Vlll PREFACE. 



tongues, and when I have ventured to insert a few 

 words from either language, it is to add some little 

 to the scene, not to lead any one to suppose that 

 the smattering I picked up among the natives is 

 paraded in affectation of great oriental learning. 



In the orthography of proper names, I have used 

 English letters, I know no other so well. Dis- 

 trusting my ear and taste, I referred to the 

 published works of three modern Abyssinian 

 travellers, who affect to be directed by a foreign 

 standard of pronunciation. Finding them all to 

 disagree, I had no other resource but to fall back 

 upon the despised alphabet of my mother tongue. 



Of my views upon the geography of Abyssinia, 

 I am glad to observe, that since I advocated them 

 at the Royal Geographical Society's Meetings, cul- 

 minating points and anticlinal axes have given 

 way to the proper idea of a table land surrounded 

 by a rampart-like scarp. 



An earnest wish to be impressive, when I believe 

 myself to be right, has occasioned me sometimes to 

 assume a tone of overweening confidence. For this 

 I ask to be excused ; and in palliation for minor 

 faults of composition, must advance my long- 

 continued ill-health, which has prevented close 

 application for the purposes of amending or cor- 

 recting the manuscript. 



London, June 1st, 1844. 



