258 FAST OF FELSAT. 



allusion that both sexes will be oppressed alike, and 

 suffer equally the laborious hardships of a state of 

 slavery. 



It rained too much to-day to be able to make any 

 charcoal ; and as I required the pieces of wood 

 brought me to be cut into more convenient lengths, 

 Walderheros and Goodaloo occupied themselves 

 doing this within doors. Sheik Tigh having gone to 

 reside at Bulga for a month, had given up his office as 

 my teacher in Amharic, so I determined to look out 

 for a duptera, or Christian scribe, as I was anxious 

 not only to speak Amharic as quickly as possible, 

 but also to read the Geez character, and get some 

 knowledge of that very interesting but neglected 

 language. 



To-day commences a long fast for fifteen days, 

 called " Felsat." No meat is allowed to be eaten, 

 and the first food taken daily must be after three 

 o'clock in the afternoon. Walderheros grants me 

 an indulgence, as I am very ill and weak. It 

 seems children and sick people are not re- 

 quired to fast. I never saw the members of any 

 Church less bigoted than the Christians of Shoa, 

 but I am given to understand that more to the 

 north much less toleration is exhibited towards 

 Mahomedans and individuals of other faiths. I 

 have often thought, civilized as I considered myself 

 to be, that had I been in the place of Sahale Selassee, 

 I should not have acted quite so fairly to my Ma- 

 homedan subjects ; and when we consider that they 



