262 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
CHA P.: XI. 
Various Cuftoms in Abyfinia fimilar to. thofe.i in Posi iy, a hs A Mad 
a" Hargett deferbed ets apie Atnol gaia 
OR the fake of ene i {hall oe notice Backs 
might clearly be inferred from what. is gone, before. 
The crown of Abyffinia is hereditary, and has always. been. 
fo, in one particular family, fuppofed to be that of Solomon 
by the queen of Saba, Negefta Azab, or queen of the fouth. 
It is neverthelefs elective in this line; and there is no law 
of the land, nor cuftom, which gives the eldeft fon an ex- 
clufive title to fucceed to his father. 2 
Tue practice has indeed been quite the contrary: when, 
at the death of a king, his fons are old enough to govern, 
and, by fome accident, not yet fent prifoners to the moun- 
tain, then the eldeft, or he that is next, and not confined, ge- 
nerally takes poffeffion of the throne by the ftrength of his 
father’s friends ; but if no heir is.then in the low country, 
| 3 * the 
