Page:The lives of celebrated travellers (Volume 2).djvu/10

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JAMES BRUCE.

Born 1730.—Died 1794.

Born at Kinnaird—Educated at Harrow—Wishes to become a clergyman—Returns
to Scotland—Becomes a sportsman—Studies the law—Marries—Loses
his wife—Visits Spain and Portugal—Returns
through Germany and Holland—Projects an expedition against Spain—Is
appointed consul of Algiers—Travels in Italy—Arrives in Algiers—Disputes
with the dey—Leaves Algiers—Visits Tunis and Tripoli—Is
shipwrecked, and plundered by the Bedouins—Embarks at Bengazi
for Caramania—Sails for Syria—Visits Palmyra—Embarks for Egypt—Cairo—Transactions
with the bey—Anecdote—Ascends the Nile—The
Ababde Arabs—The Tigrè chief—Assuan—Descends the Nile—Proceeds
to Kosseir—Adventure among the Arabs—Visits the mountains
of emeralds—Crosses the Red Sea to Jidda—Anecdote—Surveys
the Red Sea—Arrives at Masuah—Is in extreme danger—Escapes, and
enters Abyssinia—Crosses Mount Tarenta—Arrives at Dixan—Slave
trade—Rich scenery—Fair in the forest Adowa—Palace of Ras Michael—Ruins
of Axum—Beautiful scenery—Live cow eating—Monks
of Waldubba—Crosses Mount Lamalmon—Arrives at Gondar—The
book of the prophet Enoch—Visits the queen-mother—Becomes a physician,
and excites the jealousy of the monks—Has an interview with
Ras Michael—Triumphal entry of the Ras into Gondar—Beautiful
wife of the Ras—Is promoted to a high office at court—Shoots through
a shield and a table with a piece of candle—Profligate manners of the
Abyssinians—Is appointed governor of a district—Visits the great
cataract of the Nile—Sets out to discover the source of the Nile—Is
entertained by a rebel chief—Placed under the protection of the Gallas—Reaches
the sources of the Nile—Returns to Gondar—Leaves
Abyssinia—Traverses the deserts of Nubia—Reaches Assuan—Descends
the Nile—Embarks for Marseilles—Arrives in England—Publishes
his Travels—Dies 233


JONAS HANWAY.

Born 1712.—Died 1786.

Born at Portsmouth—Educated in London—Apprenticed to a merchant
at Lisbon—Conceives an unsuccessful passion—Renounces all ideas
of marriage—Returns to England—Visits St. Petersburg—Appointed
agent of the Russian company in Persia—Arrives at Lanjaron—Proceeds
to Astrabad—Burning forest—Persian compliments—City of
Astrabad taken and plundered—Loses all his merchandise—Sets out
in company with a hajji and an escort—Deserted by his guides, and
left at a fisherman's hut—Embarks in a canoe—Arrives at Teschidezar—Presented
with a horse by the shah's officers—Arrives at Balflroosh—Sets
out alone for the camp of Nadir Shah—Extraordinary
privation—Dangers and difficulties—Reaches Lanjaron—Hospitably
entertained by Captain Elton—Desolating effects of the shah's tyranny—Arrives
at the royal camp—His tent near the royal standard—Narrowly
escapes being burnt to death—Petitions for restitution of
his merchandise—Nadir detested by his followers—Magnificence of
the imperial camp—Splendid equipments of his numerous army—Hanway
obtains an order for restitution of his property—Sets out on