PROCEEDINGS IN ENGLAND. i?77 
ferent times, and had treated them as equals, by giving them the 
title of Brother. James the First of England had written to his con- 
temporary ; and his letter, on this occasion, furnished a precedent 
for his Majesty's. The wishes of Ayto Galoo, the King, were, that 
a person should be sent to him who understood raising water, a me- 
dical man, and a carpenter. It was, unfortunately, not possible to 
comply with these requests by a merchant vessel; but I was di- 
rected by Mr. Canning, to prepare such presents as I thought would 
be acceptable, and would, at the same time, serve as specimens of 
our finer manufactures. 
It being considered decorous that his Majesty's letter should be 
delivered by a gentleman sent for that purpose, I pointed out Mr. 
Salt, as by far the most eligible person, from his having been already 
in the country, from his amiable manners, and respectable charac- 
ter. He was accordingly appointed ; and I made all possible haste 
in preparing the presents, which consisted of arms after the fashion 
of the country, but ornamented with gold and jewels; satins, cut 
glass, painted glass, jewelry, and fine British muslins, in the whole 
amounting to about fourteen hundred pounds ; a sum inconsider- 
able in England, but which, when laid out in the above articles, has 
procured an assortment of novelties, that will surpass all which the 
court of Abyssinia has beheld since the time of Yasous the Great, 
and will certainly impress the present monarch with a favourable 
idea of the power and riches of his new ally. 
A more useful and highly important part of the presents was^ 
two pieces of curricle artillery, with the harness complete, one 
hundred and fifty rounds of ball, and a qiiantity of powder. If these 
should reach Antalow in safety, the Ras will be able to march fronj 
