Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/684

Rh ABYSSINIA.

ancient empire of Abyssinia, or 'Ethiopia,' includes the Kingdoms of Tigré, with Lasta, in the north-east; Amhara, with Gojam, in the west and centre; Shoa in the south; besides outlying territories and dependencies of ill-defined boundaries, as far as Kafa in the south and Harar in the south-east, with considerable portions of the Galla and Somali Lands. The whole area is about 150,000 sq. miles, with an estimated population of 3,500,000.

By a treaty between Abyssinia and Great Britain in 1898, the latter ceded to the former about 8,000 miles of British Sonialiland. Abyssinia who claims the whole of non-British Somaliland on the North of British East Africa, except the strip of 180 miles broad on the coast, reserved to Italy by the treaty of Adis Abeba, This amounts to about 100,000 square miles.

After the overthrow of Theodore, King of Amhara, by the English in 1868, the suzerain power passed to Prince Kassai of Tigré, who assumed the old title of Negus Negust ('King of Kings'), and was crowned in 1872 as Johannes II., Emperor of Ethiopia. After the death of this potentate in 1889, Menelek II., King of Shoa (born 1842), became the supreme ruler of Abyssinia. The political institutions are essentially of a feudal character, analogous to those of mediæval Europe. The regular army consisting of contingents from the various provinces, numbers about 150,000 men, and is supplemented by irregulars and a territorial army.

By the treaty of Uchali, May 2, 1889, as interpreted by the Italians, Abyssinia became an Italian 'protectorate.' But King Menelek denounced this treaty in 1893, and by the convention of Adis Abeba, October 26, 1896, the independence of Abyssinia is unreservedly recognised.

Towns are numerous, but are all of small size, scarcely any with a population of over 5,000. The most important, politically and commercially, are: Gondar, capital of Amhara, 5,000; Adua, capital of Tigré, 3,000; Aksum, ancient capital of the Ethiopian Empire, 5,000; Antalo, former capital of Tigré, 1,000; Ankober, former capital of Shoa, 7,000; Adis Abeba, present capital of Shoa, 3,000; Debra-Tabor, Magdala, and Makallé, occasional royal residences; Besso and Sokoto, 1,500, important trading centres; Amba-Mariam, 4,000; Mahdera-Mariam, 4,000.

Since the conversion of the Abyssinians in the fourth century they have remained members of the Alexandrian Church. The Abuna, or head of the Church, is always a Copt, appointed and consecrated by the Patriarch of Alexandria, but his influence is controlled by the Echegheh, a native ecclesiastical dignitary, who presides over the religious orders, numbering about 12,000 monks. The Falashas appear to have been converted at a very early date by Jewish missionaries, and still practise many Jewish rites.

Education is restricted to the teaching of the secular and regular clergy, who instruct a limited number of children in grammar, choral singing, poetry, and the recitation of Bible texts. Justice being entirely administered by the provincial governors, landed proprietors, and shum, or petty chiefs. Besides the chiefs and their retainers summoned in time of war, the king maintains a permanent army of Wottoader or 'mercenaries,' most of whom are now armed with rifles instead of the national weapons, shield and lance.

There is comparatively little land under tillage, pasturage being the chief pursuit of the people, who raise large herds of cattle, as well as sheep and goats. Cotton, the sugar-cane, date-palm, and vine thrive well in many districts, but are nowhere extensively cultivated. Besides hides and skins the native produce includes eggs, barley, millet (dhurra) wheat, hops (gesho), but not in sufficient quantities for export. The forests abound in valuable