s7 $: TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Abra Hezekias his matter of the houfehoLd ; and was pro. 

 ceeding to fill* up the inferior polls of government, when, 

 he was interrupted by the clamours of a multitude o£ 

 monks demanding a convocation of the clergy.. 



These affemblies, however often foliated, are never cak 

 led in the reign of vigorous princes, but by the fpecial 

 order of the fovereignj who grants or refufes them purely 

 from his own .free- wilt. They are, however* particularly 

 expected at the acceffion of anew prince, upon any appre- 

 henfion of herefy,. or any novelty or abufe in church-go*, 

 vernment.. 



The arrival* of a* new Abuna from Egypt is alTo a very 

 principal reafon for the convocation. Thefe aflemblies are 

 vsery numerous. Many of- the moft difcreet members of- 

 the church abfent themfelves purpofely.. On the other 

 hand, the monks, who, , by vows, have bound themfelves to* 

 the mpft painful auflerities and fufferjngs ; thofe that de-- 

 vote themfelves to pafs their lives in the deep and unwhole-. 

 fpme valleys of the country ;, hermits that ftarve on the 

 points of cold rocks ; others that live in deferts furrounded 

 with, and perpetually exposed to wild beafts ; in a word, the. 

 whple tribe of fanatics, falfe prophets, diviners, and dream- 

 ers, people who affec^frto fee-and foreknow what is in future 

 to happen, by living, in perfect ignorance of what is palling 

 at the prefent; people in.conftant habits of dirt and nailk 

 nefs, naked, or. covered .withrhair; in fliort, a collection of 

 mongers, fcareely to be defcribed or conceived, compofe an^ 

 ecclefiaitical afTembly in Abyffinia, and are. the leaders of an; 

 ignorant and furious populace, who adore them as faints,, 

 aud. arc. always ready tQ, fupport them. in fome violation of. 



the. 



