before marriage a great number of men live with several ladies, with whom they make a temporary arrangement. This seems to be exceedingly common, tolerated by public opinion, almost a recognized institution. But it is not marriage; no priest has anything to do with the bargain for mutual sin, no man living in such a way can go to Confession or receive Communion. It appears that even lax public opinion looks upon marriage as much more respectable. The accusation of Abyssinian polygamy then means that many young men live disorderly lives — the same might be said of London; that public opinion is lax — in England it is not exactly severe; that the Church should do more to put down rampant sin — we might do more in Europe too.
However, all travellers seem to agree that Christianity in Abyssinia is in a very low state. The people are at best only half civilized, the clergy are almost as illiterate as the laity. Some accusations I very much doubt. When I see that a Protestant traveller says that the priests take money to forgive sins, I remember that many of them think that Catholics do so. Inveighing against superstitions, ignorance, and so on leaves us cold when we reflect that they often say much the same of us. For if a man can remain as grossly ignorant of an institution at his very door as many well-meaning Protestants are of us, how shall he understand Ethiopia? But if it be true that Abyssinians adore our Lady as God, believe that she dwells in sacred trees, holy wells and high places, this is very bad. They appear to have an extensive demonology; there are were-wolves, devil-serpents and devil-hyænas. There is a special lady-devil who eats small children. These are smoked out with fire and conjured away with amulets containing holy words. I can certify that all the Ethiopians I have seen, and their churches, are appallingly dirty. They anoint their black faces with oil, which runs down even to the hem of their garment. But it would be absurd to mind that. If a man is an African he is an African. In any case they are Christians.[1] Coram illo procident Aethiopes.
- ↑ The proud mark of an Abyssinian Christian is the blue cord he wears always round his neck; on it are strung crosses, amulets, toothpicks, scratchers, and so on. He also carries in his belt two or three pistols, and perhaps five daggers. At his side hang a broadsword and a rapier; a gun
