THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 295 
At a quarter paft four we came to the river’ Toom Aredo, 
which arifing in the country of the Kemmont, (a people in- 
habiting the high grounds above to the S. W. ) falls into the 
xiver Mahaanah. The Kemmont were a fect once the 
fame as the Falafha, but were baptized in the reign of 
Facilidas, and, ever fince, have continued feparate from 
their ancient brethren. No great pains feem to have been 
taken with them fince their admiffion to Chriftianity, for 
they retain moft of their ancient cuftoms. They eat the 
meat of cattle killed by Chriftians, but not of thofe that are 
flaughtered, either by Mahometans or Falafha. They hold, 
as a doctrine, that, being once baptized, and having once 
- communicated, no fort of prayer, nor other attention to di- 
vine worfhip, isfurther neceflary. They wafhthemfelvesfrom - 
head to foot after coming from the market, or any public 
place, where they may have touched any one of a fect 
different from their own, efteeming all fuch unclean. They 
abftain from all forts of work on Saturday, keeping clofe at 
home; but they grind corn, and do many other fuch like 
works, upon Sunday. \ 
THEIR women pierce their ears, and apply weights tomake 
them hang down, and toenlarge the holes, into which they 
put ear-rings almoft as big as fhackles, in the fame manner 
as do the Bedowis in Syria and Paleftine. Their language is 
the fame as that of the Falafha, with fome {mall difference of 
idiom. They have great abhorrence to fifh, which they not 
_ only refrain from eating, but cannot bear the fight of ; and 
the reafon they give for this is, that Jonah the prophet 
(from whom they boaft they are defcended) was {wal- 
Mm 2 lowed 
