Journal of a three years' residence in Abyssinia, in furtherance of the objects of the Church Missionary Society ... To which is prefixed, A brief history of the Church of Abyssinia, by ... Professor Lee, etc

Front matter

JOURNAL OP A THREE YEARS' RESIDENCE i.\- ABYSSINIA. ACCOMPANIED BV A MAP. LONDON' : R. WATTS, PRINTER, CROWN COURT, TEMTLE BAR. -4 ---444*. A JOURNAL 01 A THREE YEARS' RESIDENCE IN ABYSSINIA IN FURTHERANCE OF THE OBJECTS OF THE Œfmtrt) ifttteaionate aorirtp. Iii- THE REV. SAMUEL GOBAT, ONE OF THE SOCIETY'S MISSIONARIES. TO WHICH IS PREFIXED. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ABYSSINIA BY THE REV. PROFESSOR LEF4, D D. ACCOMPANIED BV A MAP, r.»,wv {.-..G.. THE BEST AUTHORITIES, AND FROM MR. GOBAT'S JOURNAL LONDON: HATCHARD &t SON; AND SEELEY & SONS. 1834. CONTENTS. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ABYSSINIA. Page Earliest Accounts of the Abyssinian Church 3 3 First Mission of the Jesuits to Abyssinia 1 Second Mission of the Jesuits to Abyssinia 19 JOURNAL OF THE REV. SAMUEL GOBAT. CHAP. I. Mr. Gobat's journey from Adigrate to Gondar — Various religious conversations with his fellow-travellers on the way — Arrival at Gondar 52 — 78 CHAP. II.

Interv'"w with Oubea — Mr. Gobat determines to remain at Gondar — is placed by Oubea under the protection of the Etchegua, Head of the Monks — Conversations with Alaca Waldab, Habeta Selasse, and other Ecclesiastics (throughout the chapter) — Visit to the King, Joas — 4Troubles at theCustom-house — Visit to Cantiba Cassai, Governor of Gondar, and to the Daughter of Ras Googsa — At Easter, visits the Etchegua or Head of the Monks— conversation with him upon Doctrinal subjects — Conversations with various Priests, and remarks upon their character — Sent for by Ozoro Waleta Teclit, to cure the madness of her brother — Disturbances in the city — Habeta Selasse proposes a Mission to the Gallas — Brief account of the Falashas — Copies of the Amharic Gospel distributed — Visit to a village of the Falashas — Great disturbances in the a CONTENTS. city — Superstitious opinions concerning Sorcery — In creasing intercourse with the Priests and the Laity — Much sought to, for the practice of Medicine — Con versation with the Etchegua, and another Priest high in authority, expressly upon Religious subjects — Death of the King's Wife — Discussions on Original Sin — Visited by a Jewess, a sorceress — Barbarous treatment of a thief — Attacked by a severe fever — Reasons for not fasting during his illness — Receives numerous visits afterward — Schism in different Pro vinces of Abyssinia concerning the Nature of Jesus Christ — Change of the Etchegua — Prepares to return to Tigr<S — Review of his stay in Gondar 79 — 263 CHAP. III.

Arrival at Adowah — Visit to Sebagadis — Arrival of the Rev. C. Kugler — Ophthalmia — Mr. Kugler wounded by the bursting of a gun — his last illness and dying scene — Directions concerning his funeral, not to conform to the Abyssinian Superstitions — his burial — Indignation of Sebagadis against the Priests — Conversations with the young Tecla Georgis — Account of a Damotera's sting — Alarming news from the scene of war 264—285 CHAP. IV. Flight from Adowah, in company with Walda Michael- Account of the capture and death of Sebagadis — Mr. Gobat sent by Walda Michael, for protection, to the Monastery of Debra Damot — After three months' seclusion, arrival at Adigrate — Description of the Locusts — Reading of the Scriptures with his servant Guebrou — Consequences of the battle of February 14th — Native Dirge on Sebagadis — A Younger Son of Sebagadis revolts — The eldest, Walda Michael, maintains his power — Oubea comes to attack Walda Michael — Mr. Gobat takes refuge again in Debra CONTENTS.

