393 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
On the 14th, at day-break, I mounted my horfe, with all ray men-fervants, leaving the women-fervants and an old man to take care of the houfe. It was very unfafe to tra- vel in fuch company at fuch an hour. We crofTed the river Arno, a little below Emfras, before we got into the plain ; after which we went at a fmart gallop, and arrived at Lam- gue between eight and nine o'clock.
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Early as it was, the king was then in council, and Ras Michael, who had his advifers affembled alfo in Ins tent, had juft left it to go to the king's. There was a- bout 500 yards between their tents, and a free avenue is conftantly left, in which it is a crime to Hand, or even to crofs, unlefs for meffengers fent from the one to the other. The old general difmounted at the door of the tent ; and though I faw he perceived us, and was always at other times moll courteous, he pafled us without taking the lead no- tice, and entered the tent of the king.
Although my place in the houfehold gave me free ac- cefs to wherever the king was, I did not choofe, at that time, to enter the back tent, and place myfelf behind his chair, as I might have done ; I rather thought it better to go to the tent of Ozoro Eflher, where I was lure at leaf! of getting a good breakfaft : Nor was I difappointed. As foon as I fhew- ed myfelf at the door of che tent of that princcfs, who was lying upon a fofa, the moment fhe call her eyes upon me, cned out, There is Yagoube ! there is the man I wanted! The tent was cleared of all but her women, and fhe then began to enumerate of feveral complaints which flic thought, before the end of the campaign, would carry her to her grave. It was eafy to fee they were of the flightcfl kind,
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