ABYSSINIA, a kingdom or empire in Eastern Africa. Abyssinia proper has an area estimated at 158,392 English square miles, and a population of from three to four millions; but the whole of the Ethiopian plateau, which sometimes is also designated by the name of Abyssinia, has, according to the Roman Catholic Bishop Massaja, and most of the recent writers on Abyssinia, a population of about 12,000,000 of people, 9,000,000 of whom are Sidama and Gallas. Abyssinia proper consists of a high mountainous table-land, the eastern boundary of which may be considered roughly as following the fortieth degree of east longitude. Between this mountainous region and the sea there is a tract of arid, low lying, waterless country, inhabited by the savage Danakil tribes; this region at Massowah is only a few miles broad, but it widens out to two hundred or three hundred miles at Tajurrah. In climate, inhabitants, soil, cultivation, etc., these two regions are totally opposite, the highlands being salubrious, temperate, generally well watered and traversed by paths in every direction; while the low country is arid, waterless, with few exceptions trackless and uncultivated. This inhospitable region effectually cuts off the highlands from all communication with the sea except at three points, Massowah and its neighborhood on the north, Amphilla Bay, about one hundred miles to the southeast, and Tajurrah on the south. From these three points the roads into the interior are of a very different character, for at Massowah they very soon climb the eastern boundary of the highlands and continue along the elevated land, whilst from Tajurrah they have to traverse two hundred or three hundred miles, and from Amphilla Bay from fifty to one hundred miles of the low lying country before they reach the highlands. The western and southern boundaries of Abyssinia are very undefined, but they may be taken roughly as conterminous with the VOL. VIII.-1

edge of the highlands, and having the White and Blue Nile on the west and the Red Sea rather south by east. The following are some of the principal towns:

Gondar, in Amhara-the capital of the kingdom.-This town is stated by Heuglin, in 1862, to have contained from six thousand to seven thousand inhabitants, but it is said to have been within the last two or three years totally destroyed by the Emperor Theodore.

Debra Tabor, in Amhara. Formerly a small village. It is now a place of considerable size, and was the residence of the Emperor Theodore. Near Debra Tabor is Gaffat, where the European workmen of the Emperor resided, and which was considered as his arsenal.

Adowa, the capital of Tigré.-This is the second city in the kingdom. It is stated by MM. Ferret and Galinier to have contained in 1840 not more than 4,000 inhabitants. Heuglin, in 1862, put the population at 6,000. The miserable nature of Abyssinian towns may be judged of by the description given by Mansfield Parkyns, in 1843, of this, the second city of the empire. He says: "I own I rather expected to see columns or obelisks, if not an acropolis, on some of the neighboring hills. Judge, then, of my astonishment when, on arriving at this great city, the capital of one of the most powerful kingdoms of Ethiopia, I found nothing but a large straggling village of huts, some flat roofed, but mostly thatched with straw, and the walls of all of them built of rough stones, laid together with mud, in the rudest possible manner. Being wet, moreover, with the rain, the place presented the most miserably dirty appearance.

Mr. Dufton, who visited Adowa, puts its population at 10,000.

Antalo-the capital of Enderta, and one of the principal towns of Tigré.-It is said by Ferret and Galinier to contain from two hundred to three hundred houses.

Ankobar-the capital of Shoa. Angolala.-This is a place of considerable size in Shoa. It is said to contain from three thousand to four thousand inhabitants.

Aliya Amba.-This is a large market town in Shoa, and is said by D'Héricourt to contain from two thousand to three thousand inhabitants.

Political anarchy, which for centuries has been the normal condition of Abyssinia, prevailed throughout the country at the beginning of the year 1868. The larger portion of the country did not recognize the authority of Theodore, and many of the chiefs were in a state of war either against Theodore or against each other. The following was reported in January, 1868, to be the position of the more prominent chiefs:

