THEVSOURCH/OFCTHE NILE. 263 
the thoite of the king is always accérdifi'g to the Wwillof the 
rhinifter, which paftes for. that of the’ peoples and, hig intclis 
Aation and intereft being to! govern, he never fails to chdofe 
an infantiwhom! thereafrer’he directs! ruling the kingdom 
abfolutely during the minority, which. generally exhaufts, 
or is equal to the term of his life. 
£9 917 10 iBG th Wf GIIne CBT. SET ! i 
> 'FRow this flow all the misfortunes of this unhappy coun- 
try. This very defect arifes from a defire to inftitute a more 
than: ordinary perfect ‘form: ‘of government ; ‘for ‘the Abyf 
finians’ firft: pofition was, “Woe bé to the’ kingdom: whofe 
king isa’ ‘child ;” and’ this: they Know! muft often happen 
when fucceflion is left to the courfe of nature. But when 
there was a choice to-bé made out of two hundred perfons 
all of the fanie family, all: ‘capable of réigning, it was their 
own fault, they thought, if they‘Had‘not always a prince of 
proper age and qualification to rule the kingdom, according 
to the neceflities of the times, and to preferve the fucceffion. 
of the family in ‘the howfe of Solomoi, agreéable to the 
Jaws of the land. And! indeed it has been this manner of 
reafoning, ‘good: at firft view, though found afterwards but 
too fallacious, which has ruined their kingdom in part, and. 
often brought the whole into the utmoft hazard and jeo-. 
pardy.. 
Tue king is anointed with plain oil’ of olives, which, be- 
ing poured upon the crown of his head, he rubs into his 
long hair indecently enough with both his hands, pretty 
muchas his foldrers'do with theirs when they get accefs to. 
plenty of butter. 
“ 
THE: 
