T.«*PE SOURCE OF THE NILE. |ff 



trade moftly brick and tile-makers, potters, thatchers of 

 houfes, and fuch like mechanics, employed in them ; and 

 finding- the low country of Dembea afforded' materials for 

 exerching thele trades, they carried the article of pottery 

 in that province to a degree of perfection fcarcely to bes 

 imagined. 



Being very induitrious, thefe people multiplied exceed- 

 ingly, and were very powerful at the time of the converfiori 

 to Chriftianity, or, as they term it, the Apoflacy under Abre- 

 ha and Atzbeha. At this time they declared a prince of the 

 tribe of Judah, and of the race of Solomon ancLMenilek, to 

 be their fovereign. The name of this prince was Phineas^ 

 who refufed to abandon the religion of his forefathers,, and 

 from him their fovereigns are lineally defcended ; fo they 

 have Hill a prince of the houfe of Judah, although the- A^ 

 byfhnians, by way of reproach, have called this family Bet 

 Ilrael, intimating that they were rebels, and revolted from 

 the family of Solomon and tribe. of Judah, and there is liu 

 tie doubt, but that forne of the fucceffors of Azarias adhei 

 red to their ancient faith alfo. Although there was no 

 bloodfhed upon difference of religion, yetj each having a 

 diftinct king with the fame pretenfions, many battles were 

 fought from- motives of ambition, and,rivallhip, of fovereign 

 power. 



About the year 960/3x1 attempt, was made by this family 

 to mount the throne of Abyflinia, as we ihall fee hereafter>, 

 when the princes of the houfe of Solomon were nearly ex*- 

 tirpated upon the rock Damo. This, it is probable, prodn*- 

 ced more animofity and blcodfhed. At laft the power of the 

 Eaiafha-was- fo much weakened, that they were,p,bligedLta 



leave- 



