42S TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
our kind Shum, we were joined by Seide his eldeft fon, and our Englijh friend Drink, each upon a mule, with two fervants on foot, his father, as he faid, being unwilling to fpare more people, as the whole inhabitants of Alata, their neighbours and friends, intended foon to furprife Guebra. Mehedin, if a feafible opportunity offered.
Though we went brifkly, it was part five before we ar- rived at Dara. Netcho had not ftirred, and had procured another cow from Mahomet, of which all the flrangers, and foldiers who remained, partook. Mahomet, I believe, out of kindnefs to me, had convinced them of the neceffity of ta- king along with them the Shum of Alata's money ; and Netcho well knew that thofe who brought any part of the revenue to Ras Michael were always received kindly ; and he was not interested enough in the caufe to make more hafle than neceilary to join the king.
Strates was completely cloathed, and received his faili. upon my arrival. He feigned to be wonderfully hurt at my having left him behind in my excurfion to the cataract. At fupper I began to queftion him, for the firft time, what had happened to him with Guebra Mehedin. " Sure, Strates,. faid I, you two were once friends ; I have dined with you together many a time at Ayto Engedan's, and often feen you with him in Gondar." — " Gonclar! fays he, I have known him thefe fourteen years, when he was a child in his father Bafha Eufebius's houfe ; he was always playing amongft us at his uncle Kafmati Eflite's ; he was juft one of us ; nay,. he is not now twenty-fix..
Strates-