Preface

. The attention ot the Church Missionary Society has for many years been directed toward that interesting country, which forms the subject of the present volume. In the plans which were formed, now twenty years ago, for the Mediter ranean Mission, it was considered that the evan gelizing of the nations adjacent to that inland sea was a work intimately connected with the revival and reformation of the Oriental Churches ; and among these, the Christian Church of Abys sinia presents a very conspicuous and essential object. About the time of the arrival of the Society's first Missionary in Malta, in the year 1815, a still deeper interest was excited respecting that country; from its being known that a Native had been for some years engaged, at Cairo, in trans lating the Scriptures into Amharic, the principal vernacular Abyssinian Language.

This Amharic Version of the entire Bible was purchased at Cairo, by the Rev. W. Jowett, on account of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in 1320. Many particulars respecting the work, A

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. the native translator, and the state of opinions and public affairs in Abyssinia, may be read in Jowetfs " Christian Researches in the Mediter ranean," pp. 171—229. From this period, the prospects of the Church Missionary Society began to brighten more dis tinctly, and measures were taken for appointing a Mission expressly to that country. The Rev. Samuel Gobat and the Rev. Christian Kugler, who had received their Missionary education, first at Basle, and subsequently at the Society's Institution at Islington, were sent into Egypt in 1826, with the view of seeking the most convenient way of entering Abyssinia. As there did not appear to be immediate facilities for this, they employed some time in making themselves acquainted with Abyssinians, and with their language, so far as they were able to do so at Cairo : and for a similar purpose they visited Jerusalem, where it was known that a small company of Abyssinians were living in a monastery near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The Bible Society, deeply sensible of the im portance of prosecuting the work so providentially placed within their reach, not only printed the whole of the New Testament in both Ethiopic and Amharic, but have also nearly closed the printing of the Amharic Pentateuch. The whole has been conducted under the able critical super intendence of T. P. Platt, Esq. Copies of the Book of Genesis also, in Amharic, were sent to

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. IX Abyssinia, as soon as that portion of Scripture was printed. The Missionaries having protracted their stay long in Egypt — while the very facilities which seemed to promise their entrance to Abyssinia occasioned embarrassment and delay — the Com mittee at home began to doubt whether it might not be the will of Providence that they should remain permanently with their other Missionary Brethren already engaged in Egypt; and con ditional Instructions to that effect were sent out to Malta. In the very month, however, of the arrival of these Instructions, they were met, in the opposite direction, by the grateful tidings, that the two Missionaries, availing themselves of a favourable opportunity, had departed from Cairo, and had actually entered Abyssinia. This was on the 28th of December 1829.

Mr. Kugler thus describes the interesting moment of their first arrival in the country: — " On the 28th of December we arrived at Mas sowah. No sooner was Ali discovered to be on board, than a great crowd of people gathered on shore, till we landed. It was not before we were on shore — when .Ali went before us, and old and young kissed his hands — that we perceived the reason why so many people, partly Abyssinians and partly inhabitants of Massowah, had assem bled. We lost no time in calling on the Cai Ma cam, or Governor, and delivering our letters from Jidda: he immediately asked us, whether a

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. X we wished to have our luggage brought on shore that evening, or on the following day. As we wished to have it with us, he instantly sent a soldier to get the boxes on shore ; while Ali pro cured a lodging for us with a friend of his. Thus it was that we were permitted to pass New- Year's Day in tolerable rest at Massowah. Ali's behaviour toward us, on the whole of our journey, was much to our satisfaction : he has settled with the Naib in Arkeko (more commonly, Dochono) every tiling ; so that we can now proceed without obstacle to Abyssinia. In our first interview with the Naib, Ali gave him a specific account of all that we had done for him ; and added, that he ought not to look on us as on other Franks, but consider us as Brethren. The Naib observed, that Mr. Salt had come hither, sent out by the King of England, in order to visit Ras Walda Selasse, and yet had given to the Naib at that time one thousand dollars as a present.

