elease them,' returned the monarch, after a moment's
debate within himself. 'By the Holy Eucharist I swear, and by the
Church of the Holy Trinity in Koora Gadel, that if Sahela Selasse
arise from this bed of sickness, all of whom you speak shall be
restored to the enjoyment of liberty.'"

Fortunately he did arise from that bed of sickness, and he honourably
determined to keep his promise. The royal captives were seven, and the
British mission were summoned to see their introduction into the presence.
They had been so exhausted by long captivity, that at first they seemed
scarcely to comprehend freedom. They had been manacled, and spent their
time in the fabrication of harps and combs, of which they brought
specimens to lay at the feet of their monarch. This touching interview
concluded with a speech of the king to the embassy--

"'My children, you will write all that you have seen to your country,
and will say to the British Queen, that, though far behind the
nations of the White Men, from whom Ethiopia first received her
religion, there yet remains a spark of Christian love in the breast
of the King of Shoa.'"

We have thus given a rapid and bird's-eye view of a work, which we regard
as rivaling in interest and importance any "book of travels" of this
century. The name of Abyssinia was scarcely more than a recollection,
connected with the adventurous ramblings of Bruce, for the romantic
purpose of discovering the source of the Nile. His narrative had also been
wholly profitless--attracting public curiosity in a remarkable degree at
he time, no direct foundation of European intercourse was laid, and no
movement of European traffic followed. But giving Bruce all the credit,
which was so long denied him, for fidelity to fact, and for the spirit of
bold adventure which he exhibited in penetrating a land of violence and
barbarism, the mission of Major Harris at once establishes its object on
more substantial grounds. It is not a private adventure, but a public act,
rendered natural by the circumstances of British neighbourhood, and
important for the opening of Abyssinia and central Africa to the greatest
civilizer which the world has ever seen--the commerce of England. There
are still obvious difficulties of transit, between the coast and the
capital, by the ordinary route. But if the navigation of the Gochob, or
the route from Tajura, should once be secured, the trade will have
commenced, which in the