OF THE MARTAB. 165 



more superior kind of "mar tab, "the particular symbol 

 of their faith ; which, of some material or other, 

 they invariably wear. It sometimes consists merely 

 of a white or blue thread, tied around the throat, 

 but those in most general use are made of dark 

 blue silk, imported by the merchants of Giddem 

 and of Hurrah. This colour, once universally 

 worn, is not insisted upon at the present day, for 

 although it still continues to be considered the 

 most orthodox, the white and yellow coloured 

 threads of beads have become very fashionable of 

 late. The custom of wearing coloured "martabs" 

 bears some reference, I believe, to a personal dis- 

 tinction between the Christian and Islam faiths, 

 established by some former Negoos ; for red head 

 dresses of cotton cloth, and long red gowns, are 

 invariably the "outward and visible" sign of the 

 profession of Islamism, among the women of Efat, 

 and other Mahomedan provinces, as the blue 

 martab is of the Christian population. 



It was nine o'clock before w r e were fairly started, 

 but we soon lost sight of the palace hill, with its 

 crest of thatched roofs appearing above the brist- 

 ling stockade ; and of its red flanks dotted with 

 squatting noblemen and courtiers, who in clean 

 white tobes sat enjoying the fresh air and the 

 genial influence of a morning sun. Walderheros 

 ran by the side of my mule, poising upon his head 

 the skin bag which contained my bed. When, 

 however, the view of Angolahlah was shut out by 



