730 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



the ceconomy of our family, nothing remained but to make 

 the proper obfervations. 



The houfes are all of clay and ftraw. There was no 

 place for fixing my clock ; I was therefore obliged to em- 

 ploy a very excellent watch made for me by Elicott. The 

 dawn now began, and a few minutes afterwards every 

 body was at their doors ; all of them crowded to fee us, and 

 we break falfed in public with very great chearfulnefs. The 

 white cow was killed, and every one invited to his ihare 

 of her. The Shum, prieft of the river, mould likewife have 

 been of the party, but he declined either fitting or eating 

 with us, though his ions were not fo fcrupulous. 



It is upon the principal fountain and altar, already 

 mentioned, that once a-year, on the firfl appearance of the 

 dog-ftar, (or, as others fay, eleven days after) this prieit a£- 

 fembles the heads of the clans; and having facrificed a 

 black heifer that never bore a calf, they plunge the head 

 of it into this fountain, they then wrap it up in its own 

 hide, fo as no more to be feen, after having fprinkled the 

 hide within and without with water from the fountain. 

 The carcafe is then fplit in half, and cleaned with extraor- 

 dinary care ; and, thus prepared, it is laid upon the hillock 

 over the firft fountain, and wafhed all over with its water, 

 while the elders, or confidei able people, carry water in their 

 hands joined (it mull not be in any difh) from the two o- 

 ther fountains ; they then aflemble upon the fmall hill a 

 little weft of St Michael, (it ufed to be the place where the 

 church now Hands) there they divide the carcafe into pieces 

 correfponding to the number of the tribes, and each tribe 

 has its privilege, or pretenfions, to particular parts, which 



are 



