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greens sometimes seen on the Moon, and which are very rarely distinct to me.

I should not have thought so much of the discrepancy between what we saw and what Mr. Browning saw about five hundred yards N.E. of us, if we had not ascertained by comparisons that our perceptions of colour and his are pretty much alike. Can it be that the difference arose chiefly from his employing a much larger aperture? And does the eye become insensible to small quantities of red, when accompanied by a good deal of white light? Presuming the Moon during eclipse to emit red and white, or whitish-yellow, light, the larger aperture would collect more of both, but it does not follow that both would look more intense to the eye; the red might be overpowered as the white light increased, although its proportion to the white light might be the same. My operaglass, which is unusually free from chromatic errors, made the Moon look much redder than the telescope, and Mr. Barnes's instrument being much larger than mine might have still further diminished the red aspect.

In the presence of Mr. Browning I made several experiments with red objects under the microscope, such as transparent pieces of dark orange-red glass, a red leaf of a fuchsia, and a red postage-stamp. The glass, as a transparent object, changes hue considerably as the amount of white (or yellow white) lamp light thrown through it is varied. The postagestamp goes through similar changes as an opaque object, being very brilliant, and something between blood-colour and magenta, in full oblique illumination, and turning deeper and with a different hue as the amount of incident light is decreased.

To return to the Moon, we noticed, as Mr. Browning did, the remarkable distinctness and light tone of the margin of the eclipsed portion.

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

BY PROFESSOR D. T. ANSTED.

THE expedition now leaving the shores of England, and the armed forces preparing to penetrate Eastern Africa from the side of India under the British flag, having for their primary object the rescue of a few Europeans (only three of them Englishmen) from the clutches of an African tyrant, cannot but add something to our knowledge of a district hitherto only visited by isolated travellers at long intervals. As the army is to be accompanied by a scientific staff to report on the

geography, geology, and natural history of the countries visited, there is the more prospect of at least some return for the blood that must be spilt, and the treasure expended in the attempt.

It is not proposed here to consider the political aspect of the question involved, but as most of our readers will probably be glad to have some general notion of the physical geography of the country, we venture to collect together in a few pages a brief notice as to what Abyssinia is like, when and by whom it has been traversed, what is its climate, what are its resources, and what may probably be the difficulties the expedition will have to meet and overcome. A little information of this nature will serve to prepare us for the more accurate and extended information we may shortly expect to receive.

Abyssinia occupies an extensive tropical plateau, lying, for the most part, between a narrow strip of low land, forming the south-western shore of the Red Sea, and the important eastern branch of the Nile called the Blue Nile, whose sources were visited by Bruce. It is a compact four-sided area, lying between 9° and 16° N. lat. and 35° and 43° E. long. The coast of the Red Sea fringing it, and now partly occupied by Turkey, is about 600 miles in length from the Straits of Bab-el-Mandel to the northern extremity of Abyssinia. The other boundaries are Nubia to the north and west, and the Galla tribes towards the south. Within the country there are numerous streams, all feeders of the Nile; those to the north entering far to the north by the Albara, one of its main tributaries, and those to the south running directly into the Blue Nile. There are two lakes, one (Lake Tsana or Dembea) about sixty miles long, full of islands and abounding with fish. This is near the south-western part of the country, and not far from Gondar, the capital. It is also close to the sources of the Blue Nile. It is surrounded by a wide expanse of flat lands highly cultivated. The other lake is less important for its size, . and is said to consist of a large extinct volcanic crater.

The shores of the Red Sea are low, swampy, and unhealthy, but the breadth of the low land is small, nowhere exceeding 100 miles, and towards the northern part of Abyssinia not more than sixty. There are several bays and roadsteads along the coast, but they afford few good harbours for large vessels, nor are they much known. Of the whole number Massowah is considered to be the one most available for the purposes of the proposed expedition. It is situated almost at the northernmost extremity of the country, and is eminently unhealthy in summer, but fortunately the distance from safe and healthy highlands is extremely small.*

* Of modern travellers in Abyssinia, Bruce was one of the earliest and most adventurous. He crossed from Sennar on the Blue Nile eastwards to Gondar.

There are few towns of the smallest importance in Abyssinia. Gondar, once the capital, is believed to be abandoned. Sokota to the south-east, Angol and Antalo to the east, Axum to the north-east. These are names of towns that appear on maps, but seem hardly to admit of description. The population has been estimated at between four and five millions, but this is probably a gross exaggeration. The inhabitants are the degenerate descendants of a civilized people, partly Jewish, partly Arab, partly Egyptian, who have once been Christians and still call themselves so, retaining the forms of a Christian church with many Jewish and Mohammedan customs. They are governed by a tyrant, now well known to us by name as Theodore II. He was born in 1818, and has led a turbulent existence, his so-called subjects being often in rebellion.

Much of the eastern side of Africa consists of a vast elevated plateau. Towards the northern part this presents the appearance of a ridge or wall of nearly 8000 feet, rising immediately from the sea, and often rapidly. When the plateau is reached, which is generally not without some difficulty, there is no cor-responding descent on the side towards the interior of the continent. The summit of this great elevation is not indeed level, but it is everywhere very far above the sea. It is, however, frequently intersected by wide and deep ravines, sometimes descending 3000 feet to river valleys, and such valleys are not only very numerous but characteristic of the whole country of Abyssinia. Their breadth is sometimes more than twenty miles. The lofty plateau is so broken, and the gorges so deep, so numerous, and so wide, that the traveller is induced to fancy that the intervening ridges are detached mountains, or mountain systems, and describe them accordingly. There is no doubt, however, that there are lofty mountains in the interior, rising to at least 15,000 feet. The plateau is to someextent covered with lava, and on the coast hot springs have been observed, no doubt connected with the presence of the same rock.

