THE 



ANNUAL CYCLOPEDIA. 



A 



ABYSSINIA, a monarchy in Eastern Africa, 

 having an area of about 200,000 square miles, 

 and a population estimated at 4,000,000 souls. 

 The monarch, who is called the Negus, is Jo- 

 hannis, or John, formerly prince of the prov- 

 ince of Tigre 1 , who, after a period of civil war- 

 fare following the British invasion of 1868, was 

 proclaimed king in 1872. 



Treaty with England. During the operations 

 for the withdrawal of the Egyptian garrisons 

 from the Soudan in the early part of 1884, con- 

 cessions were offered to the Abyssinian Negus 

 for the removal of the long-standing differences 

 between him and the Egyptian Khedive. A 

 formal delimitation of the frontier was offered, 

 which would restore to him the territory of 

 Bogos ; also free transit for all goods, includ- 

 ing arms and ammunition, through the port of 

 Massowah, under British protection. It was 

 further agreed that all difficulties in the mat- 

 ter of supplying an Aboona, or high-priest, for 

 Abyssinia from one of the Coptic churches of 

 Egypt should be removed. For these conces- 

 sions King Johannis agreed to facilitate the re- 

 treat through his territory of the Egyptians at 

 Kassala and other posts in the neighboring 

 parts of the Soudan. All future disputes be- 

 tween Abyssinia and Egypt were to be re- 

 ferred to the British Government for arbitra- 

 tion. A treaty containing these provisions was 

 concluded by Admiral Sir William Hewett as 

 special British envoy. The Abyssinians sub- 

 sequently more than redeemed their promises, 

 not merely granting passage to the garrisons 

 of Gallabat and Ghirra, but actively interven- 

 ing for their rescue, and making a brave at- 

 tempt to succor the Egyptians at Kassala. 



The Italians at Massowah. The port of Mas- 

 sowah, which had formerly been an object of 

 dispute between the rulers of Abyssinia and 

 the Khedive of Egypt, was taken possession 

 of by Italy, with the concurrence of Great 

 Britain, when the Egyptian garrisons were 

 withdrawn from the Soudan, the Italians un- 

 dertaking to carry out the British agreement 

 VOL. xxvii. 1 A 



respecting the transit of merchandise. The 

 Abyssinians did not desire to possess Masso- 

 wah, not being able to hold so distant a post, 

 and were willing that it should remain in the 

 possession of Great Britain, but grew jealous 

 when it was handed over to the Italians, whom 

 they immediately suspected of aggressive de- 

 signs on their territory. Their suspicions in- 

 creased when the Italians established friendly 

 relations with the Habab tribe, which was in 

 rebellion against the Abyssinians, and when 

 they occupied places in the surrounding coun- 

 try for the troops that had been in dispute 

 between the Abyssinians and Egyptians, but 

 which the latter had never gone so far as to 

 take possession of. King John sent a letter 

 to the Queen of England, complaining of these 

 acts, and asserting that the Italians obstructed 

 the transit of goods. The Italian Government 

 dispatched an imposing mission, in the begin- 

 ning of 1886, to confer with King Johannis, 

 and conclude a treaty similar to that made by 

 the English. The Italians were willing to in- 

 crease the concessions already granted, and de- 

 sired in return to extend their settlements so as 

 to include healthful quarters for their soldiers 

 in the district of Keren, situated in the uplands 

 near Massowah. The English Government de- 

 termined on pending an envoy to accompany 

 the Italian officers for the purpose of making 

 explanations that would help to bring about a 

 good understanding between the Italians and 

 the Negus, and also of conveying presents and 

 expressions of gratitude for the aid given by 

 the Abyssinians in extricating the Egyptian 

 garrisons. The Italian envoys were recalled, 

 when it became evident that they would not 

 be cordially received. The Englishman pro- 

 ceeded alone, and at Asmara, the first Abys- 

 sinian village, met Kas Aloula, the King's gen- 

 eral, who was incensed at reports of Italian 

 encroachments, and threatened to attack their 

 advanced positions. The envoy found the Ne- 

 gus also annoyed. No steps were taken by the 

 Italians, after their rebuff, to remove the cool- 



