CHELICUT. 
333 
The jealousy which the Has entertains with regard to his 
wives, and his strict notions, in general, respecting women, are 
circumstances so uncommon in this country, that it is difficult to 
account for their origin, unless they may be supposed to have 
been imbibed from his having, in early life, been thrown into the 
society of Mahomedans ; yet, as he retains a very decided abhor- 
rence of their doctrines, it is singular enough that he should 
have adopted this most objectionable part of their system. It 
has, however, produced the effect of correcting, in a certain de- 
gree, the general laxity of manners in the more immediate neigh- 
bourhood of the court ; but, his strictness in these respects 
appeared to be so strongly disapproved of, at least by the younger 
part of the community, that I do not think it is likely in the end, 
either materially to affect the privileges of the ladies, or to pro- 
duce any great alteration in the character of their admirers. 
Among the persons who visited me most frequently at this 
time, was a learned man, looked up to with much respect by the 
country, called Dofter Esther,* who not only understood the 
Geez language, and possessed some knowledge of the Arabic, 
but, by the assistance of Mr. Pearce, had made himself acquaint- 
ed with the Roman characters. He besides evinced, on all 
occasions, an uncommon desire for gaining information respect- 
ing the English, and in return, seemed to take great pleasure 
in answering my enquiries. During the whole time that 
* Dofter, or Doughter, in the Abyssinian, seems to be the same word as our doctor, 
signifying a person who has dedicated his time to learned pursuits. These men wear the 
habits of priests, but do not bind themselves by any vows. I am not aware by wh^t; 
means the A^ord can have crept into the language. 
