76 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA, 
ever, strongly objected to such a measure, not on 
the ground of honour, which would have made 
little impression in such a quarter, but in consi- 
deration of the danger of committing this out- 
rage upon so mighty a prince, at the very time 
when an English vessel was lying off the harbour 
of Jidda, The Naybe thereupon half consented to 
spare this victim. 
Mr Bruce arrived at Massuah on the ^Oth of 
September, and immediately waited on Achmet, 
whom he found sitting in the market-place dress- 
ed in a large white muslin frock, similar to those 
worn in Europe by children ; an attire neither 
suited to his figure nor character, but which form- 
ed his full dress. Mr Bruce saw him afterwards 
at his house in undress, when he wore only a pair 
of calico drawers. He questioned him strictly if 
he really was of that exalted rank, reported by 
Mahomet Ghiberti, Our traveller frankly told 
him the real state of the case, which did not cause 
any coolness in Achmet's friendship. On the 
^Ist, the Naybe arrived at Massuah, and Mr 
Bruce was introduced. He found him sitting in 
a large wooden elbow chair, at the end of two 
files of naked attendants, and with no other dress 
than a cotton shirt, so dirty, that all hope of its 
ever again being clean seemed at an end. The 
letters were presented, to which he paid very lit- 
tle attention, but merely laid them beside him^ 
