THIS IS ABYSSINIA

Northern Advocate, 26 October 1935, Page 3

THIS IS ABYSSINIA

an ancient empire hard-working, hospitable PEOPLE ONE-FAMILY VILLAGE. . Ethiopia! What does the name mean :°. the average person? A remote dislct in East Africa populated by and missionaries, an area of • * • i un g les • • • bounded on the north by Egypt ... on the east y the Red Sea—and that is about all, states a “Christian Science Monitor” writer.

e t, when the Greeks scarcely knew 1 by name, the Ethiopians were celebrated in the verses of their poets, fn the Homeric poems, the Ethiopians are “the remotest of mankind,” the *° their banquets and probat)ty the sun sets in their country. The Ethiopians still continue the object of curiosity and admiration and the pen of cautious, clearsighted historians often place them in the highest rank of knowledge and civilisation. In the earliest traditions of nearly all the more civilised nations of remote times, the name of this distant people is found.

Official Name, Ethiopia. A great many nations different and distant from one another are comprised under the name Ethiopia, which is the official name for- Abyssinia. Once an Egyptian province, Ethiopia became independent in the Hth century, founding a capital known as Napata. She has never been conquered since.

The people are divided into two groups, A straight haired race and a woolly haired race, dwejling respectively to the east and west and this distinction is confirmed by Jhe Egyptian monuments from which the bulk of information regarding the Ethiopian is derived. There is no harder worker than the Ethiopian and no more harmless and hospitable person, when properly treated. For the most part they live in circular houses? copied from the stick and straw hut of the less civilised African. They raise potatoes, onions; garlic and herbs, also peach, fig, banana and pomegranate trees. Pumpkins are trained up the side of the houses, their heavy fruit resting on the roof. Simple, Colourful Furnishings. Some villages of Ethiopia are composed entirely of* one family, four and five generations being* alive at one time. The furnishings of the houses are simple, but colourful, brilliant silks and expensive Persian rugs being used in the most casual manner, but aside from these the only decorations are apt to be trophies of war. The Ethiopians have taken much of their religion and civilisation from the Egyptians. The royal inscriptions are written in hieroglyphic characters and the Egyptian language. * Today there are 125 Americans in Ethiopia, the majority reported as missionaries, representatives of the Seventh Day Adventists and the United Presbyterian Church of North America. Christianity was first introduced to that country in 330 A.D. and although every road in the cities and towns seems to lead to a church, the religion has utterly failed to reach the wild border tribes, who are causing the Emperor Haile Selassie so much embarrassment for he cannot guarantee the League of Nations that these savages will not mutilate captives, and on account of this lack of assurance, the Red Cross will not help Ethiopia in any war with Italy or other nations. Versed in Tactics.

This savage condition does not exist, however, in the plateaux of Abyssinia where the Emperor’s troops are now forming, armed with modern rifles and artillery. They are also well versed in tactics that are suited to the country they inhabit and are expected to prove a foe that will tax the resources of any first-class enemy. These uplands have an ever-varying scenery of mountain, valley and plain. Lovely plants, flowers and trees are on all sides, while birds with gorgeous plumage, moths and insects, many of them unknown in other countries, are not uncommon. The seasons in Abyssinia are more marked than in many part of the world and immediately after the rain commences there is a change from the dull browns, grays and reds of the forest and fields, to greens of all shades. This sudden alterations of colour produces a background that melts and mingles in one perfect accord, with the African sky and water. Beginning of Literature.

The Ethiopian literature began shortly before the introduction of Christianity to Abyssinia. There are more than 1200 works extant in Ethiopian. Many are in the British Museum, but others can be found in the chief libraries of Europe, some are in Jerusalem, some in Abyssinia and others are In private hands. John Potken of Cologne vyas the first European to study the language and he printed the first Ethiopian book, “Psalms.” The majority of Ethiopic literature, with the exception of some inscriptions, has been handed down in manuscript form and is ecclesiastical in character, the chief 'being versions of the books of the Old and New Testaments. There is also a considerable amount of theological, poetical and liturgical literature and some historical, chronological, legal, mathematical and medical matter. Addis Ababa has been the capital city since 1896. The name Addis Ababa means “new flower,” which is most fitting, as the city is almost completely embowered in woods of eucalyptus plants. In normal times it has a population of about 70,000 people but at feast times many thousands of followers of the Emperor and the provincial governors, crowd into the capital and a celebration ensues that is unequalled in primitive splendour and barbaric pageantry. Chalet for Palace, The Emperor’s palace sits on a hill. The word “palace,” used rather freely as the dwelling place of Haile Selassie, is really nothing more than a very inferior Swiss chalet, but it occupies a most enviable spot, built as it is on an outstanding lower spur of the lofty Entoto Mountains. The Emperor is a young man keenly alive to the danger that threatens him and neglecting no opportunity to better his position. Educated in the most formal European fashion, he has done his best to keep abreast of the times introducing a European school system into his country and sending more promising Abyssinians to America England and France to complete their education. Slavery has been abolished under penalty of death, and a large, modern American hospital has been erected. ' , , There are six newspapers published in Addis Ababa, two in French, one in Greek, one in Italian and two in Am-

haric, the most important language spoken in Abyssinia. Haile Selassie, himself, owns and edits the “Behanena Salem,” an official weekly organ containing notices, news, decrees, laws and educational articles. It is an up-and-coming little paper and one of which any newspaper man might well be proud, having a decided modern note throughout. Modem Capital. In fact, Addis Ababa is as modern as any city can be in* East Africa. There are motor cars and good roads. Shops, stores and offices are built around a central market place. There is telephone service, bi-weekly mail to and from the coast, and many schools and colleges. The eyes of the world are now focused upon Ethiopia. What happens there in the immediate future may make world history. Not in many years has the European situation been so entangled. Only Germany remains uninvolved; but, with it all, one who really knows the country and the people, has the calm assurance that they can take care of themselves.