by some called Higher Ethiopia, and by the Arabians Al Haba/b, is bounded on the north by Nubia; on the east, by the Arabic gulph or Red Sea, and the kingdom of Adel; on the south, by the kingdoms of Ajan, Alabo, and Gingiro; and on the west, by the kingdom of Goram, and part of Gingiro; and is divided into a great number of provinces. The principal river is the Nile, which has its source in this country; and the most considerable lake, that of Dambae, which discharges itself into the Nile, is about 700 miles in length, and 90 in breadth. The air is pretty temperate in the mountains, and therefore their towns and strong holds are generally placed on them; but in the valleys it is hot and suffocating. The soil and face of the country is various. In some places there are nothing but rocks and profound caverns; in others, especially where there are rivers, the land is exceedingly fruitful; and the banks of these streams are bordered with flowers of various kinds, many of which are unknown in Europe. The torrents in the rainy season wash a great deal of gold from the mountains. This season begins in May, when the sun is vertical, or directly over their heads, and ends in September.—The country produces a great variety of animals, both tame and wild, such as lions, tigers, rhinoceroses, leopards, elephants, monkeys, stags, deer, horses, camels, dromedaries, goats, cows, sheep; likewise ostriches, with a vast variety of other birds. In the rivers are crocodiles and the hippopotamus. Travellers mention also a peculiar kind of bees, small, black, and without a sting, which live in the earth, and make honey and wax that are extremely white. The country is greatly infested with locusts, which devour every thing that is green wherever they come.

The inhabitants are Moors, Pagans, Jews, and Christians. The last was the reigning and established religion when father Lobo visited this country in 1624. This diversity of people and religion is the reason that the kingdom, in different parts, is under different forms of government, and that their laws and customs are extremely various. Some of the people neither sow their lands nor improve them; but live on milk and flesh, and encamp like the Arabs, without any settled habitation. In some places they practice no rites of worship, though they believe that there dwells in the regions above a Being who governs the world: This deity they call Oul. In those parts where Christianity is professed, it is so corrupted with superstitious errors, and so mingled with ceremonies borrowed from the Jews, that little beside the name of Christianity is to be found among them. (See the next article.)—They have two harvests in the year; one in winter, which begins in May, and lasts, with great rigour, through the months of July, August, and September; and the other in spring. Every man who has a thousand cows saves once a-year a day's milk, and makes a bath for his friends; so that to give an idea of a man's wealth, their common expression is, he bathes so many times a-year. Their males marry about ten years old, and their females younger. Their marriage tie is so loose, that they part whenever they find that they cannot live agreeably together.

Besides the large towns, there are a great number of villages, which in some places are so thick grown, that they look like one continued town: the housetops are very mean, being but one story high, and built of straw, earth, and lime. In most of the towns the housetops are separated by hedges, which are always green, and mixed with flowers and fruit-trees at a certain distance from each other, which affords an agreeable prospect.—The government is monarchical. The sovereign has the title of Negus, and is an absolute prince. When he is in camp, the tents are so regularly disposed as to have the appearance of a city; and there is a captain over every division, to prevent disorders, and to execute justice.

The Abyssinians in general are of an olive complexion, tall, graceful, and well featured. Those who are neither mechanics nor tradesmen (which few of them are) nor tillers of the ground, are inured to bear arms, which are a head-piece, a buckler, a coat of mail, bows and arrows, darts, pikes, capped with iron at both ends, a fling, and a sword; they have very few fire-arms, and those were introduced by the Portuguese. The habit of persons of quality is a fine silken vest, or fine cotton, with a kind of scarf. The citizens have the same habit, only coarser. The common people have nothing but a pair of cotton drawers, and a scarf which covers the rest of their body. The women are of a healthy constitution, active, and moderately handsome, having neither flat noses nor thick lips like the negroes; and nature is so friendly, that they stand in little need of midwives, which is indeed the case of most countries in the torrid zone. They appear in public as in Europe, without being forbid the conversation of the men as among the Mahometans. Princesses of the royal blood are not permitted to marry foreigners: and when they take the air, they go in great state, with 400 or 500 women attendants. Their language is the Ethiopic, which bears a great affinity with the Arabic; but particular provinces have a different dialect.

