486 MOCHA. 
long a time been engaged, is not likely to terminate in so favoura- 
ble a manner as that which ensued in our own country, owing to 
a variety of causes, which it would be here foreign to my purpose 
to enumerate. At this time I consider Abyssinia as actually 
divided into three distinctly independent states ; the separation of 
which has partly arisen from natural causes, and partly from the 
intervention of barbarous tribes of Galla, as may be seen by a 
reference to the general map given in this work, which I have 
thought it advisable to have coloured, for the purpose of more 
accurately marking out their respective limits. 
The high range of mountains in Samen, extending from Wal- 
dubha to the south of Lasta, together with the line of the Tacazze, 
which shapes its course north-easterly along its base, sufficiently 
point out the boundaries of the two larger divisions of Tigre and 
Amhara, and when we consider in addition to these natural ob- 
stacles to communication, that the inhabitants of both countries 
speak distinct languages, and are so materially different in cha- 
racter, it can only remain matter of surprise, that they ever be- 
came united under one government. In fact, the union appears at 
no period of time to have been very cordial ; the conquest of 
one by the other has been frequently effected ; but the possession 
of either state has been always held by very precarious tenure ; 
a natural jealousy existing between the two classes of natives, 
which renders impracticable all attempt at establishing any intimate 
or permanent connection between them. The alliance of Tigre 
with Amhara was indeed more uninterrupted while the latter 
held the whole southern range of country ; but when the irrup- 
tions of the Galla had weakened it by breaking off the provinces 
