Tn 
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THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 267 
fitter, to divorce her, and-marry the other, and then, keep- 
ing the aunt, to marry the niece likewife ? Does St Athana- 
fius teach you to marry one, two, or three wives, and di- 
vorce them as often as you pleafe; to marry others, and 
then go back to the former again? No, replied he. Then 
as you do this daily, anfwered I, you certainly are not liv- 
ing in this one inflance according to the religion of St Atha- 
nafius. Now I afk you, If any prieft, truly a Chriftian, 
_ from our parts, (not a Frank, but agreeing in every thing 
elfe with you), was to preach againft this, andfome fuch 
like practices, frequently ufed in Abyflinia, could this prieft 
live amongft you, or how would you treat him? Stone him 
to death, fays Ayto Aylo, who was fitting by; ftone him to 
death like a frank, or a Jefuit ; he fhould not live a week. 
Yagoube is hard upon me, continued Tenfa Chriftos, turn-. 
ing to the Iteghé, but Iam forry to fay with truth, I fear they 
never would abandon‘the flefh-pots of Egypt, their ancient 
inheritance ; for the teaching of any prieft, however perfec& 
his religion might be, or pure his life, or however corrupt 
their manners. Then Tenfa Chrittos, faid I, do not be over fure 
but that fhedding the blood of thofe Franks as you call them, 
may be criminal in the fight of God. As their religion has 
fo far ferved them, as to prevent the practice of fome horrid 
crimes, that are common here, yours hath not yet had 
that effect upon you; if you do not want precept, perhaps 
you may want example, thefe Franks are very capable of 
fhewing you this laft, and your own religion inftructs you 
<0 imitate them. . 
ALL this time there was not the fmalleft noife in the 
room, in which above a hundred people were prefent; but, 
as I wifhed this converfation to go no further, and was 
| Lle afraid 
