BRUCE. 
81 
which threw her and Mr Bruce constantly toge- 
ther. Our traveller, besides the care he bestowed 
upon the children, was calculated, both by person 
and manners, to render himself agreeable to the 
fair sex ; so that, with these opportunities, he 
soon made great progress in the good graces of 
the princess, who, from that time, did every thing 
in her power to render his residence in Abyssi- 
nia agreeable. 
Mr Bruce saw Ras Michael, for the first time, 
on his return from a campaign against the Galla. 
He appeared lean, old, with sore eyes, and had 
merely a dirty cloth wrapt about his person. On 
our traveller being introduced, he gave the usual 
salutation, but took no farther notice of him. 
Afterwards, when Mahomet Ghiberti requested 
protection for him, Michael protested the extreme 
difficulty he found in protecting himself, and his 
consequent total inability to protect any other 
person. When, however, he was told that Ya- 
goube (the name borne by Mr Bruce) excelled all 
the Abyssinians in riding and shooting ; and when 
his skill in the latter exercise was proved by his 
piercing a shield with a candle, Michael's neglect 
ceased, and he appointed him to an office near 
his person. Mr Bruce was now admitted to a 
share in the scenes of coarse and brutal festivity 
with which Gondar was then filled? Michael was 
marrying one of his grand-daughters to Powussenj 
VOL. ir. ^ 
