ABYSSINIA. 



for him the disfavor of his sovereigns. But 

 he was adored by his soldiers, always looking 

 after their comfort and well-being. 



ABYSSINIA, a country of Eastern Africa ; 

 area about 158,000 square miles ; population va- 

 riously estimated at from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000. 

 The ruler of the country is King John. The 

 news from Abyssinia during the year 1877 was 

 of a very conflicting nature. It was several 

 times reported that peace had been concluded 

 with Egypt, and as often contradicted. No 

 hostilities, however, seem to have taken place 

 between the two countries. On October 27th 

 an English correspondent wrote as follows : 



Six months ago King John of Abyssinia made a 

 convention with Colonel Gordon, which, though of 

 an informal character, really amounted to a treaty of 

 peace between Egypt and Abyssinia. He was then 

 harassed by neighboring enemies, and the terms he 

 accepted were favorable to Egypt. Since that time 

 the relations of the two countries have been peaceful. 

 But Colonel Gordon a few days ago telegraphed for 

 a ship-of-war to go down the Bed Sea. This looks 

 very much as if King John, like some other people, 

 considered treaties matters of imperfect obligation, 

 to be set aside or respected according to circum- 

 stances. The King, however, has a great respect 

 for Colonel Gordon, and it is to be hoped the diffi- 

 culty may be arranged. 



It is stated that the recent war between Egypt 

 and Abyssinia was mainly due to a personal en- 

 mity between King Johannes and Munzinger 

 Bey, the Egyptian governor of Massowah. An- 

 other cause was furnished by the inevitable 

 raids which exist on the ill-defined borders, 

 where the frontier tribes sometimes join one 

 side, sometimes the other. 



Abyssinia may roughly be stated to be di- 

 vided into the provinces of Hamasen, Tigre, 



BOTAL SEAT, AXTTM. 



under an hereditary chief. In 1869 or 1870, 

 Walad Denkal, the chief of Hamasen, carried 

 on a clandestine correspondence with the Em- 

 peror Napoleon. In this he was detected by 

 Johannes, who imprisoned him at Adowa. 



Amhara, and Godjam. The King's authority 

 was recognized fully in Hamasen, Tigre, and 

 Amhara, but not entirely so in Godjam. Shoa 

 was under a separate king. "Wallo Galla never 

 submitted to Johannes. Each province was 



OBELISK AT AXUM. 



This rendered the people of Hamasen discon- 

 tented with Abyssinian rule, and some of their 

 chiefs who knew Munzinger made overtures to 

 him, which led to the expedition of Arendrup. 

 Walad Denkal was thereupon released by Jo- 

 hannes, and on his promise of fidelity was al- 

 lowed to return to the Hamasen on the defeat 

 of Arendrup. Then came the greater expedi- 

 tion in 1876, which resulted in a defeat of the 

 Egyptians on the 18th of March, and of the 

 Abyssinians on the 19th of March, the losses 

 on both sides not much exceeding one another. 

 Previously, however, to these battles, Walad 

 Denkal came over with all his force into Egypt, 

 and afterward he retired into Egyptian terri- 

 tory with the Egyptian troops. Since March, 

 1876, there have been no hostilities between 

 Abyssinia and Egypt. The Abyssinian troops, 

 being irregulars, and having no system, eat 

 up the country if kept long together. Every 

 man being a soldier, no one is left to till the 

 fields in a lengthened campaign. Tribute is ex- 

 acted twice, and even three times a year, and 

 the tax-collectors take twice, and more than 

 twice, the proper tribute. The result is con- 

 stant revolts, brought about by the illegal levy 

 of taxes by the King's semi-independent chiefs. 

 Where Johannes is he is King, and only there. 

 His position is very difficult ; his independent 

 chiefs oppose any standing army, and there- 

 fore will never let him form one ; for they 

 know it would be their death-knell. Till a 

 standing army is formed, there can be no quiet 

 in Abyssinia. 



Between the frontier of Abyssinia and the 

 Red Sea is the Mussulman tribe of Danakli. 

 It is hostile to Johannes, and forces him to 



