The Abyssinian Expedition. 229 



There are few towns of the smallest importance in Abys- 

 sinia. Gondar, once the capital, is believed to be abandoned. 

 Sokota to the south-east, Angol and Autalo to the east, Axuin 

 to the north-east. These are names of towns that appear on 

 maps, but seem hardly to admit of description. The popula- 

 tion has been estimated at between four and five millions, but 

 this is probably a gross exaggeration. The inhabitants are 

 the degenerate descendants of a civilized people, partly Jewish, 

 partly Arab, partly Egyptian, who have once been Christians 

 and still call themselves so, retaining the forms of a Christian 

 church with many Jewish and Mohammedan customs. They 

 are governed by a tyrant, now well known to us by name as 

 Theodore II. He was born in 1818, and has led a turbulent 

 existence, his so-called subjects being often in rebellion. 



Much of the eastern side of Africa consists of a vast elevated, 

 plateau. Towards the northern part this presents the appear- 

 ance of a ridge or wall of nearly 8000 feet, rising immediately 

 from the sea, and often rapidly. When the plateau is reached,, 

 which is generally not without some difficulty, there is no cor- 

 responding descent on the side towards the interior of the 

 continent. The summit of this great elevation is not indeed 

 level, but it is everywhere very far above the sea. It is, how- 

 ever, frequently intersected by wide and deep ravines, some- 

 times descending 3000 feet to river valleys, and such valleys 

 are not only very numerous but characteristic of the whole 

 country of Abyssinia. Their breadth is sometimes more than 

 twenty miles. The lofty plateau is so broken, and the gorges, 

 so deep, so numerous, and so wide, that the traveller is induced- 

 to fancy that the intervening ridges are detached mountains,. 

 or mountain systems, and describe them accordingly. There- 

 is no doubt, however, that there are lofty mountains in the 

 interior, rising to at least 15,000 feet. The plateau is to some- 

 extent covered with lava, and on the coast hot springs have 

 been observed, no doubt connected with the presence of the- 

 same rock. 



The climate of Abyssinia is universally described as mode- 

 rate, and, indeed, pleasant, and, with few exceptions, healthy. 

 The nights are very cold, and the days, especially in summer, 

 are hot, but the heat is nowhere excessive. There are rainy 

 seasons, and the summer is generally dry, but in this respect 

 there seems also no excess. During the four first months of 



Salt followed at the commencement of this century for the east coast, but did not 

 reach far into the interior. Dr. J3eke lias made several trips from the east, and 

 penetrated far into the country. Two Frenchmen, Ferrel and G-alinier, reached 

 Gondar from Massowah (Red Sea) by another route. Mr. Mansfield Parky ns 

 did not reach Gondar, but crossed, after reaching Adoua (half way), to the Nile 

 below Sennar. There have been other travellers, but these have been the most 

 adventurous. 