On tliis, Ah began to re prehend him ; telling him earnestly, that there could be no question about presents in this case, &c. : after which he became quiet. We are now expecting to depart in three or four days to Dochono, where we shall spend one or two days ; and from thence, if God will, pass the Taranta. 4Already, in our slup from Jidda hither, more Abyssinian had been spoken than Arabic, as our crew were chiefly inhabitants of this place, of which the language is a mixture of Arabic and Tigre : most of the respectable people here speak the

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. XI pure Tigre well. We have daily many visitors, chiefly Abyssinians : many have also come who are affected with diseases. To-day, four Abys sinian Christians, who had met Ali in the market, called on us, desiring to fall down before the Abuna, and to receive his blessing. We told them, in Tigre, that the Lord our God is willing to bless every one who called on Him in the name of Jesus: on which one observed, that certainly we were in the right ; and then they departed." Subsequently to this period, Girgis — whose name can only be mentioned with pain, as he afterward disappointed the hopes of the Missio naries — is stated by Mr. Kugler to have arrived in Abyssinia, in company with a principal Eccle siastic of the province of Tigre ; bringing com munications from the Coptic Patriarch, intended to settle some disputes of the Abyssinians.

The manner in which the Missionaries were received, on occasions like this, was a presage of the favour which they were afterward likely to obtain by their prudent and conciliatory conduct. The following are the accounts Mr. Kugler gives of the interviews which took place on this occa sion. He writes: — " Our friend Girgis is arrived here from Cairo, with the principal Priest of Tigre, Guebra Ma riam. They brought the decision of the Coptic Patriarch concerning their religious quarrels. I went with Guebra Mariam and Girgis to Sapher,

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. the dwelling-place of Guebra Mariam, on the 30th of July. Guebra Mariam gave a grand dinner : he and Dejes Gongul, son of Sebagadis, sat on a sofa, and Girgis and I were directed to sit on the next sofa. While sitting there, Girgis observed to me : ' I altogether dislike to appear great in this world, and even fled from it: now you see the people again make much of me. I fear it does harm to my soul : my heart reproves me exceedingly at this moment.' I replied to him . ' It is true, we are more easily overcome by pride, when sitting on a higher place than others ; but pride can take hold of us even in a low place.' He assented to this." .And subsequently : — " The next Priest in rank to Guebra Mariam in Tigre is Guebra Messih, who held the opinion of three births of Christ. Sebagadis called them together, to settle the ques tion.

These two Head-Priests, Guebra Mariam and Guebra Messih, and our Girgis, had a private conference on the 25th of September, under trees near Adigrate. The conversation lasted several hours, but they spoke with great calmness and consideration. Guebra Mariam and Girgis laid their credentials before Guebra Messih; wliich being accepted by the latter, settled the question. Guebra Messih afterward declared privately to Girgis, that he had accepted those credentials entirely from his testimony, Girgis being the only individual of this party who returned from Egypt.

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. XIII " Guebra Mariam and Girgis went to Sebagadis, and informed him of the successful issue of their conference with Guebra Messih on the 26th. " On the 28th of September, the dispute about Religion was regularly adjusted, in the presence of Dejasmat Sebagadis, in the same manner as has already been mentioned ; with the addition, that Guebra Messih requested to be excommuni cated by Guebra Mariam on account of the hete rodox opinion he had till then held. Girgis remonstrated against the excommunication, till Guebra Messih said that they should do it out of love. The conduct of the Coptic Patriarch in this affair shows some prudence. He has refrained from excommunication ; and has advised the orthodox Clergy to meet four times with the heterodox party, in order to gain them over by argument, rather than by the rude treatment of excommunication.

Sebagadis was exceedingly satisfied with the proceedings of the day. He told the Priests afterward, that he was very anxious to make peace among them ; and that they also should now do their part for maintaining it." Some progress had already been made by the Missionaries in the distribution of the Scriptures. Mr. Kugler states : — " I lately gave fifty copies of the Amharic Go spels to our friend Guebra Mariam ; and he distributed them, along with ten copies of the Ethiopic Gospels, in one day. I have promised to give him fifty copies more. I am exceedingly glad to

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. observe that the people love our books so much, and are without the least prejudice." In the anticipation of that distressing civil war, which took place between the provinces of .Amhara and Tigre, Mr. Kugler thus writes : — " The love of conquest has induced the independent Governor in Amhara to declare war against Sebagadis, in a very arrogant manner. Sebagadis received the news on the 27th of Sep tember ; when he and his friends fired guns and pistols till late at night, abusing his enemy in words, as he had been abused by him. Sebagadis is now quietly preparing for resistance and defence. " I have obtained some information important for us, wliich will console your minds at receiving this news of war ; as it calmed ours, when the report of war reached us. There are five places in Tigre wliich are never molested by the troubles and horrors of Abyssinian War, on account of the Churches established in them.

