262 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



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CHAP. XI. 



Various Cujloms in Abyjjhua Jimilar to ihofe in Perfidy &&jr-yd bloody 



Banquet dejiribed r &V. 



FOR the fake of regularity, I fliall here notice what 

 might clearly be inferred from what is gone before. 

 The crown of Abyfllnia is hereditary, and has always been 

 fo, in one particular family, fuppofed to be that of Solomon 

 by the queen of Saba, Negefta Azab, or queen of the fouth. 

 It is neverthelefs elective in this line ; and there is no law 

 of the land, nor cuftom, which gives the eldeft fon an ex- 

 clufive title to fucceed to his father. 



The practice has indeed been quite the contrary : when, 

 at the death of a king, his fons are old enough to govern, 

 and, by fome accident, not yet fent prifoners to the moun- 

 tain, then the eldeft, or he that is next, and not confined, ge- 

 nerally takes pofleffion of the throne by the ftrength of his 

 father's friends ; but if no heir is then in the low country, 



3 the 



