THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. . 525 
fifty yards from Welleta Michael, that general ftood up, and: 
the prieft took as much water as he could hold in his hands 
and {prinkled it upon his head, holding the.cup at the fame: 
time to Welleta Michael’s mouth to tafte ;.after which the. 
prieft received it back again, faying, at the fe time, “ Gzier 
y barak,” which is fimply, “‘ May God blefs you.’”” Each of 
the three crofles were then brought forward to Welleta Mi- 
chael, and he kiffed them. The ceremony of {prinkling 
the water was then repeated to all the great men in the tent, 
all cleanly dreffed as in gala. Some of them,, not contented 
with afperfion, received the water in the palms of their 
hands joined, and drank itthere; more water was brought for 
thofe that had not partaken of the firft; and, after the whole 
of the governor’s company was f{prinkled, the croffes return: 
ed to the river, their bearers finging  hallelwjabs, and the 
fkirmifhing and firing continuing,, 
Jann1, my Greek friend, had recommended me to the 
prieft of Adowa ; and, as the governor had placed me by 
him, I had an opportunity, for both thefe reafons, of being 
ferved among the firft.. My friend-the prieft fprinkled wa- 
ter upon my head, and gave me his blefling.in.the fame 
words he had ufed to the others; but, as I faw it was not 
meeeflary to-drink, 1 declined putting. the-cup to-my lips, 
for two reafons ; one, becaufe I knew the Aby‘linians have 
a-{cruple to eat or drink.after ftrangers ; the other, becaufe 
Tapprehended the water was not perfectly clean; for no 
feoner had the croffes firft touched. the pool, and the cup 
filled from the clean part for the governor, than two or 
three hundred boys, calling themfelves: deacons, plunged in 
with onlya white cloth, or rag, tied round their middle; in all 
other refpects they were perfectly naked, Alithcir friends and 
relations 
