Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 4 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773Bruce, James
History
Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 4 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773
Bruce, James
Egypt -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- History; Natural history -- Ethiopia; Nile River
He did not seem to take notice at my first entering the room, nor
till I was very near him. He then came aukwardly forward, bowing,
endeavouring to kiss my hand, which I withdrew from him, and said in a
firm voice, "I apprehend, Sir, you do not know me." He bowed and said
he did, but did not conceive, at the time, it was me that encamped at
the brook. "You did know, Sir, when you sent your son with Yasine's
servant, and you know that you are considerably in my debt. Besides,
if you had any gratitude, you would remember the arrears I remitted
you, and the presents I made you when at Serbraxos, even though you
misbehaved there. Your message to me while below at the river was the
language of a rebel. Are you willing to be declared in rebellion?"
He said, "By no means; he had always been a faithful servant to Ayto
Confu, Ras Michael, and the king, and had come to Serbraxos upon
receiving the first order, and would obey whatever I should command."
"Then pay me the meery you owe me, and begin first by bringing two
camels." "He said, he never refused the camels, and the message he
sent was but in sport." "And was it sport too, Sir, said I, when you
said you would send me the flesh of elephants to eat? Did you ever
know a Christian eat any sort of flesh that a Mahometan killed?" He
answered, "No; and begging my pardon, promised he would send me bread
and honey, and the camels should be ready in the morning. They must
be ready to-night, said I, and before night too; for I am to dispatch
a servant this evening to Ayto Confu to complain of your behaviour,
as I do not know what you may meditate against us in our way to Ras
el Feel." He begged now, in the most earnest manner, I would not
complain; and said, he would have all his spies out to the eastward,
that not a Shangalla should pass to molest us, without our being
informed of them. Some of his principal people now interfering, I
consented to forget and forgive what had passed. We then ate bread,
and drank beer, to show the reconciliation was sincere, and so the
affair ended.
About six in the evening came two strong camels, and about thirty
loaves of bread made of Dora; two large wheat loaves for me, as also a
jar of wild honey, of excellent flavour, and with these a present to
Ayto Confu's servant.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account