228 The Abyssinian Expedition. 



geography, geology, and natural history of the countries visited, 

 there is the more prospect of at least some return for the blood 

 that must be spilt, and the treasure expended in the attempt. 



It is not proposed here to consider the political aspect of 

 the question involved, but as most of our readers will probably 

 be glad to have some general notion of the physical geography 

 of the country, we venture to collect together in a few pages 

 a brief notice as to what Abyssinia is like, when and by whom 

 it has been traversed, what is its climate, what are its resources, 

 and what may probably be the difficulties the expedition will 

 have to meet and overcome. A little information of this nature 

 will serve to prepare us for the more accurate and extended 

 information we may shortly expect to receive. 



Abj^ssinia occupies an extensive tropical plateau, lying, for 

 the most part, between a narrow strip of low land, forming the 

 south-western shore of the Red Sea, and the important eastern 

 branch of the Nile called the Blue Nile, whose sources were 

 visited by Bruce. It is a compact four-sided area, lying 

 between 9° and 16° N. lafc. and 35° and 43° E. long. The 

 coast of the Red Sea fringing it, and now partly occupied by 

 Turkey, is about 600 miles in length from the Straits of 

 Bab-el-Mandel to the northern extremity of Abyssinia. The 

 other boundaries are Nubia to the north and west, and the 

 Galla tribes towards the south. Within the country there are 

 numerous streams, all feeders of the Nile; those to the north 

 entering far to the north by the Albara, one of its main tribu- 

 taries, and those to the south running directly into the Blue 

 Nile. There are two lakes, one (Lake Tsana or Dembea) 

 about sixty miles long, full of islands and abounding with fish. 

 This is near the south-western part of the country, and not far 

 from Gondar, the capital. It is also close to the sources of the 

 Blue Nile. It is surrounded by a wide expanse of flat lands 

 highly cultivated. The other lake is less important for its size, 

 and is said to consist of a large extinct volcanic crater. 



The shores of the Red Sea are low, swampy, and unhealthy, 

 but the breadth of the low land is small, nowhere exceeding 

 100 miles, and towards the northern part of Abyssinia not 

 more than sixty. There are several bays and roadsteads along 

 the coast, but they afford few good harbours for large vessels, 

 nor are they much known. Of the whole number Massowah is 

 considered to be the one most available for the purposes of the 

 proposed expedition. It is situated almost at the northernmost 

 extremity of the country, and is eminently unhealthy in summer, 

 but fortunately the distance from safe and healthy highlands 

 is extremely small.* 



* Of modern travellers in Abyssinia, Bruce was one of the earliest and most 

 adventurous. He crossed from Sennar on the Blue Nile eastwards to Gondar. 



