GO WATER MILL. 



We forded the Airahra a little beyond a square 

 stone building with a thatched roof, which was 

 pointed out to me as the water mill, that was 

 erected by the two Armenians whom I met in 

 Tajourah, Demetrius and Joannes. Whatever 

 ability was displayed in the construction, but little 

 judgment had been exercised in its situation, for 

 it stood at the bottom of a deep valley, at the 

 distance of two miles at least, by the circuitous 

 and rugged road, from the town of Ankobar: 

 whilst, on the other side, to look up the ascent 

 of the Tchakkah would have certainly occasioned 

 the fall behind of the cap from off the head. 



I do not believe the architects built it for any 

 direct purposes of utility, but to give the Negoos 

 an idea of their mechanical skill. It is now 

 unemployed, if we believe some travellers, by 

 reason of the Jinn or demons, by whose power 

 they say the Shoans believe the mill was put in 

 motion. This assertion is of the same character 

 with that which represents Sahale Selassee putting 

 reverentially a pair of vaccine glasses into an amulet, 

 mistaking the instructions given for their proper 

 use, when it is notorious that for a great number 

 of years the analogous operation of inoculation 

 has been practised in Shoa. I can only say, that 

 when windmills were described as being much 

 better adapted for the purposes of a people who 

 principally inhabit the summits of hills, Sahale 

 Selassee so admired the idea that I was almost 



