MEMOIR OF BRUCE. 
61 
at Koscam, where he was cordially received by the 
Iteghe : hut he had been completely neglected by 
all except the Moors, who were grateful for the 
attention he had paid to their children. In the 
evening of the 13th, the Moorish chief, Negade Ras 
Mahomet, informed him that it was in contempla- 
tion to appoint him Palambaras, or master of the 
king’s horse, a very distinguished office both for 
rank and revenue. Bruce remonstrated against all 
preferment, as tending to defeat the great object of 
his visit, and requested that his friends would 
merely use their utmost exertions to induce Ras 
Michael to provide for his safety while proceeding 
to explore the source of the Nile. 
For this purpose it was resolved that the letters 
he had brought from Cairo and Jidda, setting forth 
the power and riches of the English nation, and 
the important character of the traveller, should be 
communicated to the king and the Ras, and a 
personal interview obtained with both. Old Michael 
received him with great dignity, cautioned him 
against the danger “ of wandering in solitary places 
to search for trees and grass, and to sit up all night 
alone looking at the stars of heaven and told him 
that he was to be appointed Baalomaal to the king, 
and commander of the Koccoh horse, that situation 
being one most likely to secure his personal safety 
and leave him at liberty to prosecute his own 
designs. 
From the Ras he proceeded to the palace “ to 
kiss the ground on his new appointment." The 
