39 6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
been more prudent in you, and more civil, not to have made your obfervation.
The prince was much abafhed. I haflened acrofs the •carpet, and took both his hands and killed them ; the laugh- ers did not feem much at their eafe, efpecially when 1 turn- ed and flood before the king. He was kind, fenlible, com- pofed, and condefcending ; he complained that I had aban- doned him ; afked if I had been well-ufed at Emfras, and doubted that I had wanted every thing ; but I fent you no- thing on purpofe, fays he, becaufe you faid failing would do you good after too much feailing at Gondar, and I knew that hunger would bring you foon back again to us. If your majefly, faid I, takes the prince's word, I have been caroufing to-day in your camp more than ever I did at Gondar; and, I do afTure your majefly, prince George's re- flections were not without foundation.
Come, come, fays the king, Georgis is your firm and fail friend, and fo he ought, he owes it to you that he is fo able a horfeman and fo good a markfman, without which he could never be more than a common foldier. He has commanded a divifion of the army to-day ; — " Of 500 horfe, cries out the prince in extacy ; and, when the king my brother to-morrow leads the van, youfhall be myFit-Auraris,if you pleafe, when we pafs the Nile, and with my party I fhall fcour Maitfha." I ihould be very unhappy, prince, faid I, to have a charge of that importance, for which I know myfelf to be totally unquali- fied; there are many brave men who have a title to that of- fice, and who will fill it with honour to themfelves and fafety to your perfon. So you will not truft yourfelf, lays the prince, with me and my party when we fhall crofs the
Nile ?
