-j 2 6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



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exhibition of the King, Queen, and Abuna, and their cotton 

 cloths. As for the circumflance of the oil being poured in- 

 to the water, I will not pofitively contradict it, for, though I 

 was early there, it might have cfcapedme if it was done in 

 the dark. However, I never heard it mentioned as part of 

 the ceremony; and it is probable I mould, if any fuch thing 

 was really practifed ; neither was I in time to have' feen it 

 at Kahha. 



" Before the pond a fcaffold was built, covered round 

 " with planks, within which fat the king looking towards 

 " the pond, his face covered with blue taffeta, while an old 

 16 man, who was the king's tutor, was Handing in the water 

 " up to the moulders, naked as he was born, and half dead 

 " with cold, for it had frozen violently in the night. All 

 " thofe that came near him he took by the head and plun- 

 *'• ged them in the water, whether men or women, faying, in 

 *' his own language, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, 

 4S Son, and Holy Ghofl" 



Now Shoa, where the king was then, is in lat. 8° N. and 

 the fun was in 2 2 fouth declination, advancing northward, 

 •fo the fun was, on the day of the Epiphany, within 30 of the 

 zenith of the bathing-place. The thermometer of Fahren- 

 heit rifes at Gondar about that time to 68°, fo in Shoa it can- 

 not -rife to lefs than 70 , for Gondar is in lat. 12 N. that is 4 

 farther northward, fo it is not poilible water mould freeze, 

 nor did I ever fee ice in Abyffinia, not even on tire higheft 

 or coldeft mountains. January is one of the hotted months 

 in the year, day and night the Iky is perfectly fercne, nor is 

 :here there a long difproportioned winter night. At Shoa trie 



2 days 



