e result
of some barbaric invasion, such as Axum may have repeatedly endured before
it was sacked by Mahommed Gran, sultan of Harrar, about 1535.

LITERATURE.--Classical references to Axum are collected by Pietschmann in
Pauly's _Realencyclopaedie_ (2nd ed.); for the history as derived from the
inscriptions see D. H. Mueller, Appendix to J. T. Bent's _Sacred City of
the Ethiopians_ (London, 1893), and E. Glaser, _Die Abessinier in Arabien_
(Munich, 1895). For the antiquities, Bruce's _Travels_ (1790); Salt, in the
_Travels of Viscount Valentia_ (London, 1809), iii. 87-97 and 178-200;
J. T. Bent, _l.c._; and A. B. Wylde, _Modern Abyssinia_ (London, 1901). For
geology, Schimper, in the _Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft fuer Erdkunde_
(Berlin, 1869).

(D. S. M.*)

AY, AYE. The word "aye," meaning _always_ (and pronounced as in "day";
connected with Gr. [Greek: aei], always, and Lat. _aevum_, an age), is
often spelt "ay," and the _New English Dictionary_ prefers this. "Aye,"
meaning Yes (and pronounced almost like the word "eye"), though sometimes
identified with "yea," is probably the same word etymologically, though
differentiated by usage; the form "ay" for this is also common, but
inconvenient; at one time it was spelt simply _I_ (_e.g._ in Michael
Drayton's _Idea_, 57; published in 1593).

AYACUCHO, a city and department of central Peru, formerly known as Guamanga
or Huamanga, renamed from the small plain of Ayacucho (_Quichua_, "corner
of death"). This lies near the village of Quinua, in an elevated valley
11,600 ft. above sea-level, where a decisive battle was fought between
General Sucre and the Spanish viceroy La Serna in 1824, which resulted in
the defeat of the latter and the independence of Peru. The city of
Ayacucho, capital of the department of that name [v.03 p.0071] and of the
province of Guamanga, is situated on an elevated plateau, 8911 ft. above
sea-level, between the western and central Cordilleras, and on the main
road between Lima and Cuzco, 394 m. from the former by way of Jauja. Pop.
(1896) 20,000. It has an agreeable, temperate climate, is regularly built,
and has considerable commercial importance. It is the seat of a bishopric
and of a superior court of justice. It is distinguished for the number of
its churches and conventual establishments, although the latter have been
closed. The city was founded by Pizarro in 1539 and was known as Guamanga
down to 1825. It has been the scene of many notable ev