GENATER. 
5^3 
*' We were entertained in the morning by the sight of an Abys- 
sinian banquet, at which, ahhough new guests were continually 
relieving those who were satisfied, we counted ninety-five persons 
feeding at the same time in the hall. It might frighten many a. 
man to go into the midst of such a throng cutting away at the raw 
meat with their long drawn knives, and handing it about in large 
pieces, from the higher to those of inferior rank. Sometimes, if it 
chanced to be a coarse piece, it was observed to go through six or 
seven gradations. At the farther end of the hall sat Subagadis and 
his wife, with her female attendants, behind a half drawn curtain. 
On our entering the hall we were invited to take a seat among them, 
with which we willingly complied. The lady, whom we could now 
more particularly attend to, was young and pretty, and both gentle 
and agreeable in her manners; she asked me for a pair of ear-rings 
(which I had before been erroneously given to understand the 
Abyssinian ladies did not wear) ; I sent accordingly for a pair of 
some that I had procured at Mocha, and presented them to her. 
" During our stay, Captain Rudland shot two eagles, which I 
suppose to be the male and female. The people, having never 
before seen a bird killed when flying, were much delighted on the 
occasion. We left Genater about ten o'clock, travelling at a slow 
rate. On our way we passed two priests dressed in light scarlet 
garments ; one of them carried in his hand a bell, the other a large 
and curiously ornamented key. The first eight miles lay in a 
southward direction, through a fine grazing country ; then winding 
round the hills, we ascended a high pass, the top of which divides 
the district of Shum Woldo from that of Ayto Welleta Michael. 
We were desired to wait on this hill, as Ayto Welleta Michael,, 
