The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-05-15

SEEN BY THE BRITISH CIvILIzERs.
GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF THE ENG.
I.sr LISH MEXICO IN AFRICA.
BOUNDARIES, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, RAyINEs
CLIMATE AND RESOURCES OF THE EMPIRE.
THEoDoRUs' PEDIGREE AND FAITH.
As Abyssinia and the Abyssinians are
exciting much interest just now, we pro-
pose to publish, from the New York
Herald, the most interesting account of
tbe country, the people, and their habits
and government which we have ever met
With. The following is from the CORES
pondent of the Herald, resident in that
country .r.. ... .. ..
CITY OF ANTALo, PROVINCE OF TIeRE,
ABYssINIA, February II, 1868
Before proceeding with the description
of the expedition have thought it better
to give brief sketch of the province in
whose capital we are now encamped. a
Tigre is now the most important prov
ince of Abyssinia, and is bounded, as you
will observe by the map, on the north by
the Beka, Boja and Takue, and several of
the wild tribes of the Shangalla; on the
west by the mountains of Samen and by
the Denakil, Doba and Gala territories
on the cast and south, including not less
than four degrees of latitude, and nearly
an equal extent in longitudinal direc.
ton. The high range of the Samen hills,
stretching from Waldubba to the south Of
Larta, together with the line of the Tacas-
Sc, which flows In a northeasterly course
along its base, sufficiently points out the
natural boundary between Tigre and the
province of Amhara on the west. Tigre
is large and exceedingly populous dis.
trict, and contains number of cities
which figure conspicuously in the history
of Ethiopia, more especially Axum, Dix
an, Chelicut, Antalo, Atigeratt and Agul-
la. seJ.l "--2t
The first of these cities was the ancient
residence of the Abyssinian monarchs,
who still go thither for the purpose of
being crowned. Its antiquity is very
great, as it is mentioned by Arian in the
Periplus of the Erythr@an Sea. The
modern town of Axum contains about six
hundred houses. On the eastern frontier
stands the city Of Antalo, which formerly
was the seat of government 1t is quite
a large place, compared with any we have
yet seen, and contains about twelve hun
dred houses, constructed of mud and
straw, in the midst of which stands the
palace, distinguished by its magnitude
rather than by the elegance Of its plan
or workmanship. II stands on hill
which rises column like out of the volley,
and could be made very defensibe posi-.
ton. In Titus province there is very
large convent, the Monastery of Fernon,
which has always been the chief establish
ment Of the Jesuits. 1t is about mile
in circumference, surrounded by walls
fanked with towers, and pierced for small
arms. Atigeratt contains a small fort,
and a small convent where the widow of
the son Of Subegadis, lately King of
Abyssinia, lives. Atabeyen contains two
small citadels, built ON the edge of a rock
rising FIVE hundred feet perpendicularly
from the plain. Agulla contains the ruins
of fine temple built by King Lalaba in
the eleventh century to the Greek saint
St. Korcas. The floor of the temple,
which was marble, was in many places
still entire. TWAS strongly built build.
ing of large blocks of granite, but as it
was said to contain gold, King Subegadis
caused it to be pulled down to search for
the treasure. The above cities stan dnear
the road to Antalo which, after a CONT
nous march of eleven days from Senate,
tue advance brigade under Brigadier Gen
eral Collins reached. 1t is exactly 140
miles from Senate, and 1913 miles from
Boola, on Annesley Bay.
Our future route lay through the high
lands Of Abyssinia, after reaching Senate,
which stands on the brink of the table.
land overlooking the sea of ridges which
lift their scraggy peaks up into the very
clouds and look down SO frowningly upon
the "Feringhee" invaders. ~ Fl
Theodorus made mistake in not guard.
ing these passes which have admitted the
English in bis dominions Twenty men
within the defrnces OR on the heights,
with serviceable muskets in their hands,
could have de6ed three thousand and
were it not that the present ambitious Rus
of Tigre is at variance with his tickle and
tyranncal sovereign, advantage might have
been taken of the natural fortresses, which (.
could SO effectively have protected him,
and another Thermopyls added to histo-
~, ..-...- .#sH
A most curious aud interesting sight is
presented upon attaining the summit of
the plateau. Out of the level plain shoot
up in the most forward aud obtrusive man
ner d thousand diffaranily sha ned hills.