TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
63 
pany with their governors ; and they can in no 
case leave the mountain, which is approachable on- 
ly by a narrow pass, carefully guarded. He saw 
the library, composed of ten thousand manuscript 
volumes, some of which he was told were the most 
ancient books in the world, being written by the 
Egyptian sages in the time of Moses. Some ap- 
peared to him to be made of the Egyptian papy- 
rus. Twenty-three persons were constantly em- 
ployed in transcribing such manuscripts as seemed 
to be falling into decay. 
The author gives a very favourable view of the 
Abyssinian clergy, who, both in belief and prac- 
tice, appear much superior to the Romish priests, 
who were so zealous for their conversion. Their 
monks do not devote themselves to idleness and 
beggary, like those of Europe ; they employ a 
great part of the day in moderate labour, visiting 
the sick and other charitable offices, and spend the 
evening in conversation and innocent amusements. 
They live together in the greatest harmony ; so 
that our author conceives, if there is a paradise 
upon earth, it is among these monks and friars of 
Ethiopia. In addition to their old creed, they have 
drawn up a new one to guard against the errors of 
the church of Rome. They declare, that^ though 
the Virgin Mary be worthy of the highest reve- 
rence, she is neither to be worshipped nor prayed 
