696 Report on Shoa [No. 140. 



on the day of abstinence. They not only boast, with the Pharisee, " I 

 fast twice a week," but pride themselves also upon their mortification of 

 the flesh during half the entire year ; whilst the haughty and self- 

 sufficient monk vaunts his meagre diet as the only means of expiation 

 from sin and evil desire. 



The Abyssinians, in common with other Christian communities who 

 rigidly observe the fasts of Wednesday and Friday, advance as an argu- 

 ment, that the Jews seized our Saviour on the first of those days, and 

 on the second carried into execution their design of crucifixion ; but as 

 this account differs from the evidence of the Gospel, which shews that 

 the arrest took place upon Thursday, the observance is most probably an 

 imitation of the weekly fasts in existence among the Jews. 



The fast of the forty days before Easter is preserved with much 

 greater rigour than any other in Abyssinia, and the reckless individual, 

 who shall neglect the great toma hodada, cannot possess one sentiment 

 of true religion in his heart. To the abstinence of this season especially 

 are attached peculiar virtues, which completely nullify the effect of every 

 sin that may be committed throughout the residue of the year. 



According to the Jewish practice, all culinary utensils must thoroughly 

 be cleansed and polished, to the end, that no particle of meat or prohibit- 

 ed food may remain to pollute the pious intention. Journeys and 

 travels are strictly interdicted, and from Thursday until Easter moon, no 

 morsel should enter the lip, and the parched throat ought to remain 

 without moisture. 



During the fast of the Holy Virgin, children of tender years are not 

 even exempted from the penance of sixteen days ; and during the many 

 and weary weeks of abstinence which roll slowly throughout the entire 

 year, the Abyssinian priest would grant no dispensation to the famished 

 mortal, were he to receive an immediate mandate from heaven. 



Sabela Selassie arose some years ago, a mighty zealot in the cause, 

 and perceiving that the custom was beginning to decline, proclaimed, 

 through the royal heralds, pains and penalties sufficiently severe to 

 ensure the future strict observance of the fast. The commands of the 

 defender of the Faith were however in one instance transgressed by a 

 soldier during a military expedition ; but his excuse of fatigue under a 

 heavy load of the king's camp equipage was admitted ; and although on 

 similar occasions a certain license is extended, still the monarch pre- 



