134 SITUATION OF THE 



low an elevation compared with the numerous 

 heights around. 



This is, however, the only instance I know of 

 a church of the Abyssinian Christians being so 

 situated, for it is a particular feature of the worship 

 in this country that all religious buildings should 

 surmount " some earth o'ertopping mountain ;" and 

 to such an extent is this feeling carried, that sacred 

 hills which have become lowered in consequence of 

 the greater denudation of their summits, is a reason 

 sometimes for changing the site of the church to 

 some neighbouring hill that, from more favour- 

 able causes, has preserved its height undiminished. 

 A striking instance of this change, and its assigned 

 cause, is found in the circumstances connected with 

 the erection of the new church of St. Michael, 

 which stands upon a hill to the east of the Negoos's 

 residence, in the valley of the " Michael wans." 

 Here two groves are observed standing on hills 

 near to each other, the more modern one being of 

 much greater elevation than the other. Both are 

 dedicated to the same saint, and on asking Walder- 

 heros why there should be two, he pointed out the 

 difference in the height of the hills upon which 

 they stood as a reason why the lower should be 

 deserted, and preference given to the higher hill 

 for the site of the " bate y Christian," and the 

 residence of the monks. 



Looking upon these groves surrounding temples of 



