By the time our traveller reached Jidda, a port of considerable note, he presented a very woebegone appearance. He had been suffering for some time from ague, and the anxieties and dangers of his journey had told upon him to such an extent that the Emir Bahar, a captain of the port, could scarcely believe that he was an Englishman, but took him for a Galiongy, or Turkish sailor. At the house frequented by the Bengal merchants he was also looked upon as an impostor; but a certain benevolent Captain Thornhill, looking upon him as a countryman in distress, procured him immediate succour and a passage to India, and sent him into a sort of warehouse where the merchants were accustomed to show samples of their goods.

Feeling himself safe here, Bruce, after taking some refreshment, stretched himself on the ground to enjoy the first quiet sleep he had been able to indulge in for many days, and as he lay dozing he could hear several English sailors, who sauntered down from the quay to take a look at him, discussing his appearance among themselves, and they all seemed to decide that he was a particularly ill-looking fellow, and beyond all question a Turk. In the meantime, however, Jousef Cubil, governor of Jidda, a person of an inquisitive, or rather acquisitive, turn, began inspecting the traveller's trunks with a general view to plunder, by the ingenious process of taking off the hinges, and thus opening them at the back, without disturbing the locks, and greatly was this dignitary disturbed on finding a firman of the Grand Seignior,

C

a white satin bag addressed to the Khan of Tartary, a green and gold silk bag with letters for the Sherriffe of Mecca, a plain crimson satin bag with letters for Metical Aga, and, lastly, a letter to himself from Ali Bey, peremptorily commanding him to advance the bearer's views by every means in his power. Jousef at once proceeded to where Bruce sat contentedly on a mat at the Bengal house, solacing himself with coffee, and when matters had been explained, strong letters of recommendation were procured for him to the Prince of Massuah, the King of Abyssinia, Michael the prime minister, and the King of Sennaar, and in addition to this Mahomet Gibberti, an Abyssinian, was sent with Bruce to Massuah (Massouah) to witness and report on his reception there.

Bruce was greatly astonished at the manner in which trade was carried on at Jidda, and at the confidence with which cargoes are disposed of on credit to Arab and Turkish merchants. He says, "Nine ships may be there from India, some worth perhaps two hundred thousand pounds. One merchant, a Turk living at Mecca, some thirty hours' journey off, where no Christian dares venture, whilst the whole continent is open to the Turk for escape, offers to purchase the cargoes of four out of these nine ships himself; another of the same caste comes and says he will buy none unless he has them all. The samples are shown, and the cargocs of the whole nine ships are carried into the wildest parts of Arabia by men with whom you would not willingly trust yourself alone in the field. This is not all. Two Indian brokers come into the room to settle the price-one on the part of the Indian captain, the other on that of the buyer, the Turk. Mahometans nor Christians, but have credit with both. on the carpet, and take an Indian shawl, which they carry on their shoulders like a napkin, and spread it over their hands. They talk in the meantime on different subjects of the arrival of ships from India, or of the news of the day, as if they were employed on no serious business whatever. After about twenty minutes spent in handling each other's fingers under the shawl, the bargain is concluded— say for nine ships-without one word ever having been spoken on the subject, or pen or ink used in any shape whatever. There was never one instance of a dispute happening on these sales." It is difficult to read this account without a latent idea that the traveller's imagination or credulity must have betrayed him into a little exaggeration.

They are neither
They sit down

It would be wrong to pass from this part of Bruce's adventures

without noticing the very valuable nature of his observations of longitude and latitude, which, in spite of fatigue, anxiety, danger, and occasional ill-health, he carried on with indefatigable perseverance

throughout his voyage in the Red Sea from Cosseir to the Strait of Babelmandeb. It reads somewhat oddly side by side with the sneering detraction of Lord Valentia and Mr. Salt, who travelled over the same ground many years afterwards, apparently with the view of disproving as much as possible of Bruce's narrative, to find an English naval captain who accompanied his lordship telling us how he "made use of Mr. Bruce's observations, which he found exceedingly accurate." As an instance of the spirit in which these late travellers spoke of Bruce, it may be here noted that because he had mentioned a predilection for blue cloth and blue beads among the females of Abyssinia in his day, they take occasion, on finding that no such preference existed in their time (forty years later), to lament that Mr. Bruce should have misled them by his inaccurate statement, and induce them to bring merchandise of a colour which they found unsaleable, as though Fashion-that proverbially fickle goddess-were bound to change her nature in Abyssinia, and to abdicate her functions for half a century.

