OF THE A.NCIENT GONG AS. 433 



With the evidence I collected during my travels in 

 Abyssinia, it will not be presumption in me to 

 call attention to a few facts that appear to me cal- 

 culated to throw some little light upon this subject, 

 and which may probably excite a greater desire to 

 become better acquainted with the hidden secrets 

 of man's history contained in the heart of Africa. 



The Gongas, in the era of the celebrated Egyptian 

 king Psammeticus, occupied the whole table-land of 

 Abyssinia. Neither Amhara, or Galla, had, as yet, 

 appeared upon their naturally defended and very 

 extensive fortress. In their social institutions the 

 great principle of foreign policy, was the exclusion of 

 strangers ; and their isolated situation, easily enabled 

 them to effect this. One character of civilization, the 

 geography of the desert-surrounded table-lands of 

 Africa, is eminently calculated to prosper and pro- 

 mote, that peculiar social condition, the consistency 

 and continuance of which, requires little or no 

 intercourse to be kept up with the rest of mankind ; 

 the isolated members of which, live contented among 

 themselves, uninfluenced by wants which could 

 only be gratified by the products of other lands. 

 In such African communities, no inland seas, or 

 navigable rivers, afford that facility of intercourse 

 which is enjoyed (as it is presumed) by the 

 inhabitants of more highly favoured countries. 

 Protected also from foreign invasion by vast and 

 almost impassable deserts, individual enterprize 

 could scarcely be tempted to keep up a communi- 



vol. n. F F 



