Michael now placed on the throne Hannes, brother to the late king Bacuffa, an old man, who had spent all his days on the mountain of Wechne, and was of course totally unacquainted with political affairs. Hannes had been maimed by the loss of one hand, to prevent him from aspiring to the throne ; for, by the law of Abyssinia, the king must be free from every personal defect. Mi chael laughed at this objection ; but, on finding him to tally averse to business, he carried him off by poison, and made his son, Tecla Haimanout, his successor on the throne. He now marched against Fasil without de lay, and defeated him after an obstinate engagement. Woosheka was taken prisoner, and at the desire (as has been alleged) of Ozoro Esther, that unhappy man was flayed alive, and his skin was formed into a bottle. On the night when the horrid operation was performed, the princess appeared in the royal tent, decked like a bride, and afterwards returned in triumph to Gondar.
Soon after this, Mr Bruce entered Abyssinia. Dur ing the whole of his residence in that country, war and bloodshed prevailed. Tecla Haimanout still maintained his ground. An usurper, named Socinios, was reduced to the degrading state of a menial in the king's kitchen. Fasil could not be subdued by the skill or activity of Michael, whom fortune seemed now to have forsaken ; an attempt was even made to assassinate him, and on one occasion he was made prisoner by the rebels.
Such is an imperfect sketch of the history of Abys sinia, a country sunk in the lowest state of barbarity, and afflicted—even without the hope of improvement— with all the calamities which result front an ill constitu ted government. Yet Abyssinia, in extent, in situation, ABY and natural 'advantages, is the most important country in Africa ; and from this kingdom, more conveniently than from any other quarter, might the blessings of c ivi lization be diffused through that unfortunate continent. May not the benevolent heart now anticipate, with con fidence, the auspicious, and perhaps not far distant era, when the enlightened exertionsol the AFRICAN I NS•ITU T1oN shall reclaim from their Dative indolence and fero city, the savage inhabitants of this wide portion of the globe, and, by promoting among them the blessings of industry, knowledge, and religion, and teaching them to estimate and improve their local advantages, shall atone, in some degree, for the long train of miseries which they have hitherto suffered from European oppression ?