l be
strengthened by the fact that in Abyssinia two examples of superstitions
occur which are completely in accordance with occurrences of the Middle
Ages that took place contemporarily with the dancing mania. _The
Abyssinians have their Christian flagellants, and there exists among them
a belief in a Zoomorphism, which presents a lively image of the
lycanthropy of the Middle Ages_. Their flagellants are called Zackarys.
They are united into a separate Christian fraternity, and make their
processions through the towns and villages with great noise and tumult,
scourging themselves till they draw blood, and wounding themselves with
knives. They boast that they are descendants of St. George. It is
precisely in Tigre, the country of the Abyssinian dancing mania, where
they are found in the greatest numbers, and where they have, in the
neighbourhood of Axum, a church of their own, dedicated to their patron
saint, _Oun Arvel_. Here there is an ever-burning lamp, and they
contrive to impress a belief that this is kept alight by supernatural
means. They also here keep a holy water, which is said to be a cure for
those who are affected by the dancing mania.

The Abyssinian Zoomorphism is a no less important phenomenon, and shows
itself a manner quite peculiar. The blacksmiths and potters form among
the Abyssinians a society or caste called in Tigre _Tebbib_, and in
Amhara _Buda_, which is held in some degree of contempt, and excluded
from the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, because it is believed that they
can change themselves into hyaenas and other beasts of prey, on which
account they are feared by everybody, and regarded with horror. They
artfully contrive to keep up this superstition, because by this
separation they preserve a monopoly of their lucrative trades, and as in
other respects they are good Christians (but few Jews or Mahomedans live
among them), they seem to attach no great consequence to their
excommunication. As a badge of distinction they wear a golden ear-ring,
which is frequently found in the ears of Hyaenas that are killed, without
its having ever been discovered how they catch these animals, so as to
decorate them with this strange ornament, and this removes in the minds
of the people all doubt as to the supernatural powers of the smiths and
potters. To the Budas is also ascribed the gift of enchantment,
especially that of the influence of the evil eye. They nevertheless live
unmolested, and are