THE SOURCE 0? THE NILE. y,$ 



fifty yards from Welleta Michael, that general flood up, and 

 the pried took as much water as he could hold in his hands 

 and fprinkled it upon his head, holding the cup at the fame 

 time to Welleta Michael's mouth to tafte ; after which the 

 prieft received it back again, faying, at the fame time, ' l Gzier 

 y'barak," which is limply, " May God blefs you." Each of 

 the three crofTea were then brought. forward to Welleta Mi- 

 chael, and he killed them. The ceremony of fprinkling 

 the water was then repeated to all the great men in the tent, 

 all cleanly dreffed as in gala. Some of them, not contented 

 with afperfion, received the water in the palms of their 

 hands joined, and drank it there; more water was brought for 

 thofe that had not partaken of the firfl ; and, after the whole 

 of the governor's company was fprinkled, the croflcs return- 

 ed to the river, their bearers ringing hallelujahs, and the 

 fkirmifhing and firing continuing* 



Janni, my Greek friend, had recommended me to the 

 prieft of Adowa ; and, as the governor had placed me by 

 him, I had an opportunity, for both thefe reafons, of being 

 ferved among the hTit, My friend: the. prieft fprinkled wa- 

 ter upon my head, and gave me his bleffmg in the fame 

 words he had ufed to the others ; but, as I law it was not 

 necefTary to drink, I declined putting, the cup to my lips, 

 for two reafons ; one, becaufe I knew the Abyilinians have 

 a fcruple to eat or drink after ftrangers ; the other, becaufe 

 I apprehended the water was not perfectly clean ; for no 

 fooner had the crofles firfl: touched the pool, and the cup 

 filled from the clean part for the governor, than two or 

 three hundred boy?, calling themfelves deacons, plunged in 

 with only a white cloth, or rag, tied round their middle; in all 

 other refpe&s they were perfectly naked. All their friends and 



relations 



