From this time until the nineteenth century there are no Jewish records and Bruce's account of the part the Falashas played in Ethiopian history, based on the royal chronicles and his own observations, must suffice to fill the gap. James Bruce, the laird of Kinnaird in Stirlingshire, was born in 1730. He was a huge man, six foot four inches tall and athletic. He developed a character, according to his first biographer, Alexander Murray, which 'became bold, hasty and impetuous, accompanied, however, with a manly openness that shewed the usual concomitant, a warm and generous heart'. (3) He was a good linguist, a keen student ofhistory, geography and natural history, and a skilful draughtsman. He learnt Arabic and Ethiopic. It was his acquaintance with the writings of Ludolf, his biographer suggested, that 'perhaps determined him to explore the sources of the Nile'. This was his aim when he set out for Abyssinia, where, after many adventures including shipwreck in the Mediterranean, he landed at Massawa on 19 September 1769. Overcoming great difficulties and risks he made his way to the capital, Gondar, where he lived as a member of the court of Emperor Takla Haymanot II. During all his travels he displayed a degree of courage, tenacity and resourcefulness which can stand comparison with that of almost any other explorer. He made ample notes and accumulated a vast store of documents, drawings and specimens of which aJarge number still survive in national libraries and royal and private collections. He returned to England in June 1774, having been abroad, mostly in North and East Africa, continuously for twelve years. Murray wrote:

The public was impatient to hear his adventures; and every person of distinction or learning, who had any curiosity to know the wonders of foreign countries, sought his acquaintance. He shewed his numerous and beautiful drawings, which obtained particular praise; and his collection of Ethiopic manuscripts, a sufficient proof, to such as could read them, of his travels in Abyssinia. Soon after his arrival in London he was introduced at court, and graciously received by his Majesty, who was pleased to honour with his royal approbation Mr.

(1) In a letter to the author.
(2) Enc. Jud. vol. 6 col. 1153.
(3) Life and Writings of James Bruce (1808), p. 8.