ANTALOW. 
161 
half way there when sent by the Iteghe to recover Mr. Bruce's lost 
property when he first attempted to visit the sources of the Nile ; 
but he confessed that he had no curiosity to go on ; and like all the 
others whom I had spoken to on the subject, appeared to attach 
some degree of mystery to Yagoub's anxiety, about what appeared 
to them all so uninteresting. 
" Both Christians and Mussulmauns spoke in high terms of the 
magnificence of Gondar, and the splendour of the court when the 
King and Ras were together ; but as the scale of their ideas was 
extremely different from our own, it was difficult to estimate rightly 
their assertions. From their flattering account of Adowa, I was com- 
pletely deceived until I reached that place ; and I should suspect, 
that a visit to Gondar would be productive of the same disappoint- 
ment. The town has neither wall nor fortification. The principal 
building is the palace, to which are attached four churches, one at 
each corner. In the rest of the town it is said there are no less than 
forty-two. For the comparative splendour of these buildings they are 
indebted to the Portugueze, who erected them during the continu- 
ance of their power, and have left them as models for the artizans 
of the present time. The want of wood, and the difficulty of procur- 
ing stone, have rendered the little science which still glimmers in 
the country almost useless, for they are ignorant of the art of making 
brick. A few Greek artizans are generally to be found in the coun- 
try, but they are little better than the native workmen. The roofing 
of the houses and the neatness of the thatching are most to be ad- 
mired, but this is entirely done by the Falasha, or Jews. 
" The Royal family are no longer confined to the mountains of 
Wechne, or Way-gne ; this custom having been abolished some 
