THE 



ANNUAL CYCLOPAEDIA. 



ABYSSINIA*, a kingdom or empire in East- 

 ern Asia. Abyssinia proper has an area esti- 

 mated at 7,450 geographical square miles, and 

 a population of from three to four millions, hut 

 tii-.- whole of the Ethiopian plateau, which 

 sometimes is also designated by the name of 

 Abyssinia, has, according to the Roman Catho- 

 lic Bishop Massaja, some 12,000,000 of people, 

 9,000,000 of whom are Sidama and Galas. 



In the large amount of interesting information 

 contained in the "Blue Book," on Abyssinia, 

 published by the English Government, on De- 

 cember 27, 1867, are the following notes on the 

 army and fortresses of Abyssinia, which were 

 communicated by Captain Webber, R. E., and 

 in Ilobart, R. A., who received the in- 

 formation from M. Legean, French vice-consul 

 at Massowah in 1863 : 



''Army. The battalion is the unit. It con- 

 sists nominally of 1,000 men, and is commanded 

 by a chief and numerous under officers. The 

 fighting strength only amounts to 250 well- 

 armed men, and about 150 to 200 half-armed 

 followers, the remainder being merely servants. 

 A thousand rations are drawn for each battal- 

 ion, the number including about 250 women. 

 These details apply only to Theodore's regular 

 army, of which ho can muster about 60,000 

 (this evidently refers to an earlier portion of 

 Theodore's career, probably about 1863), who 

 are quartered in time of peace on the various 

 districts of the country. Of these, 20,000 are 

 armed with percussion fire-arms ; the rest with 

 sword and spear. Owing to the badness of the 

 quality of the fire-arms, they count much more 

 on the latter than on the former. Their pow- 

 der is chiefly imported. Rigid obedience is ex- 

 acted to the immediate superior officer, but 

 there is no attempt at formation except for 

 defence, when they form line, the front rank 

 kneeling and covering themselves with shields 

 of rhinoceros-hide. There is no attempt to 



* See the AsmrAt CYCLOP -EDI A for 1888 for n fuller 

 statement of the area ami population of Abyssinia. 

 VOL. vn. 1 



carry artillery in the field, but they have many 

 guns and mortars in the forts or 'ambas.' 

 Monsieur Legean considers that the Abyssinians 

 are brave even to temerity, and that they would 

 not, in the first instance, try to defend the 

 passes, but would rather allow an army to enter 

 the country, and attack them in the open field, 

 lie speaks of having witnessed reviews and 

 sham fights. The irregular army is the feudal 

 following of the great chiefs, and its numbers 

 depend on the willingness of the chiefs to obey 

 the Emperor's summons. They might amount 

 to nearly 100,000 men. 



" Forts. The hill forts, or ambas, occupy the 

 summits of small table-mountains, where water 

 is to bo had. They are scarped on all sides, 

 and have only one means of access by a wind- 

 ing ascent. It is rarely necessary to fortify the 

 summits or build a rampart. Monsieur Legean 

 considered them impregnable to assault, and 

 unassailable by mining operations, on account 

 of the basaltic formations. They could gen- 

 erally, however, be taken'by stratagem. Their 

 garrisons only consist of 300 or 400 men, and 

 their chief use is as depots, etc. The greatest 

 number of them being to the south, they are 

 not likely to prove an obstacle early in the cam- 

 paign. The following are some of the principal 

 forts : Gondar. Although this is the capital, its 

 capture would not have much effect on Theo- 

 dore, whose policy is to have no fixed residence, 

 so that it cannot be said, if any one important 

 town is taken, that he has lost its capital. The 

 capture of Gondar would give possession of the 

 richest part of the country. [By the latest ac- 

 counts, it appears that Gondar has been de- 

 stroyed.] Tchelga. South west of Gondar. Very 

 strong. Amba Ras. South of the Taccazy, in 

 Samen, near the Chaakne (apparently the same 

 as the Lamalnor) Pass. Amba Gah. Southeast 

 of Gondar. A favorite residence of the Em- 

 peror, and a State prison. A very strong natural 

 position. Selalkulla. NearWobo. Very strong. 

 Magdala. Said to be very strong, but never 

 seen by Monsieur Legean. Djibella. Near the 



