THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 279 



at the head of his nobility, palTed the outer court, and came 

 to the paved way before the church. Here he was met by a 

 number of young girls, daughters of the umbares, or fu- 

 preme judges, together with many noble virgins Handing 

 on the right and left of the court. 



Two of the nobleft of thefe held in their hands a crimfon 

 cord of {ilk, fomewhat thicker than common whip-cord, but 

 of a loofer texture, itretched acrofs from one company to 

 another, as if to Hurt up the road by which the king was 

 approaching the church. When this cord was prepared and 

 drawn tight about breafl-high by the girls, the king enter- 

 ed, advancing at a moderate pace, curvetting and fhewing 

 the management of his horfe. He was flopped by the ten- 

 fion of this firing, while the damfels on each fide alking 

 who he was, were anfwered, " I am your king, the king of 

 " Ethiopia.'' To which they replied with one voice,. " You 

 " fhall not pafs ; you are not our king." 



The king then retires fome paces, and then prefents him- 

 felf as to pafs, and the cord is again drawn acrofs his way 

 by the young women fo as to prevent him, and the qucflion 

 repeated, "Who are you ?" The king anfwered, " I am your 

 " king, the king of Ifrael." But the damfels refolved, even 

 on this fecond attack, not to furrender but upon their own 

 terms ; they again anfwer, " You fhall not pafs ; you are hot 

 w our king." 



The third time, after retiring, the king advances with 

 a pace and air more determined ; and the cruel virgins, a- 

 gain pre fen ting the cord and afking who he is, he an- 

 fw.ers,. " X am your king, the king of Sion ;" and, drawing 



his 



