100 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
which supply nearly the whole of Abyssinia, and 
even circulate as money. All the commerce be- 
tween the sea and the interior of Abyssinia is 
carried on through this town. The inhabitants 
are said to be more civilized and polished than 
those of the other cities of the empire. Its situa- 
tion is uncommonly pleasant, and commands a mag- 
nificent view over the vast range of the mountains 
of Tigre. 
Mr Salt proceeded next to Axum, the celebra- 
ted capital of ancient Abyssinia, whose former gran- 
deur is still attested by magnificent ruins. The 
great obelisk, which remains entire, is fully sixty 
feet high, and appeared to Mr Salt to surpass in 
elegance all that he had ever seen of Grecian, Ro- 
man, or Egyptian architecture. The order being 
decidedly Grecian, it could not probably be prior 
to the age of the Ptolemies. Many other obelisks, 
one of them larger than that now described, are 
lying broken on the ground. The church is mo- 
dern, but superior to any in Tigre, except that at 
Chelicut. Mr Salt was particularly careful in ex- 
amining the inscriptions, both here and on the 
obelisk, and was enabled by them to throw some 
light on the early history of this part of Abyssi- 
nia. 
Our traveller now returned to Antalo. In pass- 
ing again through Adowa, he was entertained with 
lavish hospitality by a princess of high rank, called 
6 
