The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-05-01

The papers announce the fan of TheO-
dorus, the last Emperor of Abyssinia.
the defeat of his army, the capture of
his stronghold, and the safe deliverance
OF the European captives whom he has
20 long detained, apparently in hope of
a high ransom. A. Abyssinia is an in
considerable country in Africa, and its
Emperor's name was hardly known to
one in thousand eight months ago. a
few words concerning them may be Of
interest. Except to few travellers. as
Bruce in the last century, and Salt, Par
Hyns, Ferret, Galinier, Kronthal. Har-
ris, Du Chaillu and Livingstone in the
present, and the limited number Of
readers of their books, Abyssinia with
much more of Africa was "a little known
a few months ago as the Confederate
Cross Roads previous to the advent of
Mr. Nasty
Abyssinia is p high mountainous table
land five hundred miles long, and with
an average breadth of two hundred
miles, rising from the plains Of Eastern
Africa, with border Of low land along
its eastern side, on the Red Sea. The
strait of Bah ell Mandel separates ii from
Arabia. The eastern edge of its high
land rises abruptly to a hight of nine
thousand feet. Upon this table land
are still other elevations. ranges of
hat ri
feet. The table land is cut up by rivers
whose beds run in valleys some of which
are three thousand feet below the gen
eral level. HeEce il is very rupped
country, though very fertile on the
plateauX, and has no carriage road
through its whole extent. On the coast
The climate is very hot and the water
poor, but on the table land the climate
l. line. When the thermometer has
recorded ll00. at night, on the coast
there has been frost on the table land
two days marches away. such is the
country where the troops Of England
nave been operating for three months.
The people ofthis region are. of course.
of African descent" but seem to be
much more civilized than those on the
southern coast of Africa. They profess
the Jewish religion, have priests and
churches, and are more particular as
TO the kind of meat they eat than the
manner of eating il. A raw steak from
living COW seems to he their chief deli
cacy IN the line of meat. They eat at
tables, where two women, among the
gentry, feed one man, it being inelecant
Tor the gentleman to feed himself
ihere are many chiefs among the Abvs-
sinians who are as lawless as were the
ieudal lords of England once. and who
nave never submitted to any ruler so
gracefully as to the late Emperor. The
people are somewhat warlike. but nav
much attention to agriculture also and
raise good crops.
The late Emperor. Theodorus was n
remarkable man in many respects.-
With fair education, great natural
ability, fine looks and manners. and
perfect command of several languages
all OF which he possessed. he MIGHT
have passed muster with some ulers
that we know, without injury to his
reputation. The occasion of his diff
Guilty with the English was the seizure
by him of the English Consul at Masso-
wah, Mr. Cameron, and several mission
aries, mechanics and traders, on account
OF a dislike he conceived towards the for
ner after several years of pleasant inter
course; and also on account of the seiz-
ure OF Mr.. Rassam, who was sent TO ar
range peacable adjustment of difficult
Ties, and lieutenant Prideaux and DIR.
Blanc, who accompanied him. After
trying every means of achieving tho
liberation of the captives, excent;ng x-
orbitant ransoms, and war, the English
Government sent force of about - 600
troops, under Sir Charles Napier. to en-
force their demands. In much short
er time than was expected, considering
the nature af the country and the mode
of fighting which it was supposed
would be adopted, the expedition has
terminated with entire success, and
England has the honor of having prose
cuted one war, at great expense, far
from home, with no other apparent OF
supposable object than the liberation
and protection of about sixty of her
citizens. The capital of Abyssiniai
(;cnar. was destroyed last fall by the
Emperor, and the place to which he re
sorted for defence, and where he met