Theodore, reported as holding only a small portion of Begamider and the two Ambas of Debra Tabor and Magdala; the latter on the border of the Wollo-Galla country.-Menilek, King of Shoa. It was reported that a treaty had been made between him and the Wagshum Gobazie, on condition that, if they should overcome Theodore, Magdala was to be made over to Menilek. The latter addressed a letter, with friendly overtures, to Queen Victoria, which was forwarded to the Queen by Colonel Merewether in July, 1866.-Tirsoo Gobazie, at this time exercised absolute sway over the provinces of Wolkait and Samien, while several minor chiefs between Mantamma and Massowah recognized his supremacy. Some time before he had applied to the Egyptians for aid against Theodore, and it was reported he still maintained friendly relations with the Viceroy.Kassai or Kassa. This man was said to have joined the Wagshum Gobazie in his first rebellion against Theodore, and subsequently to have turned against Gobazie and set up to be a king on his own account, wresting from his former master the larger portion if not the whole of Tigré. His last feat was the sacking of Adowa, the capital. The relations between him and the Wagshum were any thing but friendly, and his overtures to the English were undoubtedly with a view to strengthen his position against his formidable antagonist.-Gebra Mehdin or Gabra Mathan. He seems to be the same individual who prevented Dr. Beke from proceeding inland from Halai. At that time he was governor on the part of the Wagshum of the adjoining Akula-Kossay (or Okulekusai) -the district in which Halai is situated, and he appeared to hold the same appointment still; but, as the tribes were determined to get rid of him, he sought the intervention of the British, who told him that, being in direct communication with his master, they declined having any thing to do with him.

Wagshum Gobazie (the hereditary Shum or Prince of Waag, a district of Lasta). This was one of Theodore's most formidable antagonists, and the most successful of the insurgent chiefs. Until a short time before he appears to have

exercised jurisdiction over the larger portion of Tigré, and several chiefs in northern Abyssinia acknowledged his supremacy. For some months past he had maintained a large army near Magdala, and had frequently boasted that he would attack the royal camp. Lieutenant Prideaux, one of the captives, in a letter, dated 18th October, 1867, reported that the Wagshum had marched into the Wollo-Galla country against the Queen Waizero Masteeat. From the letter of the London Times's correspondent, writing from Senafé on the 15th December, it appeared that the British were in direct communication with Gobazie.

The difficulty between England and King Theodore of Abyssinia, during the past three years, directed the special attention of the civilized world, and, in particular, the attention of scholars, to the affairs of this country. The origin of this difficulty has already been briefly referred to in the ANNUAL CYCLOPÆDIA for 1866. As, in the latter part of 1867, an important war grew out of the diplomatic disagreement, a fuller résumé of the chief facts in the progress of the difficulty will be found both interesting and useful. We begin this résumé with the year 1848, when Lord Palmerston appointed Mr. Walter Plowden consul for Abyssinia, "for the protection of British trade." Consul Plowden, November 2, 1859, concluded a treaty of friendship and commerce with Ras Ali, King Theodore's predecessor. In 1854, Ras Ali was defeated by Kasai, who then got himself crowned under the title of Theodorus, King of Kings, of Ethiopia. On June 25, 1855, Consul Plowden wrote to Lord Clarendon, describing King Theodore as a kind of warrior-saint, who had risen to reform Abyssinia. The King, however, declined to permit the British consul to reside in Abyssinia, on the ground that the consular power interfered with his own. Mr. Plowden stated to him that Massowah would be given up to him if he permitted the consulate to be established. Theodore proposed to send an ambassador to Queen Victoria, and wished to know whether he would be received. The conduct of Mr. Plowden was approved, November 27, 1855, by Lord Clarendon, who intimated the readiness of the British Government to receive an Abyssinian embassy, on condition that the King renounced all idea of conquest in Egypt, and at Massowah. On February 2, 1861, Captain Cameron was appointed consul in room of Mr. Plowden, who had been killed about 1856, in Abyssinia, by a rebel chief. To revenge Plowden's death, King Theodore killed the rebel chief with his own hand in battle, and executed 1,500 of his followers. He did this, he said, to win her Majesty's friendship. On February 20, 1862, Earl Russell wrote to King Theodore, thanking him for his kindness to Mr. Plowden, informing him of the appointment of Captain Cameron, but saying nothing about the reception of the ambassador. Consul

Ankobar-the capital of Shoa.

Angolala.-This is a place of considerable size in Shoa. It is said to contain from three thousand to four thousand inhabitants.

Aliya Amba.-This is a large market town in Shoa, and is said by D'Héricourt to contain from two thousand to three thousand inhabitants.

