126 



A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA 



round it, approached by flights of steps. The large 

 double doors gave access to a rather narrow space, 



surrounding a high screen, 

 which nearly filled the interior 

 and enclosed the Holy of 

 Holies, where the sacred 

 books are kept, and can only 

 be entered by the officiating 

 priests. The outer sides of 

 the screen were in course of 

 decoration. Many of the 

 pictures, with which it is to 

 be entirely covered, were oil 

 paintings done in Europe ; 

 others were frescoes by 

 native artists, and included 

 a number of placid-looking 

 saints mounted on fiery 

 steeds, prancing on unfor- 

 tunate sinners, who were 

 spouting blood in all direc- 

 tions. Another favourite 

 subject was the martyrdom 

 pi-mrajto, ■^^t ^ I'-'^'i'l y suffered by Christian saints at 



the hand of the unbelievers, 

 in these pictures all good 

 people are painted white 

 and full face, while the evil- 

 doers are black and drawn in profile. After we 

 had walked round the screen, the holy books were 

 brought in and deposited in the Ark, the priests 



Martyrdoms. 



