Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-11-10


few Americans could recall it-Adis
Ababa, the city founded by that re-
markable black monarch, Menelik II,
in 1892, the third year of his eyentful
reign which extended over a period of
quarter of century
"Abyssinia is a wholly inland nation,
being cut off from the Red Sea and the
Gulf of Alden by French and Italian
possessions varying in width from 40
to 250 miles. To the north is the Ital-
ian possession of Eritrea, to the asst
British, French and Italian Somaliland
territories, to the south British East
Africa, an dto the west the Anglo
Egyptian Sudan. The whole empire,
which was formerly known as Ethio
pia, lies within the tropics, although
most of the interior has such a high
elevation that the climate is temepr-
ate and healthful.
"Adis Ababa has an elevation of
more than mile and a quarter above
sealeyel, so that although it is the
same latitude as the Isthmian seaport
OF Panama, it enjoys a most salubrious
climate
Except for it's royal residence and
grounds, which occupy a hill com
manding a view of the country in all
directions, the city resembles a tenn
porary military camp core closely than
the capital of a vast kingdom, for white
tents and mean huts cover the country
in circle whose diameter is about
three miles. No railroad connects this
city of 10000 inhabitants with the out
side world, while the highways" of
the country are scarcely more than
narrow trails Travelled by pack mules
and donkeys. Even Harrar, (popula
ton estimated at 100000, the only 9TH
er settlement in the kingdom having
more than 5000 inhabitants, has not
yet been reached by the railway which
is being constructed from Jibuti, the
French Somailand seaport on the Gulf
of Alden. Harrar is $50 miles inland
from Jibuti, and Adias Ababa is 22O
miles still further west.
"Of the four general groups of peo-
pies inhabiting Abysinia the two most
important are the Calais, PASTORAL
and agricultural tribe comprising fully
half the population, and the Shoans,
the warlike governing class. The Tigr-
ians are lighter in color than their
fellow-countrymen and retain many
evidences of their Semitic origin. The
Dankalis are practically independent
people of the Mohammedan faith,
whereas the other groups have been
Christian since the fourth century, be-
ing allied with the Alexandrian
Church.
Education has made slow progress
in Abyssinia. In fact, it is said that
the only native schol in the entire
country is located in the capital, and
is attended most irregularly, the en-
rollment being not more than 100 pu-
pills.
when Menelik II died ia December
1913 he was succeeded by his 17-year-
old grandson Lii Yasu, (also spelled
Lidji Eyassu) the monarch whose par
ty the new government will have dis
placed if the reported battle should
prove to have been decisive. This boy
ruler faced an almost impossible task
during the last three years for his willy
grandparent was an exceptional man
OF remarkable energy. A striking pic
ture of the multiplicity of details
handled by the old sovereign is given
by A. Henry Savage Lander in his
account of a years journey across
Widest Africa" Mr.. Lander says:
Everything in Ads Ababa is re-
ferred to the people 1t is quite amaz-
Ing what an amount of mental work
Menelik must go through daily. While
attending to most important political
affairs, matters of the most trivial
character are brought to him for as
sent This is practically what happens
every minute Of the day at he palace;
Menelik, with his head bandaged in a
white shash, Ga sort Of silk handker-
chief and with a cheap French felt
hat far back upon his skull, is pander-
irg over some political problem of
great importance-let US say, the pro-
jected railway between the sea and
and Ads Ababa. The Emperor is deeD
~ absorbed in thought.
" Enters a servant who whispers in
the Emperor's ear, regardless of the
presence of the foreign representative
of a great European country: Your
Majesty the carnenter wants Soma