THE SOURCE OF THENILE. 17 



felf, unlefs on occafions when he was engaged in perfon, 

 and then he fhared upon an equal footing with the prin- 

 cipal officers. 



When returned to the capital, he fliewed the fame difin- 

 tereftednefs and generofity which he had done in the field, 

 and he diftributed all he had won for his Ihare among the 

 great men, whom the necefTary duties of government had 

 obliged to remain at home, as alfo amongfl the poor, and 

 priefts for the maintenance of churches ; and, as well by 

 this, as by his zeal and a(5livity againft the enemies of Chrif- 

 tianity, he became the greatcft favourite of all ranks of the 

 clergy, notwithftanding the unpromifmg appearances at 

 the beginning of his reign. 



The rainy feafon in Abyflinia generally puts an end to 

 the ac5live part of war, as every one retires then to towns 

 and villages to fcreen themfclvcs from the inclemency of 

 the climate, deluged now with daily rain. The foldier, the 

 hufbandman, and, above all, the women, dedicate this feafon 

 to continued fcHivity and riot. Thcfe villages and towns 

 are always placed upon the higheft mountains. The val- 

 leys that intervene are foon divided by large and rapid tor- 

 rents. Every hollow foot-path becomes a ftrcam, and the 

 valleys between the hills become fo miry as not to bear 

 horfc ; and the waters, both deep and violent, are too apt to 

 iliift their dircdion to fuller any one on foot to pafs fafel)'. 

 All this feafon, and this alone, people flcep in their houfes 

 in fafety ; their lances and fliields are hung up on the iides 

 of their hall, and their faddles and bridles taken oiF their 

 horfes ; for in Abyllinia, at other times, the horfes are al- 

 ways bridled, and are accuftomed to eat and drink with this 



Vol. IL C incumbrance.. 