Manufactures are almost wholly wanting in this country; and the few trades which they have amongst them are always conveyed from the father to the children. They seem indeed by their churches, and other ruined places, to have had a knowledge of architecture. But the workmen were sent for from other countries, and were forced to do all themselves; so that when these fabrics were reared, especially the imperial palace built by Peter Pais, a Portuguese architect, the people flocked from all parts of Ethiopia to view it, and admired it as a new wonder of the world.—Gold, silver, copper, and iron, are the principal ores with which their mines abound in this extensive part of Africa; but not above one third part is made use of by way of merchandize, or converted into money; of which they have little or no use in Abyssinia. They cut their gold indeed into small pieces for the pay of their troops, and for expenses of the court, which is but a modern custom among them; them; the king's gold, before the end of the 17th century, being laid up in his treasury in ingots, with intent to be never carried out, or never used in anything but vessels and trinkets for the service of the palace. In the lieu of small money, they make use of rock salt as white as snow and as hard as stone. This is taken out of the mountain of Lafta, and put into the king's warehouses; where it is reduced into tablets of a foot long, and three inches broad, ten of which are worth about a French crown. When they are circulated in trade, they are reduced into still smaller pieces, as occasion requires. This salt is also applied to the same purpose as common sea-salt. With this mineral salt they purchase pepper, spices, and silk stuffs, which are brought to them by the Indians, in their ports in the Red Sea. Cardamoms, ginger, aloes, myrrh, calia, civet, ebony-wood, ivory, wax, honey, cotton, and linens of various sorts and colours, are merchandises which may be had from Abyssinia; to which may be added sugar, hemp, flax, and excellent wines, if these people had the art of preparing them. It is affirmed there are in this country the finest emeralds that are anywhere to be found; and, though they are found but in one place, they are there in great quantities, and some so large and so perfect as to be of almost inestimable value. The greatest part of the merchandises above mentioned, are more for foreign than inland trade. Their domestic commerce consists chiefly in salt, honey, buck-wheat, grey pease, citrons, oranges, lemons, and other provisions, with fruits and herbage necessary for the support of life. Those places that the Abyssinian merchants frequent the most, who dare venture to carry their commodities by sea themselves, are Arabia Felix, and the Indies, particularly Goa, Cambay, Bengal, and Sumatra. With regard to their ports on the Red Sea, to which foreign merchants commonly resort, the most considerable are those of Mette, Azum, Zajalla, Maga, Dazo, Patea, and Brava. The trade of the Abyssinians by land is inconsiderable. There are, however, bands of them who arrive yearly at Egypt, particularly at Cairo, laden with gold dust, which they bring to barter for the merchandises of that country, or of Europe, for which they have occasion. These caravans, if we may be allowed thus to call a body of 40 or 50 poor wretches who unite together for their mutual affiance in their journey, are commonly three or four months on their route, traversing forests and mountains almost impassable, in order to exchange their gold for necessaries for their families, and return immediately with the greatest part of the merchandise on their backs. Frequently the Jews or Egyptians give them large credit; which may seem surprising, as they are beyond recourse if they should fail of payment. But experience has shown, that they have never abused the confidence reposed in them; and even in the event of death, their fellow-travellers take care of the effects of the deceased for the benefit of their families, but in the first place for the discharge of those debts contracted at Cairo.

It remains only to be observed, that one of the principal branches of trade of the Abyssinians is that of slaves, who are greatly esteemed in the Indies and Arabia for the best, and most faithful, of all that the other kingdoms of Africa furnish. The Indian and Arabian merchants frequently substitute them as their factors; and, on account of their good services and integrity, not only often give them their liberty, but liberally reward them.

