The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1868-05-10

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81 Ths 1E.slish war asainst AbyssiniA has
investsd that country with; unusual interest
ut this time. IA London periodical PublisAes
some notes from travellers, journal, . few
Of which we subjoin, a. they furnish glimpses
into Abyssinian life: asIts2 nss'g5o 1H
On apprcaahing aoHaA cns is agresably
surprised by the seY epean aspect Of
the town much the the first sight
Of Antioch effects the Bler, who, accus-
toned TO the fiat roofs 81 the Syrian dwell
ings, is quite astonished at the slanting tiled
times Of the Knights T.mplar. Gondar is
. thoroughly medieval town, in the midst
Of the Africam wilds for, though it was
founded by Fssilidas in the commencement
of the seventeenth century, it is chiefly
characterized by the i" Gimp" or castle, q
sandstone, and built in. tho Portuguese
style, with numberless towers, dOnjOn-
keeps, easements, and castellated tops.
Spacious yards, bold arches, wide gates,
and massive towers, mostly 0ver9rOwn with
various parasitical plants, recall the good
times when might was right, and possession
all the law: and the contrast between the
miserable straw-thatched cots of the
wretched Abyssinians would, ] shrewdIy
suspect, AFFORD pretty exact parallel to the
relation Of the Saxon DOORS hut to his lords
barOuic halls. al s. 5y
Many other remnants of former grandeur
make the resemblance to the middle ages
still more striking. The church of Gatra
Mankit, or Fasfidas, q square stone build
ing fl73O,) situated in kind of basin, with
magnificent via6uct winding through
the tropical scenery, reminds one of the
Campagna; the picturesque ruins of Cos
kan, and more modern kind of Abyssi-
nian sanssouci, in q good state of preserva-
tion, with the remains of another palace, a
noble hall, with rows of slender columns,
delicately sculptured, seem to bear testi-
mony to the former splendOr of the ancient
Ethiopian empire.
But all that is great and worthy of admi-
ration in Gondar belongs really and truly
to the past. The anarchy which has so long
prevailed amongst the people is manifested
in their works. Everything bears the i'm
press of haste, insecurity, and destruction.
The dwellings of the modern Amharas bear
fathers as those Of the Fallaheen in Egypt
to the mighty remnants of Carnak and
Luxor. They are mostly built like a tower,
two stories high, with projecting cOnical
roof, beneath which the stairs wind up out
side, as in q Swiss chalet. The ground
uOOF1 IL HcucTiLAly uScu Us u Hh&HZIucS Cuc
second one being reserved for the family.
Furniture, as may be imagined, is but
scant, usually consisting Of u few mats,
some rugs, carpets, and three or four inches
in the wall, with ox-horns, to hang the
-oppea,s Naylike accoutrements on. E...{
The life Of y weIl-to-do Abyssinian, in
time of peace, is not very eventful, and is
generally PASSED in gossip, idleness, and
love-making. In the morning, after having
enjoyed good draught of Merssa, and come
raw meat, he will, perhaps, saunter to the
"shum," or judge Of his district, and see
besch is generally very amusing affair,
from the Intense love of dispute and argu-
ment which is a characteristic feature of the
Abyssininns, as we'll as of the Falashas, or
Jews, and the Moslemin. A great incentive
to dispute, and which is jealously promoted
preceding each lawsuit. The plaintiff lays
q wager with the defendant as to the issue,
as proof of the good faith aud innocence,
and in proportion to the Importance of the
case, such as a mule, COW, or pot OF
honey. The stake, however, does not be-
come the property of the winner, but of the
judge, no matter what the sentence be. 1t
is a remarkable fact, though, that the value
of the stake often influences the judges
opinion; but in spite of this, the slightest
cause, no matter how improbable the case
he. will often give rise tO a dispute which
keeps the court in perfect state of fever
till the sentence is passed. The odds are
freely offered and taken; the value Of the
stake always forming subject for serious
consideration as to the likelihood of the
vendor of justice being influenced by it. 1t
is freely remarked upon by the spectators.
Some think it too little, and openly express
their opinion, offering the odds against the
plaintiff others, who are, perhaps, better
posted up in the shum's affairs, take them
as willingly SO that q court of justice in
Habesch is very much like the course ON a
Derby day.
Even the Greeks, versed as they are, ever
since the days of Gorgias, in all the arts
of sophistical reasoning, would find them
selves as bewildered in the intricacies of
Abyssinian argument and logic as the Min
otaur in the Dgdaiian labyrinth. Things