The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-08
THE ARY>SINIAN>.

Wild and untamed as tuc ShodhS am
their allies in Abyssinia now appear, the
history Of that country Is the most Inter
esting of any African country except
Egypt. and its language is rich in ancient
literature II was no doubt part Of the
domain Of that famous Queen of Sheba.
whose visit to Solomon across the Red sea
gave opportunity to the chroniclers to wit
ness her riches. The royal family which
ruled the Shoans claimed direct descent
from her. but the claims are little more
than tradltionary. There is no doubt as
TO the age and richness OF the Ethiopic
idiom and II was cultivated under the in
ruence OF the early Christian fathers al
most TO classic proportions. TherY has
been a bishop OF Abyssinia since the third
century. and even To this day Russia
claims tuteiage over the country
branch of the Aexandrian or Greek
church. to which the first bishop belonged.
This H. why Russia laughs al Itals s pre-
tensions and rejoices over her defeat
one of the most famous OF ancient char
acters Is King Caleb. a successor hundreds
Is stlil looked back to as the golden age OF
Aby.sinia. hut two hundred years later
the Mohammedan invasion OF Egypt ex-
tended its influences south and Abyssnla
was brought TO a standstill. where IL re-
manned practically until about isoo-one
thousand years OF stagnation. broken only
by a few years during which the portu-
guese. seeking the land OF Prester John.
exercised some influence. The older tribes
call the country Ethiopia. As it has been
for many centuries. and only apply the
term Abysslnla. meaning mixture OF
peoples, to the mixed races along the
coast.
FOR hundreds Of years the only great
character associated with this country
was LII kasa. a man Of exceptional ahll-
ity lie made war on the native governor
defeated him. and was afterward married
10 the daughter of his defeated chief BUT
he soon after drove his father-in-law out
of power suhjugated other chiefs and had
himself declared king Of the kings Of
Abyssinia as Emperor Theodore. With in
creased power his arrogance grew. and his
temper was innamed 10y his second wife.
who hated him. and who formed a marked
contrast to his frst wife. who aided him
In the objects OF his ambition.
The British sent military expedition
against him in 1858. OF t000 British and
s.co Scroy troops. under Sir Robert Napier.
with that comparatively sman force they
a..
as the Italians were cniaprtl ia by tho
shoans. marched on MaRdala the canltal
s,ormcd and captured Il Theodore. deter
mined not 70 be taken prisoner. shot him
self
On mo withdrawal az The british a con
dnlon ~ anarchy prevailed. the son. John.
Of Theodore proving 70 be very weak In
$3.50 iiaiv made n treaty with Nenelek II
for a protcc,oratc. hat the Ncru< as Re-
is Called. refused - extend Il beyond lSaa
| hut by agreement With Great Britain now
arrangements We're entered into in 1sat
which. however. have never been sails
factory % Meuelck
In ISIS kassall Vas taken possession NJ
| ~ the dcr, lshes ard from ths, strerr.
| hold have harese,f ih, tribes in IL. It.i-
tan colony. In 1901 italy vas permitted 10
| occupy "a as q military necessity. thc ON ~
crshlr being reserved 10 Egypt. Sine ISM
! tho derVishcs have been constantly sr,..
| ins to recover their position. ard IN iS,s
1 los.i e.; them we've kiued but they renewed
! thrir sEsfcssious iast vsar. untI Ra-s.
! ticri. the yovcrnar general made 3 vlr,s.
| ou7 movement drove 'he a--,ishes ON, q.
! EassaIt and fcrtaef ,. The country. ms
! been sn enormous drala ulau uaiv. -
/ esi.n" l'rc having hesn si,,n; upos il ir, ,,.
years thr entire volu-no ~ t0,r,,-,s
amounting to only n o.' 40 ~ ..a,.a ~, r-.
a year.
| Thr situation now Is desperate Af,va
/ Is long way frcTn Nassewah AMI .h. .,,,.
fortunate Italians forming th~ rs.tst s-.,,
Will ~ haras~c4 At every stem The 49,.
| tcrieus dervi<Nrs VII. ~ Eeatf. p. t,.-.
| row ~ central tribes. srs .sus p, .,-- -.
| the cartN-c o. stores ara ar as.-.ft,.. -,,.
there seems no way ea5 tlt f,f fta., -
abandon al hcr cls rl< ara sa -.... .., .-,
- An stter7rf A. co'anszs sr+., ~,.
Nrousas military shame aaa asas,,si
sster.
| ritF oVrrN TURNS l-r.