THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 17 



felf, unlefs on occafions when he was engaged in perfon, 

 and then he fhared upon an equal footing with the prin- 

 cipal officers. 



When returned to the capital, he mewed the fame difin- 

 tereftednefs and generolity which he had done in the field, 

 and he diftributed all he had won for his fhare among the 

 great men, whom the neceffary duties of government had 

 obliged to remain at home, as alfo amongft the poor, and 

 priefts for the maintenance of churches ; and, as well by 

 this, as by his zeal and activity againft the enemies of Chrif- 

 tianity, he became the greatefl favourite of all ranks of the 

 clergy, notwithstanding the unpromiflng appearances at 

 the beginning of his reign. 



The rainy feafon in Abyflinia generally puts an end to 

 the active part of war, as every one retires then to towns 

 and villages to fcreen themfelves from the inclemency of 

 the climate, deluged now with daily rain. The foldier, the 

 hulbandman, and, above all, the women, dedicate this feafon 

 to continued feflivity and riot, Thefe villages and towns 

 are always placed upon the higheft mountains. The val- 

 leys that intervene are foon divided by large and rapid tor- 

 rents. Every hollow foot-path becomes a flream, and the 

 valleys between the hills become fo miry as not to bear 

 horfe ; and the waters, both deep and violent, are too apt to 

 ihift their direction to fufFer any one on foot to pafs fafely. 

 All this feafon, and this alone, people lleep in their houfes 

 in fafety ; their lances and fhields are hung up on the fides 

 of their hall, and their faddles and bridles taken off their 

 horfes ; for in AbyfTmia, at other times, the horfes are al- 

 ways bridled., and are accuftomed to eat and drink with this 

 Vol. II. C incumbrance. 



