Abyss, and Abysm

[Lat. a by us.] A term used to denote, in general, anything profound or bottomle ; an immeasurable space. In Scripture, it is employed to denote the deepest parts of the sea, from their being unfathomable; and in a figurative sense, it implies hell, or the bottomle pit. Aby in i a, a kingdom in Eastern Africa, bounded on the N. by Nubia, E. by the Red Sea and Duncala, W. by Sondan, and S. by the Gallas Country. Area , abt. 158,000 sq. m.- Desc . This country may be described as an elevated table-land, divided by two mountain tracts of great extent, into a southern, a western, and a northeastern region. - Climate. The rainy season lasts from April to September; which is followed by a cloudle sky and a vertical sun. Cold nights suddenly succeed these scorching days, yet the earth keeps remarkably cool, partly owing to the six months' rain, when no sun appears, and partly to the perpetual equality of nights and days. Inhab. The Aby in i ans belong mostly to the Shemitic race, and resemble the Arabs both in phys i IMG:content-0021.jpg:[graphic][merged small] cal characteristics and structure of language. - Wild animals. There is no country in the world productive of a greater variety of quadrupeds; but there are no tigers. The hyenas, however, are very numerous, and dreadful in their ravages. Elephants and buffaloes are very numerous, and the double-horned rhinoceros is found. Besides these, giraffes, zebras, quaggas, and wild a es are plentiful. Boars, in some of the woods, are common, and the smaller animals, such as porcupines, ferrets, otters, polecats, rabbits, and squirrels, abound. There are several species of eagles and vultures. The bee is so plentiful that its honey produce supersedes the nece ity of importing sugar. Locusts frequently devastate the fields, and hippopotami abound in some of the larger rivers. To supply all these animals with food, in a wild state, the fertility of Aby in i a must be immense. - Do mestic animals. These consist of cattle, sheep, goats, a es, mules, and horses. The sauga ox is found in Antalo, with horns sometimes extending to the length of four feet. Prod. Corn of different kinds, dates, tamarinds and coffee, which is indigenous. - COMMERCE. - Imps . Cotton, raw silk, metals, and leather. Exps . Slaves, gold, and ivory. Rel. (See ABYSS IN I AN CHURCH.) - Pop . 4,500,000. Lat between 8° 30 and 15° 50′ N.; Long. between 35o and 52° E. Adm . It was ruled by emperors who were supposed to be descended from Solomon and the queen of Sheba. The barbarous manner in which two represen tatives of the English government were treated by the late emperor Theodore, and the refusal of the latter to give satisfaction to just claims, compelled England to proclaim war against him. In the autumn of 1867, an army of about 10,000 men, under the command of Sir Robert Napier, landed at Ma ouah. The conquest of Magdala, April 10, 1868, and the death of Theodore, followed. This war cost England $44,895,000. After the departure of the English, civil war prevailed, and Ka a, prince of Tigre, proclaimed himself ruler, as King John. In 1872, difficulties occurred with Egypt, and in 1875-76 an Egyptian invasion was succe fully (CONTINUED IN SECTION II.)