THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 267 



Cfter, to divorce her, and marry the other, and then, keep- 

 ing the aunt, to marry the niece likewife ? Does St Athana- 

 fius teach yon to marry one, two, or three wives, and di- 

 vorce them as often as you pleaie ; to mai-ry others, and 

 then go back to the former again ? No, r^phed he. Then 

 as you do this daily, anfwered I, you certainly are not liv- 

 ing in this one inftance according to the religion of St Atha- 

 nafius. Now I afic you. If any prieft, truly a Chriflian, 

 from our parts, (not a Frank, but agreeing in every thing 

 elfe with you), was to preach againll this, and fome fuch 

 like pracftices, frequently ufed in Abyllinia, could this priell 

 live amongft you, or how would you treat him ? Stone him 

 to death, fays Ayto Aylo, who was fitting by ; flone him to 

 death like a frank, or a Jefuit ; he fiiould not live a week* 

 Yagoube is hard upon me, continued Tenfa Chriftos, turn- 

 ing to the Iteghe, but I am forry to fay with truth, I fear they 

 never would abandon the fleih-pots of Egypt, their ancient 

 inheritance ; for the teaching of any prieft, however perfect 

 his religion might be, or pure his life, or however corrupt 

 their manners. Then Tenfa Chriftos, faid I, do not be over fure 

 but that ihedding the blood of thofe Franks as you call thenij 

 may be criminal in the fight of God. As their religion has 

 fo far ferved them, as to prevent the pra(5tice of fome horrid 

 crimes, that are common here, yours hath not yef had 

 that efFecft upon you ; if you do not want precept, perhaps 

 you may want example, thefe Franks are very capable of 

 fliewing you this laft, and your own religion inft:rutT;s you 

 to imitate them. 



All this time there was not the fmalleft noife in the 

 room, in which above a hundred people were prefent ; but, 

 as I wifhed this converfation to go no further, and . was 



L 1 2 afraid 