Into this part of the globe the admission of travelers has been supposed extremely difficult, and their return from thence almost impracticable. A Scotch gentleman, however, of family and fortune, James Bruce, Esq.; of Kinnaid, is known not only to have entered that country, but to have resided in it several years, and returned safe home, bringing with him many great curiosities. Soon after his return, the following notice was given by the Count de Buffon in an advertisement prefixed to the 3d volume of his History of Birds: "A new aid which I have received, and which I am anxious to announce to the public, is the free and generous communication which I had of the drawings and observations of James Bruce, Esq.; of Kinnaid, who returning from Numidia, and the interior parts of Abyssinia, took in my house for several days, and made me a partaker of the knowledge which he had acquired in a tour no less fatiguing than hazardous. It filled me with the utmost astonishment to view the numerous drawings which he had made and coloured himself. He possesses the most perfect representations and descriptions of the birds, fishes, plants, edifices, monuments, dyes, arms, &c., of different nations, all of them objects worthy of knowledge. Nothing has escaped his curiosity, and his talents have been proportioned to it. The English government will without doubt take proper measures for the publication of his work. That respectable nation, which has given a lead to all others in discoveries of every kind, will not fail to add to its glory, by speedily communicating to the world at large, those of this excellent traveller, who, not contented with accurate descriptions of nature, has made many important observations on the culture of different kinds of grains; on the navigation of the Red Sea; on the course of the Nile, from its mouth to its source, which he has been the first to discover; and on different particulars which may be of the highest utility to commerce and agriculture, those great arts which are but little known and ill cultivated. Yet, on these alone, the superiority of one nation over another does depend, and for ever will depend."

It is much to be regretted, that after so long an interval, this gentleman's discoveries have not yet made their appearance. The delay has given rise to various speculations. Doubts have even been entertained concerning the credibility of the reports that have transpired, or been gathered from his conversation. His honour and abilities, however, are too extensively known to be affected by such injurious insinuations. That he hath great talents for the information of his readers, appears by his dissertation on the Theban harp*, which Dr Burney hath inserted in the first volume of his article History of Music, and in which are also mentioned several of the Abyssinian instruments. Mr Bruce, moreover, is said to have a great facility in learning languages, and talents for drawing; nor perhaps was any other traveller furnished with so large and scientific an apparatus of instruments. Add to all this, that he is possessed of a spirit and enterprise not easily to be equalled. The speedy production, therefore, of so interesting an account as he is capable of giving, of this almost unfrequented part of Africa, cannot but still be earnestly earnestly wished for. In the mean time, the following authentic anecdotes will not, it is presumed, be unacceptable, nor appear foreign to the present article.

Mr Bruce was appointed consul to Algiers, where he continued till 1765. In June 1764, he requested leave of absence from the secretary of state for the southern department, in order to make some drawings of antiquities near Tunis.

In Mr Bruce's last letter from Algiers to the same secretary (dated December 29, 1764), he alludes to another leave of absence, which he had likewise requested, that he might visit parts of the African continent. He explains himself no further in this letter; but it is believed that he proceeded considerably to the southward of Algiers, and made those very capital drawings of remains of Roman architecture, which many have seen since his return to Britain. Before he set out for Algiers, he informed some of his friends, that the making such excursions for these interesting purposes was his principal inducement for accepting the consulship.

How long he continued in Africa, the present writer has not had the opportunity of procuring information; but having intentions afterwards of visiting Palmyra, he was shipwrecked on the coast of Tunis, and plundered of every thing by the barbarous inhabitants.

The most distressing part of the loss was probably that of his instruments, so necessary to a scientific traveller; and though he afterwards procured some of these, yet others (particularly a quadrant) could not be recovered. Mr Bruce, however, determined to repair this loss as soon as possible from France, so much nearer to him than England, was so fortunate as to be provided with a time-piece and quadrant from that quarter. Upon this occasion Lewis XV. presented him with an iron quadrant of four feet radius, as he had probably represented to the academy of sciences his want of such an instrument whilst he should be in Abyssinia: Mr Bruce brought back with him to England this cumbrous fellow-traveller, and, having put upon it an inscription to the following purport, is said to have presented it to the university of Glasgow:

"With this instrument given by the king of France, Lewis XV. Mr Bruce proceeded to the sources of the Nile, it being carried on foot, upon mens shoulders, over the mountains of Abyssinia."

This information was received from that eminent maker of instruments Mr Nairne.

