have had it thought that I was the oecafion o f his death, after
it had been fo often faid, though falfely, that I had been the
caufe o f that o f his brother. Mahomet delivered him to
Confu and me, without heiltation, and promifed not to complain
to Ras Micha e l;'but he threatened, i f ever again he
fell into his hands, that he would certainly put him to
death, which he well faw would not be very difagreeable
to any o f his relations, provided it happened in the field, or
any other way than by the hands o f a public- executioner.
Ayto Confu, however, indited upon bringing him out, and
correcting him publicly, though he was by ten years the
younger o f the two ; and the wretch was accordingly fc—
verely whipt with wands, and delivered after to a fervant
o f Ozoro Efther’s to conduit him to fome fafe place, where
he might be out o f the reach o f Ras Michael, at leaft for a
time.
W e now got on horfeback, and having ordered Yafine
and his foldiers to difarm, we all went in the habit o f peace,
with jo yfu l hearts, to meet the king, who was already arrived
at Mariam-Ohha, and was encamped there fince about
eleven o’clock that forenoon.
My firft bufinefs was to wait on Ras Michael, who, tho’
very bufy, admitted me immediately upon being announced.
T h is was a compliment I was under no necellity o f
paying him, as the k in g ’s fe rv an t; but I was refolved to
take nothing upon me, but appear in all the humility o f a
private ftranger. This he quickly perceived, fo that, when
he faw me approaching near him to kifs the ground, he
made an effort as i f to rife, w hich he never did, being lame,
nor, could do without h e lp ; ftretching out his hand as i f to
prevent
prevent me, repeated the words in a hurry, be gzeir, be gzeir,
or, for God’s fake don’t, for God’s fake don’t. However, the
compliment was paid. As foon as I arofe, without defiring
me to fit down, he a iked aloud, Have you feen the king? 1
faid, Not yet. Have you any complaint to make againil any
one, or grace to afk? I anfwered, None, but the continuance
o f your favour. He anfwered, That I am fure I owe you ;
g o to the king. I took m y leave. I had been joftled and
almoft. fqueezed to death attempting to enter, but large
room was made me for retiring.
T h e reception I had met with was the infallible rule
according to which the courtiers were to fpeak to me
from that time forward. Man is the fame creature everywhere,
although different in colour the court o f London
and that o f Abyffinia are, in their'principles, one. I then
went immediately to the k in g in the prefence-chamber. His
largeft tent was crowded to a degree o f fuffocation ; J refolved,
therefore, to wait till this throng was over, and was
g o in g to my own tent, which my fervants pitched near that
o f Kefla Yafous, by that general’s own defire, but before I
could reach it I was called b y a fervant from the king.
Though the throng had greatly decreafed, there was ftill a
very crowded circle. *
T h e k in g was fitting upon an ivory flo o lffu ch as are re-
prefented upon ancient medals ; he had got this ;as a prefen
t from Arabia fince he went to Tigré; he was plainly, but
■very neatly dreffed,. and his hair combed and perfumed.
When I killed the ground before him, “ There, fays he, is
an arch rebel, what punifhment ihall we inflict upon him ?”
“ Your majefty’s juftice, laid I, w ill not fuffer you to ifïfliét
H 2 any