for him the disfavor of his sovereigns. But he was adored by his soldiers, always looking after their comfort and well-being. ABYSSINIA, a country of Eastern Africa; area about 158,000 square miles; population variously estimated at from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000. The ruler of the country is King John. The news from Abyssinia during the year 1877 was of a very conflicting nature. It was several times reported that peace had been concluded with Egypt, and as often contradicted. No hostilities, however, seem to have taken place between the two countries. On October 27th an English correspondent wrote as follows: Six months ago King John of Abyssinia made a convention with Colonel Gordon, which, though of an informal character, really amounted to a treaty of peace between Egypt and Abyssinia. He was then harassed by neighboring enemies, and the terms he accepted were favorable to Egypt. Since that time the relations of the two countries have been peaceful. But Colonel Gordon a few days ago telegraphed for a ship-of-war to go down the Red Sea. This looks very much as if King John, like some other people, considered treaties matters of imperfect obligation, to be set aside or respected according to circumstances. The King, however, has a great respect for Colonel Gordon, and it is to be hoped the difficulty may be arranged. It is stated that the recent war between Egypt and Abyssinia was mainly due to a personal enmity between King Johannes and Munzinger Bey, the Egyptian governor of Massowah. Another cause was furnished by the inevitable raids which exist on the ill-defined borders, where the frontier tribes sometimes join one side, sometimes the other. Abyssinia may roughly be stated to be divided into the provinces of Hamasen, Tigre, ROYAL SEAT, AXUM. Amhara, and Godjam. The King's authority was recognized fully in Hamasen, Tigre, and Amhara, but not entirely so in Godjam. Shoa was under a separate king. Wallo Galla never submitted to Johannes. Each province was This rendered the people of Hamasen discontented with Abyssinian rule, and some of their chiefs who knew Munzinger made overtures to him, which led to the expedition of Arendrup. Walad Denkal was thereupon released by Johannes, and on his promise of fidelity was allowed to return to the Hamasen on the defeat of Arendrup. Then came the greater expedition in 1876, which resulted in a defeat of the Egyptians on the 18th of March, and of the Abyssinians on the 19th of March, the losses on both sides not much exceeding one another. Previously, however, to these battles, Walad Denkal came over with all his force into Egypt, and afterward he retired into Egyptian territory with the Egyptian troops. Since March, 1876, there have been no hostilities between Abyssinia and Egypt. The Abyssinian troops, being irregulars, and having no system, eat up the country if kept long together. Every man being a soldier, no one is left to till the fields in a lengthened campaign. Tribute is exacted twice, and even three times a year, and the tax-collectors take twice, and more than twice, the proper tribute. The result is constant revolts, brought about by the illegal levy of taxes by the King's semi-independent chiefs. Where Johannes is he is King, and only there. His position is very difficult; his independent chiefs oppose any standing army, and therefore will never let him form one; for they know it would be their death-knell. Till a standing army is formed, there can be no quiet in Abyssinia. Between the frontier of Abyssinia and the Red Sea is the Mussulman tribe of Danakli. It is hostile to Johannes, and forces him to pay tribute if his people pass its territory. These people have never paid him tribute, but did so to Egypt. The policy of Egypt is now to abstain from any communication with any of the chiefs of Abyssinia, to regard Johannes and the King of Shoa as independent, and to keep clear of all the political questions of both those regions. There have been only three engagements, in which the Egyptians have twice been worsted, but not in any way so completely as has been represented. Had it suited Egypt to continue the war, she must have eventually prevailed, for the Abyssinians could not keep a large force together for any time. As it was, several vassal states threw off their allegiance the moment the war ceased, taking advantage of Johannes's enfeebled condition, and driven to revolt by the increased taxation consequent on the war. A war broke out during 1877 between Johannes and King Menelek of Shoa. Nothing was known of this war beyond the fact that, in the middle of June, there was a battle in which King Menelek was worsted. Another battle