The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-09-30 00:00:00

NEWS FROM ABYSSINIA.

Mr. Jan C. Kirkham, writing from Ailwa, Abp.
Kinia, July 27th, has sent the following to The Tenets
for publication: -
Tarn happy to report through your pre6s the news of Slips

10 June last the King of Antra, called Wag Stiffen (bawl,le,
or A t wail, crossed the Tackze river,thehoundary
of Tigre, and marched with a large army to Slurry, and then
commenced plundering the country.
Prince Kum King of Tigre collected all his forces and
marched to meet him : they met on the 21st of June at a
place called May %MAO, in tin, country of Shirry, the battle
commenced with cavalry skirmishes, the main lusty was kept
back until hday when the enemy made a bold ltharge on
our one, but wits repulsed with heavy loss, the fighting was
continued mail night, lint the heavy rain which came on
about seven pri. separated the armies. The 10:14 on our able
Was small, but that on the enemy's Wan large owing to our
guns and rockets. We lost about 2.4) Merl, And nO taken
prisoners. The enemy's loss is not certain, hut frxon what I
saw I should say &Knit 1.000 killed and wounded, and we
made 200 prisonent with 2,0 horses.
The next day Wag !Millen Gozahie retreated to the Marsh
river, and marched towards Atom and Adv., hut the 1.011(111
were so bad we could not follow him, hut took is shorter
route to Arum Bud Ala-n, to keep Wm frinn Om:tiering the
city: and, finally, we drove hint and his army into a corner,
where he WAS Obligell to light or lose all his 1001, for they
were all h,r running away from him.
So on the loth it July he encamped very near us, and sent
word for us to take Up 4,ur position, for on the morrow be
would tight US. SO en the llth, at daylight, we to, d: up our
position. nod about f. Ant. we saw him tuare:nng tow:oils
us. At 10 30 n.nt. the tiring re 1111 l termed with skirmishes,
about thirty minutes, mitil the heavy troops Caine up. The
flint that charged wart the cavalry, and the enemy was driven
back with loltry hisses. Their king, idozulde, mounted a
Ii • .roe and made a gallant chatfe at I or centre, lint our force
was so strong en hot). of ear tlanks that they were driven
link in confusion, and flozabie was wounded, his her, shot
under hlm, when he fell MA we took him priSODer. In see.
lug this tile men weiv panic Arnek, and &din every direction
towards Adwa, hut the greaP'r number was taken prisoners.
We captured all Ids great elilefs and 24.1100 soldiers and
...mien, far the latter always accompany their hushaudg to
grind corn, fetch wood, etmok, Are.

The battle Listed two hours; the losa on the enemy's elite
Is as near as I can ascertain 500 killed and 1,0011 wounded.
Von will remember, no doutit, that after the Magdala cam-
paign Lord Napier it Nfagehila gave Prince K fOM, of ham
Mn iiinels brass Indian guns, six mortars of the same make,
about 800 twee muskets that the (Mops had lured, and 1,
Lieutenant Colonel Kirkman, who was Adjutant-General in
Gerund C. K, Gordon's, VAS , Forees in (bins (and also
pr .sent at the campaign hi Abyssinia), jolne4 ham
it figre itt Kt./nary, 154;9, and haft stea+eged bit Ik..iplitting
the greater number .4 the Maces unity, so that a ith the
12 guns Anil 8;0 musket-men the battle was Wrin easily figaimt
MI undisciplined lot of men atilt nettelibiek guns and spears
Prince K,Otifft to to be crow:o.l Emperor of Abyssinia in
Olderlteat, first at Ants, and then at Gondar. Now, I
think there ii a airmen of foreigners doing something here.
We well know this country has got immense mineral wealth,
hut it wants finding, for the natives do not like work or
trouble, therefore know nut the art of discovering.
What gold there Is is found in the (ilanae) country : thy
find it in the Inds of the rivers without any tomb!c'. Then
It is sent for sale Into Abyssinia, and thence to India and
Egypt.