2 9 o TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



left of the Perfian cuftoms is, that they were written, and 

 fo not liable to alteration ; and, being on parchment, did al- 

 fo contribute to their prefervation. The hiftory which 

 treats of thofe ancient and polilhed nations has preferved 

 few fragments of their manners entire from the ruins of 

 time ; while Abyilinia, at war with nobody, or at war with 

 itfelf only, has preferved the ancient cuftoms which it enjoy- 

 ed in common with all the eaft, and which were only loft 

 in other kingdoms by the invafion of ftrangers, a misfor- 

 tune Abyffinia has never fuffered fince the introduction of 



letters. 



Before I finifh what I have to fay upon the manners of 

 this nation, having fliewn that they are the fame people 

 with the ancient Egyptians, I would inquire, whether there 

 is the fame conformity of rules in the dietetique regimen, 

 between them and Egypt, that we mould expect to find from 

 fuch relation ? This is a much furer way of judging than 

 by refemblance of external cuftoms, 



The old Egyptians, as we are told by facred fcripture, did 

 not eat with ftrangers ; but 1 believe the obfervation is ex- 

 tended farther than ever icripture meant. The inftance 

 given of Jofeph's brethren not being allowed to eat with the 

 Egyptians was, becaufe Jofeph had told Pharaoh that his 

 brethren*, and Jacob his father, were fhepherds, that he 

 mrgh't get from the Egyptians the land of Gofhen, a land, 

 as the name imports, of pafturage and grafs, which the Nile 

 never overflowed, and it was therefore in pofleflion of the 



fhepherds, 



* Genefis, chap, xlvii, ver. 4. 



