MOCHA. 
485 
of the voyage being genuine, that I have been induced to give a 
translation of it in the Appendix, and it may be considered, in 
all probability, as containing an account of the last effort of the 
Propaganda'' in this hopeless cause. 
In 1769, Mr. Bruce commenced his hazardous enterprize into 
the country, the fruits of which have been given to the public, 
and from the period of his return up to my first visit in 1805, no 
other traveller had succeeded in gaining admittance into Abys- 
sinia. Having thus shortly sketched out all the sources of in- 
formation which may tend to elucidate the Abyssinian history, it 
is unnecessary for me to dwell longer on this subject, and I shall 
therefore proceed to close my volume with a few general remarks 
on the present situation of the country. 
The present state of Abyssinia may with justice be compared 
to that of England previously to the time of Alfred ; the govern- 
ment of the country being formed on the model of a complete 
feudal system. The constant disputes on the borders, the dis- 
sensions among the several chiefs, the usurpation of power 
by a few of the more considerable of the nobles, the degraded 
condition of the sovereign, and the frequent incursions of a bar- 
barous enemy, too strongly bear out the comparison : though I 
fear that the result of the struggle in which Abyssinia has for so 
firraation of it, that I myself met with an Arabic testament in the country, which seems 
to have belonged to these monks. Vide Lord Valentia's Travels, Vol. III. p. 210. 
* Mr. Bruce, besides adding largely to our stock of general information, brought to 
our knowledge several new genera of plants, as well as some valuable descriptions of rare 
animals. He also has the honour of having first introduced into Europe a complete copy 
of the Scriptures and a set of the Abyssinian Chronicles in the Ethlopic language, whioh 
valuable collection of MSS. still remains in the hands of the family. 
■ 
