FOR HERN! \. 257 



with an operation customary in their country, and 

 which I was invited to witness. I accordingly sat down 

 whilst the boy was laid upon his back on the alga. 

 The father then took a red burning stick ,Walderheros 

 and others holding the patient down, and restrain- 

 ing him whilst the former placed the rude searing 

 instrument over the diseased part, blowing it with 

 great vigour all the time to keep it alight. In less 

 than a minute the painful operation was over ; and 

 the boy, who had been previously reminded that he 

 was a man, bore it with great fortitude. 



The Shoans assert, that after this application of the 

 actual cautery rupture does not again occur ; and I 

 could readily conceive it probable, considering the 

 great contraction sometimes consequent upon burns, 

 that this effect produced over the parts affected in 

 hernia might, in such cases, counteract the relaxation 

 of muscular fibre which occasions this disease. At 

 all events, where so few practical preventives for a 

 most serious complaint are known, I have con- 

 sidered this observation worth recording, and as a 

 medical man even recommend the operation. 



August 5th. — Three long bundles of splintered 

 ted, carried upon the head of as many slaves of the 

 Negoos, were brought to my house this morning. 

 Cutting and carrying wood is the principal occupation 

 in Shoa of the male slaves, as carrying w T ater is of the 

 females ; and the prophets, when they say of the 

 Jews carried into captivity, that " they will be 

 cutters of wood and drawers of water," convey the 



VOL. II. s 



