1843.] and the Abyssinian Church. 635 



or an ass, a dollar, a shield and some spears on the one side are noted 

 against the lady's stock of wheat, cotton and bedstead ; the bargain 

 being struck, the property becomes joint for the time, until some 

 quarrel ensues, when each taking their own, depart to seek fresh 

 mates. 



32. Men and women eat together at the same table, and most affec- 

 tionately pick out the choicest morsels from the common dish, and stuff 

 them into each other's mouths at arm's length. The appearance of the 

 large foolish black face bending over the table, with the wide gaping 

 mouth to receive the proffered tit-bit of raw flesh, which from its size 

 requires considerable strength of finger to cram into the open aperture 

 is sufficiently ludicrous, and brings forcibly to the recollection the nest 

 of toad-like sparrows in the garden hedge at home gaping to the 

 wanton whistle of the truant schoolboy. The meals are generally taken 

 twice during the day, once at noon and again after sunset. 



33. There exist two sorts of marriage, the one before-mentioned, and 

 another which is celebrated by the Church somewhat in a similar fashi- 

 on to our own ; the parties swearing to take each other for life, in rich- 

 ness and poverty, sickness or health, which is ratified by partaking to- 

 gether of the sacrament, and by the usual oath of the country, the 

 king's life. The inhabitants of Shoa, however, do not relish this fast 

 binding, and the ceremony is seldom requested or performed. 



34. Favorite slaves and concubines are equally respected as wedded 

 wives, and there is no difference between legitimate and bastard 

 children. The example set by the monarch, who in addition to his 

 lawful spouses, entertains upon his establishment upwards of 500 

 concubines, is followed by all who can afford the expense ; and the 

 wandering life of the court renders the system of concubinage more 

 agreeable, and less expensive, than the continual movement of legal 

 wives and families. 



35. The king dwells only for a time at one palace, and then proceeds 

 to another at some distance, accompanied by all his chief officers, cour- 

 tiers, and domestics. Fresh female establishments are invariably enter- 

 tained at the new station ; all conjugal affection is lost sight of, and 

 these women being in time cast aside in neglect, as well as the for- 

 saken wives, proceed in their turn to seduce the young men, and thus 

 profligacy reigns paramount among all classes of society. There are 



