238 JOURNEY TO CENTRAL AFRICA.

Moonlight on the Ethiopian Nile.

CHAPTEK XIX.

ETHIOPIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS.

Tho Landscapes of Ethiopia— My Evenings beside the Nile— Experiences of the Arabian Nights— The Story of the Sultana Zobeide and the Wood-cutter— Character of the Arabian Tales — Religion.

" For it was in the golden prime Of good Haroun Al-Easchid." — Tejjntson.

With nay voyage on the Ethiopian Nile a thread of romance was woven, which, in the Oriental mood that had now become native to me, greatly added to the charm of the journey. My nio-hts' entertainments were better than the Arabian. The moon was at the full, and although, during the day, a light north-wind filled my sails, it invariably fell calm at sunset,