326 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



relations (indeed everybody) went clofe down to the edge 

 of the pool, where water was thrown upon them, and-firft 

 decently enough by boys of the town, and thofe brought 

 on purpofe as deacons ; but, after the better fort of people 

 had received the afperfion, the whole was turned into a riot, 

 the boys, muddying the water, threw it round them upon 

 every one they faw well-dreffed or clean. The governor re- 

 treated firft, then the monks, and then the croffes, and left 

 the brook in poffefiion of the boys and blackguards, who 

 rioted there till two o'clock in the afternoon. 



I must, however, obferve, that, a very little time after the 

 governor had been fprinkled, two horfes and two mules, be- 

 longing to Ras Michael and Ozoro Eflher, came and were 

 warned. Afterwards the foldiers went in and bathed their 

 horfes and guns ; thofe who had wounds bathed them alfo. 

 I faw no women in the bath uncovered, even to the knee ; 

 nor did I fee any perfon of the rank of decent fervants go 

 into the water at all except with the horfes. Heaps of plat- 

 ters and pots, that had been ufed by Mahometans or Jews, 

 were brought thither likewife to be purified; and thus the 

 whole ended, 



m 



I saw this ceremony performed afterwards at Kahha, 

 near Gondar, in prefence of the king, who drank fome of 

 the water, and was fprinkled by the priefts; then took the 

 cup in his hand, and threw the reft that was left upon Am- 

 ha Yafous*, faying, " I will be your deacon ;" and this was 

 thought a high compliment, the prieft giving him his blef- 

 fmg at the fame time, but offering him no more water. 



I SHALL 



* Prince of Shoa, often fpeken of in the fcquel. 