was reported to have occurred on September 17th, in which Menelek was completely defeated, losing, according to a report, 20,000 killed and wounded, and 10,000 prisoners. King Johannes, who was slightly wounded, was reported to have lost 9,000 men. It was asserted by some that Menelek had been killed, by others that he escaped with 7,000 men. ADVENTISTS. I. ADVENT CHRISTIANS.The annual meeting of the Western Advent Christian Publishing Society was held in Chicago, Ill., August 30th. Elder C. W. Smith presided. The society publishes a weekly journal called the Advent Christian Times. A proposition for a consolidation of this journal with the Bible Banner, published in New York City, was discussed, but not decided upon. The business agent reported that a more extensive work had been done in the publishing of tracts than for several years previous. Besides a new edition of the "Advent Minstrels," and nearly four thousand tracts of the stereotype editions, considerable editions had been published of tracts on "Christian Faith," "Christian Hope," "Christian Ordinances," "The Christian Sabbath," "Evidences of the Coining of our Lord," and a pamphlet on "The Great Pyramid," making, in all, 26,000 new tracts and pamphlets issued during the year. The total amount of issues of tracts and books for the year was about 31,000 in number, or 336,000 pages. The resources of the society and its work were computed at $4,618.38, and the liabilities at $1,362.87, showing an excess of $3,255.51 in resources. The business operations of the year had been attended with a net gain of $723.36. II. SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.-The following is a summary of the statistics of this denomination as they were reported to the General Conference in September, 1877: Maine.. CONFERENCES. Vermont New York and Pennsylvania. Ohio... Indiana... Wisconsin. Missouri.. California.. Texas Mission... ADAMS, EDWIN, an American actor, was born near Boston, Mass., February 3, 1834, and died in Philadelphia, Pa., October 25, 1877. He made his first appearance on the stage in Boston, August 29, 1853, at the National Theatre, acting Stephen in the "Hunchback." In 1854 he appeared in Philadelphia at the Chestnut Street Theatre, and, after acting in Baltimore, Md., he came out about 1860 as Hamlet, and also in other great parts, in Buffalo, N. Y. He subsequently appeared with Miss Kate Bateman and Mr. J. W. Wallack at the Win- Iowa and Nebraska.. ter Garden, New York, and remained with this combination for a considerable time,-appearing in various parts of the country. In 1866 he reappeared in New York at the Broadway Theatre (Wallack's old theatre), playing Robert Landry in the "Dead Heart," and Adrian de Teligny in "The Heretic." On the opening of Booth's Theatre, February 3, 1867, he appeared as Mercutio, and shortly after enacted Narcisse, Iago, Raphael, Rover, and Claude Melnotte. He played Enoch Arden at the same theatre for the first time in New York on June 21, 1869, and appeared in this character, and others, in various cities for the last five years. He visited Australia, where he declined in health, and returned thence to San Francisco. There he was the recipient of a generous benefit, which was followed by others in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and other cities. Total....... The total amount of pledges to the fund of Systematic Benevolence was $47,176.56. The treasurer of the General Conference accounted for the sum of $4,055.91 which had passed through his hands. The treasurer of the Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association reported to the annual meeting, held in September, that his receipts for the year had been $185,102.67, and that he had a balance in hand of $3,636.21. The total assets of the Association were estimated at a value of $160,993.34, and the total amount of indebtedness was $62,019.81, leaving a clear balance of assets of $98,973.58. The receipts of the Health Reform Institute for the year ending in September, 1877, were $36,648.04, and the expenditures during the same period were $33,139.52. The assets of the Institute were valued at $58,805.13, and its liabilities were $12,928.82. Four hundred and ninty-three patients, residents of twentythree different States and the Canadas, were treated at the institution during the year, and no death occurred. Measures were taken looking to a change in the name of the Institute. The treasurer of the Seventh-Day Adventist Educational Society reported at the annual meeting of the society, September 24th, that his receipts for the year had been $11,289.63. The property of the society consisted of the college grounds and buildings at Battle