56 
MEMOIR UP RRUCEj 
had been merely flayed off and left entire, wRS 
flapped down over the wound, and fastened by 
means of two sketters or pins ; the part was then 
covered with a cataplasm of clay, after which the 
animal was forced to rise and proceed, until her 
hungry drivers required another meal. This fact 
was one of the very extraordinary events in which 
Bruce’s veracity was called in question; the story 
was laughed at in his own country, and considered 
too absurd to he true ; subsequent observations, 
however, have since that time amply verified his 
statements. 
When the travellers reached Sire, they found the 
peace of that province disturbed, in consequence of 
the insurrection of Fasil, a man of low birth, who 
had been made governor of Damot. Ras Michael 
had marched against him, and succeeded in dis- 
persing his army, after killing ten thousand of his 
men. The whole country through which they 
passed was strewn with ruined villages, the wretched 
monuments of the governor’s cruelty. No other 
event of importance occurred to interrupt them ; 
and after traversing for a month an extensive and 
mountainous region, the party arrived on the 14th 
of February (ninety-five days after leaving Massuah) 
at Gondar. 
The situation of that metropolis is described as 
very romantic. It stands upon the flat summit of a 
hill of considerable height ; the houses were chiefly 
of clay, with the usual conical roofs. The king’s 
palace was a square building, flanked by towers, 
