Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-09

avoid debt, both for his moral and physf-- cal we'll being. The Abyssinian law-is more energetic in punishing the unfo1h tunate debtor thans was the ancientS Egyptian. The debtpr is cast into prison3 and an iron band fastened around hiR right wrist. Every day the creditor and an officer of the lawyisit him, and whefE he says he is unable to pay, turn is given to the screws in the wrist band, which causes it to sink into the flesh. z1fa, the unfortunate has no friends who can scrape up the required sum, the wrist band shrinks and shrinks until the hand is completely severed. Then the debtor is released with the mark of his disgrace forever attached to him. It is almost needless to say that few debts are con- tracted in Abyssinia.
 Quaint Religious Beliefs.
 In one way they are tremendously re- ligious and two out of every three days, the year through, are fast days. The Virgin Mary they pray to and call upon for protection. Motherhood in the eyes of the AbyssiniaHs most sacred, and they venerate their own mothers beyond all else. The will of their mothers is law and part of their religion. They argue that if they obtain the good will of the Virgin she will intercede for them with Christ and that He will follow her wishes. They believe that women are I more tenderShearted than men and quick CT to forgive transgressions.
 In ordinary times the stranger in AbyS- sinia who professes to be a follower of the Virgin is treated with rare courtesy. No door is closed against him. and the best in the poorest or richest house is at his command He is as safe from harm as if he were in his own home and noth- ing is left undone to make him comfort able.
 Great Place tor Feuds.
 It is probably the greatest country for feuds the world over. These feuds seem destined to last forever, and the older they grow the stronger they become. A whole family may be exterminated, but the next of kin Is bound to step in and carry on the hostilities In this way the fight is kept up. generation after genera tion, until the original cause of the row has been completely lost sight of.
 A man who feels that he has been in- suited makes a formal call upon his en- emy and is received by a servant, to whom he mparts the reason of his visit. This is simply formal notification of war. The caller is treated with show of hospitality, being invited to eat and drink, but members of the family do not show themselves. After he has passed out of the house the war begins.
 If man kills another man without just cause he is handed over to the rela- tives of the victim, who are entitled to kill him in the same way that he did the murder. Or, if one man wounds an- other the latter's relatives are entitled to wound him in the same way.
 The Italian Commander.
 Gen. Oreste Baratieri, commander-in- chief of the Italian forces in Abyssinla, IS a skilled, fighter in that country. He IS 57 years old. In 1859, when he had com pleted monkish education, he joined Garibald as a volunteer in the Thousand of Marsala., Not long afterward he join ed the Italian army, and was quickly pros ntt ain A captaincy.
 Baratieri was wounded at Custozza, af- ter fighting with great gallantry. Alter travelng to Khartoum with an exploring expedition, and on his return acting for some years as the editor of the Rivista Militaire in Rome, he was sent as a mli- itary attache to Berlin and Vienna.
 At the time that Italy became imbued so strongly with the desire for colon1aIJ possessions Baratieri was colonel of~ Bersaglieri. In command of his regiment he accompanied General Gandolfi to Af- rica where he has remained ever since, distinguishing himself in military opera tions against the Abyssinians, Somalisl { and Dervishes He became governor and comma nder-in-c chief on the retirement of General Gondolfi.
 Baratieri has had difficulties to con-. tend with which would perplex the great- est general that ever lived. The Der wishes, who have joined the Abyssinians, are fanatics. Their captains give the men a peculiar drug more powerful than hashish or opium before going into bat tie, intoxicating them and making them fight with the fury of fiends. They care absolutely nothing for death The trained soldier Is at discount when pit ted against legions of these madmen, bent upon slaughter.
 Italy's treasury is empty, and with no money to equip the thousands of neces- troopc if lonkg if AhVQSinja wOIlld maintain her independence, particularly with France and Russia at her back. These nations do not want Italy to gob- ble up the 130000 square miles of terri tory, which, however, seems to be rich only in tradition.