256 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



the braveft, befthorfemen, and beft accoutred beyond all com- 

 panion of any in Abyilinia, and, when they pleafe, they can 

 difpoflfefs the Galla. Safe and independent as the prince of 

 Shoanowis,heis flill the loyalift, and the friend to monarchy 

 he ever was ; and, upon any fignal diitrefs happening to the 

 king, he never failed to fuccour him powerfully with gold 

 and troops, far beyond the quota formerly due from his 

 province. This Shoa boafls, likewife, the honour of being 

 the native country of Tecla Haimanout, reftorer of the line 

 of Solomon, the founder of the monaftery and Order of the 

 monks of Debra Libanos, and of the power and wealth of 

 the Abuna, and the clergy in general, of Abyilinia. 



Gojam, from north-ear! to fouth-eaft, is about So miles 

 in length, and 40 in breadth. It is a very flat country, and 

 all in pailure ; has few mountains, but thefe are very high 

 ones, and are chiefly on the banks of the Nile, to the fouth, 

 which river furrounds the province; fo that, to a pcrfon who 

 fhould walk round Gojam, the Nile would be always on his 

 left hand, from where it went fouth, falling out of the lake 

 Tzana, till it turns north through Fazuclo into the country 

 of Sennaar and Egypt. 



Gojam is full of great herds of cattle, the IargCil in the 

 high parts of Abyilinia. The men are in the loweft efleem 

 as foldiers, but the country is very populous. The Jefuits 

 were fettled in many convents throughout the province, 

 and are no where half fo much deteited. The monks of 

 Gojam are thofe of St Euitathius, which may be called the 

 Low Church of Abyflinia. They are much inclined to tur- 

 bulence in religious matters, and are, therefore, always made 

 .tools by difcon tented people, who have no religion at all. 



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