MEMOIR OF BRUCE. 51 
tionary was first to rob and then to assassinate 
Bruce. He desired him to prepare three rich 
presents, to be delivered to him on three separate 
days ; and when this request was denied, he threat- 
ened that unless he paid him down three hundred 
ounces of gold, “ he would confine him in a dungeon, 
without fight, air, or meat, until his bones came 
through his skin.” 
At length Bruce succeeded in over-awing this 
brutal savage (whose naked slaves were ready at a 
word to plunge their knives into the “ Christian 
dog”), by threatening him with a broadside from an 
English man-of-war, and telling him that he had 
already sent forward his despatches to Ras Michael 
and the king of Abyssinia, who would most certainly 
punish him if he offered any interruption to his 
journey. The old Naib found himself thus com- 
pletely outwitted; he dreaded the terrible name 
of Ras Michael, who made and unmade kings and 
governors at pleasure j and after some other ineffec- 
tual attempts to intimidate Bruce, by pretending 
that an insurrection had broken out in the country 
through which he had to pass, he allowed him to 
proceed. Meantime letters had arrived from Ras 
Michael, expressing surprise why “ the physician 
sent by the king from Arabia” was detained so long, 
and commanding the Naib to furnish him with the 
necessary supplies, and forward him without loss of 
time. 
Every thing was speedily arranged and ready for 
his departure. The faithful Achmet still appre* 
