686 Report on Shoa [No. 140. 



A small portion of labour must moreover be endured, the psalms of 

 David must be carefully conned, and the mysteries of Abyssinian song 

 and dance be fully penetrated before the sacred office can be obtained. 

 The lessons of early youth are, however, soon forgotten, and the con- 

 stant repetition of the same words, removes the necessity of retaining the 

 character. Few in after-years can read, and still fewer respect the vow of 

 celibacy ; and the morning hours of the Sabbath and of the holidays, em- 

 ployed in dancing and shouting within the walls of the church, entitle 

 the performer to all immunities, and comforts pertaining to holy orders. 



Divine service within the precincts of the sacred edifice is limited to 

 the delivery of a passage of the Gospel rendered into ancient Greek, a 

 language long since dead throughout the land. Psalms are bawled at 

 the extremity of stout lungs amidst capering and clashing of timbrels ; 

 the miracles of Saint Mary and of St. George are chaunted, and the 

 worship is invariably concluded by an equitable division of the conse- 

 crated bread, which remains from the morning communion. 



The rite of baptism is performed in an adjacent building, and the 

 solemnization of matrimony is rarely resorted to in the land ; but the 

 death and the funeral feast are studiously attended, with much advan- 

 tage to the temporal interests of the church. The choicest food is un- 

 sparingly dealt out to all, and the bereaved widow is glad to leave the 

 management of her affairs to the assiduous father confessor. The dy- 

 ing man bestows a portion of his estate in this world for the bright 

 hopes which absolution extends in that which is to come, and the holy 

 sacrament is even administered after the soul has quitted the tenement 

 of clay, in order that the superstition of grateful relatives may grant a 

 rich reward for the blessing of the priest, and his undeniable assurance 

 of exemption from the pains of punishment hereafter. 



Deacons are usually chosen from among children of tender age, and 

 on reaching maturity the life of the adult is not distinguished by the 

 spotless purity of his duties in the office. The functions of these juvenile 

 noviciates are light, it is theirs to be present during Divine service in 

 the capacity of servitors and assistants, to complete the requisite number 

 at the celebration of the holy communion, and to guard and preserve the 

 sacred ark in case of accident by fire or water. 



This mysterious casket is an object of all-engrossing adoration, and 

 in its presence consists the only sanctity of the church. All prostrate 



