THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 221 



affected part, who, with the troops of Begemder and Lafta, 

 attacked the king's houfehold, where he was in perfon; and, 

 though they behaved with a bravery even to rafhnefs, moll 

 of them loll their lives, upon the long pikes of the king's 

 black horfe, without ever doing any notable execution, as 

 thefe horfes were too-well trained to be at all moved with 

 their Ihrieks, when they charged, though their bravery and 

 fidelity merited a better fate. 



The women are faid to be very fruitful. They do not 

 confine themfelves even a day after labour, but wafh and 

 return to their work immediately. They plow, fow, and 

 reap. The cattle tread out the corn, but the men are the 

 herdfmen, and take charge of the cattle in the fields. 



Both fexes are fomething lefs than the middle fize, ex- 

 ceedingly light and agile. Both, but efpecially the men, 

 plait their hair with the bowels and guts of oxen, which 

 they wear likewife, like belts, twilled round their middle ; 

 and thefe, as they putrify, occafion a terrible ftench. Both 

 copioully anoint their heads and bodies with butter, or melt- 

 ed greafe, which is continually raining from them, and 

 which indicates that they came from a country hotter than 

 that which they now polTefs. They greatly refemble the 

 Hottentots in this filthy talle of drefs. The reft of their 

 body is naked; a piece of Ikin only covers them before; and 

 they wear a goat's Ikin on their fhoulders, in fhape of a wo- 

 man's handkerchief, or tippet. 



It has been faid*, that no religion was ever discovered? 



among 



* Jerome Lobo HifL of Abyffinia. ap. Le Giande. 