The climate of Abyssinia is universally described as moderate, and, indeed, pleasant, and, with few exceptions, healthy. The nights are very cold, and the days, especially in summer, are hot, but the heat is nowhere excessive. There are rainy seasons, and the summer is generally dry, but in this respect there seems also no excess. During the four first months of

Salt followed at the commencement of this century for the east coast, but did not reach far into the interior. Dr. Beke has made several trips from the east, and penetrated far into the country. Two Frenchmen, Ferrel and Galinier, reached Gondar from Massowah (Red Sea) by another route. Mr. Mansfield Parkyns did not reach Gondar, but crossed, after reaching Adoua (half way), to the Nile below Sennar. There have been other travellers, but these have been the most adventurous.

the present year, at Magdala, where our fellow-countrymen are confined, the heat at sunrise was never less than 41° Fah., the usual range being from 44° to 55°. At noon the lowest point reached in the four months was 57°, and the highest 84°, from 60° to 80° being the general range. At sunset the extreme range was between 51° and 67°. There was rain on 19 days only out of the 120, and then chiefly at night. The air was generally calm. The sky was slightly clouded during January, March, and April, but clear in February. As Magdala is quite in the south, far in the interior of the country, and stands on an elevation by no means excessive compared with the general plateau, this may probably be taken as a fair estimate of the general weather of the winter and spring. Nearer the coast the rains are probably heavier, and the temperature more excessive, but there is nothing to render it likely that any serious difficulties will be incurred, either from heat or malaria, during the dry season. In May, however, the heavy rains begin, and from that time to October the country is less healthy.

It seems to be determined, from observations made by actual survey, that the best point to enter Abyssinia for a warlike expedition from India will be the island and port of Massowah, near Annesley Bay. The island is described by Mr. Mansfield Parkyns as "a mere rock of coral, scarcely a mile long, and half that in breadth, without a vestige of vegetation to enliven its bare face" (Vol. i., pp. 77, 80). The climate in summer is detestable. Moncooloo, on the mainland, is about four miles from the anchorage of Massowah, and somewhat cooler and less unpleasant than the island. From this place the first terrace on the way up to the great plateau of Abyssinia is reached at Ailat, a distance of twenty-seven miles nearly due west. The plain of Ailat is already nearly 800 feet above the sea, and is reached with comparative facility by a gradual rise to an elevation of 989 feet, and then a descent of 200 feet. Water is obtainable about half way from a natural spring, but may always be found by digging a few feet. This terrace of Ailat is about five miles broad, and covered in winter with the richest verdure. Here are hot springs, that have been used from time immemorial for curative purposes, and are still frequented.

Without going so far as Ailat, it is easier to enter the high lands by branching at a certain point, and then the road is well marked by a number of stations, not more than ten miles apart, as far as Kiaguor, sixty miles from Moncooloo, and on the main plateau of Hamozeya, above 6000 feet above the sea. About thirty miles beyond is a very healthy spot, with a very

* "Life in Abyssinia,” 2 vols, 1853.

strange name (Koodou-felassy on the maps), where every natural facility is afforded for a depôt. From here also several roads diverge, and this is the spot to which supplies from the interior seem naturally to come. It may be regarded as an admirable place for a first rendezvous, and might be reached in nine days by an army from Moncooloo.

Adowa is the next station, and is fifty miles beyond. It is reached after crossing the valley of the Mareb, one of the smaller of the deep and wide gorges alluded to. Adowa is upwards of 6000 feet above the sea, and is comparatively large, being the capital of the province of Tigré; and from this town the communication beyond would have to be made under any circumstances, as the various roads from the coast, of which there are several, all converge to it. The information concerning the roads up to this point has been obtained with a special view to the expedition, and is quite definite. There is a much shorter route from the head of Annesley Bay by Mahio and Dixan, traversed by Dr. Beke, and a third route, travelled by M. Munziger, which also appears to be practicable.

Up to this point it is not probable that any serious opposition could be made to an advancing army, but from here to Magdala, whether by way of Gondar, following the track of Ferrel and Galinier, or by a route more to the east, followed by Dr. Beke, to Debra Tabor, there seems as yet no settled plan of route. The distance hence to Debra Tabor cannot be much less than two hundred miles by any route, and may be more. To reach it, either the Taccazy River must be reached and ascended towards its source, or the eastern tributaries must be crossed, and the towns, Abiyad (40 miles), Autolo (30 miles), Samrie (15 miles), and Sokota (40 miles), made successive stations. Under any circumstances, there remains a considerable extent of little known and unknown country to be got over before Debra Tabor is arrived at. It may be that, along this line, the supply of water may fail, but this is not probable, judging from what is actually known of the country.

Debra Tabor would seem to be an important station, and a healthy and convenient summer resort. It is a town, built on an escarped hill, or fragment of table-land, not very accessible. It has been the habitation of the king during many of the discussions relating to the captives, and would probably have to be reached and taken. At a place called Gaffal, three miles from the town or mountain of Debra Tabor, Mr. Rassam speaks of there being an "European quarter," but does not describe it. Beyond the escarpment, to the west, there is a vast depression in the plateau of nearly a thousand feet, to the level of Lake Tsana, a little to the north of which is Gondar.

Magdala, the place of actual imprisonment, is described as

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