The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-25
IT,.

ASANANAA kAAN' INV ~N
mutual jealousy Of European powers.
During the present generation the interes
OF Europe has been reawakened in the king
dom or empire OF Abysslnia. We scarcely meet
remind the reader that this monarchy is OF i'm
memorial antiquity. and that. under the name
OF Ethiopia. II moro than once conquered the
Egypt OF the Pharaohs and exercised extensive
dominion In the outhwestern part OF the
Arabian peninsula. At present IL includes the
territories OF TigrC in the northeast. Amhara
In the west and centre. and Shoa in the south,
all OF which have been at various times sepa-
rate kingdoms. Since the introduction oil
Christianity, in the fourth century OF our ora,
the Abyssinians have been in communion with
the Alexandrian Church. their religious head,
or Abuna. always q Kopt in race. and q de-
scendnnt Of the ancient Egyptians. being con-
secrated by the Patriarch. There is also n
native ecclesiastical diRnitary. who presides
over tho religious orders. numbering about
10000 monks. An empire Of Axum. the ruined
capital OF which is to be seen in the modern
province OF Tigre. became great and pros
porous In the sixth century A. D.. ruling not
only all Abyssinia, but Yamen and Saba In
Arabia. and controlling the Red Sea waters.
This empire represented the furthest south
ward point reached by Greek civilization. and.
also. the uttermost coast OF Christianity in that
age. The subsequent conquests OF Islam con-
fined the Abyssinians to the interior plateau.
and. for n long period, cut them of from inter-
course with the rest of the world. During this
epoch OF isolation the capital was removed
from Axum to Gondar. and the monarchs then
assumed a title. that OF Negus. with q long
afix. meaning King of Kings OF Ethiopia"
In the sixteenth century Gala tribes from the
Interior OF Africa began a series OF dew
astatinG 'raids. and the monarchy was. by de-
grees. broken up into Independent States.
About the middle OF the nineteenth CEN
tury there arose In Amhara an ad%venturer
OF considerable ability and energy. Eventually
he overcame other native potentates and had
himself crowned by the Abuna as Negus of
Abyssinia. under the name OF Theodore. After
his conquest OF Shoa he was master OF the
whole country. and he ruled 1t for some time
with wisdom and moderation. under the guild
ance OF two British residents. Mr.. Plowden and
Mr.. Bell. the former of whom had been British
Consul at Massowah. In 1850 they persisted in
a war against the rebel chief. and Theodore
subsequently became tyrannical in his exer-
else OF authority. Rebellions in the provinces
were crushed with a ferocious cruelty which
rendered him odlous to his subjects.
when resistance ceased. the Emperor. far
In advance Of his subjects mentally,
through his education in early life Mt a
strove for a time to introduce
European civilization. His ultimate enmity to
Europeans was due partly TO his failure to OBJ
tain British and French aid against hostile
Moslem neighbors In the Eastern Soudan. His
particular grudge against Great Britain was
based on several grounds. An English mis-
sionary named Stern was rash enough to bring |
with him on his return to Abyssinia from q
visit to England a copy Of q book written by
in which Theodore was severely
treated. The remarks made were translated
to the Emperor. and Stern and his party were !
virtually ~captives in the country.
The next cause of offence came from a high |
British official. Lord John Russell. Foreign
In Lord Palmerston's last ministry. |
In 1852 Capt. Cameron. British Consul at Masso-
wah. had received from Theodore a letter ad- |
dressed to Queen Victoria. 1t has been alleged
that this document contained an offer OF mar
riage to the then recently widowed sovereign. ,
Even IL this were so. the letter. from consider
atoms OF international comfy. undoubtedly re-
quired a prompt and courteous reply. AS a
OF fact. 1t was not even delivered. but
thrust aside in the Foreign ONCE and for
gotten. A request that the British Govern
ment should send a number Of artisans in vari-
Gus trades to Abyssinia for the benefit OF that
received a like contemptuous neglect.
This treatment OF the Abyssinian monarch i'm
posed upon the British Government an ex-
Of S45. 900. 000-a high price to
pay for n Foreign ONCE blunder. The
anraged Theodore had quickly sought re-
venge. When Capt. Cameron imprudently en-
the Abyssinian highlands he was
seized and imprisoned. In 1884 Mr.. Rassam.
The British Resident at Alden. who had been
as an envoy to treat for the release
the Consul. the missionaries and other for
'iGn %captives. was also imprisoned, along with
his companions. DIR. Blanc and Lieut.. Prideaux,
backed by presents. failed to
secure their release. and It became known that
he prisoners we're all shut up in the strong
ocked fortress OF Magdala.
The matter was much discussed in the Indian
,azaars. and, when remonstrance and threats
proved vain. it became necessary to demon
the lcngth OF Great Britain's arm. 1t was
orcseen that the rescue of the captives would
1e difficult and costly. the distance to be trav-
'rsed from the coast to the capital being 400
niles. and the intervening territory being
uGged. mountainous and almost unknown.
The command OF an expedition sent from
bombay was given to Sir Robert Napier.
N officer OF engineers. who had done admira-
lie service in the second Sikh war and in the
indian mutiny. The question OF transport was
erlous, as every animal needed had to be con-
either from Asia or from Europe. Thou
OF mules were purchased in Spain. Italy
nd Asia Minor; many hundreds OF camels
we're brought from Arabia and Egypt; ele-
'hants also. to carry mountain guns. were
AIKEN from India. The expeditionary force.
about12, 900 soldiers. with as many
more men employed In the transport seryice
r as camp followers, landed at Annesley Bay
the last month OF 1857. In April OF the fol-
owing year the advance. numbering about
900 men, had reached the tableland OF
atlanta. strong posts having been loft at
arious points on the journey from the
cast. In order to comprehend the success OF
his expedition we should bear in mind that
o opposition had been encountered beyond
hat due to natural obstacles and the need
I carrying the supplies OF food. The people
ated their tyrant. who. for his part, made no
tempt to harass the march Of the invaders.
ut stayed at Magdala. which he believed to
N I'm Eh~