ANT ALO. 
367 
not, like ours, sustained by the tail only, but, from being fastened 
to the two sides of the saddle, passes round the whole of the hinder 
part of the animal. By way of ornament round the neck of their 
horses, the Abyssinians place a collar, made of the Zebra's mane, 
together with chains of jingling brass, and occasionally a small 
bell. The whole of this equipage is so decidedly different from 
that of their neighbours, the Arabs, that it affords, among others, 
a strong argument against their customs being derived from the 
same origin. 
The persons attached to my party also exhibited their skill in 
riding, much to the satisfaction of the Ras, who particularly 
expressed his delight on finding that we were so well skilled in 
this their favourite exercise. After amusing ourselves in this man- 
ner for some hours, we proceeded forward to Antalo, where, on our 
arrival, we were met by a deputation of the priests, splendidly 
dressed out for the occasion, who, after paying their comple- 
ments to the Ras, turned round and marched before us, vocifer- 
ously singing psalms, and tinkling a number of small bells, 
which they carried for this purpose in their hands. In the even- . 
ing a repast of fish, &c. was served up for the last time during 
the season, of which a great number of the first people in the 
country partook ; and one of the head priests, when it was over, 
pronounced a blessing on all those who had properly observed 
the holy institution of Lent. 
On the 26th we were called up early in the morning to attend 
a feast celebrated in honour of the day, at which no less than five 
cows were killed by the Ras, and so large a quantity of brind was 
consumed both by priests and laity, as clearly evinced that they 
