The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-02-24

Britain, there is much interest felt in
e4meFements. of the expeditionary
force equipped by the latter, and sent
into Abyssinia at an immense ex-
pense, for the purpose of hberating a
few British subjects, held in captivity
byeTheodore, King, Emperor or Sui
tan, of that terra incognito, the
land Of : Prester john and this in
terest has, very naturally, given i'm
pulse and direction to the intellectual
activities Of the civilized world in en-
tightening the public mind rs to the
material, moral and intellectual condi-
ton Of that singular people Ac-
cordingly, we find individuals Of the
most eminent mental abilities and
industry employed in searching libra
ries, both public and private, and also
ransacking the archives of the ma
tions which have had political or
commercial Intercourse with the peo-
pie and governments Of the States of
Abyssinia, for facts in relation to
their manners, religion, history, gov
eminent, and physical resources. The
result, consequently, is that much
very valuable and interesting infor-
nation has been exhumed, and given
to the public, and now, although our
knowledge is far from complete and
accurate In regard to that country and
its peculiar inhabitants, yet enough is
known to excite our curiosity to learn
everything concerning it and them.
THE GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION OF
ABYssINIA.
The ancient limits OF the once now
erlul and extensive Empire of Eth
opia were far greater than at present.
The history of all barbarous or semi
barbarOus nations shows that sue
cessiOn Of Warlike chieftains may, by
successive conquests, establish an en-
pire, and that the empire may par
TALLY subsist for number of genera
tons; but that Immediately after
their establishment, their natural pro-
gress has been towards anarchy and
despotism. First one and then an
other able and enterprisiBg chief Of
an outlying. dependency revolts;
ceeds II achieving his indie,
pendence from the corrupt and eAer-
waited central despotism, until, as in
the case of Abyssinia, its territorial
limits are circumscribed within
boundaries which diminish the rank,
power, and Importance of the empire
to level with the surrounding jeal-
Gus and independent tribes. Abys-
sinia has been ne exception to this
rule; and we find that the empire of
Northern Abyssinia consists of an
elevated tract of country, extending
about 400 miles from north to south,
tending southwestern; and 300
miles in its greatest width. This is
all that now belongs to the Christian
tribes of Abyssinia; and it has aptly
been designated the Switzerland Of
Africa, on account of its physical
pecularities, as it is traversed by high
mountain ranges, in which are found
the sources of the tributaries either
Of the Atbara (the Black n LED
flowing into the Nile above Berber, or
of the Azrek (the Blue Nile,) which
mite with the White Nile at Kaar-
toum: This territory, thus inter
sected with mountains, is divided into
elevated table lands, ranging In alti-
tude from $4,000 to 1000 feet above
the level of the ocean. The chan
nels of the water courses run
through deep, and occasionally
malarious valleys; but the country IS
generally salu0rious, a1d we'll sup
pied with water, and resembles. in
produetiveness and salubrity, the
plateau of Anahuac In the heart of
Mexico; and, like Anahuac, it pos
sesses its terra cdbente, its tierre tcnl-
pLddd, and its terra friiu, aud pro-
duces, and Is capable of producing,
the fruits and cereals of every lati-
tude. The raising of stock appears
to demand most of the attention Of
the inhabitants, and such domestic
animals as the horse, horned cattle,
and the sheep, are equ lily benefited
by being raised on soil and ina climate
so exceedingly propicious. But opu-
lent as is Abyssinia In agricultural
and animal treasures, its greatest
wealth remains, doubtless, undevelop-
ed in the bosom of the earth. 1t is
known to contain vast coal deposits;
and tits not unreasonable to suppose
that copper and iron, as well as the |
precious metals, exist In abundance |
The preceding physical description
of what is properly to be considered |
Abyssinia, does not accord wit che |
delineations of the country as ordin- !
arily found on our maps; for our
modern geographers are almost as ig- /
norant Of its dimensions and confor- !
nations as were the ancients. In |
deed, il is a matter of wonder that so |
little is known of Africa throughout, |
when we take into considerat ton that /