AXUM. 
89 
mate acquaintance with the sacred book. Before he left me, 1 took 
the opportunity of presenting to him, for the church, a piece of 
red satin stuff, as I found that no information was to be gained 
without some kind of bribery. The priests were all highly pleased 
with my offering, but begged that I would keep it till morning, and 
then deliver it in public at the church. The clerical establishment at 
this place seems to be on a far superior scale to any I have seen in 
Abyssinia, except Ghelicut, which, from being the favourite church 
of the Ras, and close to the vicinity of his principal residence, is of 
course more particularly attended to, and enriched, during the 
continuance of his power. Axum is, however, looked up to with 
great deference, as having been for so long a period the seat of 
royalty ; and the Chief Priest claims a very high precedence over 
all the churches to the eastward of the Tacazza. Even at present, 
on great occasions, as after a victory, the Ras thinks it necessary to 
pay his devotions at this place, to conciliate the priesthood, the 
influence of which still continues to be considerable. 
" The dress of this order of men differs in some degree from 
that of all the other ranks. They wear a close vest of white linen 
next the skin, vvhich covers every part of their body to the 
knees, in addition to the large folding mantle and close drawers, 
which constitute the simple dress of the Abyssinians. They also 
wrap neatly round their heads a thin shawl of cotton, leaving the 
top of their heads exposed. This difference in dress gives great 
respectability to their appearance, and as far as I could learn, their 
conduct and manners are equally becoming. 
September 17 — I went to the church at a very early hour, 
and was received with great attention by the priests, and on my 
