304 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



lar cafe, is to be found in the manners of the country. 

 They fay they may lawfully eat what is killed by the lion, 

 but not by the tiger, hyaena, or any other bead. Where they 

 learned this doctrine, I believe, would not be eafy to an- 

 fwer ; but it is remarkable, even the Falafha themfelves 

 admit this diftinction in favour of the lions. 



At noon we crofted the river Balezat, which rifes at Ade 

 Shiho, a place on the S. W. of the province of Tigre ; and, 

 after no very long courfe, having been once the boundary 

 between Tigre and Midre Bahar, (for fo the country of the 

 Baharnagafli was called) it falls into the Mareb, or ancient 

 Aftufafpes. It was the firfl river, then actually running, that 

 we had feen fince we pafled Taranta; indeed, all the fpace is 

 but very indifferently watered. This ftream is both clear 

 and rapid, and feems to be full of fifh. We continued for 

 fome time along its banks, the river on our left, and the 

 mountains on our right, through a narrow plain, till we 

 came to Tomumbuflb, a high pyramidal mountain, on the 

 top of which is a convent of monks, who do not, however, 

 refide there, but only come hither upon certain feafts, when 

 they keep open houfe and entertain all that vifit them. 

 The mountain itfelf is of porphyry. 



There we encamped by the river's fide, and were obli- 

 ged to flay this and the following day, for a duty, or cuftom, 

 to be paid by all paflengers. Thefe duties are called Awides, 

 which fignines gifts ; though they are levied, for the mofl 

 part, in a very rigorous and rude manner ; but they are e- 

 flablifhcd by ufage in particular fpots ; and are, in fact, a 

 regality annexed to the eflate. Such places are called Ber, 

 gaffes', which are often met with in the names of places 



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