Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-05-08

eleven years service, anything extraordinar-
II Truly the column had somewhat piebai
look, with all Its fine haberdashery. Hel
were red men, black men; cOckneys frol
London and Celts from Ireland, cooking Il
4 their eyes with impudent leers at everything
grave looking fat Parsees from Persia, scow
ing HindOos from the banks of the Indu,
black eyed, well oiled Sikhs from the Nal
rattas; gentlemanly Sep0ys from the Deccar
ierecious Soumalis from Arabia, ugly face
Pagans from Barbary, hearted, treach
erous Bengalese; wild looking Egyptian
from Cairo and Alexandria. the turbaned an,
red feed Turk from his darling Stambul
the literal, oliye-cheeked Jew from Palestine
followed by the naked Shoho. the daring
athletic Nubian and the plundering lIaz0r
! tite, all riding or walking, chatting anC
smoking as they went-with a train of com
mlssary stores two miles long and train o
mules laden with camp equipage five mile,
long there were over 1000 men and about
1000 animals i'll that seven mile procession
RELIGION.
The monotony OF travelling was relieved
when passing villages on observing groups OF
nude maidens and lusty lads in fg-leaycd
dress issue out Of their villages, playing on
their reed pipes blithe and chcery notes of
welcome. Gray headed elders and village
dignitaries came forth and exchanged their
friendly salaams, and made anxious inquiries
respecting our religion.
One old centenarian hobbled up to YOUR
correspondent and asked earnestly whether
he was Christian.
- Qua (yes),' was the answer.
'' Benin gardach Iesu Crstos. was his
! reply in the only Turkish he could muster.
which means. " You are my brother in Jc-
sus Christ, after which he took out of his
bosom iancifully ornamented iron cross.
which he reyerently kissed and to show our
love for the Christian religion our PARTY fol-
lowed his example, which so pleased them
that they accompanied Us on our journey for
a mile or two, and only parted from us after
exchanging many courteous salaam. 1T
the village of Adabergen the entire popula-
ton came out and inquired if we were
Christians. The Alussulmans. Parsees and
Hindoos replied with content, which con-
tempt caused hatred. Six Aprabs have been
killed and mutilated, and one Hindoo was
found literally cut to pieces.
Six days march from Senate We came to a
country where the people were all Chris
tians. Their churches were built Of mud
and stone. with turrets, were situated in the
most lovely places under the evergreen foli- !
age of the sycamore or the baolab, which |
screened their places of worship from intru- |
si'e curiosity, and by this scclusion and holy |
calm served to add to the spirit of devotion |
by which the Christians in Abyssinia are ami
mated.
The SUBMITS Of many of their churches |
were perfect cones, while the walls were en-
circled by number Of wooden pillars-be-
ing trunks Of the cedar tree placed so as to
support the ediice-and as the roof projects
about eight feet beyond the walls an agree
able walk or colonnade is thereby formed.
which proves of great use in hot or rainy
weather The inside Is divided into several
apartments nearly according to the directions
which are given in the law Of Moses They
begin their devotions by stamping with their
feet on the floor and playing gently on the
drums but when they become warm and
animated they leave off beating and proceed
to leap, dance and clap their hands as if in
ocetacy at some innate bliss, straining their
voices at the same time 10 the highest pitch
till they become more like an infurated
crowd than religious assembly. For this
manner of conducting the religious services
they quote the psalm Of David, o clap
your hands, all ye nations"
1t is strange with what tenacity these peo-
pie have clung to Christianity, when reflect
ing upon the vigorous efforts made t. crush
it by Mohammedanism. Though the Cres-
cent rules over Egypt, Christianity, which
was preached by st. Mark in the city Of
defes Mohammedanism still, Sc
cure in the mountain fastnesses Of Abyssinia
NATIVE HOPES.
All the natives that we have met IN the
country seem to have an idea that the Eng
Iish will be ennihilated. There would be no
question Of their utter annihilation were all
the Kingdoms and provineee Of Abyssinia
united. The English have seized propl-
.ious moment TO extend their cJnquests,
when the whole empire Is torn by civil war,
tribe against tribe, and all against the King.
The burning sun, the almost inaccessible
and the scarcity Of water and
aid King Theodorus in opposing
the English. The long struggling lines OF
transport trains conveying the commissary
stores, could by stroke Of Sheridan tactics
be easily captured, and the isolated stations
along the route destroyed one after another
Even now, when all Heaven and earth seems
arrayed against TheodoruS, he has chance
to retrieve his waning fortunes, and that is
by taking the prisoners along with him and
making . running game fear if King
Theodorus undertakes that kind Of war that
England will sorrow greatly at the weight Of
expenses thrown upon her. The 100000
600 already spent would be increased to
El00, ,000. 900, for the vindication Of her dig
nifty.
The English have already turned their at
tention to the revenues of the country and
found it to be only S400, 600, but which
might easily be raised to S50O0,OO0 per an
mum if the country was properly cultivated.
A CoNJuGAL ScRAPE.-Oh. the meanness Of
men, and the folly of husbands Here is
Partisan story to show how poorly man
comes off in any contest with womankind.
The other day a Partisan and his wife went
to Brussels. The first thought of the lady
was naturally to visit all the shops, and es-
peciallv those renowned for lace. She met
with some marvellous bargains. as a matter of
course, gave a glowing account Of them to
her husband, and proposed to take quanti-
tv of the lace home with her, smugged under
her dress. The husband, like husband. re-
sisted. 1t would be incurring too great
risk. he said. vehemently; the lace would be
p 10 ,,-,,,11 49,. .r,.,,,+