412 TABEEB WOMEN. 



this Abyssinian fashion than a drawing of that 

 bust. 



After the painful process had concluded as 

 regarded one eyebrow, a mixture of powdered 

 charcoal and water was made, and a little rag 

 being first dipped into this was then rubbed over 

 the fresh wound, until a sufficient quantity of the 

 blacking dye had become absorbed, when the blood 

 was washed from her face, and Mahriam was com- 

 plimented by all for her fortitude and improved 

 appearance. With the most simple gratitude the 

 well-pleased girl stoops and kisses, with an affec- 

 tionate obeisance, the hand of her indulgent 

 mistress. 



A similar operation is sometimes performed over 

 the front part of the gums, and upon the inner 

 surface of the lips, where I should conceive the most 

 excruciating pain must be occasioned by the pro- 

 cess. What girls will suffer for the sake of gaining 

 admiration is most astonishing ; but, however, they 

 are not all so silly as this in Shoa, for, in justice to 

 the Tabeeb women, I must observe that this custom 

 is not practised among them, and the consequence 

 is, that the younger females of this very singular 

 people, are the handsomest in the country. In 

 addition to the tattooed eyebrows it is not unusual 

 to observe the figure of a Geez letter fn, which I am 

 told is a very ancient Egyptian symbol expressive of 

 the unity of the Deity. All idea of this signification 

 is lost, but the Abyssinians account for the employ- 



