mention of the names which the two Emperors, Bacuffa and Yasous, assumed on their coming to the crown, the notice of the Queen-mother, and other trifling facts which could not easily have been fabricated; and, lastly, of an observation in Mr. Bruce's original memoranda, Appendix Vol. VII. p. 65, which proves that his great friend, Ayto Aylo had actually been won over to the Roman faith by one of these very monks; it being there incidentally noticed that "he (Ayto Aylo) had been converted by Father Antonio, a Franciscan, in 1750."[1] This observation, which, for evident reasons, had been kept back in the original travels, affords so convincing a proof of the voyage being genuine, that I have been induced to give a translation of it in the Appendix, and it may be considered, in all probability, as containing an account of the last effort of the "Propaganda" in this hopeless cause.
In 1769, Mr. Bruce commenced his hazardous enterprize into the country, the fruits of which have been given to the public:[2] and from the period of his return, up to my first visit in 1805, no other traveller had succeeded in gaining admittance into Abyssinia. Having thus shortly sketched out all the sources of information which may tend to elucidate the Abyssinian history, it is unnecessary for me to dwell longer on this subject: and I shall therefore proceed to close my volume with a few general remarks on the present situation of the country.
The present state of Abyssinia may with justice be compared to that of England previously to the time of Alfred; the government of the country being formed on the model of a complete feudal system. The constant
- ↑ The mistake of one year in the date, as Mr. Bruce received his information from oral testimony, cannot in any degree invalidate the fact. It may be noticed as a farther confirmation of it, that I myself met with an Arabic testament in the country, which seems have belonged to these monks. Vide Lord Valentia's Travels, Vol. III, p. 210.
- ↑ Mr. Bruce besides adding largely to our stock of general information, brought to our knowledge several new genera of plants, well as some valuable descriptions of rare animals. He also has the honour of having first introduced into Europe a complete copy of the Scriptures, and a set of the Abyssinian Chronicles, in the Ethiopic language; which valuable collection of MSS. still remains in the hands of the family.
