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ABOUT ABYSSINI A.

(By the author of "The Commoner's Daughter".)

When Bruce, the traveller, first gave to the world the result of his African explorings, his assertions were viewed as belonging to the Munchausen school. Recent narrations, however, have shown that more credence is due than has hitherto been accorded to this writer. Unquestionably Bruce threw a doubt over his own veracity by the committal of a fault only too prevalent among those who, for the first time, visit countries but little known: that fault consisting in the practice of setting down isolated instances, induced by peculiar circumstances, as the every-day habits and routine of the people. Belonging to this mistake, was Bruce's well-known anecdote of the steak cut from the live cow. There is now little doubt that this is sometimes done when cattle have been stolen or taken in foray, for these Abyssinians in their predatory habits seem strangely to resemble the old reiving Highlanders of Scotland. Thus, when a cow has been obtained by this means, they who drive her, if fasting, have but this choice-either to kill the beast, or act as Bruce has described: if they slay her, they would have to carry home the remains, or else leave the carcase to the animals of prey, ever ready to seize on the living or the dead; in consequence they employ an alternative, which probably appears no worse to them than our fish-vendors' experience in skinning live eels, crimping skate, or boiling living crabs and lobsters. Allowing Bruce's truth in this solitary instance, other things relating to Abyssinian practices told by him have since been tested by modern experience. Exploring, indeed, is so fatal in an African climate, that but few Europeans survive to give us the fruits of their trials and hazards. Fever commonly attacks the adventurer, and boils afflict him, which, if neglected, mortify, and death puts an end alike to his tortures and anticipated discoveries. Even if he recovers from the fever, the constitution rarely surmounts the shock it receives; and crocodiles and dysentery are evils which even the most prudent and cautious are unable to evade. Then there exists a formidable plague in the tsaltsalya or Abyssinian fly: this apparently contemptible and insignificant insect, has the power to terrify huge animals-the elephant,

the rhinoceros, the lion, and the tiger-which inhabit the same woods, fly from its approach in utter terror and dismay. In size it is little larger than a bee, but of thicker proportions. When its buzzing, monotonous sound is heard, all the cattle forsake their food, and run wildly about the plain till they die, worn out with fright, fatigue, and hunger; some, with wiser instinct, hasten down to the sands at Atbara, and there abide while the rains continue. These floods set in about the month of May, continuing for some length of time, at which period this ravaging, noxious insect gives up the pursuit of its victims. Even the camel, with a thick skin and a body defended with strong hair, is incapable of enduring, with impunity, the punctures made by the fly with its pointed proboscis. Once attacked, the camel's body, head, and legs break out in large abscesses, which swell, break, and putrefy, terminating in the animal's lingering and cruel death.

Impenetrable jungles, treacherous and pestiferous morasses, perpendicular mountains, narrow gorges, arid deserts, brackish-or else wells positively poisonous, and, though last not least, reptiles and insects of a truly diabolical power of torture, we are told, form an impassible barrier to an invading army. Food, too, is scanty in this country, and but little varied; badly-baked bread and milk appear to be the staple commodities, and travellers tell us they have often been reduced to a diet of bread and pepper for whole days. Honey occasionally may be purchased, but with difficulty, for it is esteemed the choicest of luxuries.

The people of Abyssinia are divided into tribes, and live much in the manner described in Holy Writ. We are told, moreover, that they are descended from Cham or Ham, the son of Noah, and that there were sixty-two reigns between Cham and Basilides, among whom were some remarkable women. Chief among these was Sheba, the visitor, and, according to scandalous tradition, the mistress of Solomon during her sojourn at his Court. From the issue of this connexion King Theodore, like all his predecessors, pretends to be descended. At one time the Abyssinian empire comprised forty provinces, and extended from Congo to theRed

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Sea, and from Egypt to the Indian Ocean. It has, however, gradually dwindled, till now it is of about the extent of Spain. The country is capable of producing the same provisions as Portugal; but the natives are so inert and idle, that these are very small in quantity. They eat no wild or water fowl, not even the goose, which is deemed a delicacy in Egypt. This may be attributed to their having adopted some of the Mosaic laws. The Abyssinians remain in spots favourable for pasturage, till the herds have exhausted the vegetation, and then migrate to another. Their villages are built near the sum mits of hills, to prevent the sudden attack of enemies, or to preserve them from the malaria so prevalent in low valleys. The mountains are among the most remarkable features of the country; these, almost naturally impregnable, are easily converted into fortresses not easily approached or taken, save by cunning or stratagem; for example, the fortress of Hamarat, which is considered one of the strongest in Abyssinia. A viceroy of the country, Ras Welda Setassy, laid siege to this mountain, and, unable to obtain it by force, blockaded it for seven years.

