HISTORIC RETROSPECT. 125 



The Abyssinians have had an historic evolution different from that of the nations 

 surging round the foot of their highlands, like the waves dashing against the cliffs. 

 Wars and revolutions have been developed below them without affecting them. But 

 if Ethiopia seems to have lived an independent existence amid its African neigh- 

 bours, it offers on the other hand a development singularly analogous to that of 

 temperate Europe. It is very remarkable that the Abyssinians alone, of all other 

 African peoples, should have accepted and retained a religion which prevails under 

 divers forms amongst European peoples. Not only its religious dogmas, but also its 

 political institutions and usages, present a certain resemblance to those of mediaeval 

 Europe. In certain respects Abyssinia is an African Europe. 



But for many centuries the relations between Ethiopia and the countries north 

 of Africa have been few and transitory. The Greeks were not brought into contact 

 with the Abyssinian highlanders till the time of the Ptolemies, when the open ports 

 on the neighbouring coast facilitated the exchange of merchandise and the propaga- 

 tion of the Hellenic religion, as is attested by the inscriptions found by explorers in 

 many parts of Ethiopia. Christianity and its predecessor, Judaism, were introduced 

 into the country by the same routes. Numerous traditions have survived from the 

 period of Greek influence, and at the present day Ethiopians, the statements of travel- 

 lers notwithstanding, are still inclined to believe that the Greeks are the most 

 powerful nation in Europe. 



Shortly after their conversion, however, all relations ceased between them and 

 the Byzantines, and it was through the Arabs that vague reports reached Europe 

 of their African co-religionists. Even at the time of the Crusades a report was 

 circulated that the King of Ethiopia was coming to the help of his Christian 

 brethren. However, the statements made about these African Catholics were more 

 legendary than historical, and Ethiopia, like the Mongolian plateaux, was supposed 

 to have its " Prester John," under whom the happy populations were said to live 

 in a second Golden Age. For nearly a thousand years all direct intercourse 

 between Europe and Ethiopia was suspended, and not resumed till about 1450, 

 through the trade opened by the Italians with India. If Bruce is to be credited, 

 the Venetian Brancalione held theological discussions with the Abyssinian priests 

 about the middle of the fifteenth century. Later on a Portuguese, Pedro Covillao, 

 accompanied by a second Brancalione, succeeded in reaching the plateau and the 

 court of the Ethiopian king in 1487 ; but he was not permitted to return to his 

 own country. At the same time Marcos, an Ethiopian pilgrim, journej'^ed from 

 Jerusalem to Lisbon. In the following century the Portuguese penetrated to the 

 plateau, where they founded religious and military establishments in every 

 direction. Relations with Europe, however, were not yet thoroughly cemented, 

 when the Portuguese priests were accused of aspiring to political power and 

 expelled from the country. They were no doubt followed in 1699 by the French 

 physician, Poncet, invited by the King of Abyssinia to his court. 