Where and when Mr Bruce received the French instruments is not known; but as he was still bent on visiting Abyssinia, he gave a commission to Mr W. Ruffel, F.R.S., for a reflecting telescope, made by Bird or Short; a watch with a hand to point seconds, and the newest and completest English astronomical tables; all of which were to be sent to Mr Fremaux, and forwarded to him at Alexandria before August. On the 29th of March 1768, Mr Bruce was at Sidon on the coast of Syria, and wrote to Mr Ruffel from thence for the following additional instruments, viz. a twelve-feet reflecting telescope, to be divided into pieces of three feet, and joined with screws. This telescope was also accompanied by two thermometers and two portable barometers. Mr Bruce moreover informed Mr Ruffel, that he was going into a country (viz. Abyssinia) from which few travellers had returned; and Abyssinia wished Mr Ruffel, or his philosophical friends, would fend him their deliderata, as he was entirely at their service. Mr Bruce added, that if he could not obtain admission into Abyssinia, he still would do his best in the cause of science on the eastern coast of the Red Sea.

As Mr Bruce had directed the instruments to be ready for him at Alexandria by the beginning of August 1768, it is probable that he reached Cairo about that time; from whence he proceeded to Abyssinia, by way of Jedda, Mazava, and Arquito.

It is supposed that Mr Bruce did not continue long at Jedda, as he is said to have explored the coast on the east side as low as Mocha, during which drawings were taken of many curious fish in the Red Sea. Mr Bruce must also have entered Abyssinia, either at the latter end of 1768, or the very beginning of 1769; as he made an observation in that part of Africa on the 15th of January of that year.

In this perilous enterprise he was accompanied by a Greek servant (named Michael), and an Italian painter, who probably assisted in the numerous articles which might deserve representation, and who died of a flux before Mr Bruce's return to Cairo in 1773. Mr Bruce must at times also have been assisted by many others, as his instruments, apparatus for drawings, and other necessaries, from their weight and bulk could not be easily transported from place to place, and perhaps required beasts of burden. To these likewise must be added several medicines which enabled him to perform cures on the inhabitants, and probably occasioned the good reception he afterwards met with.

Such other particulars as happened to Mr Bruce, during his long residence in this unfrequented country, must be left to his own superior narrative; and it shall suffice, therefore, only to state, that he made a large number of observations to fix the situations of places, out of which 31 have been examined and computed by the astronomer royal. The first of these observations was made on the 10th of January 1769, and the last on the 5th of October 1772, from 30 to 38 degrees of east longitude from Greenwich, and from 12 to 28 degrees of north latitude. It need scarcely be said, therefore, that these observations, which include so large an extent of almost unknown country, must prove a most valuable addition to geography; and the more so, because the Portuguese, who first visited Abyssinia, give neither longitude nor latitude of any place in that empire; and Poncet only two latitudes, viz. those of Sennar and Giesum.

As Mr Bruce made the last of his observations on the 5th of October 1772, it is probable that he might then be on his return to Cairo, through Nubia and Upper Egypt, where he arrived on the 15th of January 1773, after an absence of more than four years; bringing back with him his Greek servant, named Michael.

Mr Bruce continued at Cairo four months, during which time he had daily intercourse with Mr Antes; the substance of a letter from whom will contain the principal confutation of Baron Tott, and others, who have been incredulous with regard to Mr Bruce's expected narrative. Mr Antes was born of German parents, who were possessed of lands in the back settlements of Pennsylvania; and having showed early abilities as a mechanic, removed to Europe, where he distinguished himself in the art of watch-making, which he learned without apprenticeship. Being a member of the church known by the name of Unitas Fratrum, and commonly called Moravian, he wished to be employed in their missions, and more especially that of the same persuasion established at Cairo, who always have desired to procure opportunities of instructing the Abyssinians.

Mr Bruce had left Cairo fifteen months before Mr Antes came there; and the intercourse, therefore, between them first took place on Mr Bruce's return in 1773.

Having given this account of Mr Bruce and Mr Antes's being first known to each other, we shall state the substance of some information received from the latter, who is now established at Fulneck near Leeds, after having resided eleven years at Cairo.

"That Mr Bruce left Cairo in 1768, and proceeded thence by way of Jeda, Mazava, and Arquico, into Abyssinia.