The prevailing religion of the Abyssinians is Christianity, and, it need hardly be added, a Christianity gross and superstitious as the worst form of Paganism. Frumentius brought the gospel into Abyssinia in the year of our Lord 330. The inhabitants relate many legends of the Apostles, and, according to the number of their churches, this people ought to be eminently religious; but they seem rather to verify the old proverb of "The nearer the churches the further from God." Every great chief in the country considers he amply atones for all his sins if he leaves a fund to build a church. These churches are round, with thatched roofs; generally they are placed conspicuously on the top of a hill. They seem to have retained much of the ceremonial law of the Jews. Mohammedanism also abounds, and the hatred between Abyssinian Christians and Abyssinian followers of Mohomet is intense. The native dress of the men-especially those of high quality though simple, is imposing: the drawers, which vary with taste, reach nearly to the knee: according to their length they are called calliss and coumta. A belt of cotton, containing from fifteen to sixty yards, and the quarry or mantle, usually of fine cotton, sometimes, however, of furs, or ornamented velvet, completes the Abyssinian dress. The mantle seems to bear some affinity to the ancient Roman toga. The equipments are the spear, the shield, and the sword. The shield is usually decorated with a lion's mane and tail. The sword is two-edged, like a sickle, and is worn mostly on the right side. The lance is about six feet six inches in length; and in general, an Abyssinian who is the owner of a steed must either be a rich man or a distinguished warrior. When the Abyssinian carries a gun, he prefers a large and heavy one; but he is awkward in the use of it, and invariably

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charges his piece hap-hazard. The women wear a large loose garment to the feet, and when out of doors a cloak or quarry similar to that worn by the men: women of rank and wealth wear a profusion of silver ornaments. The wild and domestic animals comprise leopards, lions, hyænas, jackals, monkeys, mules, asses, horses, &c. As for the moral attributes of the Abys sinians, this people may be said to possess most of the vices of civilization, but are almost destitute of its advantages. They have scarcely any natural affections. Their cruelties are atrocious, and if we engage in warfare with them, we may expect to hear of deeds similar to those practised in the time of the Indian mutiny. They have not even the savage virtues of sincerity and courage, and their morality is at the lowest ebb. The kings of Abyssinia are held to be above all laws, human or divine. Stoning to death is a common form of capital punishment among them. Crucifixion and flaying alive are things also greatly in vogue among these interesting fellow-Christians. Those of the people destined for the priesthood, only learn to read a part of the Bible; then the neophite priest collects (by begging) as much money as will enable him to make a pilgrimage by Massana and Cairo to Jerusalem. From this tour he brings back a vast amount of hypocrisy, sectarianism, and a thorough proficiency in destructive vices. We can better understand some of St. Paul's epistles when we are well acquainted with the practices of Abyssinian Christians.

The writer has so far endeavoured to give a sketch of the nation with whom England is at present embroiled-it must be owned, partially through the want of courtesy displayed by the English Government when Queen Victoria received a missive from King Theodore containing a proposal, on the part of the Abyssinian Monarch, for the hand of Her Majesty. However preposterous such a proposition may (and does) seem in English eyes, the true policy would have been to consider the gross bar. barism and want of knowledge of the King, and to have conveyed the Queen's rejection in courteous and cautious terms. No answer at all at that time was sent, and the Consul (Capt. Cameron), his secretary, Capt. Cameron's three servants, Mr. Bardel (a painter) Messrs. Schiller and Ester (natural historians and collectors), and four missionaries, with two ladies (the wives of the missionaries) and three children belonging to them, were seized upon by the King. A missionary, however, was despatched to England to demand ransom for the captives; and Mr. Rassam, who had been sent to Abyssinia to act on behalf of the Queen of England in obtaining the release of the un fortunate captives, was left in his place. Mr. Rassam had been the bearer of a conciliatory letter from Queen Victoria, on receipt of which King Theodore appeared highly gratified, and immediately ordered the release of his prisoners, making them handsome presents, and treating them in a kind and friendly manner. Presently,

however, the royal mind altered; the wily savage feared if he allowed the poor victims of his injustice to depart, he should get no ransom.

