AB'YSSIN'IA A•., from a root emmeeted with Ar. (if-Habash, "eol leet ion, body of men"). A coun• try in East Africa, situated between the Red Sea and the Blue Nile. and extending from about 5° to 15° N. lat., and 36° to 43° E. long. (Map: Africa, H 4). It is bounded by Nubia on the northwest, the Italian colony of Eritrea on the northeast, the country of the Danakil on the east, British East African possessions on the south, and the Egyptian Sudan on the west; but its boundaries can hardly be drawn with precision, on account of the changes caused by foreign treaties and fre quent wars between the Negus and the neighbor ing tribes. It comprises the kingdoms of Tigr6, Amhara with Gojam, and Shoo., and the outlying dependencies of Harrar, Ka ffa, and Enarea. Its area is estimated at 150,000 square miles, and its population at 3,500,000.
The surface of Abyssinia is a plateau, with an average altitude of about 8000 feet, and a general depression toward Lake Tzatui (q.v.) on the west. Of the numerous mountain chains in this region only a few can be clearly traced. The Samen group, situated at the northern end of the country, and inclosed by the bend of the TakaZie, has an average altitude of about 10,000 feet and rises in Has Dashan, over 15,000 feet above the sea, South of the Samen group is another chain, the Ta ‘Vaklt, surrounded by the upper course of the Atbara (q.v.) on its emerging front Lake Tzana. This chain is in ferior in height to the S/11111'11, its greatest elevation being only about 9000 feet above the sea. The southern part. of Abyssinia is less mountainous, but abounds in so-called isolated rocky hillocks, most of them very pre •ipitous and difficult of ascent. Although at resent it includes no active volcanoes, the coun try entire aspect bears evidence of violent voleanie eruptions in some remote age. Even to-day numerous extinct volcanoes are to be found. with their craters half obliterated, and there are several hot springs in the vicinity of Mount Entoto, some of them with a temperature of 110 degrees.
Among the rivers the most important are the Abai, or Blue Nile (q.v.). the Atbara, or Black Nile. the Takazze, the ma ill bead-stream of the latter, and the 11:nvash. With the exception of
the Abai, none of these rivers is navigable, and all are liable to sudden rises, often accompanied by great disasters. The largest lake is Tzana, called also Dembea.
In regard to climate and flora. the country may be divided into three zones. The first. em bracing all the districts lying below the altitude of 4800 feet above the sea, and called Kollas, has an annual temperature ranging from 70° to 100° F.. and an exceedingly luxuriant vege tation, including cotton, indigo, bananas, sugar cane, coffee, (late palms, and ebony. The seciond zone, Woina Dega, includes all the country be tween 4800 9000 feet above the sea. It is characterized by a moderate temperature, rang ing from 00° to 80° F., and its vegetation includes many of the grasses and cereals which flourish in Europe, besides oranges, lemons, olives, tobacco, potatoes, onions, the hamboo, the turpentine tree, etc. The third zone, Dept, which comprises all of the country situated above 9000 feet, has a temperature of 45 to 50 degrees. It afford.; excellent grazing gromuls. and its soil is well adapted for the cultivation of the hardier cereals.
The rainy season on the coast lands lasts from December to May. In the interior of the country there are generally two rainy seasons, one from April to dune, and the other from duly to Oc tober. The elimate is generally healthful.
The fauna is mit inferior in variety to the Bora. It includes, among other the lion. the elephant, the rhinoceros. the giraffe, a species of wolf (the kabern), the hyena. hippo potamus, zebra, and several forms of antelopes. Consult: Blanford. Geology and Zoology of Atm sinia (London. 1870). Among the domestic ani mals may be menthmed the horse, mule, donkey, eamel, ox, sheep, and goat.
oeologically the surface of Abyssinia is com posed mainly of sandstone, together with gran ite, basalt. trachyte, and other varieties of ig neous mucks. The minerals include gold, which is found mostly in the streams, and also iron. coal. silver, and rock salt. For further infor mation about the geology of Abyssinia, see and OneAr llihr VALLEY.