; and though the Christian religion has remained, it is in
a debased and corrupt form. Europe knew nothing of Abyssinia worth the
name for ages. Then a princess of Judah, Judith, prosecuted designs
upon poor Abyssinia, sought out the members of the reigning family, and
would have caused each one to be slain. Fortunately, a young prince was
carried off to a place of safety. Coming to maturity, he ruled in Shoa,
while for nearly half a century Judith reigned in the north. In the
year 1268 a.d. the true royalists were restored to power in the whole
kingdom.

When the warrior-mariners of Portugal were searching for new empires in
every sea and upon every continent, rumours reached them of a kingdom
somewhere, at the head of which was Prester John. This was just prior
to the dawn of the fifteenth century.

Filled with wonder at the reports that reached them, and curious to
solve the mystery that enshrouded Prester John and his wonderful
kingdom, the Portuguese went on making their searches, under Pedre de
Covilham, of renown, fixed upon Abyssinia, entered it, and secured the
friendship of the chief ruler. Strange to relate, the Portuguese made
no serious attempt to add Abyssinia to their dominions--possibly they
did not think the task worth the trouble and expense; but they
maintained some degree of power over the people through their religion,
an influence whose effects were seen by Bruce and by other travellers of
scarcely a hundred years ago--one not obliterated by tribal warfare and
by a terrible, merciless coming of the Gallas from their country in the
south.

In the year 1818 was born in Kaura, a child to whom the name Lij Kassi
was given--a lad whose uncle was then governor of that part of
Abyssinia. The boy grew to be wilful, self-reliant, and very ambitious;
it is even said that he set himself out to be the elect of God, who
should raise his country to a glory equal to that of Ethiopia of old.
There was a prophecy indeed, "And it shall come to pass that a king
shall arise in Ethiopia, of Solomon's lineage, who shall be the greatest
on earth, and his powers shall extend over all Ethiopia and Egypt. He
shall scourge the infidels out of Palestine, and shall purge Jerusalem
clean from the dealers. He shall destroy all the inhabitants thereof,
and his name shall be Theodoras." Whether Lij Kassi really pretended to
be the elect of Heaven, the Messiah, or not, certain it is that when he
had fought very bravel