ABYSSINIA. 



Absi Eiver. Very strong, naturally and arti- 

 ficially. There are some three forts in the 

 country lying between Gondar and Magdala ; 

 one near Zengadi, one at Emfras, and one at 

 Handera Mariana. Derra Damo. Northeast 

 of Adowa is a monastery, in a very strong po- 

 sition, overlooking the route. It is also arti- 

 ficially strengthened. There is a fort near Aous- 

 sienne, in the Haramat country, the favorite 

 residence of King Oubi, the great enemy of 



Theodore. Between Yaha and Guendepta, north 

 of Adowa, there is a very strong pass. One of 

 the great obstacles on the route between Adowa 

 and Gondar is the Chaakne Pass, in Wagara." 



Form of Government. The government is 

 feudal in character, each chief having absolute 

 command of his own territory, subject to the 

 condition that he makes regular presents to his 

 superior, and follows hi in to war with as large 

 a force as he is able to muster. For many 



WADELA /URAHAIMENO 



years past the Emperor has been invested with 

 merely nominal authority, the chiefs lording it 

 over him in any manner they pleased. The 

 empire is divided into three principal provinces 

 Tigre", Amhara, and Shoa and some minor 

 ones, among them being Lasta and Waag. 



At the beginning of the year 1867, the con- 

 dition of the British captives remained un- 

 changed. Mr. Elad, the German missionary, 

 had in 1866 conveyed a letter to England from 



King Theodore. Mr. Mad arrived at Masso- 

 wah toward the end of October, 1866, and at 

 once tried to put himself in' communication 

 with that monarch. About the middle of 

 December, 1866, the Queen's letter, with an 

 Amharic translation, reached Theodore, who 

 at first seemed disposed to answer it. On the 

 19th of that month the king transmitted the 

 English copy to the prisoners at Amba Mag- 

 dala, with his compliments to the captives 



