314 



CHAPTER XXI. 



Spinning cotton. — Of police force of Shoa.' — Mode of administering 

 justice. — Priest lawyers. — Politics of Shoa. — French intrigues. — 

 Different kinds of cotton. — Process of cleaning it. — Instruments 

 used. — Return from market. 



I lay watching the cotton-spinners some time, 

 thinking npon the effect produced in the human 

 form hy occupation, as I noticed that the arms of 

 the whole party were the most beautifully moulded I 

 had ever seen. I could attribute this general cha- 

 racteristic of Abyssinian women, to no other cause 

 than the action and exercise dependent upon 

 spinning, which requires both arms to be in constant 

 motion, without any heavy labour being imposed 

 at the same time. The white fleecy cotton, repos- 

 ing like a wreath of snow upon the bronze red skin 

 of the hand and wrist, is gradually carried to its 

 farthest extent one way, whilst drawing from it the 

 long slender thread, the other hand conducts, in an 

 opposite direction, the short thin reed tipped with 

 a piece of ivory or horn that forms the reel, which 

 spinning as it hangs, its effect upon the thread 

 depends upon the slowness or quickness with which 

 the cotton is drawn out. Continued gentle exercise 



