The Express.
London, England, 1849-11-17 00:00:00

THE JEWS IN ABYSSINIA.

The French traveller, Mona. D'Abbedie, has just
returned from Abyssinia, where he has spent the last eleven
years. A ourrespoodent elicited from him, daring his short
stay in London, • few particulars concerning the Jews of
that country, whiao we deem interesting enough for pub-
%mhos.
The Halashahs (strangers) are held in abhorrence by the
Abyssinians, and when their chiefs came to M. D'Atbedie
the Abyssinians fled, being afraid of contracting an impurity
by coming into contact with individuals of that hated race.
In the conference which the French traveller held with
them, he laid before them • letter addressed to him
by the well known /tali n Hebrew scholar, 8. D. Luz
sato, containing various questions bearing on Jewish mat-
ters. The letter, originally written in Frereh, had
bees translate d by Mons. D'Abbadie into Ethiopic,
The traveller carefully wrote down their replies, and inte.As
to publish them in some French paper. Tn. II elashehs
•pp-sr to entertain
.risdinia7 understood religiousmotions,
altnvetber the
other Jews. Thi y hold celibacy in nighhonour ; and when
asked in what part of the Bible that rare was reeomniended,
they point to the example of the prophet Elijah, who, ac-
cording to their opinion, was n married, no allusion
being made in his Het -I.y either to hie wile er children.
The? also consider suicide from religious motives as highly
meretoriors. Persons Oispued to merlin their lives repair
to the brink of a river, end there solemnly inquire of GA
whether their end has come or not. If the Egos taken as •
reply be in the airmail'', suicide is committed ; but if the
reply be in the negative, they wait for a twelvemonth, when
the same inquiries are again made.
They are totally unacquain!ed with Hebrew, and read the
neripturee in their native language, into which, according to
Moos. D'Ab.adie' they were translated from the Arabic.
Besides the books held by all Jews as authoritative. they also
consider the Ap!crypha as sacred. These hocks, in as far as
were examined by our traveller, perfectly area with
the Vuliote, except the book of the Maccabees, in which he
discovered great •dbtrepisueies. They also passer a com-
mentary on seek of the tamed ho ka, except the book of
lisekli 1, which has been lest. In addition to the five hooks
of Maim they possess a six,h, which they call " Coolaclaw."
The names of the other books agree with oars, and appear
therefore to be Ethiopic translations of the Greek
words, " Genesis, Exodus," &-. In their liturgy,
IDOWSIOT, which is also in Ethiopic, Mons. D'Abbadie
thought a good Hebrew scholar might trace many He-
brew words. Among others he remembered to bare
teend is it the term " Pitanasl." Mons D'Abbadie hes
brought with him copies of these books. He further
learned from his informant, that, to the south of their
oeuntry, in the (*entry of the 0.,500, Were was a Jewish
kiitt= a statement cot firmed to our traveller b
altogether independent of that of the Halashnht
He also said that he met in Abyssinia a met igetnesting
native Jewish youth, who was moot anxious to pto =gray".
in ease* esquire there comet a' lions on Judaism, which,
Oil Ids veto& to bit native country. might be prepagated
mess Idstmelbees. This youth made Monelear D'Abbedie
selemageewholhat Iso weeildemileavvur to interesauropeen
Jews ler that aim, and brans him of the rusk within a
twelvemonth. Tim traveller "wrested his wait of acquaint-
awe with Jews, which, he was arid, would render his
exertions abortive.—Jemish C ArolVele.

„
THE NAVIGATION Lawn.—The fouoteing reply
has been mint by thy Board of Trade to en application from
some shipowners t Cork on a point of importance to the
shipping interest of the United Kingdom :—"Board of Trade,
Nov. 5,1849:_' Sir: I am directed by the Lards of the
Committee of Privy Council for Trade to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 24th of October, addressed to
the president of this board, inquiring whether Americas and
other foreign-bent ships will be admitted to the pri-
vileges of British registry, after the Act for the Amendthent
of the Navigation Law shall have come into operation ; and
I am to acquaint you that from the 14 of Jemmy next all
ships duly owned by British subjects will be admitted to re-
Ristry without inquiry as to the place of their have,
&c., D. LII blaseemer.—H. B. Carroll, B•ci , C.A.”
CAMOSERVANCT OF THE TYNE.—SHIELDB, Nov. 9.
It is understood the corporation of Newcastle, in their new
bill purred to be submitted to parliament next series, will
iskoduos a clause to set apart, at least, 15,0001. per annum,
to be appropriated annually to river improvements • end the
residue of the due to go, as usual, to the municipal treasury
of Newcastle. Preparations are already being made to as-
certain suitable foundation at the south side of the entrance
to our harbour, for the propos^d new pier, which, when com-
pleted, must be of essential service and convenience to
shipping, es wed as conducive to the saving of human life.
THE LATE MURDER or MR. GRIFFITH.—Thu MED
Banks, who hes been several times remanded, on suspicion
of having a guilty knowledge of the louder at the late Mr.
Griffith, underwent another private translated= on Wearier-
day atternue bases the magistrates, and was again
remanded till io-merrow. As the examinations have taken
place to the exclusion of reporters, we are not in possemion
of all the fasts ; but we may state that Beaks has, more than
once, attempted to prove an alibi, but has most signally
failed, sad there is no doubt that be was in Brighton on the
night of the murder. Other parties are suspected • and the
police are on the alert to app (ahead them—Brighton
Gasette.
HIGHWAY RonnekT. James Gray, his wife,
Mary Ann, end Thome. Barker, were brought up at the
Moot Hall, Newcastle on Wednesday befere Captain Potts
and W. W. Burden; charged with robbing Mr. George
Lowe, cattle dealer, a 1001. bank note on the night of
Wednesday, the 24th ult., on the reed between Btagshaw
Bank and Hexhant. The prosecutor was returning home
from the fair on the night in querion. He distinctly swore
to the person of James Gray as one of a party of men who
assaulted and robbed him; and the day following, Gray bor-
rowed 101. on:the security of a 1001. note, whkh having
been shown to a tradesmen of Newcastle, information was
given to the police, and the note taken pmesetion of. It
proved to be the identical note stolen from Mr. Loaves on
the 'drat in gaieties. The prisoner, James Gray, was com-
mitted for trial at the mires. The other prisoners were

CONVICTION OF THE CREW OP THE MART,
Hmuoor.as Yesterday the four men belonging to
this vessel, who were captured. as related last week in the
Daily New, were brought to Portsmouth from Winchester
gaol, and *barged with the offence before the county ma-
gistrates, by whom they were convicted. A previous con-
viction against W. Muggridge (one of the four) was put in
in aggravation of punishment, and three were then sentenced
to ela months' imprisonment with hard labour, and Mugg-
ridge to nine months sad hard labour. This last named
smuggler will be called on in a few days to appear for
judgment in the Queen's Bench on a conviction obtained
against him at the last Hints Assizes for a felonious ass►ult,
in which two revenue officers were nearly murdered at
Portsmouth some months since.