230 ROMANS AT TABLE. ABYSSINIAN FEASTS. 
whom Ihave often made hotiourabie mention, thinking herpersaasions, 
as one of her own sexj might avail, then went up to the wretched 
victim, and in the most earnest manner tried to dissuade her. She 
oiFered her a pension for life, and an honourable asylum in the com^ 
pany’s territories. Among other inducements, intending it probably 
as an appeal to female vanity, Mrs. E. said that she should be made 
a lady of, and have a palanquin to ride in ; she immediately answered, 
pointing to the pile, ‘ Ce humera palkee hy — that is my palanquin.* 
The victim then performed various ceremonies, and prepared herself 
to jump on the pile, which was blazing to receive her. The flames 
had arisen to a great height, and they were feeding them with tar and 
faggots. I then addressed her for the last time : told her no force should 
be used to keep her in the fire, but conjured her, if her resolution 
failed, to jump out, and run to me ; that I was surrounded by my 
police-men, and that I would bear her away from her cruel relations 
to a place of safety, where they should never see her more. Her reso- 
lution was immoveable. She then distributed flowers and sweet-meats 
gave me a piece of her dress, and, having danced three times round 
the pile, threw herself in. At that moment the people shouted, the 
drums and native music struck up, and, if she uttered any cries, I 
heard them not. She resolutely sat in the fire, apparently alive, for 
two or three minutes, but moved only her hands occasionally. Such 
is the description of a dreadful act that takes place every day 
The Romans at Table. 
The Roman manner of disposing themselves at table w'as this 
A low round table was placed in the eoenaculum, or dining-room, and 
about this usually three, sometimes only two, beds or couches, ac^ 
cording to the number of which it was called hiclinium, or triclinium, 
These were covered with a sort of bed-clothes, richer or plainer 
according to the quality of the person, and furnished with quilts and 
pillows, that the guests might be the better accommodated. There 
were three persons on each bed ; to crowd more, was esteemed sordid. 
In eating, they lay down on their left side.s, with their heads resting 
on their elbows. The first lay at the head of the bed, with his feet 
extended behind the back of the second; the second lay with the 
back of his head extended towards the middle of the first, only sepa- 
rated by a pillow, his feet behind the back of the third and so of the 
third and fourth. The middle place was esteemed the most honourable. 
Before they came to table, they changed their clothes, putting on what 
they call ccenatoria vestis, the dining-garment, and pulled off their 
shoes, to prevent soiling the bed. 
Abyssinian Feast. 
Mr. Bruce gives the following account of an Abyssinian feast.-— 
In the capital, where one is safe from surprise at all times, or in the 
country or villages, when the rains are become so constant that the 
valleys will not bear a horse to pass them, or that men cannot venture 
from home through fear of being surrounded and swept .away by 