"That in 1771, a Greek came from Gondar (the capital) in Abyssinia, who had a draught from Mr Bruce on a French merchant at Cairo (named Roff) for some hundreds of German crowns, which were paid immediately. This draught was accompanied by a letter from Mr Bruce, and was the first time that he had been heard of at Cairo since his departure in 1768.

"That after Mr Bruce's return to Cairo in 1773, Mr Antes saw a young Armenian and his father (who came likewise from Gondar) at Mr Pini's, an Italian merchant of Cairo, where they and Mr Bruce conversed in the Abyssinian language, and seemed glad to meet him again.

"That Mr Bruce returned to Cairo from Abyssinia by way of Nubia and Upper Egypt; which can be fully attested by the Franciscan friars who are established at Ifne near Asyuan, which latter is the highest town of Upper Egypt.

"That during Mr Bruce's stay at Cairo, which was not less than four months, no day passed without their seeing each other; which gave Mr Antes frequent opportunities of inquiring with regard to Abyssinia, concerning which he was particularly interested from a reason before stated.

"That Mr Antes likewise frequently conversed with Michael, Mr Bruce's Greek servant; who is stated to have by no means had a lively imagination, and who always agreed with the circumstances mentioned by his master, and more particularly in relation to their having visited the sources of the Nile; which the Baron Tott doubts of, from having had a conversation with this same Greek servant.

Mr Antes adds, "That Baron Tott stated but a few days at Cairo; and, from his short residence in that country, hath given several erroneous accounts relative to Egypt. Mr Antes, on the other hand, had almost daily conversations with Michael for several years, and often in relation to the sources of the Nile."

Lastly, "That after Mr Bruce left Cairo, Mr Antes had conversed with others who had known Mr Bruce in Abyssinia, and that he was there called Maalim Jakube, or Mr James."

After this state of facts, it is conceived that no one can entertain a reasonable doubt with regard to Mr Bruce's not only having visited, but resided long in Abyssinia; though it is remarkable that the Jesuits expressed the same doubts in relation to Poncet, who had continued there nearly as long as Mr Bruce. Poncet happened to be a layman; and the Jesuits, perhaps, would not approve of any narrative that did not come from Father Benevent, who accompanied Poncet to Abyssinia, but unfortunately died there (a).

Driven, however, from this hold, the objectors will possibly retain their incredulity as to many particulars to be related.

The first of these is, the having visited the sources of the Nile; "which, from classical education, we cannot easily believe, as they were unknown to the ancients, though they had so great curiosity with regard to this discovery."

Many things, however, have been accomplished by travellers in modern times, which the ancients never could achieve, and which may be attributed to their want of enterprise (as travellers at least), of languages, and lastly the not being able to procure credit when in a distant country. Mr Bruce could not have continued so long as he did in Abyssinia, unless he had drawn from Gondar upon a merchant established at Cairo.

The difficulty, however, with regard to reaching the sources of the Nile, arises principally from the uncivilized state of Abyssinia, unless the traveller hath a proper introduction (b). When once this is procured, all difficulties seem to cease, as we find by Lobo's (c) account of this same discovery, and likewise by Poncet's

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(a) It must be admitted, however, that we owe to the zeal of the Jesuits the best accounts we have both of China and Paraguay. Few laymen have been actuated so strongly for the promotion of geography and science as Mr Bruce; and we must therefore (upon the order of Jesuits being abolished) look up chiefly to the missionaries from the church of the Unitas Fratrum, who, though differing so totally in other respects, seem to have an equal ardour with the Jesuits for instructing the inhabitants of countries frequented by Europeans. Such missions are already established in West Greenland, the coast of Labrador, N. Lat. 56°, the back settlements of Carolina and Pennsylvania, in India, Bengal, and the Nicobar islands. Those established on the coast of Labrador send over yearly meteorological journals, which are communicated to the Royal Society. As for the dispute between Poncet and Maillet the French consul at Cairo, see Mod. Univ. Hist. vol. 6.

(b) The professed knowledge of medicine was Poncet's introduction, and seems to have been that of Mr Bruce. Even in our own civilized country, how are quacks and mountebanks referred to? And what an impression must Mr Bruce, with his magnificent and scientific apparatus, have made upon the inhabitants of such a country as Abyssinia?

