272 
February 25. 
SIR Wa. R. HAMILTON, A. M., President, in the Chair. 
Rev. H. Lloyd read a letter which he had recently re- 
ceived from M. D’Abbadie, relating to his scientific expedi- 
tion in Africa. The following is an extract. 
“« Apwa, (AsyssrnrA,) July 24th, 1838. 
*‘ Our voyage to Abyssinia (my brother accompanied 
me) was chiefly undertaken in order to learn the principal 
languages of that country, and the best manner of travelling 
in it, with a view of returning to Europe, there to prepare a 
complete and well directed expedition. We left Cairo in 
December 1837, and proceeded by Keneh and Ckosair to 
Djiddah, where I took a great deal of pains to correct, by 
local information, the nomenclature of places on the Red 
Sea. We next proceeded to Massawwa, where I remained 
alone for nearly two months, studying the Hababi tongue, a 
Semitic language, nearly allied to Ethiopic, and spoken 
from Ansky Bay almost as far as Sawakim. The customs 
and manners of the Habab tribes afforded me several proofs 
of their Arabian origin. On my brother's return from the 
high lands of Abyssinia, I proceeded with him into that 
country, carrying our baggage, instruments, &c. Unfor- 
tunately we were detained so long on the road, by a chain 
of untoward circumstances, that the rainy season set in be- 
fore we reached this place. After a forced stay of twenty 
days, and a tiresome journey of twenty more, we arrived 
safely in Goander, the splendid but fallen capital of Ethio- 
pia. Here I made myself master of the Amaria language, 
at least enough to travel without an interpreter, and got 
some valuable information on the sources of the White Nile. 
Our object being now attained, it was high time to turn 
back before the swollen waters of the Tacazay had com- 
