THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 179 
is a defert, hilly diftri&t, cailed Adebarea, the country of the | 
flaves, as being the neighbourhood of the Shangalla, the 
whole country between being wafte and uninhabited. 
TuE mountains of Waldubba, refembling thofe of Ade- 
barea, lay north of us about four or five miles. Waldubba, 
which fignifies the Valley of the Hyena, is a territory entirely in- 
habited by the monks, who, for mortification’s fake, have 
retired to this unwholefome, hot, and dangerous country, 
voluntarily to {pend their lives in penitence, meditation, 
and prayer. This, too, is the only retreat of great men in 
difgrace or in difguft. Thefe firft fhave their hair, and put 
on a cowl like the monks, renouncing the world for foli- 
tude, and taking vows which they refolve to keep no longer 
than exigencies require; after which they return to the 
world again, leaving their cowl and fanétity in Waldubba. 
Tues monks are held in great veneration ; are believed 
by many to have the gift of prophecy, and fome of them to 
work miracles, and are very active inftruments to ftir up 
the people in time of trouble. Thofe that I have feen out of 
Waldubba in Gondar, and about Kofcam, never fhewed any 
great marks of abftinence; they ate and drank every thing 
without fcruple, and in large quantities too. They fay they 
live otherwife in Waldubba, and perhaps it may be fo. There 
are women, alfo, whom we fhould call Nuns, who, though 
not refiding in Waldubba, go at times thither, and live in a 
familiarity with thefe faints, that has very httle favour of 
{pirituality ; and many of thefe, who think the living in 
community with this holy fraternity has not in it per- 
fection enough to fatisfy their devotion, retire, one of each 
fex, a hermit and a nun, fequeitering themfelves for months; 
Vou. Il. Z to 
