fcarcity o f provifions in Gondar, had been the confè-
qùence ; not a word was heard, indeed, of Ras Michael,
•whether he was alivè or dead, but his familiar fpirits
feemed to prefide in the air, and pour down mifchiefi
CH A P ,
=**¡5
C H A P . XI.
th e Author obtains Liberty to return Home— takes Leave o f the Iteghê
at Kofcam— Laji Interview with the Monks.
SINCE thé queen came again to Kofcam, I had palled a
great part o f my time there, but my health declining
every day, I had obtained, with great difficulty,
liberty from her to attempt my return home. The king,
too, after a hundred exceptions and provifos, had at length
been brought to give an unwilling confent. I had feen alfo
Metical Aga’s fervant, who, upon finding Ras Michael was
difgraced, would not flay, but hailed back, and would fain
have prevailed upon me to return with him thro’ Tigré into
Arabia. But befides that I was determined to attempt completing
my journey through Sennaar and the defert, I by
no means liked the rifk o f palling again through Mafuah,
to experience à fécond time the brutal manners o f the
Nay be and garrifon o f that place.
V o l . I V , I i C a p t a i h