Tigre was once a powerful kingdom? Okay, i give credit where it's due!
Posted: 29 Dec 2019, 22:54
''Tigre is a large and important province, of great wealth and power.
All the merchandise destined to cross the Red Sea to Arabia must pass through this province, so that the governor has the choice of all commodities wherewith to make his market.
The greatest length of Tigre is 200 miles, and the greatest breadth 120.
It lies between the territory of the Baharnagash [which reaches to the river Mareb] on the east, and the River Tacazze on the west.
Sire [Shire], once an independent province, was united to Tigre on account of the misconduct of its governor, in the reign of Yasus ''the great.''
Crossing the Tacazze, we come to the mountainous district of Samen, inhabited by the Falasha, with Gideon and Judith for their king and queen, as in early times.
South from Tigre is Begemder, including Lasta and Amhara. This district produces the best soldiers in Abyssinia, both cavalry and infantry.
It is asserted that it can raise an army of 45,000 men; but this must be an exaggeration.
Iron is abundant in the mountains, and the country possesses a fine breed of cattle.
Adjoining Amhara to the east is Angot, which, with the exception of a few villages, has been conquered by the Oromos.
Farther south are the provinces of Walaka and Shoa.
The latter is famous for the refuge it afforded to the infant prince of the house of Solomon, who was the only survivor of the massacre of the seed-royal by Judith [probably Gudit], about the year 900. For 400 years the royal family remained there, till it was restored to its ancient dignity.
Gojjam, a flat pastoral country, about 80 miles long and 40 broad, lies to the west of the last-named provinces.
It is almost encircled by the Nile. The inhabitants are good farmers [so far at least as cattle are concerned], but bad soldiers.
South from Gojjam is the small territory of Damat, which is properly a part of it, the name Gojjam being generally given to the whole peninsula inclosed by the river.
Dembea is the country surrounding the lake of that name. This is the granary of Abyssinia. The mountainous region of Kwara has a tribe of pagan Blacks, called ''Ganjar,'' the descendants of fugitive black slaves, and other vagabonds who have joined them during successive generations.
The frontier land, stretching on by Ras el Feel and Tchelga to Tcherkin, is wholly occupied by Mahometans, who form a barrier against the Arabs of Sennar. There are many other small provinces, but none of them are of such importance as to require special mention in this place.''
Bruce's Travels and Adventures in Abyssinia
James Bruce
A. & C. Black, 1860 - Egypt - 350 pages
Pages 82-84
All the merchandise destined to cross the Red Sea to Arabia must pass through this province, so that the governor has the choice of all commodities wherewith to make his market.
The greatest length of Tigre is 200 miles, and the greatest breadth 120.
It lies between the territory of the Baharnagash [which reaches to the river Mareb] on the east, and the River Tacazze on the west.
Sire [Shire], once an independent province, was united to Tigre on account of the misconduct of its governor, in the reign of Yasus ''the great.''
Crossing the Tacazze, we come to the mountainous district of Samen, inhabited by the Falasha, with Gideon and Judith for their king and queen, as in early times.
South from Tigre is Begemder, including Lasta and Amhara. This district produces the best soldiers in Abyssinia, both cavalry and infantry.
It is asserted that it can raise an army of 45,000 men; but this must be an exaggeration.
Iron is abundant in the mountains, and the country possesses a fine breed of cattle.
Adjoining Amhara to the east is Angot, which, with the exception of a few villages, has been conquered by the Oromos.
Farther south are the provinces of Walaka and Shoa.
The latter is famous for the refuge it afforded to the infant prince of the house of Solomon, who was the only survivor of the massacre of the seed-royal by Judith [probably Gudit], about the year 900. For 400 years the royal family remained there, till it was restored to its ancient dignity.
Gojjam, a flat pastoral country, about 80 miles long and 40 broad, lies to the west of the last-named provinces.
It is almost encircled by the Nile. The inhabitants are good farmers [so far at least as cattle are concerned], but bad soldiers.
South from Gojjam is the small territory of Damat, which is properly a part of it, the name Gojjam being generally given to the whole peninsula inclosed by the river.
Dembea is the country surrounding the lake of that name. This is the granary of Abyssinia. The mountainous region of Kwara has a tribe of pagan Blacks, called ''Ganjar,'' the descendants of fugitive black slaves, and other vagabonds who have joined them during successive generations.
The frontier land, stretching on by Ras el Feel and Tchelga to Tcherkin, is wholly occupied by Mahometans, who form a barrier against the Arabs of Sennar. There are many other small provinces, but none of them are of such importance as to require special mention in this place.''
Bruce's Travels and Adventures in Abyssinia
James Bruce
A. & C. Black, 1860 - Egypt - 350 pages
Pages 82-84
