Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/219

 At the point where the lake narrows to escape through the rapid current of the Abai, two towns face each other—Debra-Manam, or "Mountain of Mary," on the east, Bahrdar to the west. Several villages, neater and more cleanly than those of the interior, follow in succession along the southern shore of the lake. The islet of Dek, some 16 square miles in extent, forms a low volcanic rock covered with tufted vegetation, and skirted by conic hills. Here the priests of Eoarata have deposited their treasures; hence few explorers have received permission to visit this island, whilst that of Dega, consecrated to St. Stephen, is holy soil, forbidden to all profane visitors. Mafraha, another holy island in Lake Tana, lies close to the north-eastern shore, and viewed from between branches of trees covered with the swinging nests of the weaver-bird, presents a most charming appearance. But the holiness of this island did not prevent Theodore from shutting up all its inhabitants in a monastery, which he then set on fire. To the south-east of Lake Tana, on one of its affluents, Ismala, the capital of Abshafer, is very much frequented for its hot springs and mineral waters. Beyond the basin of Lake Tana the Abyssinian towns belonging to the watershed of the Abai or Blue Nile are mostly situated on the plateau or on the broad grassy terraces of the extensive plains bordering the right bank of the river, and affording pasturage for herds of large cattle and horses. Mota, one of the most important markets in the "kingdom" of Gojam, is situated on an elevation at the extremity of the plateaux which bound the northern base of the Talba Waha Mountains; its regularly built houses are, like those of Mahdera-Mariam, surrounded by leafy trees, while a large park with long symmetrical avenues encircles the church. Below the terraces of Mota are the ruins of a bridge, which spanned the Abai River with nine arches, of which the central arch, some 66 feet broad, has been broken; but the merchants have stretched a rope over the gap and manage to pass themselves and their commodities over this frail temporary substitute. Farther south, the village of Karamo and a few neighbouring hamlets are peopled with Fmucin, or Francs, that is to say, the descendants of the Portuguese soldiers who arrived in the sixteenth century with Christopher de Gama. Martola-Mariam, one of the local churches, the sculptures of whose interior are said by Beke to be of exquisite workmanship, is undoubtedly of Portuguese construction, although the people invest it with much greater antiquity.

Facing the eastern curve of the Abai follow in succession the two religious towns of Debra-Werk and Lima, celebrated the former for its seminary, and the latter for the curious paintings in its church of St. George. Debra-Werk, built in amphitheatral form on the side of a hill, possesses the highest and best-built houses of any other Abyssinian towns. Bishara, some miles south of Dima, is a