rass growing upon it."

"Is it still Egypt on the other side of the strait?" asked Mrs.
Belgrave.

"No; it is Abyssinia," replied the captain. "It is a country containing
200,000 square miles, nearly three-fourths of the size of Texas. It
consists of tableland about 7,000 feet high, and there are peaks within
its borders 15,000 feet high. It has a lake sixty miles long, and you
have been told something about its rivers in connection with the sources
of the Nile. It is rich in minerals, but the mines are hardly worked at
all.

"There has been the usual amount of quarrelling as in former times among
the chiefs of the various tribes in Abyssinia; but finally an adventurer
named Kassa, after defeating various chiefs, caused himself to be
crowned as King Theodore. He tried to form an active alliance with
England and France; but no notice was taken of his propositions. He was
so enraged at this neglect on the part of England, that he began to
maltreat the missionaries and consuls of that country. The British sent
agents to treat for the release of the prisoners; but the king shut them
up in the fortress of Magdala, though they brought a royal letter and
presents.

"Of course England could not stand this, and she sent an army of 16,000
men to attend to the matter. They landed on the coast, and marched to
Magdala. Theodore occupied a fort on a height with 6,000 men, and he
hurled nearly the whole of his force upon a detachment of 1,700 British
encamped on the plain below. The repeated attacks were repulsed every
time, and the king was beaten. Then he sued for peace, and released the
prisoners he held in the castle; but as he refused to surrender, the
fortress was stormed and captured. Theodore was found dead where he had
shot himself. The fort was demolished, and the British retired from the
country. The expedition cost 45,000,000 dollars; but England always
protects her citizens, wherever they are."

"Is it a Mohammedan country, like Egypt?" asked Mrs. Belgrave.

"It is not; it is nominally a Christian country, though its religion is
of the very lowest type that ever was called by that name, wholly
external, and morals are at a very low ebb. After the British left, a
prince defeated his rival, and was crowned as Emperor John; but it is a
single-horse monarchy. It has been at war with Egypt, which never got
possession of the country as it desired. In 1885 Italy occupied
Massowah, though for what purpose was never definit