Italy and Massowah.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 78, 10 December 1887, Page 4

Italy and Massowah.

Mabsowah, in which Italy i* now engaged in strife with the Abyssinian*, is an excellent port The town is built on a little island connected with the mainland by two embankments, one about 820 yards long, the other about 1700 yards. It has been strongly fortified by the Italians, and with its Ma communication* unhindered, could resist a siege by a regular army. The population is a mixture of Arabs, rarsees and Europeans of every nationality, besides some Americans, and the commerce is large. _ The

wholesale trade is chiefly in the hands of Bombay firms, and Armenian and Greek traders for the most part occupy the retail stores, Most of the trade is done by exchange with calicoes and European manufactures in general, and the gold dust from Abyssinia, though ot high quality on an average, does not cost the merchants more than about a shilling the grain. As large quantities of gold dust are brought by the Abyssinians—the result of primitive washings in the beds of mountain torrents —there is little doubt that the gold regions are both rich and extensive. Massowah and the establishment of a protectorate over Abyssinia —the present policy of the Italian Govern-ment-will cost many millions and no small loss of life; but the country is worth it, for, besides its great natural wealth of gold, ivory, hides, forest timbers and other products, there is no country in the world so well suited to the growing of fine coflee and tobaccoes. The kingdom of Abyssinia is divided into the three provinces of Tyre, Amahara and Shoa, each of w nich is ruled by a governor, who pays tribute to the Negus or King of Kings, the title assumed by John in 1872. The Abyssinians, are thoroughly tribal in their institutions, and what little civilisation they possess, though King John may collect the clans at times into one great army, it is as liable to dissolve as rapidly as a Highland army in the days or Montrose. The Italians question King John's right to be Negus j favoring, for political purposes, the claim of the ruler of the Bhoa province, Menelik. This chief is stated to be a direct descendant of Menihelee, son of the Queen of Sheba; and the Italian Ministry is supporting his claim to the sovereignty with their troops, a treaty conferring concessions to the Italians on his accession to the throne having already been signed. Menelik has received some European education, and is a man of great ability. His idea is to introduce European civilisation and customs into the country. He would open it free to commerce, and develop the cultivation of the soil. He would not confine his influence to Abyssinia, either, but would extend his protectorate to Upper Nubia, the Soudan, and Gallas country. and other tribes in the far interior, developing their commerce by the establishment of regular free and safe routes for traders. The scheme is magnificent, and more improbable ones have been carried out. One thing is Abyssinia alonei unfraifitdkned’ts“ l ,ff£ brigandage of the Dandakils and Assonans, would be sufficient alone to make Maesowah a wealty town. All circumstances considered, it is probable that the English Government will be of opinion before long, if not now, that Sir Bartie Frere was right when he advised that the English troops should not abandon Abyssinia entirely,