578 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Abra Hezekias his mafter of the houfehold ; and was pro- 

 ceeding to fill up the inferior polls of government, when 

 he was interrupted by the clamours of a multitude of. 

 monks demanding a convocation of the clergy. 



These aflemblies, however often folicited, are never cal- 

 led in the reign of vigorous princes, but by the fpecial 

 order of the fovereign, who grants or refufes them purely 

 from his own free-will. They arc, however, particularly 

 expedtcd at the acceflion of a new prince, upon any appre- 

 henfion of herefy, or any novelty or abufe in church-go^ 

 vernment.. 



The arrival of a new Abuna from Egypt is alfo a veryr 

 principal reafon for the convocation. Thefe aflemblies are 

 very numerous. Many of the moft difcreet members of 

 the church abfent themfelves purpofely. On the other 

 hand, the monks, who, by vows, have bound themfelves to 

 the moft painful aufterities and fufferings ; thofe that de- 

 vote themfelves to pafs their lives in the deep and unwhole- 

 fome valleys of the country ; hermits that ftarve on the 

 points of cold rocks ; others that live in deferts furrounded 

 with, and perpetually expofed to wild beafts ; in a word, the 

 whole tribe of fanatics, falfe prophets, diviners, and dream-- 

 ers, people who afFctft to fee and foreknow what is in future.- 

 to happen, by living in pcrfedt ignorance of what is palling' 

 at the prefent ; people in conftant habits of dirt and nafti-. 

 nefs, naked, or covered with hair ; in Ihorr, a collection ol- 

 monfters, fcarcely to be described or conceived, compote an 

 ecclefiaftical aflcmbly in Abyflinia, and are the leaders of an 

 i*5^norant and furious populace, who adore them as faints,, 

 and arc always ready to fupport them in fome violation of: 



