7 o TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Although the eftablifhed religion in Abyflinia was that 

 of the Greek church of Alexandria, yet many different fu- 

 perflitions prevailed in every part of the country. On the 

 coaft of the Red Sea, as well as the Ocean, that is in the low 

 provinces adjoining to the kingdom of Adel, the greateft 

 part of the inhabitants were Mahometans ; and the conveni- 

 ences of trade had occafioned thefe to difperfe themfelves 

 through many villages in the high country, efpecially in 

 Woggora, and in the neighbourhood of Gondar. Dembea 

 on the fouth, and the rugged diftricl: of Samen on the eaft, 

 were crowded with many deformed feels, while the people 

 of the low valleys, towards Nubia, the Agows at the head of 

 the Nile, and thofe of the fame name, though of a different 

 nation and language, at the head of the Tacazze, in Lafta, 

 were, for the greateft part, Pagans, i. e. of the old religion of 

 Sabeans, worfhipping the planets, flars, the wind, trees, and 

 fuch like. But a more abominable worfhip than this feemed 

 efpecially predominant among fome of the Agows at the 

 fource of the Nile, and the people bordering upon Nubia, as 

 they adored the cow and ferpents for their gods, and fuppofed 

 that, by the latter, they could divine all that was to happen 

 to them in futurity. 



Whether it was that a long war had thrown a veil over 

 thefe abufes, or whether (which is more probable) a fpirit 

 of toleration had flill prevailed in this country, which had 

 at firfl been converted to Chriftianity without blood-lhed, it 

 is not eafy at this time to fay. Only their hiflory does not 

 mention, that, before the reign of this prince, idolatry had 

 been confidered as a capital crime, or judicially inquired in- 

 to, and tried as fuch. An accufation, however, at this time, 

 being brought againft fome families for worfhipping the 

 4 cow 



