4 x8 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



after infcriptions, and fome converfations I had had with 

 him, he guefled was of the kind which I wanted. Full of 

 that princely goodnefs and condefcenfion that he ever ho- 

 noured me with, throughout my whole flay, he brought it 

 with him when he returned from Tigre, and was reftored 

 to his throne at Gondar. 



It feems to me to be one of thofe private Tots, or porta- 

 ble almanacks, of the moll curious kind. The length of the 

 whole Hone is fourteen inches, and fix inches broad, upon 

 a bafe three inches high, projecting from the block itfelf, 

 and covered with hieroglyphics. A naked figure of a man, 

 near fix inches, flands upon two crocodiles, their heads turn- 

 ed different ways. In each of his hands he holds two fer- 

 pents, and a fcorpion, all by the tail, and in the right hand' 

 hangs a noofe, in which is fufpended a ram or goat. On 

 the left hand he holds a lion by the tail. The figure is in 

 great relief ; and the head of it with that kind of cap or 

 ornament which is generally painted upon the head of the 

 figure called Ifis, but this figure is that of a man. On each 

 fide of the whole-length figure, and above it, upon the face 

 of the fcone where it projects, are marked a number of hie- 

 roglyphics of all kinds. Over this is a very remarkable 

 reprefentation ; it is an old head, with very flrong features, 

 and a large bufliy beard, and upon it a high cap ribbed or 

 ilriped. This I take to be the Cnuph, or Animus Mundi, 

 though Apuleus, with very little probability, fays this was 

 made in the likenefs of no creature whatever. The back 

 of the fcone is divided into eight compartments*, from the 



top 



*I apprehend this is owing to the circum {knees of the climate, in the four months, the time 

 of the inundation,, the heavens were, fia covered as to afford no obfervations to be recorded. 



