THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 317 



Wise men faw the fallen ftate of literature among them ; 

 and unlefs opportunity was given, from time to time, for 

 their priefts to go abroad to Jerufalem for their inftrudi n, 

 and for the purpofe of bringing the Abuna, Tecla Haima- 

 nout knew that very foon no fet of people would be more 

 fhamefully ignorant than thofe prieits, even m the moll 

 common dogmas of their profeffion. He hoped therefore, by a 

 confiderable ftipend, to tempt fome men of learning to ac- 

 cept of this place, to give his countenance to learning and 

 religion among them. 



The Arabic canon*, which is prelerved by the Abyffinian 

 church, and faid to be of the council of Nice, fhould certain- 

 ly be attributed to this Abuna, and is a forgery in, or very 

 foon after, his time ; for it is plain this canon took place 

 about the year 1500, that it was lawful to elect an Abuna, 

 who was a native of- Abyffinia before this prohibition, other- 

 wife it would not have applied. Abuna Tecla Haimanout 

 was an Abyffinian by birth, and he was Abuna ; the prohi- 

 bition therefore had not then taken place : but, as no A- 

 byffinian was afterwards chofen, it muft certainly be a work 

 of his time, for it is impoffible a canon fhould be made by 

 the council of Nice, fettling the rank of a bilhop in a na- 

 tion which, for above 200 years after that general council, 

 were not Chriftians. 



As the Abuna very feldom underftands the language, he 

 has no fhare of the government, but goes to the palace on 

 days of ceremony, or when he has any favour to alk or com- 

 plaint 



* See Ludolf, lib. iii. cap. 2, N°. 17. 



