ABYSSINIAN ETHNOLOGY. 397 



no subject of more stirring interest, or of greater 

 importance has been discussed, than the probability 

 of rinding in Central Africa a country characterized 

 by the civilization of China, but more purely sustained 

 in its original excellence by its isolated position, 

 surrounded by burning deserts, that like " flaming 

 swords," turn every way to keep the way of " the 

 tree of life." To me, it almost appears such a 

 community of man is shadowed out in the mystical 

 language of the sacred historian; and though I 

 do not expect to find a paradise, still there is that 

 in Central Africa that will well reward those adven- 

 turous spirits who will press on to explore its 

 unknown portions. 



The empty iron-bound chest taught the man 

 who opened it, industry ; and even if no wonderful 

 discovery be made, knowledge, must result from a 

 journey across the mysterious continent. 



I return again to Karissa and his system of 

 ethnology, for out of the question of my being one 

 of the nation of whites, or Surdi, a conversation 

 grew, by which I perceived the very simple system 

 of the original separation of man that is entertained 

 by the Abyssinians, and their ideas upon which are 

 singularly confirmed by what is observed in our own 

 extent of knowledge. This is, that originally three 

 families of man occupied three distinct countries, 

 each divided by their respective seas; and that 

 Tokruree, the blacks, were separated from the 

 whites by a white sea; which I find actually to 



