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sation among the nations of Europe； opportunities for its development no longer occur。 The credibility of this energetic but by no means ambitious man is not liable to the slightest suspicion； for； owing to his want of education； he had no knowledge of the phenomena in question； and his work evinces throughout his attractive and unpretending impartiality。
Comparison is the mother of observation； and may here elucidate one phenomenon by anotherthe past by that which still exists。 Oppression； insecurity； and the influence of a very rude priestcraft； are the powerful causes which operated on the Germans and Italians of the Middle Ages； as they now continue to operate on the Abyssinians of the present day。 However these people may differ from us in their descent； their manners and their customs； the effects of the above mentioned causes are the same in Africa as they were in Europe； for they operate on man himself independently of the particular locality in which he may be planted； and the conditions of the Abyssinians of modern times is； in regard to superstition； a mirror of the condition of the European nations of the middle ages。 Should this appear a bold assertion it will 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 not condemned to the flames by fanatical priests； as the lycanthropes were in the Middle Ages。
CHAPTER IVSYMPATHY
Imitationcompassionsympathy； these are imperfect designations for a common bond of union among human beingsfor an instinct which connects individuals with the general body； which embraces with equal force reason and folly； good and evil； and diminishes the praise of virtue as well as the criminality of vice。 In this impulse there are degrees； but no essential differences； from the first intellectual efforts of the infant mind； which are in a great measure based on imitation； to that morbid condition of the soul in which the sensible impression of a nervous malady fetters the mind； and finds its way through the eye directly to the diseased texture； as the electric shock is propagated by contact from body to body。 To this instinct of imitation； when it exists in its highest degree； is united a loss of all power over the will； which occurs as soon as the impression on the senses has become firmly established； producing a condition like that of small animals when they are fascinated by the look of a serpent。 By this mental bondage morbid sympathy is clearly and definitely distinguished from all subordinate degrees of this instinct； however closely allied the imitation of a disorder may seem to be to that of a mere folly； of an absurd fashion； of an awkward habit in speech and manner； or even of a confusion of ideas。 Even these latter imitations； however； directed as they are to foolish and pernicious objects； place the self…independence of the greater portion of mankind in a very doubtful light； and account for their union into a social whole。 Still more nearly allied to morbid sympathy than the imitation of enticing folly； although often with a considerable admixture of the latter； is the diffusion of violent excitements； especially those of a religious or political character； which have so powerfully agitated the nations of ancient and modern times； and which may； after an incipient compliance； pass into a total loss of power over the will； and an actual disease of the mind。 Far be it from us to attempt to awaken all the various tones of this chord； whose vibrations reveal the profound secrets which lie hid in the inmost recesses of the soul。 We might well want powers adequate to so vast an undertaking。 Our business here is only with that morbid sympathy by the aid of which the dancing mania of the Middle Ages grew into a real epidemic。 In order to make this apparent by comparison； it may not be out of place； at the close of this inquiry； to introduce a few striking examples：…
1。 〃At a cotton manufactory at Hodden Bridge； in Lancashire； a girl； on the fifteenth of February； 1787； put a mouse into the bosom of another girl； who had a great dread of mice。 The girl was immediately thrown into a fit； and continued in it； with the most violent convulsions； for twenty…four hours。 On the following day three more girls were seized in the same manner； and on the 17th six more。 By this time the alarm was so great that the whole work； in which 200 or 300 were employed； was totally stopped； and an idea prevailed that a particular disease had been introduced by a bag of cotton opened in the house。 On Sunday the 18th； Dr。 St。 Clare was sent for from Preston； before he arrived three more were seized； and during that night and the morning of the 19th； eleven more； making in all twenty…four。 Of these； twenty…one were young women； two were girls of about ten years of age； and one man； who had been much fatigued with holding t