THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 4-9; 



*«25&* 



CHAP. VII. 



Books in Ufe in Abyffinia — Enoch — Abyffinia not converted by the Apo- 

 Jlles — Converfion from Judaifm to Chriftianity by Frumentius. 



THE Abyffmians have the whole fcriptures entire as we 

 have, and count the fame number of books ; but 

 they divide them in another manner, at leafl in private 

 hands, few of them, from extreme poverty, being able to pur- 

 chafe the whole, either of the hiftorical or prophetical books 

 of the Old Teftament. The fame may be faid of the New, 

 for copies containing the whole of it are very fcarce. In- 

 deed no where, unlefs in churches, do you fee more than 

 the Gofpels, or the Acts of the Apoftles, in one perfon's pof- 

 feffion, and it mull not be an ordinary man that poffeffes 

 even thefe. 



Many books of the Old Teftament are forgot, fo that it is 

 the fame trouble to procure them, even in churches, for the 

 purpofe of copying, as to confult old records long covered 

 with dull and rubbifh. The Revelation of St John is a piece of 

 favourite reading among them. Its title is, the Vijion of John A- 

 bou Kalamfs, which feems to me to be a corruption of Apoca- 



lypfis. 



