272 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
large windows, the bottom of which were about three fteps 
from the ground. Thefe doors, or windows, were latticed 
with crofs bars of wood like a cage, and a thin curtain, or 
veil of taffety filk was hung within it; fo that, upon darken- 
ing the inner chamber, the king faw every perfon in the 
chamber without, while he himfelf was not feen at all. 
Juftin * tells us, that the perfon of the king of Perfia was 
hid to give a greater idea of his majefty ; and under Deioces, 
king of the Medes, a law was made tiiat nobody might look 
upon the king ; but the conftant wars in which Abyflinia 
has been engaged, fince the Mahometans took poffeflion of 
Adel, have occafioned this troublefome cuftom to be wholly 
laid afide, unlefs on particular public occafions, and at coun- 
cil, when they are ftill obferved with the ancient ftrictnefs. — 
And we find, in the hiftory of Abyffinia, that the army and 
kingdom have often owed their fafety to the perfonal behavi- 
our and citumftance of the king diftinguifhing and expo- 
fing himfelf in battle, which advantage they muft have loft 
had the ancient cuftom been obferved. However, to this 
day, when he is abroad riding, or fitting in any of his 
apartments at home where people are admitted, his head 
and forehead are perfectly covered, and one of his hands 
covers his mouth, fo that nothing but his eyes are feen; 
his feet, too, are always covered. 
We learn from Apuleus, that this was a cuftom in Perfia 3 
and this gave an opportunity to the magi to place Oropaf- 
tus, the brother of Cambyfes, upon the throne, inftead of - 
Merdis who fhould have fucceeded ; but the covering of the 
face made the difference pafs unperceived. 
I It 
* Juttin, lib. 2. 
