THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 485 



trade moftly brick and tile-makers, potters, thatchers of 

 houfes, and fuch like mechanics, employed in them; arid! 

 finding the low country of Dembea afforded materials for. 

 exercifing thefe trades, they carried the article of pottery 

 in that province to a degree of perfection fcaicely to be 

 imagined. 



Being very induftrious, thefe people multiplied exceed- 

 ingly, and were very powerful at the time of the converfion' 

 to Chriftianity, or, as they term it, the Apoitacy under Abre- 

 ha and Atzbeha. At this time they declared a prince of the 

 tribe of Judah, and of the race of Solomon and' Menilek, to 

 be their fovereign. The name of this prince was Phineas* 

 who refufed to abandon the religion of his forefathers, and 

 from him their fovereigns are lineally defcended ; fo they 

 have flill a prince of the houfe of Judah, although the A- 

 byffmians, by way of reproach, have called this family Bet 1 

 Ifrael, intimating that they were rebels, and revolted from 

 the family of Solomon and tribe of Judah, and there is lit- 

 tle doubt, but that fome of the fucceffors of Azarias adhe-" 

 red to their ancient faith alfo. Although there was no 

 bloodihed upon difference of religion, yet, each having a 

 diftinct king with the fame pretentions, many battles were 

 fought from motives of ambition, and rivalfhip of fovereigm 

 power. 



About the year 960, an attempt was made by this family 

 to mount the throne of Abyffmia, as we lliall lee hereafter; 

 when the princes of the houfe of Solomon were nearly ex- 

 tirpated upon the rock Damo. This, it is probable, proc- 

 eed more animoiity and bloodfhed. At lad the power of the 

 Falafha was fo much weakened, that they were obli^'-d-to • 



leave 



