Abyssinia
To write with knowledge of Abyssinia, the Government, the inhabitants, their manners, customs and outlook on life, is a task that can only be undertaken by one who has lived and travelled in the country, Difficult of approach, moun- tainous, with no conveniences of travel, few roads and scarcely more than half a dozen towns, it is a country which offers obstacles at every turn., With only one railway, to leave it is to travel by pack-animal or on foot, which entails time, money, and a deal of arrangement. And this is only the beginning of the trouble. By tortuous tracks, forest, scrub and rock-strewn areas, where mules are hoof- held, the traveller must needle his way wherever he goes. Often it is a question of camping ; a river too swollen to cross ; a bridge carried away by a storm. In short, only those who have weathered the difficulties of unexplored countries should attempt the journey. As a matter of fact, very few do, with the result that Abyssinia is to all intents and purposes, unknown. And so it happens that the outside world has to be content with information offered by those who have held close to the railway or paid a hurried visit by rail to the capital—Addis Ababa—and the near district. So far so good ; but it is not to know the country ; it is merely to write of a restricted area, a few villages and self-supporting communities, each of which goes its own way. Until, there- fore, the author is forthcoming who has spent, several months in each of the various Provinces—for they all differ—Abyssinia will be a closed book.
The authors of the three books under review have each satisfied to a limited extent those who would know something of a nation now on the verge of war. But with the exception Of the first, Abyssinia on the Eve, no light at all is thrown on the present crisis, or the incidents that have led up to it. It is all hurry and bustle, or dished-up information of times past, often inaccurate and certainly out of date. Mr. Ladislas Farago is the possible exception, for lie writes interestingly of a quite recent stay of three months in Addis Ababa, and a short journey into the Ogaden country and the near district of the Blue Nile. He is certainly to be congratulated on his efforts, for although he saw little of Abyssinia proper, he employed his time to the best possible advantage. Within the compass of his time and space, lie has managed to collect information as to native life in and about the Capital, though a longer stay would certainly have improved his visibility. There are readable chapters on the Abyssinian Church, the Army, War, and Slavery. But he is on surer ground and more instructive when lie writes of the Imperial Family. In his interview with the Emperor, the question of war was naturally the predominant topic, and the clear statement he received of Haile Selassie's views, aims, and present action, is the answer. For lack of funds, the development of the country has necessarily been slow ; with a full exchequer, however, an adequate army, police force, and executive, the Emperor would be in a position to institute the reforms he so much desires. As it is, his, efforts are concentrated on main- taining law and order which, considering the unruly nature of his subjects and the many warlike tribes on the outskirts of his Kingdom, is evidence sufficient of his popularity as also of his power as a Ruler.,, An increased revenue is Abyssinia's principal: need; that arrived at, development Will follow. In this respect, the Emperor would welcome, as he informed Mr. Farago, a foreign loan. In present cir- cumstances, however, as he clearly sees, " favourable terms Or even acceptable terms " are difficult. This statement is as interesting as it is logical, and is the rock-bottom reason which accounts for the backward state of the country and the obstacles in the path of progress and reform.
As to the ever loud cry of Slavery, Mr. Farago has delved the subject with accuracy. He discovered that the domestic slave is happy' and well cared for ; that wholesale liberation Means serious unemployment ; and that the slave-dealer reaps a good harvest by transporting those who are homeless to other masters in Arabia. All this is perfectly true, but few Who condemn Abyssinia realise the unfortunate results of the new law as now applied.
A more accurate and reliable account of the country and
people, though here again the area is limited, is to be found in Slaves and ivory, by Major Henry Darley. Unfortunately, it is an old story that dates back to 1925. Much is true today, but by no means all—the Caravan goes on, even in Abyssinia. The author tells of his adventures in one of the wildest pro- vinces, in search of ivory. A trader in the land, and later a frontier official, he speaks with knowledge and experience— though of the past. Nevertheless, the book adds much to one's stock of information and, as an account of the author's troubles with nature and hairbreadth escapes, might almost be described as the best thriller. On the other hand, it is tin true guide to the state of the country today which, under the' rule of Haile Selassie, is becoming more and more modernised. Thus law is more respected ; frontier tribes less unruly, anti travel is safe in almost every province. This was certainly not the case in the days of which Major Darley writes : neither are the instances so many of indiscriminate and hasty punish- ment, such as lie describes. Justice is still of a rough and ready type, reminiscent of feudal England. But if the remedies are drastic; it must be borne in mind that by such means alone can Government be maintained in primitiVe communities. The author writes of murderers hanging from trees ; robbers paying the penalty by the loss of a hand ;. prisoners in chains, and Governors who are tyrants. But the former things are passing away ; such incidents as he describes are exceptional. Even the slave-raider is findin3 it increasingly difficult to carry on his trade, which, by the same token, would quite possibly have ceased by now alto- gether if the frontiers of adjoining Protectorates had been more closely patrolled. It is easy enough to blame Abyssinia, but in 'the matter of slave-dealing, neither Italy nor France can avoid reproach. As to Abyssinian Journey, by Marcel Griaule, as cne reads' of many journeys and long stay in the country, one is conscious of the pen of a " ready writer." The trouble is that there are barely half a dozen consecutive paragraphs that are in- telligible. " It sounds perfect English," said Alice, "but I don't understand a word of it." For this the translator is very largely responsible. But even with this excuse, the original must have been. very like Wagner to the unmusical. Still, the author should know Abyssinia well, as also its people. Ethnology was his bent and, without a doubt, his study and analysis of native thought, habits, magic and religious art will interest' the serious-minded. But there is, nevertheless, lighter food for other palates. ' He talks with an Imperial Princess ; is on the best terms with powerful Chiefs ; interviews monks, painters and slaves, and tells of raw meat. dinners and monkeys. And so his pen hurries along in the effort to keep pace with a flood of information. In the original, Abyssinian Journey may well be worthy of its author. Anyhow, it gained for him the Prix Grin goiro in France, a literary honour only awarded to distinguished writers, T. W. CUM1NG.
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