858 



ABYSSINIA. 



chief towns are Berbera and Zeila, which carry on a trade with the natives of the unknown 

 regions of the interior, and with the Arabs of the opposite shore. 



6. Inhabitants. Of the people on the coast, northeastward from the Cape of Good Hope, 

 little is known. The inconsiderable European commerce that is held with them is carried on 

 by the Portuguese. In Botongo the king is called grand sorcerer and grand robber, and 

 he is constantly attended by 400 executioners. A better custom exists in four ministers 

 who yearly traverse the kingdom, one representing in eastern allegor}'' the person of the 

 monarch, a second his eyes, a third his mouth, and a fourth his ears. The Mahometan 

 religion and the Arabic language are common on the coast. The people of Monomotapa are 

 as little known to Europeans as they were in the 16lb century. They go nearly naked, and 

 are credulous in charms and conjurations. The king, as in Ashantee, is said to have a guard 

 of armed females. In Zanguebar the sovereign assumes the title of " Son of the Supreme 

 Lord," and goes to war with 300,000 troops mounted on oxen. The people are said to live 

 without a settled religion, or law. Each one has some different object of worship. There 

 are few fruits or vegetables, and millet forms the principal article of food. There are numbers 

 of the Moorish inhabitants. In Magadoxo, the king and principal people only are dressed ; 

 the common people go nearly naked. The king, except on journeys, has neither court nor 

 guards, and no one salutes him. The ashes of the kings and queens are collected in urns of 

 gold. Criminals are despatched with a club or exposed to wild beasts. The inhabitants rear 

 great numbers of cattle, and trade in slaves, gold, silver, ivory, oil, frankincense, pepper, 

 drugs, wax, ostrich feathers, &c. 



CHAPTER CXXXIV. ABYSSINIA. 



1. Boundaries and Extent. This country is bounded north by Nubia, northeast by the Red 

 Sea, south by Adel and unknown districts ; and west by Nigritia. It extends from 8° to 16° 

 N. latitude, and from 34° to 43° E. longitude, and contains 340,000 square miles. 



2. JVlountains. Abyssinia is very mountainous ; and is sometimes described as a table- 

 land with a gentle inclination to the northwest. A lofty range called the Lamalmon, extends 

 along the shore of the Red Sea. The mountains of Samen in Tigre are still higher. In the 

 south and west are several ridges, supposed to be branches of the mountains of the Moon. 

 These mountains do not rise to the height of perpetual snow. Their sides are steep and they 

 generally shoot up in sharp peaks. One of the most remarkable characteristics of its surface 

 is the ambas or hill-forts, isolated hills rising suddenly with steep and almost inaccessible sides 

 out of the plains, and often displaying on the top a level surface of considerable extent. 



3. Rivers. The Balir el Jlzrek., or Blue River., rises in the country of the Adows, flows 

 through the Lake Dembea, into Sennaar, where it joins the Nile. This is the stream whose 

 source was discovered by Bruce and considered by him as the main branch of the Nile. The 

 Taccazze is another stream falling into the Nile. 



4. Climate. The level shores of the Red Sea have a very hot air, but in the greater part 

 of the country the numerous mountains produce a temperature seldom uncomfortably warm. 

 Thunder is frequent and violent, and the sort of whirlwind known in the Indian Seas by the 

 name of typhoon, is common. The rainy season lasts from April to September, during 

 which time the country is drowned by a continual deluge. 



5. Minerals. This country seems quite destitute of metals, but it contains a great plain of 

 salt, four days' journey in extent. For about half a mile the salt is soft, but afterwards be- 

 comes hard like snow partially thawed. It is perfectly pure and hard for two feet in depth. 

 The inhabitants cut it in pieces, which serve not only for food, but circulate as money. 



6. Animals. Hyeenas are very numerous in this country, and render traveling highly dan- 

 gerous. They even enter houses and often assemble in vast troops. Elephants and rhinoce- 

 roses are common in the low grounds. Buffaloes and antelopes are common, and the zebra 

 is found in the south. The woods swarm with crocodiles and hippopotami. The horses are 

 strong and beautiful, and the domestic oxen have enormous horns. 



7. Divisions. This country consists of several separate independent States. Tigre on the 

 Red Sea, Jlmhara in the west, and the districts of Shoa, Efat, &c., in the south. Three 

 centuries ago these countries were under a single government. The population is supposed 

 o be about 4,000,000. The powerful State of Tigre comprises an area of 200,000 square 



