MEMOIR OP BRUCE. 
63 
gam, annoyed Mm so grievously, that lie almost 
resolved to abandon the object of his journey, and 
ask permission to return by Tigre. 
The marvellous boast about the tallow candle 
had excited the king’s curiosity so far, that he pro- 
fessed himself incredulous of the result until he 
should see the experiment tried. Bruce, who had 
no doubt of convincing his majesty, ordered three 
strong buffalo hides to be suspended against a post 
close in contact behind each other ; and having put 
one half of a farthing candle into his loaded musket, 
he discharged the contents through all the shields 
with such violence* that the tallow was dashed into 
a thousand pieces against a stone wall, some dis- 
tance beyond the targets. Shouts of applause from 
the crowd followed tMs exploit, which were re- 
doubled when they saw the other half of the candle 
fired through a table of sycamore. The priests, 
who were Ms great enemies, alleged the whole was 
done by magic ; but on the king’s mind it made 
the most favourable and lasting impression, so that 
ever after he treated Bruce with the most decisive 
marks of confidence and friendship. This simple 
feat, which every school-boy- can perform, raised 
Bruce into notice, and was long remembered in that 
country, where the story was told to the English 
traveller, Henry Salt, forty years afterwards. 
As a more substantial token of court favour, 
Bruce was created governor of Eas el Feel, a western 
district adjoining the frontier of Semiaar. 
Meanwhile, the rebel Fasil no sooner heard of. 