Political anarchy, which for centuries has been the normal condition of Abyssinia, prevailed throughout the country at the beginning of the year 1868. The larger portion of the country did not recognize the authority of Theodore, and many of the chiefs were in a state of war either against Theodore or against each other. The following was reported in January, 1868, to be the position of the more prominent chiefs:

Theodore, reported as holding only a small portion of Begamider and the two Ambas of Debra Tabor and Magdala; the latter on the border of the Wollo-Galla country.-Menilek, King of Shoa. It was reported that a treaty had been made between him and the Wagshum Gobazie, on condition that, if they should overcome Theodore, Magdala was to be made over to Menilek. The latter addressed a letter, with friendly overtures, to Queen Victoria, which was forwarded to the Queen by Colonel Merewether in July, 1866.-Tirsoo Gobazie, at this time exercised absolute sway over the provinces of Wolkait and Samien, while several minor chiefs between Mantamma and Massowah recognized his supremacy. Some time before he had applied to the Egyptians for aid against Theodore, and it was reported he still maintained friendly relations with the Viceroy.Kassai or Kassa. This man was said to have joined the Wagshum Gobazie in his first rebellion against Theodore, and subsequently to have turned against Gobazie and set up to be a king on his own account, wresting from his former master the larger portion if not the whole of Tigré. His last feat was the sacking of Adowa, the capital. The relations between him and the Wagshum were any thing but friendly, and his overtures to the English were undoubtedly with a view to strengthen his position against his formidable antagonist.-Gebra Mehdin or Gabra Mathan. He seems to be the same individual who prevented Dr. Beke from proceeding inland from Halai. At that time he was governor on the part of the Wagshum of the adjoining Akula-Kossay (or Okulekusai) -the district in which Halai is situated, and he appeared to hold the same appointment still; but, as the tribes were determined to get rid of him, he sought the intervention of the British, who told him that, being in direct communication with his master, they declined having any thing to do with him.

Wagshum Gobazie (the hereditary Shum or Prince of Waag, a district of Lasta). This was one of Theodore's most formidable antagonists, and the most successful of the insurgent chiefs. Until a short time before he appears to have

exercised jurisdiction over the larger portion of Tigré, and several chiefs in northern Abyssinia acknowledged his supremacy. For some months past he had maintained a large army near Magdala, and had frequently boasted that he would attack the royal camp. Lieutenant Prideaux, one of the captives, in a letter, dated 18th October, 1867, reported that the Wagshum had marched into the Wollo-Galla country against the Queen Waizero Masteeat. From the letter of the London Times's correspondent, writing from Senafé on the 15th December, it appeared that the British were in direct communication with Gobazie.

The difficulty between England and King Theodore of Abyssinia, during the past three years, directed the special attention of the civilized world, and, in particular, the attention of scholars, to the affairs of this country. The origin of this difficulty has already been briefly referred to in the ANNUAL CYCLOPÆDIA for 1866. As, in the latter part of 1867, an important war grew out of the diplomatic disagreement, a fuller résumé of the chief facts in the progress of the difficulty will be found both interesting and useful. We begin this résumé with the year 1848, when Lord Palmerston appointed Mr. Walter Plowden consul for Abyssinia, "for the protection of British trade." Consul Plowden, November 2, 1859, concluded a treaty of friendship and commerce with Ras Ali, King Theodore's predecessor. In 1854, Ras Ali was defeated by Kasai, who then got himself crowned under the title of Theodorus, King of Kings, of Ethiopia. On June 25, 1855, Consul Plowden wrote to Lord Clarendon, describing King Theodore as a kind of warrior-saint, who had risen to reform Abyssinia. The King, however, declined to permit the British consul to reside in Abyssinia, on the ground that the consular power interfered with his own. Plowden stated to him that Massowah would be given up to him if he permitted the consulate to be established. Theodore proposed to send an ambassador to Queen Victoria, and wished to know whether he would be received. The conduct of Mr. Plowden was approved, November 27, 1855, by Lord Clarendon, who intimated the readiness of the British Government to receive an Abyssinian embassy, on condition that the King renounced all idea of conquest in Egypt, and at Massowah. On February 2, 1861, Captain Cameron was appointed consul in room of Mr. Plowden, who had been killed about 1856, in Abyssinia, by a rebel chief. To revenge Plowden's death, King Theodore killed the rebel chief with his own hand in battle, and executed 1,500 of his followers. He did this, he said, to win her Majesty's friendship. On February 20, 1862, Earl Russell wrote to King Theodore, thanking him for his kindness to Mr. Plowden, informing him of the appointment of Captain Cameron, but saying nothing about the reception of the ambassador. Consul

Mr.