Axum, Waldeba, Gundigundi, Debra Damot, Debra Abai, are these places of retreat in time of war: property and persons are entirely secure in these asylums. Axum is about fifteen miles distant from Adowah; and the way thither is not bad. Debra Damot is an invincible natural fortress : I am informed that nobody can get to the top of tliis mountain, ex cept by being drawn up with ropes. I intend visiting this famous place as soon as I find time ; and shall then, please God, describe it in detail."

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. XV It was considered desirable that the Missionaries should fix their residence at Adowah, and they obtained the permission of Sebagadis to do so. It was his wish to render himself useful, and like wise to gain a favourable introduction, through the medium of Education. His method of requesting a sanction for this plan, is thus stated in a joint-letter from the two Missionaries : — " Mr. Kugler asked leave to have a private conversation with Sebagadis, which was granted. Mr. Kugler informed Sebagadis, that he wished to know his principal residence, having a desire to remain near him. Sebagadis replied, that he liked four places in his dominions besides Adi grate ; and that he would go himself with Mr. Kugler to see those places, give him his choice of one of them, and then he (Sebagadis) would make that place his own residence.

Mr. Kugler also mentioned, that, as he was very fond of instructing young people, he should like to have five or six boys with him, whom he would teach the English Language, &c. The answer of Sebagadis was, that these people were very ignorant, and he should be very glad to have them taught useful things ; and added, that Mr. Kugler should have such boys." His employments, as stated by himself under date of July 10th, 1830, were the following: — " My principal employment, hitherto, has been the study of the Tigre Dialect ; but I am sorry to say, that, till this day, I have been without a

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. XVI teacher. The only prospect I have at this time of a teacher is, that a Young Man, a Daftara (Teacher), has lately applied to me for instruction in Arabic; and this man understands Amharic well, and was born in Tigre. " I hope to begin teaching Arabic and English, please God, on the 13th instant. I have at present but little hope of finding a good Translator, until I have instructed some one for this purpose. All whom I have heard translate with Sebagadis, and those whom I have tried for myself, have no idea of a correct translation, even if they understood the Ethiopic pretty well. They cannot help adding a good deal of their own talk to their text ; so that their translating is rather commenting on their subject." The ardour with which this amiable and devoted Missionary entered on his work, is further exem plified in the following extract, which may form a suitable conclusion to our Extracts from his Journals.

It is only to be noticed, that early death (as related at pp. 273, 274 of this volume) cut short the promising appearances of his labours. Mr. Kugler writes : — " I look very anxiously for the blessed time when I can have Morning and Evening Worship in Tigre, with my people ; and I trust this time is near at hand. My employment during the rainy season will be this : 1. Instruction in Arabic and English, at least two hours daily. 2. Com posing another School-book. 3. Translating as

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. much as I can of the Gospel of St. Luke. 4. Com posing a Dictionary in Tigre ; which I shall also forward to you, as soon as it is finished." Adding : " As for myself, I am very happy here in this country ; though I have at present nothing that would deserve the name of comfort in Europe ; but I enjoy good health, and have much work on my hands, the prosperity of which fills my soul with delight." After continuing some time together in the province of Tigre, it was thought expedient that Mr. Gobat should proceed further into the interior. From this period, the Journal of Mr. Gobat com mences, which is now before the reader. That the previous state of Abyssinia may be clearly understood, prefixed to the Journal is a brief History, wliich was drawn up by the Rev. Professor Lee, at the request of the Committee of the Church Missionary Society, and was printed in the Appendix to their 18th Report.

