The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-10-12

prepared by the National Geographi,
Society washington ID. O.
A Christian nation when our ances
tors were tioundering in pagunism
now as for centuries mn African EN-.
pire-One Of the three or four remain
ing empires Of the world and the
only Bit Of land on the great conti-
nent of Africa, with The exception Of
the little republic Of Liberia, which
has not been made a possession or a
protecturate of European power
such is Abyssnia, little heard Of IN
he worlds affairs, but possessing n
history and Il promise Of future
economic Importance which make 1t
deserve different fate.
The country owes its Independence
IN large part both directly and indi-
rectly to its geographical environment
Set upon a great plateau, il is nat
ural fortress; and while the natives of
most other sections Of tropical Africa
dwell in eneryating jmeIeS or inhos-
pitable deserts, the people Of Abys.
Hllild, NUbllhH W AhtiA ttfilA N't''t I'i INV
soil and temperate conditions in gen
cral, have an invigorating climate and
a land literally of "milk ana honey"
A situation near Arabia ANA Palestine,
too has drawn Arabian and Jewish
blood TO Abysslnia and has given the
people Of the country a racial advan-
tage which the African tribes Of pure
negro blood have not had.
But while geographical situation has
in many ways been an advantage 10
Abyssina, it has brought its dlSad-
vantagcs also. Without access 20 the
sea for centuries, the AbyS>inans, held
10 their inland tahlcIands without
contact with the outside world failed
to make the most Of their possession
Of lofty religion and an early start
toward civilization, and have re
manned a somibarbaric people, 1t IS
perhaps remarkable that, isolated as
they were, they maintained their Chris
tianity in any recognizable form. OBJ
servers marvel at the fact that the
principal tenets and observances Of
the faith are practically pure rather
than at the growth beside them Of
certain superstitions and laXities.
Cut of From Sea and Nile.
AS the situation now stands, Abys-
sinia is entirely cut Off from the sea
and the Nile by tie colonies Of Euro
pean powers; italian Eruea, French
Somaliland and British Somaliland on
the north: Italian SJmaliland on the
east British East Africa on the south
and the Anglo-Egyutian Sudan on the
west. But this is mere holding Of
the gates by new keepers; since the
rise Of Mohammcdau power in the
Near East the country has been cut
off about equally us effectively by
various Mohammcdan tribes Those /
people Of Arabian blood We're able 10 /
take possession OF the low desert |
lands. but on their nyigoratmg high /
lands the Abyssiniaus We're, with rare /
exceptions, masters.
Abyssinia is moro than twice the /
size of the German republic and Of /
about the areaIor california, Oregon /
and Nevada together. The country /
lies In tile same latitude as Venezuela /
and the southern islands of The Philip /
pines. well I'm the tropics; hut because 1
Of IFS general bish elevation 81 has
Ike Mexico. a much cooler and more /,
healthful climate tban its proximity +
to the equator would Indicate.
These highlands are from 500 go
5000 feet above tlIc sea. Their roll
Ing prairies are well uatered and have
a good growth OF grass. The climate .
on these uplands Is superb. and if one \
desires cooler surroundings there are
chains rising from tine pa
.eau in almost all sections Of the coun-
try. Some OF these mountains reach I
a height Of 15OOO feet and are topped
by perpetual SNOW. Irrigation could +.
BE- practiced I'm Ahy--inia 10 great al
vantage. but the utilization of the
abundant water supply IN that way
seems never 10 have rrterec ;'e minds
n tho natives
Canyons and Deep Valleys
The great amount " waur which
-uns down from tht AhySsinim noun
aims has carved gigantic eorges
through the iaUfs-auds. some 81
which. ln depth at least. rival the
3rand canyon Of iin Colorado. Tie
.orge ~ the Biue NIIa which flows for
more than hair .- length through
,bvssinia is from 900 70 GOO feet /
leep ia places. Tho material washed I
rom this remote sfa-n has PLAYED an
Important part. ieutallr. iu the Z
history IL the world Ground into s.lt /
.nd deposited rhrozh fhe ceHturie- I
ud mHcrulmlr Be- 'ie lortr valley 1
Il ODE Nu-. il produced fiferr garden +
7.ot ard uadc fa... fe rir 1rorfh 0