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 west by the Egyptian Sudan. Abyssinia bounds it on the south and west, and French Somaliland on the southeast (see ABYSSINIA). Its coast-line is 670 miles long, its area about 88,500 square miles, and its population, nearly all nomadic, estimated at 450,000. It is self-governing, and has the management of its own finances. Asmara is the seat of government; Massa-wah the principal town, with 2,275 inhabitants. Gold has been found near the latter town. Irrigation works are required for agriculture, but pasture is abundant.

A railway is projected from Asmara to Massawah, of which 48 miles are open. There are telegraph lines from Massawah to Perim by way of Assab and from Massawah to Addis Abeba.

Erl-king. See FAIRY.

Ermine (&#x1ebd;r'rmri) or Stoat, an animal of the same class as the weasel and mink. It has a slender body, about ten inches long, and short legs. In summer it is a reddish-brown color with yellowish-white fur underneath; but in winter it changes to a beautiful white, all except the tail, which always remains black. It is a quick, restless, brave and bloodthirsty animal, runs swiftly and climbs and swims well. It makes its home among rocks and stones, and feeds on smaller animals, such as birds, rats, mice and chickens, sucking the blood of each of its prey. It is found in Europe as far south as the Alps and in Asia and America. The ermine-fur used in trade is the white fur with the black tails inserted in regular order. It was formerly used in the linings of the robes of kings and queens and other high officials, but is not so popular now. The best furs are imported from Siberia, Lapland and the Hudson Bay territories.

Erskine (&#x1ebd;r'skĭn), Thomas, Lord, a British orator and jurist, was born on Jan. 21, 1750. He was sent to sea against his will, entering the navy in 1764. On his return he studied law at Cambridge, England, and was admitted to the bar in 1775. In his first case he made a wonderful plea, which at once gave him high rank as a lawyer. He was elected to Parliament in 1783 and 1790, but his speeches in Parliament never equaled his efforts as a lawyer. He held the offices of attorney-general and chancellor to the Prince of Wales. This last position he lost by his defense of Thomas Paine. He was made Baron Erskine in 1806, and died on Nov. 17, 1823. He published several pamphlets, a romance, a few poems and View of the Causes and Consequences of the War with France, which ran through 48 editions. His reputation, however, rests entirely on his speeches as a lawyer, and in this respect he is unrivaled in the history of the English bar. See Campbell's Lives of the Chancellors.

 Erzerum ( iirz'rodm'), a town and vilayet in Armenia, Asiatic Turkey, on the west

branch of the Euphrates, is on a plain 6,200 feet above the sea and surrounded by mountains. The streets are crooked, narrow and dirty. The houses are built of volcanic stone cemented with mud. The city with its four suburbs has 40 mosques, a number of large bazars and a few fine buildings, with many ruins of former magnificent structures. The principal trades are tanning, dyeing morocco leather and blacksmiths' and coppersmiths' work. Its copper and iron wares are widely known. It was captured by the Russians in 1829 and 1878. It is now a Turkish city. It is the residence of English, Russian, German and French consuls. Population, 38,900. See Curzon's Armenia.

Esarhaddon (e-sdr-had'ori), an Assyrian king, was the son of Sennacherib and his successor. He reigned from 680 to 668 B. C. He held his court alternately at Nineveh and at Babylon, being the only king of Assyria who ruled over Babylonia during his entire reign. His conquests extended as far as Cyprus and through a large part of Media. He was the first Assyrian king to invade Egypt, and was called king • of Egypt and Ethiopia. He also conquered Judaea, carrying its king, Manasseh, captive to Babylon.

E'sau, also called Edom, the eldest son of Isaac and twin brother of Jacob, was the ancestor of the Edomites, an ancient people inhabiting Mt. Seir. He was a wild hunter, rash, passionate and generous, and no match for his crafty brother Jacob. When hungry from a long hunt, he sold Jacob his birthright as the elder son for a mess of pottage; but his anger, when he realized what he had done, was so great that Jacob fled into Mesopotamia. Esau met his brother, however, on his return from his long exile, and was reconciled to him.

Escalator, a device often called a moving staircase, is a means of carrying people from level to level by means of a system of moving trucks which are bolted to a chain connected with a driving-wheel. The trucks have the appearance of a series of steps. At top and bottom the trucks are of the same level, so that there is practically a platform which gives passengers sufficient time to step of? the escalator. A curved railing, fitted with moving belts, gently shunts them off if they do not move. An example of such an escalator may be seen at the 12 5th St. subway station, New York City. When desired, it may be used as an ordinary staircase.

Escanaba ($s'kd-na'bd)t county-seat of Delta County, Mich., 52 miles northwest of Marinette. It is on Little Bay de Nou-quette, an inlet of Green Bay, and has passenger and freight-steamer connection with all the leading ports on the Great Lakes. It is important as an iron-shipping