ABYSSINIA. 251 



after a reign of forty years, about 980 B.C., and was 

 succeeded by her son Menilek, whose descendants 

 were, as we know from the traveller Bruce, still on tho 

 throne in 1790. 



in. 

 Conversion of Abyssinia to Christianity. 



The Abyssinians accept the Holy Scriptures as we 

 do, and count the same number of books. 



The Eevelation of St. John, called by them " the 

 Vision of John-Abu-Kalamsis," is their favourite 

 reading. The old Abyssinian priests read with much 

 gusto the Song of Solomon, but they prohibit the 

 reading of it to their deacons, to laymen, and to 

 women. They believe that Solomon composed it in 

 honour of the daughter of Pharaoh. Next to the 

 Eevelation they esteem the Acts of the Apostles, 

 which they style Synnodos, these Synnodos serving 

 as the written laws of the country. 



Another book is called Haimanut-Abu, and consists 

 chiefly of the works of Greek fathers treating of and 

 expounding certain articles of faith which were the 

 subject of disputation in the ancient Greek Church. 

 There are also translations of the works of St. Athana- 

 sius, St. Basilius, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Cyril 

 also extant in Abyssinia. Another book much revered 

 is the Synaxar, or " Flower of the Saints." 



According to Abyssinian history, Bazen, who was 

 the twenty-second king descended from the Queen of 



