OR DUPTEItA. 291 



works in the Geez language, and to procure which, 

 or, if possible, the originals themselves, he expends 

 annually a considerable sum. These manuscript 

 books are all written upon parchment, and bound, 

 most frequently, into a volume about the size of a 

 folio. The backs are made of two thin boards, 

 covered with red leather, which is ornamented very 

 tastefully by borders and designs impressed by iron 

 stamps ; and for the means they have at their dis- 

 posal, the Abyssinians produce in this manner very 

 creditable specimens of book-binding. For farther 

 protection, it is usual to have a small leathern case, 

 which receives the book, and a flap strapped down 

 then secures it from all accidents. 



When engaged writing, the duptera sits upon 

 the ground, takes from out of his girdle an 

 ink-horn, the tapering extremity of which being 

 reduced to a kind of spike, he sticks into the earth 

 by his side. The ink is a composition of powdered 

 charcoal and gum arabic or myrrh, with a little water, 

 and a very permanent ink is thus produced. I may 

 observe, that excepting in the manufacture of ink, 

 the Abyssinians of Shoa have no other use for the 

 gum myrrh, and I have frequently been asked, 

 " What else could it be used for 1 " As for using 

 this gum as medicine themselves, or giving it for 

 that purpose to their cattle or horses, they have no 

 idea of any such thing; neither have the Dan- 

 kalli, from whose country it is brought into Shoa. 



Having placed his ink-horn in the earth, the 

 u 2 



