DEBRA-MAEIAM— ISMALA— MOTA— DIMA— BISHAEA. 167 



DeBRA-MaRIAM IsMALA. 



At the point where the lake narrows to escape through the rapid current of the 

 Abaï, two towns face each other — Debra-Mariam, or " Mountain of Mary," on the 

 east, Bahrdar to the west. Several villages, neater and more cleanly than those of 

 the interior, follow in succession along the southern shore of the lake. The islet 

 of Dek, some 16 square miles in extent, forms a low volcanic rock covered with 

 tufted vegetation, and skirted by conic hills. Here the priests of Koarata have 

 deposited their treasures ; hence few explorers have received permission to visit 

 this island, whilst that of Dega, consecrated to St. Stephen, is holy soil, forbidden 

 to all profane visitors. Matraha, another holy island in Lake Tana, lies close to the 

 north-eastern shore, and viewed from between branches of trees covered with the 

 swinging nests of the weaver-bird, presents a most charming appearance. But the 

 holiness of this island did not prevent Theodore from shutting up all its inhabi- 

 tants in a monastery, which he then set on fire. To the south-east of Lake Tana, on 

 one of its affluents, Ismala, the capital of Ahshafer, is very much frequented for its 

 hot springs and mineral waters. 



Mot A — Dim A — B ishara. 



Beyond the basin of Lake Tana the Abyssinian towns belonging to the watershed 

 of the Abaï or Blue Nile are mostly situated on the plateau or on the broad grassy 

 terraces of the extensive plains bordering the right bank of the river, and afford- 

 ing pasturage for herds of large cattle and horses. Mota, one of the most important 

 markets in the " kingdom " of Gojam, is situated on an elevation at the extremity 

 of the plateaux which bound the northern base of the Talba Waha Mountains ; its 

 regularly built houses are, like those of Mahdera-Mariam, surrounded by leafy trees, 

 while a large park with long symmetrical avenues encircles the church. Below the 

 terraces of Mota are the ruins of a bridge, which spanned the Abaï River with nine 

 arches, of which the central arch, some 66 feet broad, has been broken ; but the 

 merchants have stretched a rope over the gap and manage to pass themselves and 

 their commodities over this frail temporary substitute. Farther south, the village 

 of Karaneo and a few neighbouring hamlets are peopled with Francis, or Francs, 

 that is to say, the descendants of the Portuguese soldiers who arrived in the six- 

 teenth century with Christopher de Gama. Martola-Marlam, one of the local 

 churches, the sculptures of whose interior are said by Beke to be of exquisite work- 

 manship, is undoubtedly of Portuguese construction, although the people invest it 

 with much greater antiquity. 



Facing the eastern curve of the Abaï follow in succession the two religious 

 towns of Dehra- Werk and Dima, celebrated the former for its seminary, and the 

 latter for the curious paintings in its church of St. George. Debra-Werk, built in 

 amphitheatral form on the side of a hill, possesses the highest and best-built 

 houses of any other Abyssinian towns. Bishara, some miles south of Dima, is a 



