Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 4.djvu/27

THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 11

Our company was now increased by our former land- lord at Goutto, where we were obliged to Woldo's strata- gem for discovering the cow that was hid. We sat down chearfully to dinner. Welled Amlac's fall had not spoiled his appetite ; I think he ate equal to four ordinary men. I, for the most part, ate the venison, which was made into an excellent dish, only too much stuffed with all kind of spices. Fasil's wife alone seemed to have a very poor appetite, not- withstanding her violent fits of laughter, and outward ap- pearance of chearfulnefs. A melancholy gloom return- ed upon her beautiful face, that seemed to indicate a mind not at ease. She was of a noble family of Galla, which had conquered and settled in the low country of Na- rea. I wondered that Fasil her husband had not carried her to Gondar. She said her husband had twenty other wives besides her, but took none of them to Gondar; which was a place of war, where it was the custom to mar- ry the wives of their enemies that they had forced to fly, Fasil will be married therefore to Michael's wife, Qzoro Es- ther. I could not help being startled at this declaration, re- membering that I was here losing my time, and forgetting my word of returning as soon as possible ; but we had, for many months, lived in such constant alarms, that it was ab- solutely as needful to seize the moment in which we could repose our mind, as to give rest to the body.

In the afternoon we distributcd our presents among the ladies. Fasil's wife was not forgot ; and the beautiful Me- lectanea was covered with beads, handkerchiefs, and ribbands of all colours. Fasil's wife, on my first request, gave me a lock of her fine hair from the root, which has ever since,

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