A RUINED CHURCH 



297 



In fact the whole place had far more the appearance 

 of a fort than any church I had ever seen, and no doubt 

 in the old days the strife of battle had often raged 

 round its walls, for it was here that the people left their 

 treasures in the keeping of the priests, and doubtless 

 more than once made their last stand against an enemy. 

 On the same ridge, but further to the east, lay the little 

 village of Azzazo, the path which led up the hill passing 



The Watch-Tower of the Emperor Fasildas. 



between it and the church. At the top two priests and 

 several of the villagers met me and took me over to 

 the church. As this was the finest example of the usual 

 Abyssinian style of church architecture which I saw in 

 all my journey, some account of it may be interesting. 

 It was built by the Emperor Fasildas, who had a 

 country seat close by, about the year 1645. Although 

 it had seen many changes of fortune, it was not till the 

 Dervishes laid waste all this part of the country, twelve 

 years ago, that it was sacked and burnt. The entrance- 

 gate was in a square tower, measuring 15 feet each 