(c) In Father Telles's compilation. See also Ludolf, who describes the sources from Gregory, who was a native of Abyssinia. Father Payz was the first who visited them, A.D. 1627. His account of this is said to be in the archives. Abyssinia, cet's narrative, who was prevented by illness from visiting the very spot, but hath given an ample relation from an Abyssinian who had often been there. Poncet, moreover, had obtained leave from the emperor to make this journey, which he states as not being a distant one, and that the emperor hath a palace near the very sources.

If it be doubted whether Mr Bruce hath visited every source of the Nile, it may be answered, that perhaps no Englishman hath taken this trouble with regard to the sources of the Thames, which, like most other great rivers, is probably derived from many springs and rills in different directions.

The other objection which we have often heard, is, "That Mr Bruce hath mentioned in conversation, that the Abyssinians cut a slice from the living ox, esteeming it one of their greatest delicacies."

This sort of dainty, indeed, is not so considered in other parts of the globe; but every nation almost hath its peculiarities in the choice of their food. Do not we eat raw oysters within a second of their being separated from the shell? And do not we roast both them and lobsters whilst alive; the barbarity of which practice seems to equal that of the Abyssinians? Do not cooks skin eels whilst alive? And do not epicures crisp fish for the gratification of their appetites?

That the Abyssinians eat beef in a raw state, is agreed both by Lobo and Poncet; and the former says, recking from the beast. Mr Antes, moreover, was told by a Franciscan monk, who went with the caravan from Abyssinia to Cairo (d), that he was witness of an ox being killed, and immediately devoured by the band of travellers.

One reason, perhaps, for this usage may be, the great heat of the climate, which will not permit meat to be kept a sufficient time to make it tender (as with us); and it is generally allowed, that a fowl, dressed immediately after it is killed, is in better order for eating than if it is kept four and twenty hours.

Is it therefore extraordinary, that an Abyssinian epicure may really find (or perhaps fancy) that a piece cut from the beast whilst alive, may be more tender, or have a better relish, than if it is previously killed by the butcher? To this may be added, that according to the information which has been received on this head, Mr Bruce's account of this practice is much misrepresented by the objectors, who suppose that the ox lives a considerable time after these pieces are cut from it. When these dainty bits, however, have been sent to the great man's table (and which are probably taken from the fleasty parts), the beast soon afterwards expires, when the first artery is cut, in providing slices for the numerous attendants.

Upon the whole, the not giving credit to a traveller, because he mentions an usage which is very different from ours (and is undoubtedly very barbarous), seems rather to argue ignorance than acuteness.

This brings to recollection the incredulity which was shown to another distinguished traveller, Dr Shaw; Abyssinian, who having mentioned, in an Oxford common room, that some of the Algerines were fond of lion's flesh, never could obtain any credit afterwards from his brother-fellows of the same college, though many of them were learned men. It is well known, however, though Dr Shaw states this same circumstance in the publication of his travels, that he is cited with the greatest approbation in almost every part of Europe. Sir William Temple somewhere mentions, that a Dutch governor of Batavia, who lived much with one of the most considerable inhabitants of Java, could never obtain any credit from him after having mentioned, that in Holland water became a solid body. The traveller who first saw a flying fish probably told every one of this extraordinary circumstance as soon as he let his foot on shore, and was probably discredited with regard to the other particulars of his voyage.

The natural cause and progress of the incredulity which a traveller generally experiences, seems to be the following:

When he returns from a distant and little frequented country, every one is impatient to hear his narrative; from which, of course, he selects the more striking parts, and particularly the usages which differ most from our own. Some of the audience, disbelieving what the traveller hath mentioned, put questions to him which show their distrust. The traveller by this treatment becomes irritated, and answers some of them peevishly, others ironically, of which the interrogators afterwards take advantage to his prejudice. Nothing is more irritating to an ingenuous person than to find his affections are disbelieved. This is commonly experienced in the cross examinations of almost every witness. To the distresses of the traveller on his return, we may add, the being often teased by very ignorant questions.