XXXV JEWELLERY AND COINS 4>5 



absinthe bottles hung in a row, anil below them 

 several coloured Italian cards of animals and soldiers, 

 of the kind sold for children to cut out and paste 

 together. Knowing that A.xum was the great store- 

 house where not only the people in the surrounding 

 provinces, but many from great distances, came to deposit 



their most precious treasures for safe-keeping, 1 let it 

 be known that any jewellery, coins, or curios would be 

 well paitl for, and gradually quite a little crowd collected 

 with trinkets for sale, bargaining with whom filled up 

 the time while the usual afternoon rain descended. In 

 answer to my interpreter's mild inquiries after any 

 illuminated books or pictures, all shook their heads in 

 horrified silence at the bare idea of any one selling such 



