ABYSSINIA. 
497 
the features of its inhabitants, to have been peo- 
pled from Arabia, but at so early a period, that 
the population has become almost native. Bruce 
seems to have traced very clearly many points of 
resemblance between their manners and those of 
the Jews, during the existence of the latter as an 
independent people. The Arabs represent the 
age of the patriarchs ; the Abyssinians appear to 
represent that of ancient Asia, at a period when 
the states were grown more powerful and cor- 
rupted. All the " corners" of Abyssinia are 
filled with native tribes, characterized by the ne- 
gro complexion and features, and some of which, 
particularly the Shankala, or Shangalla, exist still 
in the rudest form of the savage state. In this 
quarter an advance has taken place of the native 
tribes, particularly of the Galla, who have now 
obtained possession of many of the finest provin- 
ces of the kingdom. 
In the great empires of Bornou and Cashna, 
with their tributaries and dependencies of Ber- 
goo, Begherme, Wangara, he. a mass of native 
population, distinguished by the negro features 
and complexion, is ruled by Musulman chiefs 
and monarchs. These states were subjected dur- 
ing the first era of Saracen power, and they have 
ever since continued subject to this foreign race. 
Their interior organization is very imperfectly 
known. Native rudeness and simplicity in the 
VOL. II. I i 
