194 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



The quantity of the fun's difk obfcured was i o digits ; fo that 

 this was fo near to a total eclipfe, it muft have made an im- 

 preffion on the fped:ators minds that fufficiently accounts 

 for the alarm and apprehenlions it occafioned. 



In the manth of January, nothing can be more beautiful 

 than the fky in Sire ; not a cloud appears ; the flcy is all of a 

 pale azure, the colour lighter than an European fky, and of 

 inexpreffible beauty. The manner of applying this eclipfe 

 I fliall mention hereafter. 



Eclipses of the moon do not feem to be attended to in Abyf- 

 iinia. The people are very little out in the night, infomuch 

 that I do not find one of thefe recorded throughout their hif- 

 tory. The circumftances of the feafon make even thofe of 

 the fun feldomer vifible than in other climates, for in the 

 rainy feafon, from April to September, the heavens are con- 

 ftancly overcaft with clouds, fo that it is mere accident if 

 they can catch the moment it happens. But in the month of 

 Teir, that is December and January, the fky is perfecftly fe- 

 rene and clear, and at this time our eclipfe above mention- 

 ed happened. 



The king now took into his confideration the ftate of the 

 church. He had fent for an Abuna from Cairo to fucceed 

 Abuna Marcus, and he was now in his way to Abyllinia, 

 while Bermudes, not able to bear this flight, on the other 



3 hand, 



