THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 273 
Ir is the conftant practice in Abyflinia to befet the king’s 
doors and windows within his hearing, and there, from 
early morning to night, to cry for juftice as loud as poflible, 
in a diftrefled and complaining tone, and in all the different 
Janguages they are mafters of, in order to their being ad- 
mitted to have their fuppofed grievances heard. Ina coun- 
try fo ill governed as Abyflinia is, and fo perpetually invol- 
ved in war, it may be eafily fuppofed there is no want of 
people, who have real injuries and violence to complain of : 
But if it were not fo, this is fo much the conftant ufage, 
that when it happens (as in the midft of the rainy feafon) 
that few people can approach the capital, or ftand without 
in fuch bad weather, a fet of vagrants are provided, main- 
tained, and paid, whofe fole bufinefs it is to cry and lament, 
as if they had been really very much injured and opprefied ; 
and this they tell you is for the king’s honour, that he may 
not be lonely by the palace being too quiet. This, of all their 
abfurd cuftoms, was the moft grievous and troublefome to 
me; and, from a knowledge that it was fo, the king, when 
he was private, often permitted himfelf a piece of rather 
odd diverfion to be a royal one. 
THERE would fometimes, while I was bufy in my room in 
the rainy feafon, be four,or five hundred people, who all at 
once would begin, fome roaring and crying, as if they were 
in pain, others demanding juttice, as if they were that mo- 
ment fuffering, or if in the inflant to be put to death; and 
fome groaning and fobbing as if juft expiring; and this 
horrid fymphony was fo artfully performed that no ear 
could diftinguifh but that it proceeded from real diftrefs. 
I was often fo furprifed as to fend the foldiers at the door to 
bring in one of them, thinking him come from the country, 
Vou. I. © Mm to 
