The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-05-29

THE GOVERNMENT OF ABYssINIA.
Abyssinia is one of the most ancient
monarchies in the world, and has been
governed from time immemorial by an en-
peror. The form of government and its
military spirit are feudal Each chief
holding the rank of dejajmatch is entire
master ofall sources of revenues within his
territory and has practically full power of
life and death. His feudal subsection con-
sists in the obligation to send from time to
time presents to his SUPERIOR and to follow
him to war with as large q force as he can
muster 1t has resulted from this that the
great feudatories have become practically
independent rulers, and that the Emperor
has been for many years, until the accession
OF Theodorus, mere puppet in the hands
of one or other of them.
DR.. Beke thus describes the relations
which subsist between the Emperor and the
chiefs :-"Abyssinia," he says, "is an hered-
itary monarchy, under the sway of an En-
peror claiming descent from Solomon, King
of Israel, and the Queen ofSheba. Though
this parentage is a mere fiction, there
are few Christian Sovereigns who can show
more illustrious lineage than the Empe-
ceived the Christian faith, and possessed a
native version of the Holy Scriptures as
early as the fourth century, when the now
civilized nations ofEurope were in state
of barbarism. The occupiers of the throne
of their once absolute ancestors have for a
considerable time past been mere puppets
in the hands Of one or other of their pow
erful vassals the form having been kept
up of nominating an Emperor ofthe ancient
line of Solomon, who, however, has remain
ed prisoner in his palace at Gondar, his
sole revenue consisting of a small stipend
and the tolls of the weekly markets of that
city. Since the commencement of the
present century the seat of government and
the person of the Emperor have remained,
though with occasional Interruptions in
the hands of the chiefs of a powerful tribe
of Yedgu (Edgow) Gala, who for three
generations have been able to secure to
themselves the dignity of Ras, or Vizier, of
the empire-that is to say, to become its
sovereign in everything but in name This
sovereignty within the central portion of
the empire has, however, been far from
giving them command over the surround
ing provinces. On the contrary, each ruler
of province has mostly acted as an indie
pendent sovereign, and II at any time he
has found himself strong enough to march
upon the capital he has done so, placed
upon the throne another puppet Emperor,
and been by him appointed Ras, or Vizier,
till stronger rival than himself could turn
him out and take his place. Under such
circumstances it is not to be wondered at
that there should be at one time half
dozen titular emperors, and that the Gov
ernor of each of the principal provinces
should have assumed the title of Ras, and
continued to bear it, even when no longer
in power"
The three principal provinces of the en-
pire are Tigre, Amhara, in which Gondar
the capital is situated, and Shoa. The
governors of these have all at different
times assumed the title of Ras. Three
other provinces of some Importance are
Lasta and Waag, whose capital is Sokota,
and which are ruled over by the rebel Co
bazye, Godjam, to the south ofLake Tzana,
and Kwara, to the west of the same lake,
the birthplace of the Emperor Theodorus.
The two provinces of Tigre and Shoa
have generally been in state of rebellion
from, or acknowledged independence of, the
central power at Gondar. The geographic
cal position of Tigre enhances its political
importance, for, us the communications be-