Captain Cameron had an enemy at Court one Barbel, a Frenchman, formerly the Consul's secretary; and it is supposed that this man put into the King's mind the suspicion that the English Government were entering into an alliance with the Egyptians hostile to himself. Mr. Flad, the missionary, was desired to go to England to obtain the ransom, the prisoners being still retained as hostages, Theodore demanding that a number of artificers should be sent to him to teach his subjects the way to make guns, rifles, and ammunition. He required also a small steam-engine, proper tools and instruments, gunpowder, caps, doublebarrelled guns and pistols, and a quantity of carpets, silks, tumblers of glass, and goblets. The English Government acceded to these demands, requiring only that the captives should be released, on the ground that it was contrary to the custom of civilized nations to retain as a prisoner any person accredited as an ambassador, or any of his attendants. To this the King objected, writing many letters with specious excuses. The accusations he makes against his prisoners are, that Consul Cameron went to Rasala, to his enemies the Turks, and that he had given him a letter addressed to the Queen of England, to which no answer had been returned-against the missionaries and others, that they had abused him; and the rest, he says, he imprisoned, because they were in company with the others. The conduct of the King towards his prisoners seems to have resembled that of a cat towards the mice she catches. One day the captives were chained in the cruellest manner; the next day he would order their fetters to be removed, and every kindness lavished on them. Mr. Rassam has received from the King in money and presents the value of 25,000 German crowns; Consul Cameron about that of 3,000 ditto. The latter gentleman's view of the case is, that the King will never release them for mere presents, but regards them as valuable capital, and will work this new mine as far as possible. If our expedition meets with success, there is little doubt that King Theodore will find his deserts. A description of this singular monarch, published last year by a gentleman who was for some time Vice-Consul at Massowah, may not be amiss by way of conclusion.

"The man on whose head now rests the lot of Abyssinia is forty-six years of age: he is of average stature, of imposing carriage, and of an open and sympathetic physiognomy. His features, less regular than those of most Abyssinians, are expressive and changeable, and have none of that borrowed dignity which marks certain oriental faces with solemn insignificance. The look is lively and piercing; the distinct lines of the profile well express the firm will which has enthralled the freest and least docile people of the East. A soldier's coat, a pair of trousers, and a belt, from which hang

pistols and an English sword-over all, the chama or embroidered toga, is his habitual costume. A disdain of luxury governs all his acts. The furniture of his tent is of the simplest, while his residences at Magdala and DobraTabor are loaded with silks and stuffs from France and India. In the field he wears the coarse black infantry buckler, while by his side trots the page charged with his state-shield, covered with blue velvet scattered with imperial lilies. That which at first is most striking in Theodore, is a happy combination of suppleness vnd force, especially of force. Born proud, aiolent, and inclined to pleasure, he commands his passions so that they never make him overstep the limits he has marked out for himself. He has been accused of drunkenness, and on this subject the late French Consul has collected some information. He is very sober, eats little, drinks more, but never up to any marked overexcitement, far less to coarse drunkenness. Women have never had the least influence over his public life, excepting his first wife, the good and regretted Tzeobedje, for whom he had a sort of worship. She had been the faithful companion of his days of trial; and when he lost her, seven or eight years ago, he saw in this death a chastisement which heaven inflicted on him for having burnt a woman alive at Godjam. Tzeobedje had kept him in the simple life and pious practices of an Abyssinian of the olden time. A second marriage-one of ambition-has been the indirect cause of the irregularities he has since made public. To put an end to the pretensions of the family of Oubie, he married, six years ago, the daughter of that chief, the young and beautiful Teroneche, who throughout Abyssinia had the reputation of being an accomplished princess. Witty and charming, she had scarce any defect but the obstinate pride, which is a very general drawback with Abyssinians of high rank. For two or three years the most perfect union reigned in the royal household. The King had for his graceful partner a tenderness in which pride had no small part; and when she had given him a son, he assembled all the grandees at a theatrical fete, and showed them the newborn, saying, "Behold him who will reign over you!" It is, however, doubtful, whether the guests took seriously an observation against which the eldest sons of the king had a right to protest. One day, on the occasion of the Easter fétes, Teroneche asked her husband for the pardon of some Tignan chiefs, kept in irons for their attachment to Oubie. This legitimate demand excited in the highest degree the suspicions of the irrritable King. 'What do you mean?' he asked. 'Do you prefer your father to me?' Perhaps I do!' answered the haughty Princess. She had scarcely spoken when a violent blow fell on her cheek. Bell, who wished to intervene, received another. Oubie, who since the marriage had been restored to favour, was placed in irons, and has not since recovered his liberty; moreover the King, to inflict a deadly blow on his wife, took

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