2990 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER. 
left of the Perfian cuftoms is, that they were written, and’ 
fo not liable to alteration ; and, being on parchment,did al-. 
fo contribute to their prefervation. The hiftory. which 
treats of thofe ancient and polifhed.nations has preferved 
few fragments of their manners entire from the ruins of 
time; while Abyffinia, at war with nobody, or at war with 
atfelf only, has preferved the ancient cuftoms which it enjoy- 
ed incommon with all the eaft, and which were only loft 
in other kingdoms by the invafion of ftrangers, a misfor-. 
tune Abyflinia, has never fuffered. fince the introduction of- 
letters. 
Berore I finifa what I have to fay upon the manners of 
this nation, having fhewn that they are the fame people. 
with the ancient Egyptians, I would inquire, whether there: 
is the fame conformity of rules in the dietetique regimen,, 
between them and Egypt, that we fhould expect to find from: 
fuch relation? This is a much furer way of judging than. 
by refemblance of external cuftoms.. 
Tue old Egyptians, as we are told by facred {cripture, did’ 
not eat with ftrangers ; but I believe the obfervation. is ex-. 
tended farther than ever fcripture meant. The inftance: 
given of Jofeph’s brethren not being allowed to eat with the: 
Egyptians was, becaufe Jofeph had told Pharaoh that his: 
brethren *,and Jacob his father, were fhepherds, that he: 
might get from, the Egyptians the land of Gofhen, a land,, 
as the name imports, of paflturage and grafs, which the Nile- 
never overflowed, and it was therefore in poffeflion of the: 
epherds~ 
* Genefis, chap. Xlvii., vers A> 
