§ TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



prevail in countries feparated by a line almoft impercepti- 

 ble ; that during our European winter months, that is, from 

 Oaober to March, the winter or rainy feafon prevails on 

 the coaft of the ocean and Red Sea, but that thefe rains do not 

 fall in our fummer, (the rainy feafon in Abyffinia), which 

 was the reafon why Amda Sion faid to his mutinous troops, 

 he would lead them to Adel or Au0a, where it did not rain, 

 as w£ fhall prefently obferve. 



The different nations that dwell along the coaft, both of 

 the Red Sea and of the ocean, live in fixed huts or houfes. 

 We fhall begin at the northmoft, or neareft Atbara. The 

 firft is Ageeg, fo named from a fmall ifland on the coaft, op- 

 pofite to the mountains of the Habab, Agzg, or Agaazi, the 

 principal diftria of the noble or governing Shepherds, as is 

 before fully explained, different in colour and hair from the 

 Shepherds of the Thebaid living to the northward. Then 

 follow the different tribes of thefe, Tora, Shiho, Taltal,Azimo, 

 and Azabo, where the Red Sea turns eaftward, towards the 

 Straits, all woolly-headed, the primitive carriers of Saba, and 

 the perfume and gold countiy. Then various nations inha- 

 bit along the ocean, all native blacks, remnants of the Cu- 

 fliite Troglodyte, but who do not change their habitations 

 with the feafons, but live within land in caves, and fome of 

 them now in houfes* 



In Adel and AufTa the inhabitants are tawny, and not black, 

 and have long hair ; they are called Gibbertis, which fome 

 French writers of voyages into this country fay, mean 

 Slaves, from Gucbra, the Abyfrmian word for flave or fer- 

 vant. But as it would be very particular that a nation like 

 thefe, fo rich and fo powerful, who have made themfelves 



inde- 



