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de themselves have a true sense of the greatness of the mother of God； or pay her the honours that are due to her。 There are some tribes amongst them （for they are distinguished like the Jews by their tribes）； among whom the crime of swearing by the name of the Virgin is punished with forfeiture of goods and even with loss of life； they are equally scrupulous of swearing by St。 George。 Every week they keep a feast to the honour of the apostles and angels； they come to mass with great devotion； and love to hear the word of God。 They receive the sacrament often； but do not always prepare themselves by confession。 Their charity to the poor may be said to exceed the proper bounds that prudence ought to set it； for it contributes to encourage great numbers of beggars； which are a great annoyance to the whole kingdom； and as I have often said； afford more exercise to a Christian's patience than his charity； for their insolence is such； that they will refuse what is offered them if it be not so much as they think proper to ask。
Though the Abyssins have not many images； they have great numbers of pictures； and perhaps pay them somewhat too high a degree of worship。 The severity of their fasts is equal to that of the primitive church。 In Lent they never eat till after sunset； their fasts are the more severe because milk and butter are forbidden them； and no reason or necessity whatsoever can procure them a permission to eat meat； and their country affording no fish； they live only on roots and pulse。 On fast…days they never drink but at their meat； and the priests never communicate till evening； for fear of profaning them。 They do not think themselves obliged to fast till they have children either married or fit to be married； which yet doth not secure them very long from these mortifications； because their youths marry at the age of ten years； and their girls younger。
There is no nation where excommunication carries greater terrors than among the Abyssins； which puts it in the power of the priests to abuse this religious temper of the people； as well as the authority they receive from it； by excommunicating them； as they often do； for the least trifle in which their interest is concerned。
No country in the world is so full of churches； monasteries； and ecclesiastics as Abyssinia； it is not possible to sing in one church or monastery without being heard by another； and perhaps by several。 They sing the psalms of David； of which； as well as the other parts of the Holy Scriptures； they have a very exact translation in their own language； in which； though accounted canonical； the books of the Maccabees are omitted。 The instruments of music made use of in their rites of worship are little drums； which they hang about their necks； and beat with both their hands； these are carried even by their chief men； and by the gravest of their ecclesiastics。 They have sticks likewise； with which they strike the ground； accompanying the blow with a motion of their whole bodies。 They begin their concert by stamping their feet on the ground； and playing gently on their instruments； but when they have heated themselves by degrees； they leave off drumming； and fall to leaping； dancing； and clapping their hands； at the same time straining their voices to the utmost pitch； till at length they have no regard either to the tune or the pauses； and seem rather a riotous than a religious assembly。 For this manner of worship they cite the psalm of David； 〃O clap your hands all ye nations。〃 Thus they misapply the sacred writings to defend practices yet more corrupt than those I have been speaking of。
They are possessed with a strange notion that they are the only true Christians in the world； as for us； they shunned us as heretics； and were under the greatest surprise at hearing us mention the Virgin Mary with the respect which is due to her； and told us that we could not be entirely barbarians since we were acquainted with the mother of God。 It plainly appears that prepossessions so strong； which receive more strength from the ignorance of the people； have very little tendency to dispose them to a reunion with the Catholic Church。
They have some opinions peculiar to themselves about purgatory； the creation of souls； and some of our mysteries。 They repeat baptism every year； they retain the practice of circumcision； they observe the Sabbath； they abstain from all those sorts of flesh which are forbidden by the law。 Brothers espouse the wives of their brothers； and to conclude； they observe a great number of Jewish ceremonies。
Though they know the words which Jesus Christ appointed to be used in the administration of baptism； they have without scruple substituted others in their place； which makes the validity of their baptism； and the reality of their Christianity； very doubtful。 They have a few names of saints； the same with those in the Roman martyrology； but they often insert others； as Zama la Cota； the Life of Truth； Ongulari； the Evangelist； Asca Georgi； the Mouth of Saint George。
To bring back this people into the enclosure of the Catholic Church； from which they have been separated so many ages； was the sole view and intention with which we undertook so long and toilsome a journey； crossed so many seas； and passed so many deserts； with the utmost hazard of our lives； I am certain that we travelled more than seven thousand leagues before we arrived at our residence at Fremona。
We came to this place； anciently called Maigoga； on the 21st of June； as I have said before； and were obliged to continue there till November； because the winter begins here in May； and its greatest rigour is from the middle of June to the middle of September。 The rains that are almost continually falling in this season make it impossible to go far from home； for the rivers overflow their banks； and therefore； in a place like this； where there are neither bridges nor boats； are； if they are not fordable； utterly impassable。 Some； indeed； have crossed them by means of a cord fastened on both sides of the water； others tie two beams together； and placing themselves upon them； guide them as well as they can； but this experiment is so dangerous that it hath cost many of these bold adventurers their lives。 This is not all the danger； for there is yet more to be apprehended from the unwholesomeness of the air； and the vapours which arise from the scorched earth at the fall of the first showers； than from the torrents and rivers。 Even they who shelter themselves in houses find great difficulty to avoid the diseases that proceed from the noxious qualities of these vapours。 From the beginning of June to that of September it rains more or less every day。 The morning is generally fair and bright； but about two hours after noon the sky is clouded； and immediately succeeds a violent storm； with thunder and lightning flashing in the most dreadful manner。 While this lasts； which is commonly three or four hours； none go out of doors。 The ploughman upon the first appearance of it unyokes his oxen； and betakes himself with them into covert。 Travellers provide for their security in the neighbouring villages； or set up their tents； everybody flies to some shelte