The New York herald., 1868-06-20
A BYs sINIA.
->~~-~-~"'|->~---"~~
First Consequences Of Napier's
Victory.
THE CHIEFS I'm ARMS.
Civil War and Widespread
Desolation.
The Last Acts and Bloody Deeds of
TheOdOrus.

correspondence from Abyssna, dated TO the 3oth OF
April, describing the sad condition Of the country
resulting from general civil war precipitated by
Napier's victory and the death of Theodorus
Tho Territorial Condition, Social and POliti-
Oal-TheOdOrus, Reign and Its Fruits-The
Rising of the Chiefs-Civil War-Imperial
Executions and Bloody Scenes-The British
March to the Coast.
TECAssE RIVER, Province OF Wadela, Abyssinia,
On THE RETURN HOME, April 80, 1868.
The days of the great TheOdorus and his reign Of
terror are at end but confusion and dire anarchy
are substituted instead. Whatever good results the
English have reaped from their expedition to this
most unhappy country, most disastrous does prove
to the nations of Ethiopia. All seem gathered to-
gether to war upon each other. Every house is d.
vtded against ITSELF Princes hitherto silent from
compulson have raised their standards of rebellion
against their acknowledged and legitimate sover
eigns. Vast armies, collected from the most remote
parts Of this vast empire rally around the lately i'm
prsoned chiefs and march against the invincible
GObazye and his barbarous legions. The
King Of Shoa is IN quandary. Kassai
of Tigre, is perplexed, and walkait of
the WOclo Gaas is obliged to lower her lofty crest to
her "far" rival Musterat. Gobazye and his ubiqut-
GUS General Dajiriz Mushesha only one short week
ago were In the full zenith OF their power having
overrun all the country from the Donakn to Gondar
when, lol new actor appeared on the stage In the
person Of late captive chief, named Ali Furrus
who appears to be object Of terror and dislike or
suspicion, to the victorious Mushesha who pursued
him as far as the Zedon Gala country, determined
to capture him or die In the attempt. When driven
to bay Ali Furrus finding himself surrounded by his
former subjects Of the Zedjon Gala pleads for pro-
lection, which is instantly granted by those who
have not forgotten former favors, and with a bold
ont lp,nct daln of t,rno 10
heel ana faces his dreaded enemy, Mushesha.
Four days ago the battle took place and victory de-
clared for Ali Furrus. At first sight Of their bold
captain Of former days the men Of Wadela who
formed the army Of Mushesha, deserted him, and
reversing their spears charged at full galop upon
the ranks of Dujoz Ali, laughing and shouting with
Joy saying, "HOld on, bold Duoz; friends and
countrymen OF your province Of Wadea. AS the
horse returns to his manger, the dog to his masters
kennel, or the soldier to his general, so we have
come TO serve our loved master and friend, Ali
Furrus." With shouts Of defiance they returned
upon Mushesha's dismayed army, who, having not
recovered from the shock Of surprise which this
wholesale desertion created, were easily defeated
and their general made prisoner. What Gobazye
will do when he hears these ominous tidings
It Is almost impossible to state, but he
will doubtless commit some cruel extrava-
gance as 1t Is said upon good authority that he
Ia close imitator OF Theodorus. AS the late Negus
has imprisoned all the legitimate chiefs of Abyssinia
to prevent endless wars Gobazye and Kassai ex-
hibited but poor wisdom when they aided the Eng
lsh in their invasion Of his country; for that the
King s dead and all the princes and chiefs released
their own thrones are thus rendered insecure Mus
tevat has claimed Magdala and taken possession OF
that fortress, with all her force amounting to about
twelve thousand wild Gala horsemen. Two other
chiefs who have been released have fed to Gojam
and Damot. with the hope Of establishing claim to
some portion OF the now dismembered empire.
Menelek's brother has betaken himself secretly to
Sh0a, with the evident intent Of sowing dscord
among his relatives subjects and raise an army to
establish his claim to the throne; and thus the condi
ton OF Abyssinia is even worse than 1t was when
TheOdorus ravaged the whole country. 1t has re-
lapsed into its former state, composed OF numerous
petty provinces continually at war with another.
There is no claimant at present in Abysinia for
THE IMPERIAL CROWN
mS sc rom pm Queen OF
Meneek, King Of Shoa, according to the priests and
sages OF Abyssinia is the only one living who has a
gree to that dusky and frai queen who went to
Jerusalem :" to learn the wisdom Of Soomon.n It
lived not content with his q seven hundred wives,
prncesses, and three hundred concubiness, became
enamored OF sheba's sovereign, and to show how
queen gave unto her all that her heart could DESIRE
even whatsoever she asked"; $50 she turned and
went to her own country, she and her servants;
and the Abyssinians look with great respect upon
Meneek now, considering him as the only living
lncal descendant OF Solomon by the Queen of Sheba
But Menelek, though brave as a lion In battle,
prefers his own country Of Shoa to the trouble
some sceptre OF royalty over all Abyssnia:
perceive the approaching fate Of their country and
it il-assorted peoples The late head, though yrant
ern. Could lie have restrained his maniac passion
and compelled himself to endeavor to gain the good
not have conquered him. At Senate he could ca
silly have held the passes, and forbidden entrance by
the warlike hosts OF Tigre Of shoa Bejemdar, Go.
Jam, Dumot, Zedjon and all the Dansbeil. Even IL
successful there the English army would have been
surrounded on all sides by hostile chiefs. Each hill
along the route to Magdala would be alive with his
soldiers. AT the Amba Alegii severe clash could
have been given them at Oachang the Gala horse
mendous efforts would be made to hurl the Invaders
down the cliffs; at the Bichlo the English
would suffer severely, and at last =, before
would be impossible TO state the result. Instead
OF the seven thousand lukewarm followers which
poured down upon them from the heights. AS It
was TheOdorus, being continually drunk lost his
and patiently on the height of Fallah his rash and
misguided spirit prompted him to send his soldiers
down to the plateau OF Afogo, where 45o of them
ARMY. and disprited and dismayed by the rolling,
continuous fre Of the English musketry, with his
brain weakened by deep potations. he gave way to
the opportunities or Rassam, the servie flatterer
and In weak moment delivered up all the European
captives to the English commander.inchlef hoping
that such course would prove the means
Of reconciliation. Rassam deceived him: he
broke his plighted word and never returned
TO Theodorus, he solemny promised, to report
progress, and Theodorus fearing Imprisonment and
contumey, resolutely refused TO listen to the word
surrender, but retired TO Magdaa with few hun
dred choice followers and there met his fate like
warrior Having such an instance of nagrant breach
OF good faith what wonder that he refused to listen
10 the promises OF the English General.
THE CONDITION |
OF Abyssinia now presents strong claim TO the SYM
pathy of the Christian world The Gala and Mussu-
man tribes are becoming more powerful and there
B reason to fear that the very name OF Christ may be
lost among the Abyssinans. Theodorus being dead,
the whole country may be said with truth "to be
going to the dogs"
On the retirement OF the English the whole coun-
try Will be left prey to the designs OF Egypt. IL
will be no wonder should we hear that the Pacha OF
Egypt has undertaken expedition to the country.
where there s no unity among the chiefs II will be
nn easy matter for the Egyptians TO establish their
power In this country. good road has been made
by the English and it has been shown by them that