a voyage to abyssinia-第22章
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ed at Mazna on the coast of the Red Sea； and marched a little more to the south than the south…west； they might perhaps have gratified their curiosity at less expense； and in about twenty days might have enjoyed the desired sight of the sources of the Nile。
But this discovery was reserved for the invincible bravery of our noble countrymen； who； not discouraged by the dangers of a navigation in seas never explored before； have subdued kingdoms and empires where the Greek and Roman greatness； where the names of Caesar and Alexander； were never heard of； who have demolished the airy fabrics of renowned hypotheses； and detected those fables which the ancients rather chose to invent of the sources of the Nile than to confess their ignorance。 I cannot help suspending my narration to reflect a little on the ridiculous speculations of those swelling philosophers； whose arrogance would prescribe laws to nature； and subject those astonishing effects； which we behold daily； to their idle reasonings and chimerical rules。 Presumptuous imagination！ that has given being to such numbers of books； and patrons to so many various opinions about the overflows of the Nile。 Some of these theorists have been pleased to declare it as their favourite notion that this inundation is caused by high winds which stop the current； and so force the water to rise above its banks； and spread over all Egypt。 Others pretend a subterraneous communication between the ocean and the Nile； and that the sea being violently agitated swells the river。 Many have imagined themselves blessed with the discovery when they have told us that this mighty flood proceeds from the melting of snow on the mountains of Aethiopia； without reflecting that this opinion is contrary to the received notion of all the ancients； who believed that the heat was so excessive between the tropics that no inhabitant could live there。 So much snow and so great heat are never met with in the same region； and indeed I never saw snow in Abyssinia； except on Mount Semen in the kingdom of Tigre； very remote from the Nile； and on Namera； which is indeed not far distant； but where there never falls snow sufficient to wet the foot of the mountain when it is melted。
To the immense labours and fatigues of the Portuguese mankind is indebted for the knowledge of the real cause of these inundations so great and so regular。 Their observations inform us that Abyssinia； where the Nile rises and waters vast tracts of land； is full of mountains； and in its natural situation much higher than Egypt； that all the winter； from June to September； no day is without rain； that the Nile receives in its course all the rivers； brooks； and torrents which fall from those mountains； these necessarily swell it above the banks； and fill the plains of Egypt with the inundation。 This comes regularly about the month of July； or three weeks after the beginning of a rainy season in Aethiopia。 The different degrees of this flood are such certain indications of the fruitfulness or sterility of the ensuing year； that it is publicly proclaimed in Cairo how much the water hath gained each night。 This is all I have to inform the reader of concerning the Nile； which the Egyptians adored as the deity； in whose choice it was to bless them with abundance； or deprive them of the necessaries of life。
Chapter XI
The author discovers a passage over the Nile。 Is sent into the province of Ligonus； which he gives a description of。 His success in his mission。 The stratagem of the monks to encourage the soldiers。 The author narrowly escapes being burned。
When I was to cross this river at Boad； I durst not venture myself on the floats I have already spoken of； but went up higher in hopes of finding a more commodious passage。 I had with me three or four men that were reduced to the same difficulty with myself。 In one part seeing people on the other side； and remarking that the water was shallow； and that the rocks and trees which grew very thick there contributed to facilitate the attempt； I leaped from one rock to another； till I reached the opposite bank； to the great amazement of the natives themselves； who never had tried that way； my four companions followed me with the same success： and it hath been called since the passage of Father Jerome。
That province of the kingdom of Damot； which I was assigned to by my superior； is called Ligonus； and is perhaps one of the most beautiful and agreeable places in the world； the air is healthful and temperate； and all the mountains； which are not very high； shaded with cedars。 They sow and reap here in every season； the ground is always producing； and the fruits ripen throughout the year； so great； so charming is the variety； that the whole region seems a garden laid out and cultivated only to please。 I doubt whether even the imagination of a painter has yet conceived a landscape as beautiful as I have seen。 The forests have nothing uncouth or savage； and seem only planted for shade and coolness。 Among a prodigious number of trees which fill them； there is one kind which I have seen in no other place； and to which we have none that bears any resemblance。 This tree； which the natives call ensete； is wonderfully useful； its leaves； which are so large as to cover a man； make hangings for rooms； and serve the inhabitants instead of linen for their tables and carpets。 They grind the branches and the thick parts of the leaves； and when they are mingled with milk； find them a delicious food。 The trunk and the roots are even more nourishing than the leaves or branches； and the meaner people； when they go a journey； make no provision of any other victuals。 The word ensete signifies the tree against hunger； or the poor's tree； though the most wealthy often eat of it。 If it be cut down within half a foot of the ground and several incisions made in the stump； each will put out a new sprout； which； if transplanted； will take root and grow to a tree。 The Abyssins report that this tree when it is cut down groans like a man； and； on this account； call cutting down an ensete killing it。 On the top grows a bunch of five or six figs； of a taste not very agreeable； which they set in the ground to produce more trees。
I stayed two months in the province of Ligonus； and during that time procured a church to be built of hewn stone； roofed and wainscoted with cedar； which is the most considerable in the whole country。 My continual employment was the duties of the mission； which I was always practising in some part of the province； not indeed with any extraordinary success at first； for I found the people inflexibly obstinate in their opinions； even to so great a degree； that when I first published the Emperor's edict requiring all his subjects to renounce their errors； and unite themselves to the Roman Church； there were some monks who； to the number of sixty； chose rather to die by throwing themselves headlong from a precipice than obey their sovereign's commands： and in a battle fought between these people that adhered to the religion of their ancestors； and the troops of Sultan Segued； six hundred religious； placing themselves at the head of their men； marched towards the Catholic army with the stones of the altars upon their heads； assuring their credulous followers that the Emperor's troops would immediately at the sight of those stones fall into disorder and turn their backs； but； as they were some of the first that fell； their death had a great influence upon the people to undeceive them； and make them return to the truth。 Many were converted after the battle； and when they had embraced the Catholic faith； adhered to that with the same constancy and firmness with which they had before persisted in their errors。
The Emperor had sent a viceroy into this province； whose firm attachment to the Roman Church； as well as great abilities in military affairs； made him a person very capable of executing the orders of the Emperor； and of suppressing any insurrection that might be raised； to prevent those alterations in religion which they were designed to promote： a farther view in the choice of so warlike a deputy was that a stop might be put to the inroads of the Galles； who had kille
