ceed "from inattention or forgetfulness," as observed by Mr. Murray, (page cccvi, Vol. I.,) were it not for the additional and decisive contradiction which the following circumstance exhibits, that "Abba Salama," who is represented as having "attempted to raise the populace at the funeral of Signor Balugani," was executed for high treason, according to Mr. Bruce's own testimony, on the 24th of December, 1770,[1] two months before Balugani's actual death: so that he could not by any possibility have been guilty of the outrage laid to his charge, and, in consequence, Ras Michael could never have interfered. The dilemma, therefore, to which these facts reduce the question in agitation, stands as follows; that, if the relation of this occurrence be correct as to time, then all Balugani's journal, letter, and observations in the weather-journal must be forged, since they all relate to circumstances which took place subsequently to the given period of his death; or, if these be true, and the contradiction proceed from an error in time, then the whole story respecting Abba Salama's exciting a tumult among the populace, and Ras Michael's interference must be false, since, in that case, Abba Salama must have been dead previously to Signor Balugani, and therefore neither he nor the Ras could have had any thing to do with the transaction.
Besides, if it could possibly be supposed, that from "inattention," or any other cause, Mr. Bruce could have forgotten altogether, on his return, the fact of Signor Balugani's having attended him during his whole excursion to the Nile, (a circumstance which appears to me absolutely incredible in itself) yet can it be believed for a moment, that he should not have been reminded of the fact by the frequent sight of the Italian manuscript journal, &c. written by Balugani, which is full of his own personal observations, and from which we know that Mr. Bruce, in writing his work, continually made extracts? Surely such a total loss of all the common faculties of memory is scarcely possible. But it may, perhaps, be asked, what motives Mr. Bruce could have had for such
- ↑ This date is fixed both from the printed work and the original memoranda, which in this circumstance perfectly agree.
