BEGEMDER, a rich and valuable province in Abyssinia, is bounded on the north by Balysan, a district adjoining to Samen ;. on the east by Lasta and Angot ; on the south by Amhara, which runs paral lel to it, and from which it is separated by the river Bashils ; and on the west by Dembea. According to Mr Bruce, Begemder is 180 miles in its greatest length, and GO in breadth ; but in this extent he in cludes Lasta, which belongs more properly to the province of Samen. Begemder abounds in iron mines, and is well stored with beautiful cattle. Its moun tains are less steep and rocky than those of the other provinces;(if we except Lasta,) and abound in wild fowl and game. Its inhabitants are esteemed the best soldiers in the empire ; but their rudeness and fero city are proverbial even• in Abyssinia. .The south end of this province is cut into prodigious gullies, ap parently by floods ; but of these floods no tradition exists. It forms the great barrier against the en croachments of the Galla, who have often endeavour ed in vain to gain a settlement there : whole tribes of them have been cut off in the attempt. Favour alone
is necessary to procure the government of many of the provinces in Abyssinia : others are given to poor noblemen to enable them to repair their fortune : but the consequence of Begemder, from its vicinity to the metropolis, is so well understood, that none but no blemen of rank and character, able to maintain a large army, are entrusted with its government. Seve ral small provinces have been dismembered from Be gemder, particularly Foggora, reaching from south to north about 35 miles, and about twelve miles from east to west, from the mountains of Begemder, to the lake Izana. On the north of this, are two small go vernments, Dreeda and Karoota, the latter of which, is the only territory in Abyssinia which produces wine. See Bruce's Travels in Abyssinia. (Ft.)