Of the Journal of Mr. Gobat, it might seem almost superfluous to say any thing, as it speaks with a genuine native simplicity for itself. It may however be important, considering this do cument as a guide and model for other Mis sionaries, to notice one uniform and undeviating practice adopted by the Missionary, in all his re ligious conversations, whether with Priests or Laymen, learned or unlearned, Chieftains or Pea sants. The practice alluded to, is, his constant reference to Scripture. This was the strength

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. of his Mission ; as, indeed, it must be of every similar Christian undertaking. The effect pro duced hereby upon the minds of the Natives was, not unfrequently, surprise ; but, more generally, irresistible conviction. Here they behold a man coming in the midst of them, with no other object than their real welfare ; with no other text than Thus saith the Lord ; and delighting in no con versation so much, as that which leads them all, together with himself, to see the depth of man's spiritual sinfulness and misery, and the riches of grace abounding to us through Christ Jesus. He at the same time unavoidably listens to their subtle, trifling, and dangerous disputes ; he partakes in these as one not ignorant how far, and in what paths they have so long wandered from the sim plicity that is in Christ.

But he does not answer their sophistries with any refinements like their own ; he simply refutes their errors, by letting in upon them the full blaze of Gospel Truth; so that they are often as much amazed at their own absurdities, as they are persuaded of the force of Scripture Truth. Thus, wielding the sword of the Spirit, he shivers to pieces the weapons of carnal reason. The reader, while perusing these con versations, will often be reminded of the emphatic language of the Prophet Jeremiah (chap, xxiii. 28, 20): The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully . What is the chaff to the wheat ? saith the Lord. Is not my tvord like as a

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. XIX fires saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces ? That the Missionary should have found such easy access to the minds of the Abyssinians is to be attributed, among secondary causes, chiefly to the circumstance of his having made himself master of the language of the country. Till this prime qualification is attained, a Missionary must ever fail of conveying the whole of his meaning to those with whom he may have, in other respects, the freest intercourse ; and very often he must endure the mortification and the injury of being misrepresented, by timid or artful interpreters. It is, however, to be ascribed to the singular good ness of Providence, that Mr. Gobat's life was preserved in the midst of so many harassing and dangerous circumstances of civil war in a foreign land.

Nor less is it to be attributed to the gra cious influences of the Holy Spirit, that the hearts of so many persons were opened to receive from his lips truths so novel, so spiritual, so humbling, and so directly opposed to many of their opinions and customs. It may reasonably be expected that the measure of success thus far vouchsafed to Missionary labours in Abyssinia will strengthen the attach ment of British Christians toward this Ancient Church. That a nation situated so remarkably between Arabia on the East, and the dense and solid continent of Africa on the West, should not hereafter exert a great influence upon those

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. XX regions, seems hardly probable. Unquestionably, should Christian knowledge and a Christian spirit be rekindled in Abyssinia, the revival of piety in that land will be as the lighting up of a Pharos on the hitherto inhospitable Western shores of the Red Sea. Encouraged by these hopeful prospects, and animated, above all, by faith in the Divine pro mises, the Committee of the Church Missionary Society have determined to strengthen and extend their operations in Abyssinia. No surer pledge of his conviction that this Mission will succeed, could be given by Mr. Gobat, than his alacrity in returning to resume his post there. Another Missionary also has been sent out ; and has been for some time in Egypt, waiting till he shall be joined by Mr. Gobat ; which will thus tend to heal in some measure the bitter wound inflicted by the death of his beloved brother Kugler, the early and long-tried companion of his studies, his tra vels, and his first Missionary labours.

Two other students are also now, in this country, in a course of preparation for this Mission. When, through the blessing of God, these and other faithful Mis sionaries shall have succeeded in raising up a band of Native helpers in the glorious work of educa ting and evangelizing Eastern Africa, then shall we see accomplished the sincere though inefficient desires of such a man as the lamented Sebagadis, who longed to benefit his country, though he knew not how ; — then shall the miseries attendant

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. XXI upon religious strifes, heresies, and superstitions, be exchanged for that grace, which the large hearted Apostle of the Gentiles invoked on all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity ; — then, too, shall every one of those who have laboured for this hitherto benighted land see how truly the Divine promise has been kept — They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubt less come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him ! A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIIF. CHURCH OF ABYSSINIA, DRAWN UP BY THE REV. PROFESSOR LEE. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ABYSSINIA. Earliest Accounts of the Abyssinian Church. 1 h e conversion of the Abyssinians to the Christian Faith is said, by the best writers, to have taken place about the year 330, when Athanasius was Patriarch of Alexandria.

