294 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap. 



We then proceeded on our journey, and were shortly- 

 approaching the hill on which stands the ancient church 

 of Tecla Haymanot. 



This is the most celebrated of all the forty-four 

 churches in and around Gondar, and takes its name 

 from an Abyssinian saint who flourished in the latter 

 half of the thirteenth century. Needless to say, the 

 legend of this worthy's life, as told by the native hagio- 

 graphers, is a mass of prodigies and miracles, each making 

 more exorbitant demands on the credulity of the pious 

 worshipper than the last. The opening incident is not 

 devoid of a tinge of romance, and reminds one of the 

 story of King Cophetua and the beggar maid. A certain 

 Abyssinian maiden was, on the very day of her marriage, 

 captured and carried off by the Gallas ; but the trans- 

 cendent beauty of their Christian captive soon distracted 

 the whole pagan host with love akin to madness. The 

 Galla king, hearing that a poor slave had bewitched his 

 stoutest warriors, ordered the sorceress to be brought 

 before him for condign punishment. No sooner, how- 

 ever, were her seductive charms unveiled, than the prince 

 himself fell violently in love with her ; but for many 

 months she repelled his suit with meekness and dignity. 

 At last she apparently became reconciled to her fate, and 

 the day of the royal nuptials was appointed. All was 

 joy and merry-making in the royal city, except in the 

 poor bride's chamber. In her misery and distraction she 

 called for help to Mary and all the other saints her 

 memory could recall ; but no help came. Borne on the 

 shoulders of laughing slave-girls, she appeared in the 

 flower-decked temple : already the priests, arrayed in 



