mailer’s death, as it very probably might have done; but,
by the interpofition o f Ayto Aylo and the Iteghe, we got
the unworthy fubjeft baniihed to Maitiha, fo that Welled
Amlac remained attended b y the fervant who had been fick
with him, and was to be trailed.
N o t to trouble the reader with uninterefting particulars,
Shalaka Welled Amlac at laft recovered after feveral weeks
illnefs. When he firft came to my houfe he was but very indifferently
cloathed, which, in a fick man, was a thing not
to be remarked. As he had no change o f raiment, his
cloaths naturally grew worfe during the time he ftaid with
me ; and, indeed, he was a very beggarly fight when his
difeafe had entirely left him. One evening, when I was-
remarking that he could not go home without killing the-
ground before the Iteghe, he faid, Surely not, and he was
ready to go whenever I ihould think proper to bring him his
cloaths. I underftood at firft from this, that he migh t
have brought fome change o f cloaths, and delivered them
into my fervant’s cuftody; but, upon farther explanation, I
found he had not a rag but thofe Upon his b a c k ; and he told
me plainly, that he had much rather flay in my houfe all
his life, than be fo difgraeed before the world, as to leave it
after fo long a ftay, without my firft having cloathed him
from head to fo o t ; afking me, with much confidence, What
fignifies your curing me, i f you turn me out o f -your houfe
like a beggar 8
I s t i l l thought there was fomething o f jeft in this ; and'
meeting Ayto Aylo that day at Kofcam, 1 told him, laughing,
o f the converfation that had palled, and was anfwered
gravely, “ There is no doubt, you muft cloath him ; to be
fure
fure it is the cuftom." “ And his fervant, too ? faid I.” Certainly,
his fervant too ; and i f he had ten fervants that
ate and drank in your houfe, you molt cloath them all.”
“ I think, faid I, Ayto Aylo, a phyftcian at this rate had
much better let his patients die than recover them at his
own expence.” “ Yagoube, fays Aylo, I fee this is not a cuftom
in your country, but it is invariably one in this : it is-
not fo among the lower fet o f people; but i f you w ill pafs
here as a man o f fome degree o f confequence, you cannot
avoid this without making Welled Amlac your enem y : the
man is opulen t; it is not for the value o f the cloaths, but
he thinks his importance among his neighbours is meafur-
ed by the refpeil fhewn him by people afar o ff; never fear,
he w ill m ake you fome kind o f return, and for the cloaths,
I ihall pay for them.” “ By no means, faid I, m y good
fr ien d ; I think the anecdote and cuftom is fo curious that
it is worth the price o f the cloaths; and I beg that y o u
would believe, that, intending to go through Maitiha, I con-
fider it as a piece o f friendfhip in you to have brought me
under this obligation.” “ And fo it is, fays he r I knew you;
would think fo ; you are a cool difpafiionate man, and w a lk
by advice, and do not break through the cuftoms o f the
country, and this reconciles even bad men to you every
day, and fo much the longer ihall y o u be in fafety.”
T he reader w ill not doubt that I immediately fulfilled
my obligation to Welled Amlac, who received his cloaths,
a girdle; and a pair o f fandals, in all to the amount o f about
two guineas, with the fame indifference as i f he had been buyin
g them fo r ready money. He then aiked for his feryant’s
eloaths, which were ready for him. He only faid he thought
they were too good, and hinted, as i f he ihould take them
fo r