Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-03-28

diers and the loss of vast stores of am
munition and provisions; and should
the government at Rome conclude to
prosecute its warfare against the Afri-
can kingdom it is more than probable
that it will lead to the downfall of the
house of Savoy and the bankruptcy of
united Italy.
The Abyssinians, like most mixed
races, are fierce fighters. Their history,
which goes back to the beginning of the
Christian era, is succession of strug
giles for mastery and independence.
The Copts, who are the ruling race of
the country, are descendants of the
ancient Egyptians, their blood being
mingled with that of Greeks, Arabs and
Nubians. After the destruction of Jeru-
salem by the Romans thousands of
Jews-now known as FalashaS-emi-
grated to Abyssinia and amassed great
wealth and power, retaining through
the centuries the Warlike spirit which
made Palestine a dreaded power in the
days of the Hebrew kings. During the
fifth and sixth centuries the Abyssin-
ians conquered many tribes and estab-
lished colonies in Arabia, but the great
advance of Mohammedanism cut the
Copts off from connection with other
Christian nations, and their influence
became nil. But in spite of attacks
from within and without. the Abyssin-
ians remained faithful to Christianity,
which had been made the national re-
ligion about $50.
Originally Abyssinia was divided into
the three kingdoms of Tigre, Amhara
and Shoa, but modern geographers have
never recognized the division. In the
10th century the Mohammedans at
tempted to destroy the kingdom, but
the Portuguese, then a great power, de-
feated the invaders and converted the
royal family to Catholicism. The
Jesuits did not succeed, however, in con-
verting the populace, and in 1858 the
nation as such severed all connection
with Rome. At the beginning of the
present century the power of the royal
family had declined to such an extent
that the country was divided into in
Vulnerable little principalities,g governed
by chiefs who paid little attention to
the edicts of the crown. In 1850 Lii
Kassa, governor of the province of
Kuara, revolted and dethroned Ras Ali,
the temporary ruler, and in 1855
crowned himself ''negus negussie," king
of kings, under the title of Theodore l.
His successes turned his head. He be-
came a cruel tyrant, recognized no law
but his will, and went so far as to in
suit the British government by impris-
oning her majesty's consuls and citi-
zens. To demand satisfaction, Great
Britain, in 1867, sent an armed eXpedi-
=. oh 10 A
sinia. After a short campaign the in
vaders captured every fortress in
Theodore's dominions, and in April,
1868, the cowardly usurper killed him
self. After the withdrawal of the Brit
ish army anarchy prevailed, but after
succession of revolutions Prince Kassa
of Tigre managed to have himself
crowned as Emperor John l. of Ethi-
opia, january 12, 1872. A war with
Egypt was the first event of Importance
in King Johns rule. On October 16,
1875, the khedive's troops were defeated
Dy the Abyssinians, and in June, 1877,
Menelek, king of Shoa, was subdued.
After few years of quiet, during
which many reforms were introduced
in the administration of domestic af-
fairs, the Italians appeared before Mas
sowah, and on February 6, 1885, hoist
ed King Humbert's flag over its fort
ress and assumed control over the ad-
iacent territory. This occurred while
the Abyssinians were fighting the Nah
dists and other Mohammedan enemies.
Remonstrances against the invasion
proving of no avail. the Abyssinians
planned campaign against the Ital-
ians, which teuaAinated in the utter de-
str1ction of $40 Italian troops near