TECLA HA YM A NOT 295 



costly robes, had commenced the ceremony, when 

 suddenly the roof was cleft asunder from above, an 

 angel in gorgeous apparel descended, and, raising the 

 trembling victim on his outspread wings, bore her off, 

 back to the land of her birth and the home of her 

 desolate husband. Some time after, the virtuous pair 

 were blessed with a son, whose birth was heralded by 

 extraordinary signs and wonders. They called him 

 Tecla Haymanot, and he grew up a pious, clever, and 

 beautiful youth, whose fame as a preacher spread far 

 and wide, while his handsome person wrought havoc 

 among the hearts of the fairest and most noble ladies of 

 Ethiopia. When great ladies in that southern clime are 

 "deeply smitten," there is apt to be a lack of reticence 

 and maidenly reserve about their words and actions — as 

 witness numerous examples in Bruce and Riippell — 

 which must have been singularly embarrassing to the 

 youthful saint. Finally, in order to escape the amorous 

 advances of one of these love-lorn damsels, whose suit 

 was favoured by his mother, he retreated to the mon- 

 astery of Delva Damo and assumed the skull-cap of the 

 monk. After years spent in the greatest austerity, during 

 which he made more than one pilgrimage to Jerusalem, 

 he went to preach to the Gallas who had held his 

 mother captive. The idea of returning good for evil 

 was so novel to those idolaters, that his efforts were 

 blessed by the conversion of hundreds of thousands. 

 On his return to Delva Damo, the Arch Enemy of Man, 

 who naturally looked upon these missionary triumphs 

 with disfavour, determined to cut short a career which 

 proved so hurtful to his interests. Accordingly, as the 



