4 o 4 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
We continued our journey in fight of many villages till^ three quarters after twelve, we came to the river Gomara, where we ilaid in fearch of trees and herbs the reft of the day. At night we received a meffage from Ayto Adigo, Shum,. or governor, of Karoota. He was an officer of con- fidence of the Iteghe's ; had been a great friend of Mariam Barea's, one of whofe vaffals he was, and in his heart an in- veterate enemy to Ras Michael and the new fuccefiion. Ever fince the murder of Joas he had not ventured to Gon- dar. When I firft came there the Ras had given his houfe, as that of an outlaw, to me. Afterwards, as foon as he returned, I offered immediately to furrender it to him ; but he would not by any means accept ir, but afked leave to pitch his tent in one of the courts furrounded with walls, for it was a fpacious building. Perhaps it was the beft fi- tuation he could have chofen, for we did him great fervice by the means of Ozoro Either, as he was but very ill-looked upon, and was rich enough to be confidered as an object of Ras Michael's rapacity and avarice. Our neighbourhood occafioned us to pafs many evenings together, and we con- tracted a friendfhip, the rather becaufe he was a fervant cf the Iieghe, and we were known. favourites of Ozoro Either,.
SLdfri'CTr— '■ '■ iii m* 1&J7
CHAT.