Creek, Mich., detached lots, seven new buildings, etc., and were valued at $56,477.52, while the liabilities amounted to $9,306.29. The sixteenth annual session of the General Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventists was held at Lansing, Mich., beginning September 20th. Elder James White was elected president. A report was made concerning the missionary work of the conference in Denmark, showing it to be in a prosperous condition. In view of the favorable opening which appeared among the Swedes, Norwegians, and Danes, in the United States, and in the Scandinavian countries themselves, young men of those nationalities were invited to prepare themselves for preaching. The conference expressed the hope that it might soon be able to establish a mission-field in the English-speaking parts of Europe. The president of the conference was advised to visit the southern field in the United States, or to send some one in his place, accompanied by other laborers. A Biblical Institute having been held in California with the result of almost doubling the number of laborers of the church in that State, the holding of similar institutes in other States was advised. The possession of the gift of prophecy by Mrs. White, the wife of Elder James White, was recognized, and to it was ascribed the unity of doctrine and practice which prevailed among all the Seventh-Day Adventists, while other bodies of Adventists were crippled by division. The conference rescinded all that part of an address on "Leadership" which had been passed in 1873, which taught that the leadership of the body was confined to any one man, and declared by resolution that "the highest authority under God among Seventh-Day Adventists is found in the will of the body of that people, as expressed in the decisions of the General Conference when acting within its proper jurisdiction; and that such decisions should be submitted to by all without exception, unless they can be shown to be in conflict with the word of God and the rights of individual conscience." teenth anniversary of the Life and Advent Union was held at Wolfboro', N. H., August 8th. Mr. G. K. Carroll presided. The treasurer reported the receipt of $1,238.25, and the expenditure of $1,549.46. The receipts of the business agent had been $3,397.54, and his expenditures $3,856.29. It was resolved to raise $1,800 for the purposes of the Union during the ensuing year. The sum of $842 was pledged to this purpose during the meeting. The sixth anniversary of the Life and Advent Missionary Society was held at Wolfboro', N. H., August 10th. The treasurer reported that his receipts for the year had been $71.66, and his expenditures $137.68. The society resolved to endeavor to raise $200 for missionary efforts. Forty-six dollars were subscribed toward this sum at the meeting. A tent-meeting was appointed to be held at Provincetown, Mass. AFGHANISTAN,* a country in Central Asia; area, 278,000 square miles, population about 4,000,000. The tribes inhabiting the northwestern frontier of India fall under three divisions: the idolatrous Kafirs and other tribes of the countries of Afghanistan opposite the Cashmere frontier, the Pathan or Afghan tribes opposite the Punjaub frontier, and the Belooch and Brahoe tribes opposite the Sinde frontier. They all claim independence, and in Afghanistan are virtually independent and under no rule whatever, except that of their own chiefs, who are seldom obeyed one instant longer than is convenient. The only authority, indeed, reverenced by the Afghan tribes is that of the Akhund of Swat, who accidentally gained his ascendancy over them through his reputation as a saint. The Amir of Cabool, Shere Ali, however, is the nominal ruler of Afghanistan. The Afghans style themselves the Bani Israel, or Sons of Israel, and claim descent in a direct line from Saul. Saul had two sons, Barakiah and Iramia, and the latter a son named Afghana. When Bakht-n-Nasr (Nebuchadnezzar) took the children of Israel into captivity, the Afghana were driven into the mountains about Herat, and afterward extended their migrations eastward into the Cabool valley and to the borders of Sinde and Beloochistan, where many of the tribe fell into idolatry. They first heard of Mohammed nine years after his announcement of his mission. They sent six of their chief men under a leader called Kish to Medina, where they at once embraced the new religion, and returned to Afghanistan to convert their fellow countrymen; and in the course of a few years a large proportion of them became Mohammedans. But many resisted to the last, and there is a tradition still current among the Afghans that the Khyber hills were inhabited, until a comparatively recent period, by a colony of Jews. The principal tribes are the Durranis, Tarins, Kakars, Ghilzais, Provindahs, and others of Afghanistan *For an account of the population of the several prov III. LIFE AND ADVENT UNION.