THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 335 
Ir is a miftake that there is no wine in Abyfflinia, for a 
quantity of excellent ftrong wine is made at Dreeda, fouth- 
weft from Gondar about thirty miles, which would more 
than fupply the quantity neceflary for the celebration of 
the eucharift in all Abyflinia twenty times over. The people 
themfelves are not fond of wine, and plant the vine in one 
place only; and in this they have been imitated by the E- 
gyptians, their colony; but a {mall black grape, of an ex- 
cellent flavour, grows plentifully wild in every wood in 
Tigré. i ; 
LarceE pieces of bread are given to the communicants 
in proportion to their quality; and I have feen great men, 
who, though they open their mouths as wide as convenient- 
ly a man can do, yet from the refpect the prieft bore him, 
fuch a portion of the loaf was put into his mouth that wa- 
terran from his eyes, from the incapacity of chewing it, 
which, however, he does as indecently, and with full as much 
nolfe, as he eats at table. 
ArTer receiving the facrament of the eucharift in both 
kinds, a pitcher of water is brought, of which the commzu- 
nicant drinks a large draught ; and wellhe needs it to wafh 
down the quantity of bread he has juft fwallowed. He 
then retires from the fteps of the inner divifion upon which 
the adminiftering prieft ftands, and, turning his face to the 
wall of the church, in private fays fome prayer with feem- 
mg decency and attention.. 
Tue Romanifts doubt of the validity of the Abyflinian 
confecration of the elements, becaufe in their liturgy it is 
plainly faid, “ Lord, put thy hand upon this cup, and blefs 
660s 
7 At, 
