106 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
reaches one whose situation obliges him to remain 
content with it. The table is occupied by suc- 
cessive parties of a descending scale of rank ; and 
when the last cakes are to be shared, a violent 
scramble usually arises. 
Mr Salt, in his second journey, was instructed 
to proceed to Gondar, on a mission to the king 
of Abyssinia, for which the most splendid of his 
presents were to be reserved. The Ras, however, 
on this plan being mentioned, first advised against, 
and at length positively interdicted it. He, at 
the same time, expressed his own perfect readi- 
ness to receive all the presents destined for that 
monarch. Although this arrangement did not 
accord with Mr Salt's wishes and intentions, yet 
the situation in which he stood appeared to leave 
him no alternative but to yield. He, therefore, 
delivered the presents, and set out for Massuah. 
