The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-05-22

france IN 1eudal times, or Germany and
Italy before their latest rehabilitations, for
collection of Independent States, mere
geographical expression, Gibbon on
cludes his brief summary of the latest Incl
dent in its history which fell under his re-
view-the rediscoyery of Abyssinia by the
Portuguese Jesuits and its conversion to
Latin Christianity, followed by it's sudden
and total relapse into its old Monophysite
heresy-with the following characteristic
sentence 1.-THE gates of that solitary
realm were forever shut against the arts
the science and the fantaticism of Europe
1t was premature announcement During
the present generation the gates have been
gradually enclosing and will soon be flung
wide open by Britain.
Sir Samuel Bakers book, "The Nile
Tributaries in Abyssinia," does not deal
directly with Abyssinia proper, the coun.
try of Theodorus Of this work the Lon
don TIMES remarks thus We opened Sil
Samuel Bakers book, with an expectation
that it would throw some light on that un,
known region to which, not without anx-
ious misgivings, we are about to despatch
a British expedition. In this respect we
have been disappointed for Sir Samuel Ba-
ker, in following the course of the Abyssin,
ian tributaries of the Nile, did not pass
over the mountain ranges that wall in the
territories of the Emperor Theodore, and
he has told us nothing about Abyssinia
proper, the Switzerland of the African con-
tinent. Except, however, for this our hopes
respecting this work have not been frustra-
adventure, described graphically and in a
pleasing manner. 1t is hardly necessary to
remind our readers of what Sir Samuel Ba-
ker has achieved in the matter of exploring
in Africa. How, accompanied by his hero,
ic wife, he set forth on his famous expedi-
ton to find out the source of the Nile
how, Drawing perils and difficulties innu-
merable, they made good their way into
the heart of the continent and how, hay
ing solved the geographical problems left
undetermined by Spoke and Grant, they
beheld the head of the mighty stream issue
from the gigantic Albert Nyanza, is tale
not to be soon forgotten by thousands il
the present generation. This renowned
journey settled question which had beer
a mystery since the dawn of history il
showed conclusively that the origin of the
Nile is to be found in two lakes of immense
size-the Victoria and the Albert Nyanza
in the centre of Equatorial Africa. Before
however, the whole system of the Mile
could be said to have been explored anoth-
er question remained Overwhelmingly
what was the cause of the extraordinary
rise ofthe great river at settled periods, and
where the fountains of its prolific overflow
1t has been the good fortune of Sir Samue
Baker to have put this question also tt
M tht,o 70 afa1x al dor
one of the most remarkable secrets of geog
raphy. Before departing on his great ex
petition he made tour with lady Baker
through Nubia and Egyptian Abyssinia, IL
order to ascertain the character of the af
fluents of the Nile in those countries anC
the general result of his discoveries is that
while the Victoria and Albert Nyanza ar
the parent reservoirs of the Nile, its inun
dations, with their fertilizing effects, arr
caused by its Abyssinian tributaries. Thu
volume before us is a record of this inter
esting and important journey, and it ha'
satisfied us that Sir Samuel Baker is cor
rect in his views on this subject.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY OF
LEADING INTO IT.
Abyssinia is often represented on map
as bounded on the east by the Red Sea-
This, however, is an error. Abyssinis
proper consists ola high mountainous table
land, the eastern boundary of which ma,
be considered roughly as following the for
tieth degree of east longitude. Between
this mountainous region and the sea ther'
is a tract of arid, low lying, waterless coun
try, inhabited by the savage Danakil tribes
this region at Massowah is only a few mile
broad, but it widens out to 300 or 800 mile
at Tajurrah. In climate, inhabitants, soil
cultivation, &C., these two regions are total
ly opposite, the highlands being salubrious
temperate, generally well watered and ira
versed by paths in every direction, while
the low country is arid, waterless, with few
exceptions trackless and uncultivated.
This inhospitable region effectually cut
off the highlands from all communication
with the sea except at three points, Masso
wah and its neighborhood on the north
Amphilla Bay, about 100 miles to the south
east, and Tajurrah. on tie south. From
these three points the roads into the int
rior are of very different character, for a
Massowah they very soon climb the eastern
boundary of the highlands and continue
along the elevated land, whilst from Tajur
rah they have to traverse 200 or 800 miles
and from Amphilla Bay from so to 10(
miles of the low lying country before the.
reach the highlands.
| The western and southern boundaries o
Abyssinia are very underlined, but they
may be taken roughly as counterminou
with the edge of the highlands, and having
the White and Blue Nile on the west anc
the Red Sea rather south by east.
ROADS FROM MAssowAH.
After traversing thirty or forty miles o
hot, low lying desert country, the mali
road from Massowah to Gondar ascends tn,
mountains by the Taranta pass. This pas
is described by all travellers as one of grea
difficulty, up which in some places loaded
camels can with difficulty make their way
1t can be avoided by going round to tn.
west, where there are at least two paths, ont
of which was followed by Ferrett and Cali
nier, on their return to Massowah, in 1S42
and the other by Mansfield Parkyns, on hi
way to Adowa, in 1943. Neither Of these
:. travellers described the same difficulties OF
reaching the highland by those routes az
are experienced in the Taranta pass. M
Munzinger has also lately given description
of two paths by which the table land can b(
reached in the direction of Kaya Khor.-
OF this line DR.. Beke, writing in 1S42
says after quitting the table land o
Serawe at Gura descended from Kalya
khor to Massowah by gradual and easy
road well watered and occupyinp two