306 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
practice in the botanical part of our work, where a draw- 
ing of a moft beautiful tree *, ufed for this purpofe, is 
given. 
ALTHouGH we read from the Jefuits a great deal about 
marriage and polygamy, yet there is nothing which may be 
averred more truly than that there is no fuch thing as mar- 
riage in Abyflinia, unlefs that which is contracted by mu- 
tual confent, without other form, fubfifting only till diffol- 
ved by diffent of one or other, and to be renewed or repeat- 
ed as often as it is agreeable to both parties, who, when 
they pleafe, cohabit together again as man and wife, after 
having been divorced, had children by others, or whether 
they have been married, or had children with others or not. 
I remember to have once been at Kofcam in prefence of the 
Iteghé, when, in the circle, there was a woman of great qua- 
lity, and feven men who had all been her hufbands, none 
of whom was the happy fpoufe at that time. 
Upon feparation they divide the children. The eldeft fon 
falls to the mother’s firft choice, and the eldeft daughter to 
the father. If there is but one daughter, and all the reft 
fons, fhe is afligned to the father. If there is but one fon, 
and all the reft daughters, he is the right of the mother. If 
the numbers are unequal after the firft election, the reft are 
divided by lot. There is no fuch diftinction as legitimate 
and illegitimate children from the king to the beggar; for 
fuppofing any one of their marriages valid, all the iffue of 
the reft muft be adulterous battards. 
ONE 
* Vide appendix, article Cuffo. 
