326 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
relations (indeed everybody) went clofe down to the edge 
of the pool, where water was thrown upon them, and firft 
decently cnough by boys of the town, and thofe brought 
on purpofe as deacons; but, after the better fort of people 
had received the a{perfion, the whole was turned into a riot, 
the boys, muddying the water, threw it round them upon 
every one they faw well-dreffed or clean. The governor re- 
treated firft, then the monks, and then the crofles, and left 
the brook in poffeflion of the boys and blackguards, who 
rioted there till two o’clock in the afternoon. | 
‘I must, however, obferve, that, a very little time after the 
governor had been {prinkled, two horfes and two mules, be- 
longing to Ras Michael and Ozoro Efther, came and were 
wathed. Afterwards the foldiers went in and bathed their 
horfes and guns; thofe who had wounds bathed them alfo. 
I faw no women in the bath uncovered, even to the knee; 
nor did I fee any perfon of the rank of decent fervants go 
into the water at all except with the horfes. Heaps of plat- 
ters and pois, that had been ufed by Mahometans or Jews, 
were brought thither likewife to be purified; and thus the 
whole ended. 
I saw this ceremony performed afterwards at Kahha, 
near Gondar, in prefence of the king, who drank fome of 
the water, and was {prinkled by the priefts; then took the 
cup in his hand, and threw the reft that was left upon Am- 
ha Yatfous*, faying, “I will be your deacon ;” and this was 
thought a high compliment, the prieft giving him his blef- 
fing at the fame time, but offering him no more water. 
I sHALL 
Se RR To 
** Prince of Shoa, often fpoken of in the fequel. 
