ABYSSINIA. There is no part of Africa, Egypt being excepted, the history of which is connected with so many objects of interest as Abyssinia. A region of Alpine mountains, ever difficult of access by its nature and peculiar situ ation, concealing in its bosom the long-sought sources of the Nile, and the still more mysterious origin of its singular people, Abyssinia has alone preserved, in the heart of Africa, its peculiar lite rature and its ancient Christian church. What is still more remarkable, it has preserved existing remains of a previously existing and wide-spread Judaism, and with a language approaching more than any living tongue to the Hebrew, a state of manners, and a peculiar character of its people, which represent in these latter days the habits and customs of the ancient Israelites in the times of Gideon and of Joshua. So striking is the resem blance between the modern Abyssinians and the Hebrews of old, that we can hardly look upon them but as branches of one nation ; and if we had not convincing evidence to the contrary, and knew not for certain that the Abrahamidm origi nated in Chaldea, and to the northward and east ward of Palestine, we might frame a very probable hypothesis, which should bring them down as a band of wandering shepherds from the mountains of Habesh (Abyssinia), and identify them with the pastor kings, who, according to Manetho, multi plied their bands of the Pharaohs, and being, after some centuries expelled thence by the will of the gods, sought refuge in Judea, and built the walls of Jerusalem. Such an hypothesis would explain
the existence of an almost Israelitish people, and the preservation of a language so nearly approach ing to the Hebrew, in intertropical Africa. It is certainly untrue, and we find no other easy expla nation of the facts which the history of Abyssinia presents, and particularly the early extension of the Jewish religion and customs through that country' (Prichard's Physical Hislog of Man, pp. 279, 2So).
The above paragraph will suggest the grounds which appear to entitle Abyssinia to a place in a Biblical Cyclopdia. But as the country has no physical connection with Palestine—which is, geo graphically, our central object—a particular descrip tion of it is not necessary, and it will suffice to notice the points of inquiry suggested by the quota tion. A brief outline is all that seems requisite.