a voyage to abyssinia-第11章
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of nature； as might almost afford reason to doubt whether they are endued with reason。 The Christianity professed by the Abyssins is so corrupted with superstitions； errors； and heresies； and so mingled with ceremonies borrowed from the Jews； that little besides the name of Christianity is to be found here； and the thorns may be said to have choked the grain。 This proceeds in a great measure from the diversity of religions which are tolerated there； either by negligence or from motives of policy； and the same cause hath produced such various revolutions； revolts； and civil wars within these later ages。 For those different sects do not easily admit of an union with each other； or a quiet subjection to the same monarch。 The Abyssins cannot properly be said to have either cities or houses； they live either in tents； or in cottages made of straw and clay； for they very rarely build with stone。 Their villages or towns consist of these huts； yet even of such villages they have but few； because the grandees； the viceroys； and the Emperor himself are always in the camp； that they may be prepared； upon the most sudden summons； to go where the exigence of affairs demands their presence。 And this precaution is no more than necessary for a prince every year engaged either in foreign wars or intestine commotions。 These towns have each a governor； whom they call gadare； over whom is the educ； or lieutenant； and both accountable to an officer called the afamacon； or mouth of the King； because he receives the revenues； which he pays into the hands of the relatinafala； or grand master of the household： sometimes the Emperor creates a ratz； or viceroy； general over all the empire； who is superior to all his other officers。
Aethiopia produces very near the same kinds of provisions as Portugal； though； by the extreme laziness of the inhabitants； in a much less quantity： however； there are some roots； herbs； and fruits which grow there much better than in other places。 What the ancients imagined of the torrid zone being uninhabitable is so far from being true； that this climate is very temperate： the heats； indeed； are excessive in Congo and Monomotapa； but in Abyssinia they enjoy a perpetual spring； more delicious and charming than that in our country。 The blacks here are not ugly like those of the kingdoms I have spoken of； but have better features； and are not without wit and delicacy； their apprehension is quick； and their judgment sound。 The heat of the sun； however it may contribute to their colour； is not the only reason of it； there is some peculiarity in the temper and constitution of their bodies； since the same men； transported into cooler climates； produce children very near as black as themselves。
They have here two harvests in the year； which is a sufficient recompense for the small produce of each； one harvest they have in the winter； which lasts through the months of July； August； and September； the other in the spring； their trees are always green； and it is the fault of the inhabitants that they produce so little fruit； the soil being well adapted to all sorts； especially those that come from the Indies。 They have in the greatest plenty raisins； peaches； sour pomegranates； and sugarcanes； and some figs。 Most of these are ripe about Lent； which the Abyssins keep with great strictness。
After the vegetable products of this country； it seems not improper to mention the animals which are found in it； of which here are as great numbers； of as many different species； as in any country in the world： it is infested with lions of many kinds； among which are many of that which is called the lion royal。 I cannot help giving the reader on this occasion a relation of a fact which I was an eye… witness of。 A lion having taken his haunt near the place where I lived； killed all the oxen and cows； and did a great deal of other mischief； of which I heard new complaints every day。 A servant of mine having taken a resolution to free the country from this destroyer； went out one day with two lances； and after he had been some time in quest of him； found him with his mouth all smeared with the blood of a cow he had just devoured； the man rushed upon him； and thrust his lance into his throat with such violence that it came out between his shoulders； the beast； with one dreadful roar； fell down into a pit； and lay struggling； till my servant despatched him。 I measured the body of this lion； and found him twelve feet between the head and the tail。
Chapter II
The animals of Abyssinia； the elephant； unicorn； their horses and cows； with a particular account of the moroc。
There are so great numbers of elephants in Abyssinia that in one evening we met three hundred of them in three troops： as they filled up the whole way； we were in great perplexity a long time what measures to take； at length； having implored the protection of that Providence that superintends the whole creation； we went forwards through the midst of them without any injury。 Once we met four young elephants； and an old one that played with them； lifting them up with her trunk； they grew enraged on a sudden； and ran upon us： we had no way of securing ourselves but by flight； which； however； would have been fruitless； had not our pursuers been stopped by a deep ditch。 The elephants of Aethiopia are of so stupendous a size； that when I was mounted on a large mule I could not reach with my hand within two spans of the top of their backs。 In Abyssinia is likewise found the rhinoceros； a mortal enemy to the elephant。 In the province of Agaus has been seen the unicorn； that beast so much talked of； and so little known： the prodigious swiftness with which this creature runs from one wood into another has given me no opportunity of examining it particularly； yet I have had so near a sight of it as to be able to give some description of it。 The shape is the same with that of a beautiful horse； exact and nicely proportioned； of a bay colour； with a black tail； which in some provinces is long； in others very short： some have long manes hanging to the ground。 They are so timorous that they never feed but surrounded with other beasts that defend them。 Deer and other defenceless animals often herd about the elephant； which； contenting himself with roots and leaves； preserves those beasts that place themselves； as it were； under his protection； from the rage and fierceness of others that would devour them。
The horses of Abyssinia are excellent； their mules； oxen； and cows are without number； and in these principally consists the wealth of this country。 They have a very particular custom； which obliges every man that hath a thousand cows to save every year one day's milk of all his herd； and make a bath with it for his relations； entertaining them afterwards with a splendid feast。 This they do so many days each year； as they have thousands of cattle； so that to express how rich any man is； they tell you he bathes so many times。 The tribute paid out of their herds to the King； which is not the most inconsiderable of his revenues； is one cow in ten every three years。 The beeves are of several kinds； one sort they have without horns； which are of no other use than to carry burthens； and serve instead of mules。 Another twice as big as ours which they breed to kill； fattening them with the milk of three or four cows。 Their horns are so large； the inhabitants use them for pitchers； and each will hold about five gallons。 One of these oxen； fat and ready to be killed； may be bought at most for two crowns。 I have purchased five sheep； or five goats with nine kids； for a piece of calico worth about a crown。
The Abyssins have many sort of fowls both wild and tame； some of the former we are yet unacquainted with： there is one of wonderful beauty； which I have seen in no other place except Peru： it has instead of a comb； a short horn upon its head； which is thick and round； and open at the top。 The feitan favez； or devil's horse； looks at a distance like a man dressed in feathers； it walks with abundance of majesty； till it finds itself pursued； and then takes wing； and flies away。 But amongst all their birds there is none more remarkable than the moroc； or h
