1843.] and Abyssinian Church. 653 



most alacrity, for the insatiate love of blood and the inherent hatred of 

 the heathen are sufficient inducements to quit home and family, and 

 follow to the foray the great crimson umbrellas, in which they place 

 the most unbounded confidence. 



95. Every thing, however minute which is found by a subject, is 

 carried straightway to His Majesty. The brass bowl of a pipe and a 

 bottle of lunar caustic which were lost during the expedition were forth- 

 with brought in by the finders, and restored. On his way to Angollala, 

 a servant of the Reverend Mr. Kraff was swept away by the torrent in 

 the Mosaliet river, and a tea kettle which he carried was lost ; six 

 months afterwards the utensil was found by a woman and taken to the 

 king, who on being asked for it, said, " No, it will do for myself." 



96. All presents received by the subject are also immediately carried 

 to His Majesty for inspection, and it rarely happens that the individual 

 is suffered to retain any part whatever. Brought before the sovereign 

 as a peace-offering, the budget is generally received with an " exogeer 

 casto," " God give you more," and forthwith transferred to the store- 

 house of finery which has been filling for ages. The more trivial portions 

 of the present may be sometimes granted to the receiver as a wonderful 

 mark of the monarch's favour ; but in all cases, an equivalent in cattle 

 or country cloths is afterwards made from the royal stores. 



97. On the occasion of any loss by fire or other accidents, the 

 begging sufferer makes the round of his acquaintance, who each con- 

 tribute their mite to the subscription, and wonderful scope being given 

 to imposition, the individual becomes more wealthy than before. Con- 

 stant application is also made by the domestics of the royal household 

 to obtain the price of destroyed articles, in order to save them from con- 

 dign punishment. An offender was detected in bringing the same 

 broken, decanter three times over, and a shield was never said to have 

 been broken or a mule lost, but the delinquent did not refer himself to 

 the embassy for the amount of the fine. 



98. Tainted with base servility, the Abyssinians pay the most abject 

 respect to their superiors, and however aggrieved, are seldom heard to 

 complain of the governor. The king is held in the highest adora- 

 tion, and the oath by his life is the most binding in use. If adjured by 

 this a person can be punished for non-compliance, and the wilful 

 breaking the obligation renders the perjurers liable to severe penalties. 



