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

pleased them that they accompanied Vi
on our journey for mile or two, and onl
parted from US after exchanging many |
courteous salaam, At the village o.
Adabergcn the entire population came GU
and inquired il we were Christians. The
@ Mussulmans, Parsees and Hindoos replied
with contempt, which contempt ensued
hatred. Six Arabs have been killed anG
mutilated, and one Hindoo was found
literally cut to pieces. --Ai.sl, .a'
Six days march from Senate we came
to country were the people were Chris
tians. Their churches were built of mud
and stone with turrets, we're situated 10
the most lovely places under the evergreen
foliage of the sycamore or the baobab,
which screened their places of worship
from intrusive curiosity and by this So
clusion and holy calm served to add to the
spirit of devotion by which the Christians
in Abyssinia are animated.
The submits of many of their churches
were perfect cones, while the walls were
encirced by a number of wooden pillars
being trunks of the cedar tree placed so
as to support the edifce--and as the roof
projects about eight feet beyond the walls
an agreeable walk or collonnade 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. The first is circle somewhat
wider than the inner one, here the con-
gregation say their prayers. Within this
is square, which is divided by a rail or
curtain, corresponding to the Holy Place
and the Holy of HOLES in the Jewish
Tabernacle. The latter is SO narrow that
none but the priest are admitted into it.
There is something very fantastic in
their mode of conducting divine service
Their musical instruments are little drums
which they hang about their neeks and
beat with their hands, and this exercise is
performed by their chief men as we'll as
by the gravest ecclesIastics. They have
sticks likewise, with which they strike
the ground, accompanying the blow with
motion of their bodies. They begin
their devoticns 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 ii In ecstacy at some innate bliss,
straining their voices at the same time to
the highest pitch, till they become more
like an infuriated crowd than religious
assembly. For this manner of conduct
ing the religious services they quote the
psalm of David, 30 clap your hands, all
ye nations"
1t is strange with what tenacity these
people have clung to Christianity when
rejecting upon the vigorous efforts made
to crush it by Mohammedanism. Though
the Crescent rules over Egypt Christianity
which was preached by St. Mark in the
city of Alexandria, defes Mohammedan-
ism still, SECURE in tho mountain fastnes-
ses of Abyssinia.
FROM ISRAEL.
The more / see of these people the more
lam convinced that they belong to some
of the lost ten tribes of Israel, who, as the
prophecy foretold, should not be "distin.
guishable from Gentiles save by circum-
Foislon. The royal standard of Abyssinia
displays the lion of the tribe of Judah, to
to indicate the descent of the kings from
Solomon. The great seal of Abyssinia is
the lion of Judah, and there is predic-
ton extaut which is cherished by the ma
tives, viz.-that the delivery of Palestine
from the hands Of the infdel Moslem and
the gathering together of all the children
Of Israel would be effected by king of
Ethiopia.
The valleys as we proceeded were better
cultivated; haycocks were seen standing
in the vicinity of comfortable looking
houses. Cattle were lowing in the fields;
sheep aud goats browsed on the hills, over
which shepherd boys, with goatskin over
their backs, watched, while playing upon
their reed pipes shrill and mournful tunes.
Indeed, for many miles panorama of
contentment and happiness unveiled to
the view such as might be presented in
the most civilized or peaceful portions
Of the globe.
hENENGEFUL NATIVES.
A ferocious, blood thirsty and per6di-
GUS set of natives occupy the mountain
heights, to whom many are inclined TO be-
lieve that we owe the death Of three Eng
lish officers who have been found dead,
while others say that one shot himself,
while another was killed by an elephant.
The officers names are Colonel Dunn, Of
the Thirty-third; Major Cooper, Of the
Fourth, and Captain Edwards. These
fierce natives live in caverns like the an
cient Troglodytes, or in novels constructed
with cone-like roof of rushes and mud.
Leading pastoral life they change their
dwelling as soon as the rains have pro-
duced little verdure on their parched soil,
for when the hot season ends on the
coast it begins among the mountains.
TELEGRAPH LINE
has been laid all the way from Zoula to
Atigeratt, distance of one hundred miles,
and it is intended to extend the line as
far as Antola as soon as practicable.
,ERALy AND MODERN EXPLORERS.
All the great Powers Of Europe have
sent experienced officers to examine and
report on the Abyssinian expedition
France has sent General LIE F., Captain
Herdecourt "a son of General Rochet d.
i -.