journal. 
*' September 30.— 'Our bullock, which was slaughtered yester- 
day, furnished all our followers with brinde, after we had selected 
a considerable quantity -of the flesh to be cured for consumption on 
the journey. 
" We were upon such familiar terms with the Ras, that we went 
in and out of his room whenever we chose, and we had, these 
two days, much more communication with the town. He also per- 
mitted several young men, educated to the priesthood, to attend 
upon us ; and we found them, as well as all the Christians with 
whom we had any communication, very willing and apt to acquire 
information. 
" I was engaged this day in painting a picture of the Virgin Mary 
and Christ for the Ras, at his particular request. In the evening 
I and Captain Rudland paid him a visit. We found him, as usual, 
on the carpet playing at chess, to which he devoted much of his 
time. His common adversary at this game, was a man apparently 
of no rank or consequence, paid for the purpose, and whose great 
skill appeared to consist in keeping the game alive ; always per- 
mitting the Ras to be victorious, and to cheat as much as he thought 
proper. A lady came in during our stay, who brought a present to 
the Ras of two cows, and was in consequence very graciously re- 
ceived. The weather was fine." 
" October 1. — The day passed in our usual occupations of draw- 
ing and writing. Having finished the picture for the Ras, I this 
