The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1868-05-13
ABYsSINIA.

repay a perusal. a.
Ahyssinia is being invaded by a hostile
British expedition against its monarch, and
in consequence has become, as all theaters
of war have and will ever become, a central
point Of the public attention.
This country is one OF thase localities
which appear to be shut out from the world,
and relating to which very little is kn"wn.
II has Il remote history, however, which ar
roga.es to its people an ancient grandeur
not possessed BY them in modern times.
Il is supposed 10 have been a portion "l
Ethiopia--,he Cush III the Old Testament;
and tradition has il that the sings OF Absssi'
MIA have descended in direct line from a son
of solomon aud the queen OF Sheba, whose
visit to the man Of wisdom is spoken OF 10
the Old Testament. The ancient glory of
the Abyssinisns, however. has lung been
.supplanted BY the baser rralitlFs incident
to semi-civilized couptry divided int"
hostile sections. over which the nominal
emperor held but feeble SWAY.
The origin oi the difficulties WHICH have
resulted in hostili,ies is ss follows: The"-
idnru>, the emperor, sent a letter to The
British Government in 1865. but 10 which
no answer was made. After waltinga year
or more for reply. Theodorus seized and
imprisoned the English consul an,l several
other British subjects. Their liberation
was demanded bv the British Government.
! and refused. To enforce the demand, n
/ military aud naval expedition was organ'z
ed. the landing Of which on Ahys>inlan s"il
has recently been effected. Our design IS
nut to speculate oU the consequences "i 'h,'
event. az as I" the probability al the expe'
'dlti0n brins destined To effect other than
the osiensible purposes i"r which It srl
nut. Tie country invaded is extensive
enough Tor a second Indian empire. aud the
British are 40 lsggards in commercial pro-
grrss. 4 new market in northeastern
Africa NAV be the ultimatum, aud ihToagl
il more perfect civilization than is no"
pa,se.sed by the Abvssinians. Leaving
taerelure, the speculative To the future. Oul
eadrayurs will be confined 10 q COLLATION. "
the information respeC ting the Country col
lected by the mus, approved authorities
promising that our knowledge acquired
IRON these sources is vague aud ansalIsl"c
tow.
Abyssinia is a vast country (about 500,
900 81. mlls,) which faces easterly on lh
Red Sea and the Babel Mandel, and ex
ltends back to the confines 0f NubIa un Tia
nnthwest aud SEMINAR on the west. II
southern b"rder IS underlined. GeDrrIIl.
it may be said to extend between iai. an
10 degrees north. aud between long. s. an
As degrees east. The tract ul cuuntr
thus defined has been generally considered
! 81 a cluster Oi prtty states. and c"iIecIisr!
an empire. That there has bren any poll
tica cuhe sim al the several parts. however
u very doubtful. Thus the country WI
Z divided IN 1854 tue principal states BEN
: Tigrc, AH.hara, and Shoa. In THAI year
: Young man irnn Gondar. claiming 10 he I
the ruyaI line, asp'red % the THRONE. and b
hIs energy, courage. an! ability, >ueccedr
= lin overcoming the local princes aud 81
4: ltablishIng himself under the title OF Thee
,d"rus. emperor vi Abyssin'a, AID an""un'
= ed his intention ol reproducing Ethtop
}. with Ill It's TURNER grandeur. 80 lar, h"S
J.. lever, his -eIgu has been a continual VA
u fare with HE neIs lborins tribes, especial
. the GaIlas. a wsrI,se pr"pIe 81 the Scout
;, aud ulber races Inhabuing III" h"rders
u ms pus.r,sIons. THIS man is the same vi
has at leng h airayed against himself Il
!. host. which nuw tnvade ms dom,uIon..
N The mme marked physical leatures
u AbI ssinta CONSIST 0l a series 81 iahe-
r ol ,arIuus aud often great elevation. aud
% numerous ranges u: high aud rugged 1UU
u ta.n>. lucInsed in these muuut,ias, u
y vast natural repositories OF water, vino
pouring down by the deep ra,ine. "hl'
n. every "he,e tntersec them, inpsrt 81 r.O
l. binary fertility I" the plains AMI vale
20 below. The mountain scenery Is thus
~ the most srupendous scale, Inclnd NJ "
e. :erialI> Of pr"dIgl"us height. N"twII
at standing, however, ihs wild and rugg
appearance Of the country generally. il c"
Italng utItneruus yallyys and ulaIus ut q