-The four- inces, see ANNUAL CYCLOPEDIA for 1874. proper, and on the northwestern frontier the Yusufzas, numbering altogether 73,000 fighting men; the Afridis, 20,000; and the Wuzeris, 30,000. The differences between the Indian Government and the Afridis, a tribe inhabiting the Kohat Pass, was definitely settled in March by the complete subjection of the latter, who furnished thirty hostages for their future good behavior. The Kohat Pass was formally opened on March 24. This was of great importance, as the Indian Government now hold all three passes leading to Afghanistan, the Bolan Pass, the Khyber Pass, and the Kohat Pass, and can at any moment send its troops across the frontier. On January 24, Sir Lewis Pelly arrived in Peshawer, as special envoy of the Indian Government, to meet and confer with the special envoy of the Amir of Cabool, Syyid Wur Mohammed Shah, the prime minister of Cabool. The result of the conferences remained a secret. In April, the envoy of the Amir died, and another was appointed in his place. But, before the latter arrived in Peshawer, Sir L. Pelly received orders to embark for Europe, and the conference therefore came to an end. H. Vambery, in an article in the Augsburg Gazette of May 12, after giving an account of the relations between Afghanistan and Russia and England, stating that the policy of the present Amir, Shere Ali Khan, had been to re ceive money and arms from the British, and at the same time negotiate with the Russians, while lately he had committed several acts of discourtesy toward the British, describes the present relations of the Amir to the two powers as follows: The British Munshi, accredited at Bula-Hissar, the citadel of Cabool, constantly complained of acts of discourtesy at the hands of the Amir; and, as the border difficulties in the Khyber Pass, together with the ever-increasing reports of Russian missions to Cabool, could no longer fail to interest the British, Lord Lytton in the beginning of this year arranged a conference at Peshawer for the purThe Amir pose of settling all disputed points. sent one of his best diplomatists to the Conference, but, as the latter unfortunately died at Peshawer, and, on the other hand, the satisfactory conclusion of the British negotiations with the Khan of Kelat had not inclined the Amir to continue the diplomatic negotiations, the report arose of a serious breach between Cabool and Calcutta, while at the same time, and in connection with this report, the telegram announcing the outbreak of hostilities between the two countries was sent out, of course from Russian sources. We will not consider here the justness of the claims of the Amir on Beloochistan, and only remark that Afghanistan has as many, or rather as few, claims on Kelat and Quetta as on Badakhshan and Roshan in the northeast. The tributary relations to Cabool of both points were always of a very doubtful character, and it is only due to a British-Russian agreement that Afghan tax-collectors are at present established in Fyzabad. In Kelat and Quetta, however, Afghan officers have never been tolerated. If Shere Ali Khan should seriously regret the British successes in Beloochistan, he is acting under the impulse of Russian instigation, but, that the latter should succeed in fanning this dissat isfaction into a war against India, we are compelled to doubt very strongly. For we must not overlook that, during the past year, such factors have gained prominence in Cabool, India, and the other Mohammedan countries of Central Ásia, which make a cooperation with Russia impossible. We may ridicule the messages which the sheiks of Constantinople, Mecca, and Bagdad, have sent to their co-religionists in the far East, and may doubt the awakening of Pan CABOOL. Mohammedan ideas, yet it is still difficult to believe that the reports of the danger threatening Islam were entirely disregarded on the shores of the Helmund or the valleys of the Hindoo Koosh, and that an alliance with the Czar, the antichrist of the Mohammedan legend, was possible. I have never had great confidence in the religious zeal of the Afghan warriors, intent only on plunder; but neither can I see that the Government at Cabool would act on orders received from Tashkend or St. Petersburg, or that it would go to war with the Empress of India, who permits collections to be taken up on the Indus as well as on the Ganges for the soldiers of the Sultan, and who allows enthusiastic speeches