1843.] and the Abyssinian Church. 629 



portions of the country pertain to His Majesty ; the lives and property 

 of the subjects are entirely at his disposal ; every act is performed with 

 some view to forward his pleasure ; and all wait on his sovereign for 

 favor, preferment and place. Mild, however, and just in his disposition, he 

 is universally beloved in his own dominions in which the oath is by the life 

 of the king in the land, wise and warlike in his expeditions, he is feared 

 and respected among all the adjacent tribes ; conducting himself with that 

 easy freedom which generally distinguishes conscious superiority, his 

 demeanour is kingly and commanding, and his character for impartial 

 justice has obtained for him far and wide, the enviable cognomen of 

 " the fine balance of gold." 



13th. Here the precious metals form the exclusive privilege of royalty. 

 Personal ornaments and colored raiment are prohibited to the subject by 

 the severest sumptuary laws, and few, except the highest chiefs and 

 warriors of the land, are ever honored by an exemption from the rule. 

 All the appointments in the country are at the king's disposal. All re- 

 wards and favors come from the royal hand in years of famine. Food 

 itself is only to be obtained from the royal store houses, and it is there- 

 fore by no means surprising, that the population should be mean, cring- 

 ing and servile ; that they should in their aspirations after honor and 

 place, submit every action of their life to the despot's will, and in 

 their present benighted social condition, even bring their wives and 

 daughters to pander to the despot's pleasures. 



14th. But Sabela Selassee is an unique specimen of absolute power, 

 and the iron sceptre falls light from his merciful hand even on the 

 head of the offender. His virtues are many and conspicuous ; his faults 

 entail harm chiefly upon himself; and the expenditure of the greatest 

 part of his hours might be held up as a worthy pattern for imitation 

 for all. 



15th. After religiously performing his devotions early in the morning, 

 he inspects his stables and workshops, bestows charity on the assem- 

 bled poor, despatches couriers, and gives private audiences of import, 

 and afterwards reclining upon his throne in state, he listens for hours to 

 all the appeals from his subjects. 



Here access is easy. The king listens to all foreigners and subjects, 

 men or women, rich or poor; every one has a right to appear before him, 

 and boldly to explain the nature of his case, and although established 



