The Express. — 1849-11-17 (London, England)

THE JEWS IN ABYSSINIA.  The French traveller, Mona. D'Abbedie, has just returned from Abyssinia, where he has spent the last eleven years. A ourrespoodent elicited from him, daring his short stay in London, • few particulars concerning the Jews of that country, whiao we deem interesting enough for pub%mhos. The Halashahs (strangers) are held in abhorrence by the Abyssinians, and when their chiefs came to M. D'Atbedie the Abyssinians fled, being afraid of contracting an impurity by coming into contact with individuals of that hated race. In the conference which the French traveller held with them, he laid before them • letter addressed to him by the well known /tali n Hebrew scholar, 8. D. Luz sato, containing various questions bearing on Jewish matters. The letter, originally written in Frereh, had bees translate d by Mons. D'Abbadie into Ethiopic, The traveller carefully wrote down their replies, and inte.As to publish them in some French paper. Tn. II elashehs •pp-sr to entertain .risdinia7 understood religiousmotions, altnvetber the other Jews. Thi y hold celibacy in nighhonour ; and when asked in what part of the Bible that rare was reeomniended, they point to the example of the prophet Elijah, who, according to their opinion, was n married, no allusion being made in his Het -I.y either to hie wile er children. The? also consider suicide from religious motives as highly meretoriors. Persons Oispued to merlin their lives repair to the brink of a river, end there solemnly inquire of GA whether their end has come or not. If the Egos taken as • reply be in the airmail'', suicide is committed ; but if the reply be in the negative, they wait for a twelvemonth, when the same inquiries are again made. They are totally unacquain!ed with Hebrew, and read the neripturee in their native language, into which, according to Moos. D'Ab.adie' they were translated from the Arabic. Besides the books held by all Jews as authoritative. they also consider the Ap!crypha as sacred. These hocks, in as far as were examined by our traveller, perfectly area with the Vuliote, except the book of the Maccabees, in which he discovered great •dbtrepisueies. They also passer a commentary on seek of the tamed ho ka, except the book of lisekli 1, which has been lest. In addition to the five hooks of Maim they possess a six,h, which they call " Coolaclaw." The names of the other books agree with oars, and appear therefore to be Ethiopic translations of the Greek words, " Genesis, Exodus," &-. In their liturgy, IDOWSIOT, which is also in Ethiopic, Mons. D'Abbadie thought a good Hebrew scholar might trace many Hebrew words. Among others he remembered to bare teend is it the term " Pitanasl." Mons D'Abbadie hes brought with him copies of these books. He further learned from his informant, that, to the south of their oeuntry, in the (*entry of the 0.,500, Were was a Jewish kiitt= a statement cot firmed to our traveller b altogether independent of that of the Halashnht He also said that he met in Abyssinia a met igetnesting native Jewish youth, who was moot anxious to pto =gray". in ease* esquire there comet a' lions on Judaism, which, Oil Ids veto& to bit native country. might be prepagated mess Idstmelbees. This youth made Monelear D'Abbedie selemageewholhat Iso weeildemileavvur to interesauropeen Jews ler that aim, and brans him of the rusk within a twelvemonth. Tim traveller "wrested his wait of acquaintawe with Jews, which, he was arid, would render his exertions abortive.—Jemish C ArolVele.  „ THE NAVIGATION Lawn.—The fouoteing reply has been mint by thy Board of Trade to en application from some shipowners t Cork on a point of importance to the shipping interest of the United Kingdom :—"Board of Trade, Nov. 5,1849:_' Sir: I am directed by the Lards of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th of October, addressed to the president of this board, inquiring whether Americas and other foreign-bent ships will be admitted to the privileges of British registry, after the Act for the Amendthent of the Navigation Law shall have come into operation ; and I am to acquaint you that from the 14 of Jemmy next all ships duly owned by British subjects will be admitted to reRistry without inquiry as to the place of their have, &c., D. LII blaseemer.—H. B. Carroll, B•ci , C.A.”