for the Caliph to be made in English meetings. Emil von Schlagintweit, the well-known German traveler, gives the following description of the state of affairs in Afghanistan: "In Afghanistan a disorder is brewing, which will soon be fully equal to that in Kelat before the advent of the British troops; but in this case a deadly hatred of the Amir against the British is clearly manifest. In May, the English mail was robbed, which, since 1874, had gone to Djellalabad, half-way between Peshawer and Cabool, with great regularity, and had enjoyed great security under the protection of the mountain tribes. It was furthermore definitely settled that the treaty of 1873, according to which the Amir was to receive 20,000 breech-loaders and a sum of about $500,000 as a present for the concessions made by him with regard to the border of Seistan toward Persia, could not be executed. He actually received the arms and one-half the money, but, upon being asked to determine the time and place when he would wish to receive the other half, he answered, that he did not care for the money, he would make a present of it to England, the THE CITADEL, HERAT. amount was too small. This conduct appears all the more insolent, when we are told that the state treasury was entirely empty, and the greatest extortions were made use of in order to obtain money. Thus all the high dignitaries of the capital were recently taxed large sums because they were said to have defrauded the public treasury. In order to avoid a criminal prosecution, they all paid the sums of money demanded of them, but they all sought to retrieve their losses from the people; and, as the officials have full power to plunder their subordinates, such acts tend to increase the existing dissatisfaction." Herr von Schlagintweit then goes on to say that in India it is generally assumed that this line of conduct at Cabool is brought about by the negotiations of the Amir for Russian friendship. It is now known that a Russian agent was in Cabool quite recently, is still there, and made some definite propositions, but did not have an official character. Indian papers stated that the Russian Government had offered about $3,000,000 for the privilege of placing a Russian force in cantonments on Afghan territory, somewhere near the border. This offer was read in a grand durbar in Cabool on July 15th. All the mem bers expressed themselves to the effect that the Russians are great in promising, but that they were not known to keep their promises. One of the Sirdars even remarked: "These golden but treacherous promises have brought us unfriendly relations with the British Government for India, and I cannot but wonder that the Amir is delighted with these propositions, and seriously believes in the fulfillment of the promises." To this the Amir replied: "I am convinced that I may be deceived by the Russians, but I do not wish to break off negotiations with them yet." The assembly finally resolved to submit the Russian proposi tion to the Akhund of Swat, and in the mean while admit the Russian agent to the durbar without showing him any particular honors; on the other hand, the British agent, Mohammed Khan, was not to be invited to the sessions till the close of the Russo-Turkish war, as the honesty of the British sympathies for the cause of Islam was still to be proved. At a later session the Russian agent made a proposal that Russian troops be granted a free passage through Afghanistan, and the right to establish garrisons at any point in case the British should This advance from Quetta against Herat. proposition was immediately rejected by the Amir, who fears nothing more than foreign troops in his dominions, and who refused to receive an Englishman as permanent British ambassador, because the Indian Government desired to furnish him with a considerable escort. Herr von Schlagintweit adds that this news comes from too good a source to be doubted. At the Conference of Peshawer, Sir Lewis Pelly made the continuance of the subsidy dependent on the following conditions: To accept a permanent English resident at Cabool, and to place at the head of the Afghan troops a number of English officers, who should take care that the soldiers were regularly paid. As Shere Ali's pride did not allow him to accept these proposals, which would have reduced him to the condition of a vassal, and hampered his freedom of action, the yearly subsidy was stopped. Notwithstanding this unsuccessful issue of the Peshawer negotiations, the Afghan Amir long hesitated to break openly with his old allies, though he was instigated to do so by the Akhund of Swat and by his own people, who more than once expressed their hostility |