SALT. 
103 
cloths, which supply nearly the whole of Abyssi- 
nia, and even circulate as money. All the com- 
merce between the sea and the interior of Abys- 
sinia is carried on through this town. The inha- 
bitants are said to be more civilized and polished 
than those of the other cities of the empire. Its 
situation is uncommonly pleasant, and commands 
a magnificent view over the vast range of the 
mountains of Tigre. 
Mr Salt proceeded next to Axum, the celebrat- 
ed capital of ancient Abyssinia, whose former 
grandeur is still attested by magnificent ruins. 
The great obelisk, which remains entire, is fully 
sixty feet high, and appeared to Mr Salt to sur- 
pass in elegance all that he had ever seen of 
Grecian, Roman, or Egyptian architecture. The 
order being decidedly Grecian, it could not pro- 
bably 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 modern, but superior to any in Tigre, 
except that at Chelicut. Mr Salt was particularly 
careful in examining 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 Abyssinia. 
Our traveller now returned to Antalo. In 
passing again through Adowa, he was entertained 
with lavish hospitality by a princess of high rank, 
