18 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



incumbrance. It is not, indeed, the fame fort of bridle they ufe 

 in the field, but a fmall bit of iron like our hunting-bridles, on 

 purpofe merely to preferve them in this habit. The court, 

 and the principal officers of government, retire to the capi- 

 tal, and there adminifter juftice, make alliances, and prepare 

 the neceiTary funds and armaments, which the prefent exi- 

 gencies of the flate require on the return of fair weather. 



Am da Sion was no fooner returned to Tegulat, than the 

 Moors again entered into a confpiracy againfl him. The 

 principal were Amano king of Hadea, Saber-eddin, whom 

 the king had made governor of Fatigar, and privately, with- 

 out any open declaration, Gimmel-eddin governor in Dawa- 

 ro. But this confpiracy could not be hid from a prince of 

 Amda Sion's vigilance and penetration. He concealed, how- 

 ever, any knowledge of the matter, left it mould urge the 

 Moors to commence hoftilities too early. He continued,, 

 therefore, with diligence, and without orientation of any 

 particular defign, to make the ordinary preparations to take 

 the field on the approaching feafon. This, however, did not 

 impofe upon the enemy. .Whether from intelligence, or 

 impatience of being longer inactive, Saber-eddin began the 

 firfl hoftilities, by furprifmg fome Chriftian villages, and 

 plundering and fetting fire to the churches before the rains 

 had yet entirely ceafed. 



Those that have written accounts of Abyftinia feein ro 

 agree in extolling the people of that country for giving no 

 belief to the exiftence or reality of witchcraft or forcery. Why 

 they have fixed on this particular nation is hard to determine. 

 But, as for me, I have no doubt in afTerting, that there is not 

 a barbarous or ignorant people that I ever knew of which 



this 



