THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 351
It is uncertain whence they derived the names of their months ; they have no figniiication in any of the languages of Abyflinia. The name of the firfl month among' the old Egyptians has continued to this day. It is Tot, probably fo called from the firfl. divifion of time among the Egyptians, from obfervation of the helaical riling of the dog-flar. The names of the months retained in Abyilinia are poffibly in antiquity prior to this ; they are probably thofe given them by the Cufhite, before the Kalendars at Thebes and MeroeV their colony, were formed.
The common epoch which the Abyflinians make ufe of is from the creation of the world ; but in the quantity of this period they do not agree with the Greeks, nor with other eailern nations, who reckon 5508 years from the crea- tion to the birth of Chrift. The Abyflinians adopt the even number of 5500 years, cafting away the odd eight years ; but whether this was firfl done for eafe of calculation, or fome better reafon, there is neither book nor tradition that now can teach us. They have, befides this, many other e- pochs, fuch as from the council of Nice and Ephcfus. There- is likewife to be met with in their books a portion of time, which is certainly a cycle ; the Ethiopic word is kamar, which, literally interpreted, is an arch, or circle. It is not now in ufe in civil life among the Abyflinians, and there- fore was mentioned as containing various quantities from 100 years to 19 ; and there are places in their hiitory where neither of thefe will apply, nor any even number what- ever..
They make ufe of the golden number and epacf. con- Hantly in all their ecclefiaflic computations : the firfl they
call
