410 ' AXUM. - 
diately on hearing these words *^ Potiphar's wrath was kindled/^ 
and Joseph was consigned to a prison. Now, it appears, upon 
reading this without explanation, that Potiphar, who seems to 
have been a good man, acted on this occasion, with extreme 
injustice, as he does not seem to have made any enquiry into 
Joseph's guilt, but at once, on the assertion of his wife, commits 
him to a prison. On the contrary, if the same custom as the one 
which is now general in Abyssinia, at that time prevailed in 
Egypt, it will be seen that Potiphar acted justly, according 
to the established rule of the country, it being always consi- 
dered as a sure proof of guilt, which requires no further evi- 
dence to be adduced, if a man, after being once laid hold of, 
runs away and leaves his garment behind.^ 
The troublesome behaviour of the inhabitants above mentioned, 
(which we found to be in a great measure owing to the absence 
of the Nebrit or ruler of the district,) made our stay at Axum 
so unpleasant, that I determined to lose no time in examining 
the Greek inscription, and thence to return with the least possi- 
ble delay to Adowa. With this view I proceeded, accompanied 
by a rude crowd of the inhabitants, to the stone bearing the 
inscription, which I found exactly in the same state as when I 
previously visited Axum. I immediately re-copied very care- 
fully every letter, and in going over it, I was gratified in finding 
that the greater part of the conjectures I had ventured to make 
* It has been observed to me, that the testimony of the wife alone might have been 
sufficient to justify Potiphar's conduct; but if the reader will look over the story carefully, 
as it is delivered in the 39th chapter of Genesis, he will find (if I am not mistaken,) that 
a very particular stress is laid upon " leaving the garment in her hands," especially m 
verse 13. At all events I hope to be excused for offering the conjecture. 
