.38 



ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO. 



enemies, the Mahometans and the pagan Gallas. Nor, except when 

 led to a profitable and pious invasion of "Habash," do the people 

 of the low countries often penetrate the wild passes of the Abys- 

 sinian mountains. It happens, therefore, that from whichever side 

 the traveler approaches Abyssinia, he can glean but little informa- 

 tion from the natives, concerning the country beyond the mighty 



wall of mountains which rise in 

 majesty and grandeur before him, as 

 if to bar his path. 



The Abyssinians trace the origin 

 of their empire to the days of Solo- 

 mon and the Oueen of Sheba's visit 

 to him; and their line of kings to the 

 joint issue of those two potentates. 

 Their religion exhibits a strange 

 mixture of Judaism and Christianity ; 

 a great pride of race and religion 

 animates this singular people whose 

 monarch bears the haughty title of 

 "King of Kings;" and they consider 

 themselves not only the peers, but 

 even the superiors, of all the rest of 

 mankind. 



It was the English expedition 

 against King Theodorus, in 1867, 

 that opened out the country and let 

 in some light on its dark places. 

 Great was the surprise of Christen- 

 dom, which had previously classed 

 the Abyssinians among other savage 

 and warring tribes, leading a nomadic existence in the deserts and 

 jungles of Africa, where the climate and wild beasts dispute with 

 equally savage men the entrance or egress of the foreigner and repel 

 the onward march of civilization. Since then they have defeated 

 Italy in a disastrous campaign, undertaken to claim them as a 

 colony. 



CARVED IVORY TUMPETS. 



