Every tree, and every bush in Abyssinia, not only re tains its verdure, but bears blossoms and fruit in all sea sons of the year. The same part of the tree, indeed, never flowers more than once in twelve months, but the process of fructification advances in a very remarkable manner through the whole. The blossoms first appear on the western boughs, and the fruit proceeds, through the regular stages, to maturity. The southern branches next undergo a similar process ; it then crosses the tree, and the north is in flower. The east succeeds last, and prociuce s blossoms and fruit till the commencement of the rains. All the trees are evergreen ; their leaves are highly varnished, and of a tough leatherlike texture, which enables them to withstand the constant and vio ient rains, under which they arc produced.
In no country, perhaps, in the world, is there a great er variety of animals, both wild and tame, than in Abys sinia. Clothed in perpetual verdure, and most luxuriant herbage, it affiards an ample and unNiling provision to cattle of every description. Immense numbers of the cow species every where present themselves, differing widely in size and appearance. Of these, some have no horns, and are distinguished likewise by the colour and length of their hair,or by having bosses upon their back, according to the variety of climate or pasture. Other kinds have horns of various dimensions; and there is one species whose horns are of such a monstrous size as to be capable of containing ten quarts each. But the size of the animal bears no proportion to that of his horn ; on the contrary, he is not nearly so large as a common English cow, and the growth of horn is a disease which generally proves fatal ; as it is encouraged for a particular purpose. The terrific appearance of these animals has given rise to the fable of carnivorous bulls ; a species of monster which exists neither in Abyssinia, nor in any other part of Africa. The of this country is exceedingly ferocious; lie resides not in the high and temperate regions, but in the sultry valleys be low, where, as if conscious of his superior strength, he stretches himself at his case among large spreading trees, near the clearest and deepest rivers, or stagnant pools of the purest water; vet in his person he is as dirty and slovenly, as in his disposition lie is fierce and unt•actablc. Among the wild animals are prodigious numbers of the or antelope kind ; the bohur, 50850, fecho, and madoqua. These arc to be met with only in the uncultivated parts of the country, where they feed chiefly on trees. They are extremely numerous in those pro vinces, which have been depopulated by war, enjoying among the wild oats a quiet residence, without the fear of being molested by man. Hyll10N abound in Abyssinia, of which Mr Bruce supposes there are two species. Those which lie had Seen on mount Libanus and at Ah_p po, exactly resembled the hyena described by M. Billion, and seemed to partake of the nature of the hog ; while those which infest Abyssinia are much larger, and seem more allied to the canine race. The barbarous custom
of leaving the slaughtered carcasses of criminals unburi ed in the streets, attracts the liyamas in multitudes to the towns; so that it is very unsafe to venture from home after it is dark. The natives believe that these animals arc Falasha from the neighbouring mountains, who be ing transformed by magic, come to banquet, during the night, on human fle'.h. Of the dog or fox kind there are few varieties. The deep, or jackall, is the most nu merous class, and is in all respects the same as the deep of Barbary and Syria. The wild boar is frequently seen in swamps, or on the banks of rivers covered with wood. He is smaller and smoother in the hair than those of Barbary and Europe, but differs from them in nothing else. The low hot country is inhabited by the elephant, rhinoceros, and camelopard ; nor do the lion, the /eopard, or the panther, ever appear in the high and cultivated regions. The country is every where infested by flocks of apes and baboons, who destroy the fields of millet ; rats and mice likewise abound, and commit great devas tation on the crops. Hares are very numerous ; and, being accounted ton ican, are never hunted hut by lOwls and heists of prey. All the large rivers abound with crocodiles and hippopotami.
The number of birds in almost exceeds belief. The high and low countries are equally stored then. of the carnivorous kind occupy the rocks and mountains ; among which there arc many spe cies of the eagle, vulture, and hawk. A species of kite, called hadaya, very frequent in Egt pt, comes to Ethiopia very punctually alter the tropical rains. Their first supply of loud is a quantity of shell-fish,which have been forced by the flood from the salt springs where they have been nourished ; and, when the rains subside, arc lea without moisture on the edges of the deserts. The car casses of wild beasts, slain by the hunters, afford them an ample store of provisions. They next prey on held rats and mice, that appear after harvest, and swarm in the fissures of the ground. But their chief resource is in the number of cattle slaughtered by the army on march; beasts of hurthcn, w Mich die under carriage, or ill treatment ; or soldiers, who perish by disease or the sword, and are left to rot in the open fields. These furnish such a supply of carrion, that one would think that all the carnivorous fow Is in the world were collect ed round the camp. The fields arc covered with them on every side as for as the eye cm reach, and the branches of the trees arc ready to break under the pressure of their weight. These supplies all fail at the commencement of the rains, when the hunters and armies arc forced to return home, and the vast quantity of water, which inundates the country, deprives them of every other kind of food.