TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
them with whatever they wanted^ which he pro- 
mised to do. 
Gingiro is considered by Bruce as the entrance 
into the dominions of the Devil in Africa ; and, 
in fact, it appears to be the first state, in this 
quarter, where the system of magic and feticherie^ 
so widely diffused over that continent, begins 
fully to prevaiL The mode of election to the 
crown is so exceedingly barbarous, that I kno\y^ 
not whether to give full credit to it, though it 
seems confirmed by Bruce* The crown is here- 
ditary in one family ; but, among the sons of the 
deceased, the election is made in the following 
manner : As soon as the sovereign dies, these 
princes run out, like wild beasts, to hide them- 
selves in the bushes and thickets* Presently, all 
the persons attached to the court set forth in 
chase of their future sovereign. The flight of a 
bird of prey is the signal by which they are 
guided to him. The fidelity of the omen is con- 
firmed by the finding him surrounded with lions, 
panthers, and other wild beasts. He himself, 
counterfeiting their nature, resists and attacks 
those who come to raise him to the sovereignty j 
taking care, however, to allow himself to be over- 
come in due time. His accession is celebrated by 
the death of two persons of distinction, with whose 
blood the threshold of his door is besmeared. 
The travellers left Gingiro, and, at the end of 