With ready good-humour, Bruce laughed the rais or captain of his primitive vessel out of the superstitious fears that beset him from the rumour that the ghost of an Abyssinian who had died on board had been seen on several occasions riding on the bowsprit.

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'My good rais," said Mr. Bruce gravely to the commander, who had come aft in hot haste to consult him upon this prodigy, and urgently requested him to come forward and speak to this supernatural intruder, "I am exceedingly tired, and my head aches much with the sun, which hath been very violent to-day. You know the Abyssinian paid for his passage, and if he does not overload the ship (and I apprehend he should be lighter than when we took him on board), I do not think that, in justice or equity, either you or I can hinder the ghost from continuing his voyage to Abyssinia, as we cannot judge what serious business he may have there."

The rais, who must have more than half suspected that his distinguished passenger was quizzing him, declared that he did not care for his life more than another man, but still insisted that Bruce, as a learned man, ought to speak to this contumelious spectre. Bruce thereupon suggested that the rais should go forward and invite the ghost aft into the cabin, but as neither the rais nor any of nis men dared carry the message, the matter blew over for the time. At length, after a long and tedious voyage, Bruce landed in the harbour of the Island of Massuah, and now he would soon enter the ancient Empire of Abyssinia.

III.

Description of Abyssinia-Political State of the Country-Ras Michael's Usurpation-Ozoro Esther-Spirited Conduct of Bruce-Advance to Gondar-Adventure with the Cow-Beefsteaks off the Living Animal-"Yagoube" at Court-Abyssinian Banquets-Bruce Continues his Journey-Cataract of Alata-Fazil, the Robber Chief-His Submission and Second Revolt -Difficulties Encountered by Bruce-He Reaches the Source of the Nile - Conclusion.

IN

'N Bruce's time the realm of Abyssinia was divided into three great portions, but the continual disturbances and frequent political revolutions rendered these boundaries liable to frequent change—in fact, their condition was like that of the sprung topmast in Marryat's novel, which the magniloquent carpenter described as "precarious, and not at all permanent." Between the Red Sea and the River Tecazze extended the Tigré district; while from the Tecazze westward to the Nile was the province of Amhara. To the south of these two provinces lay the country of the Galla tribes. From the sea to some distance inland extends a plain, very hot and unhealthy. Then begin three successive ranges of mountains, each presenting a separate elevation and its peculiar climate, the heat naturally decreasing as a greater height is attained; the Abbo Jared, the highest of the Abyssinian mountains, rises to a height of 15,200 feet. In some parts of the country Bruce describes the climate as delightful, the hills covered with cattle, and the fields with verdure; in others, naked plains and dreary wildernesses extended for many miles before the tired wanderer.

At the time when Bruce arrived, a revolution had just taken place in the country. Ras Michael, the crafty and astute governor of the Tigré district, had put the king to death, and raised in his place a youth, a species of roi fainéant, in whose name he governed with a sway as independent as the authority exercised by the maires du palais at the court of the later Carlovingians. To strengthen his influence, he had married the beautiful Ozoro Esther, daughter of the Iteghe, or queen-mother, and established himself at Gondar, the capital of the country. Bruce was well provided with recommendations to some of the principal persons in Gondar, and in his intercourse with them showed an admirable amount of tact and self-reliance. No man better understood the art of "being all things to all men," and he became equally popular with the stern and fierce old Ras, the weak young