TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
59 
fording no fish, they are reduced to roots and pulse* 
The country is so full of churches and monasteries, 
that it is scarcely possible to sing in one without 
being heard by another. This singing, indeed, is 
extremely audible, for, besides straining their voices 
to the highest pitch, they fall to leaping, dancing, 
and clapping of hands, so that it seems rather a 
riotous meeting than a religious assembly. The 
father having reproached them with this tumultu- 
ous species of worship, they defended it by quoting 
the words of the Psalmist, " Clap your hands, all 
" ye nations/' 
In regard to the food of the Abyssinians, Lobo 
entirely confirms their passion for raw flesh. " When 
" they feast a friend, they kill an ox, and set im- 
" mediately a quarter of him raw upon the table 
" (for their most elegant treat is raw meat newly 
" killed) with pepper and salt ; the gall of the ox 
" serves them for oil and vinegar." By those who 
wished to entertain well our missionary, this treat 
was liberally offered to him ; and he could not de- 
cline it with grace, unless by saying that it was too 
good for him. Beer and mead are their favourite 
liquors, and are used to excess ; f? nor can there 
" be a greater offence against good manners, than 
" to let the guests go away sober,' i The common 
people are very poorly apparelled ; but the rich 
use splendid dresses. They love bright and glaring 
colours, and wear commonly silks covered with gold 
and silver embroidery. 