Meropius, say they, a merchant of Tyre, proceeding to India, touched on the shores of Ethiopia, in the Red Sea ; and, dying there, left two youths, by name Frumentius and Edesius ; who, being taken and carried to the King, were, on account of their docility and industry, favoured with their liberty, and at length made to preside over the archives of the empire. After the death of the King, they continued in the same office, under the patronage of the Queen, during the young King's minority. Frumentius, taking advan tage of the high station in which Providence had placed him, and of the great influence which his moderation and fidelity had given him among all ranks of people, thought it now time to do something toward the propa gation of the Faith among the Abyssinians. He accordingly proceeded to Alexandria ; and, having laid his wishes before Athanasius, was ordained Bishop of Ethiopia, whither he immediately returned.

After bap tizing a great number of the inhabitants, he proceeded to ordain a regular clergy, and to build churches. To b THE ORIGIN, AND THE ERRORS, what extent Christianity flourished in the days of Fru mentius, it is not easy to determine ; but, considering the influence and excellent endowments of the Bishop, it is probable that it was very great. There is, indeed, a tradition in Ethiopia, as well as in Europe, founded in both instances perhaps on Acts viii. 27, of the Eunuch of Queen Candace having first planted the Faith among the Abyssinians ; but, as this is void of all collateral testimony, it has generally been rejected. It has also been said that St. Matthew and St. Bartho lomew were the first Apostles of Ethiopia ; but the difficulty of showing that this Ethiopia is the Abyssinia of modern times, and the positive assertions of Ruffinus* and Abba Gregorys to the contrary, seem sufficiently to have refuted this assertion.

The Abyssinians, it is believed, have, ever since their conversion to Christianity, received their Patriarch (or Abuna t> as they call him) from Alexandria. This is sufficient to account for their creed having always been the same with that of that Church, which is, the Mono physite, or Jacobite, or Monothelite, or Eutychian, which appear to be only different names for the same thing. The peculiar dogma of this heresy — for such it has been called, with what justice I do not pretend to * Terram hanc nullo Apostolicœ prœdicationis vomcre pro scissam. — Ludolf. Hist. Æth. lib. III. c. ii. 29. Ex Ruffino. f Mihi vero Gregorius dudum retulerat, nullam aliam præ dicationem Evangelii in Habessinia sciri, quam quœ tempore Athanasii, regnantibus Abreha et Atzbcha fratribus, religioso viro Abba Salama facta sit; sic cnim nomen Frumentii, uti et aliis factum, mutaverunt.

(Ibid.3f».) This Gregory was a very well-informed native of Abyssinia ; and gave Ludolf very considerable assistance in studying the Ethiopic language. % Literally, Our Father. OF THE ABYSSINIAN CHURCH. determine — Ls that of acknowledging one nature in Christ, in opposition to the Nestorians, who hold two. On examining some of the best writers, however, on both sides, it will be found very difficult to discover in what they really do differ. I cannot but think with Ludolf and La Croze, that the disputes which have so long divided the Eastern Church on this mysterious point amount to nothing more than a battle about words ; which might, long ago, have been merged in the more important and more intelligible point of Christian charity, had not in terested views and angry passions determined otherwise.

It is certain that both Monophysites and Nestorians hold the Divinity of our Lord : their disputes respect only the mode of His incarnation. So long as the Church of Alexandria remained at unity with itself and with the Greek Church, that of Abyssinia may be said to have held the same doctrines and customs : but, in the time of the Emperor Marcion, upon the disagreement of the Bishops respecting the doctrine of the Incarnation, the Council of Chalcedon, which is called the Fourth General Council, was assembled ; and, in it, the dogmas of Eutyches and Dioscorus, the advocates for the Mono physite Belief, were condemned. Those who embraced the orthodox faith were, out of contempt, called Mel chites, i.e. Royalists ; because they followed the faith of the Emperor. The other party, also, out of contempt, received the title of Eutychians §, Jacobites ||, &c. § Ludolf has remarked (Hist.