GUNDUFTCH 
2,09 
J and under him. Ras Michael gave him a house at Koscam, but 
never employed him in any of the offices of state : he was a favour- 
ite of the Iteghe, and of Ozoro Esther: he went to the Nile, and 
was robbed on his way thither by the son of Absa Bega, at Kor- 
ringa, and he (Hadjee Hamed) was the person sent by government 
to recover his property. He declared positively that Bruce never 
had any country given him, not even at the head of the Nile ; nor 
was any command conferred on him, either by the King or the Ras ; 
nor was he in any of the battles between Welleta Fasil and Ras 
Michael; and during the battle of Serbraxos, especially, he was 
residing in the house of the Aboona Joseph. He generally lived at 
Koscam with the Iteghe, by whom, as well as by the King, the Ras, 
and Ozoro Esther, he was much respected : it was by the interest 
of the Iteghe, in particular, that he recovered that part of his pro- 
perty, of which he was robbed in his way to the head of the Nile. 
He did not understand well Amharic or Tigre, and did not speak 
much more Arabic than I do, but had with him an interpreter named 
Michael : he generally avoided going much into company. 
" Yusuph, interpreter to the late Aboona, paid me a visit on the 
26th of September. He had accompanied the Aboona hither from 
Alexandria thirty-five years ago, and is related to Marcus, the pre- 
sent Greek Patriarch. He said that he knew Bruce well, and sent 
three of his own people to attend him to Sennaar ; that he heard of 
his having got safely there, but had never learned what became of 
him afterwards. He spoke of him with much regret, and appeared 
sorry to hear of his death. He and every one with whom I have 
conversed confirmed the character of Ras Michael, as given by 
Bruce. He said that the late Aboona held that station thirty-three 
