Joiir)ial of Travel and Natural History 69 



Maps of Abyssinia. — As the public will, to all appearance, have 

 occasion to refer to the Map of Abyssinia pretty frequently for some time to 

 come, we have made it our business to examine the different maps recently 

 published, with the view of giving our readers such information regarding them 

 as \vill assist them in selecting the map best suited to their requirements. 

 (l.) For a general coup d'oeil of Abyssinia, the eastern and western limits of 

 its mountainous plateau, its chief political divisions, principal places, most im- 

 portant tribes in the interior and on the frontiers, its great rivers, and their 

 relations to the Nile on the west, and the Red Sea on the east ; — we recommend 

 the Sketch Map prepared at Stanford's Geogi-aphical Establishment, and con- 

 tained in Dr Beke's instructive book on " The British Captives in Abyssinia." 

 8vo. Longmans. (2.) The most complete general map o the country is, doubt- 

 less, the Map of Nubia and Abyssinia, which forms a part of Keith Johnston's 

 Royal Atlas ; but is sold separately for 3s. in a sheet, and 5s. in a case. It 

 embraces the entire field of operations, from Aden and the Red Sea on the east, 

 to the plains on the west which are m possession of the Egyptians, and recom- 

 mended as the base of operations by Sir Samuel Baker. The scale is 45 

 miles to an inch. {3.) There is a smaller map by Johnston, price is. 6d. (4.) The 

 Route Map of Abyssinia, compiled by E. G. Ravenstein, and lithographed 

 at the Topographical Department of the War Office, under the superintend- 

 ence of Lieut. -Colonel A. C. Cooke, C.B., R.E., is on the scale of 10 miles to 

 an inch, and about 40 by 27 inches in size. It includes the north-eastern part 

 of Abyssinia, having Massowah on the north, Magdala (where the principal 

 Europeans are confined), on the south, and Gonda on the w^est. As far as it 

 extends, it has the advantage of greater detail than Johnston's map, in conse- 

 quence of its superior scale. It has been prepared for the use of H.M. 

 Government, and is not at present issued to the public. It is, however, 

 proposed to issue it as a Blue Book. (5.) Dr Petermann has prepared two 

 excellent maps for a supplement to his well-known German periodical 

 the " Geographische Mittheilungen." One is limited to the countiy which 

 forms the ascent to the Abyssinian Highlands on the west of Adulis Bay, 

 and includes Massowah on the north and Halar on the south. It is 

 the best map of this district, and its scale is 5 miles to an inch. But it 

 is probable that the principal track of the army will be through the passes south 

 of Halar ; and the limited knowledge which exists in that direction is contained 

 in the other of Petennann's maps. This map includes the north-east of Abys- 

 sinia, from the Bagos country on the north (the scene of Consul Cameron's 

 unfortunate visit), to the remains of the antient city of Axum and the present 

 town of Adowa on the south. Adowa is one of the largest towns in the countiy, 

 although nothing more than a village in a European point of view. This map 

 is about 16 miles to an inch. It has a veiy small general map of Abyssinia 

 in one corner. The maps are accompanied by a "Study of Abyssinia," by 

 Werner Munzingers, and foi-ms a 4to pamphlet, price 3s. 



