The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia 105 



from the point of view which would have most interest to our 

 readers. Abyssinia is, undoubtedly, the bridge by which a certain 

 interchange of Europeo-Asiatic with true African species of animals 

 {i.e., species belonging to Africa south of the Sahara) has taken 

 place ; and it would be interesting to know how far the facts indi- 

 cative of this in other animals and in plants were confirmed or not 

 by the present distribution of the peoples of that country. We 

 glean little of this directly from Sir Samuel Baker's book, but have a 

 good deal of amusing information about their habits and manners, 

 which want of space compels us to pass over. We would only 

 say that so far as these furnish any indication of affinity they rather 

 seem to point to a considerable share of the Negro element in the 

 natives of Abyssinia. Lastly, for the same reason, we must treat 

 with a neglect in very unsatisfactory contrast to the attention 

 bestowed upon it by Sir Samuel — the whole subject of his artillery, 

 from his " dear little Fletcher 24," to the " Baby," a terrific 

 blunderbuss that fired explosive shells of half-a-pound weight. It 

 is most ungrateful on our part, for we have derived no little 

 amusement and interest from the battery. Our excuse is that it is 

 a fault unwilling. Editor. 



TRAVEL. 



