Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-05-08
Ghe 6ree Nress.
G. G.. & b. l.. BENEDICT
EDITORS AND PRoPRIEToRs.
FRIDAY MORNING. MAY s. 1861
ABY SSINIA.

Abyssinia, before British army. and tl
!; prospect that that ancient monarchy wi
henceiorth be an appendage to the BIRTHS
Crown,-for Great Britain never lets 90
hold ON any portion of the habtabl
Ole, except on eompulsion-has drawn at
tention afresh to that far off region, an,
made many a man overhaul his map of Afri
ca We have looked up ours, and fin,
that Abyssinia is country of Eastern Africa
extending between latitude : degrees 4C
minutes and lG degrees 40 minutes north
and across nine degrees of longitude, il
other words larger than France and three ol
four times as big as New England bounded
Oh the east by Adel, northeast by the Red
Sea, northwest by Nubia, and south and
southeast by what is known to explorers as
the country of the Gallas.
The country is chiefly high mountainous
table land, with strip of arid lowland on
the sea shore From the table lands, which
are from 5000 to 5000 feet above the sea,
rise many mountain peaks to the height Of
10000 to 5000 feet. The people who in
habit this country are scmi-barbarians, the
greater part Of them being nominal christians
of the Coptic sect, holding many Of the te-
ncts Of the Roman Catholic faith, such as
priertly ahs,lution, insts, worship of saints,
&c, and also Observing many Mahomedan
practices, such as circumcision, ceremonial
unclemness, abstaining from meat prohibited
by the law Of Moses. &c. In their laws and
customs Jewish institutions are often trace
able. The royal standard of Abyssinia dis
plays the lion of the tribe of Judah, t. indi-
cate the descent Of the kings from solomon,
and there are those who believe them to be
portion of the lost tribes of Israel. The en-
pire is divided into several provinces, each
under its chicftain These chiefs have com
monty been practically independent soye-
rcigns, though paying little tribute and ac-
a sort of ieudal subsection to the
Emperor. The emperors however have been
commonly mere pthf5ts in the hands Of some
more powerful chief, who has secured the
dignity Of d" Ras" or yizier Of the empire.
There are several cities Of from 5000 to TO-
900 inhabitants. which are described. as mere
of straw thatched huts. Gondar
he former capital, was stated by a traveller,
IN 1862. to have from Il ,00p to ,00O inhabi-
ants, but it is said to have been within the
asst two or three Year, totally destroyed by
he Emperor Theodore.
1t is related of the dead Emperor Theodo-
US, who claimed lineal descent from solomon
.at he was born of humble parents he
vas daring, reckless, youth, and after fret
ing away two years in a convent. escaped
o minglc in the strife which surrounded him.
after many vicissitudes be became Emperor
f Abyssinia. He was keen diplomatist
nd succeeded in reconciling the hostile chiefs
nd restoring tranquility to the empire. At
he time of his death, he was forty-scven
ears old, OF average stature, and of an ire
ular but not unimpressiye physiognomy.
lis habits were those Of an astute demago-
uc vt court he rcyelled in luxury and
how. In the field, he affected simplicity as
veil Of dress as OF diet. To get power lie
yas temperate, brave, austcrc in power he
,royed yindictive and savage His difficulty
With the English commenced with the seizure
" him of Mr.. Cameron, the English Consu
t AIassowah, the principal seaport, together
With his servants, several Prussian Missiona-
les, and some forty mechanics and traders, all
m account Of Il dislike he conceived towards
Ir Cameron after several years of friendly
Intercourse
This was aggravated by the failure of Queen
'ictoria to return satisfactory replies to some
f his letters, in one of which it is said he
roposed marriage to her. and was followed by
he seizure of n Mr. Rassam. Syrian. who
vas sent as special envoy Of the British gov
mment to arrange a peaceable adjustment
f difficulties, and ola lieutenant Prdeaux and
)r. Blanc, who accompanied him. After
rying various means for liberation Of the
aptiyes, the English Government sent a
orce of about 10000 troops, under Sir
'harles Napier, to enforce their demands ;
With what success everybody knows.
We copy elsewhere, from the letters Of the
Of the y. Y. Hraid, accompa-
lying Gen. Napier's army, (whose kilograms
ave furnished even to the English papers
nd government the latest and fullest news
f their own expedition) some interesting des-
riptions of the country and its inhabitants