THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, 307 
OnE day Ras Michael afked me, before Abba Salama, (the 
Acab Saat) Whether fuch things as thefe promifcuous mar- 
riages and divorces were permitted and practifed in my 
country? I excufed myfelf till I was no longer able; and, 
upon his infifting, I was obliged to anfwer, That even if 
fcripture had not forbid to us as Chriftians, as Fnglifhmen 
the law reftrained us from fuch practices, by declaring 
polygamy felony, or punifhable by death. 
Tue king in his marriage ufes no other ceremony than 
this :—He fends an Azage to the houfe where the lady lives, 
~ where the officer announces to her, It is the king’s pleafure 
that fhe fhould remove inftantly to the palace. She then 
dreffes herfelf in the beft manner, and immediately obeys. 
Thenceforward he afligns her an apartment in the palace, 
and gives her a houfe elfewhere im any part fhe chufes. - 
Then when he makes her Iteghé, it feems to be the neareft 
refemblance to marriage ; for, whether in the court or the 
camp, he orders one of the judges to pronounce in his pre- 
fence, That he, the king, has chofen his hand.maid, na- 
ming her for his queen; upon which the crown is put up- 
on her head, but fhe is not anointed.. 
Tue crown being hereditary in one family, but elective: 
in the perfon, and polygamy being permitted, muft have 
multiplied thefe heirs very much, and produced conftant 
difputes, fo that it was found neceflary to provide a remedy 
for the anarchy and effufion of royal blood, which was 
otherwife inevitably to follow. The remedy was a humane 
and gentle one, they were confined in a good climate upon 
a high: mountain, and maintained there at the public ex- 
pence. They are there taught to read and write,-but no- 
Q4q2 thing 
