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IN THE BOGOS' COUNTRY
(By Mrs. Luisa Reinische)
No date is written and the timing of this writing is in the early 1890s. The
woman I presume is the wife of Leo Reinische, who has written extensively in
Eritrean languages and customs. With the occupation of that large and natural
mountain fortress which is the Bogos' country, the Italians have seized for the
port of Massawa not only a sanitary station, but also a territory which will
produce them sufficient means of substance for their African army.
To this be added that they now possess a great portion of the very ancient
commercial route that from the times of the Ptolomais and the roman emperors was
used for the transportation of the central African products to the Red Sea and
the Mediterranean. Sahel is the name of that vast plain which extends north of
Massawa, between the sea and the first lines of the Abyssinian highlands.Usually,
the caravans from Massawa take two days to reach the valley which gives access
to the western mountains. This is the Lebca's river valley which, when in flood,
it sends its waters direct to the Red Sea, otherwise spreading about in the
Sahel plain zone. Along the Lebca's valley, except in some short-cuts, the route
follows the river turns, and it reaches, after three days, the watershed on the
high passage of Meshalit.
One straight ascent covered with savage shrubs, gives way from Sahel to that
passage that, at the same time, divide rivers, regions, and peoples. Lebca
remains backward in the Ad-Temariam. In front of the Anseba is the Begguik
country. Read more
Bad men of the Borders:
Shum and Shifta in North Ethiopia in the 19th century
Book 2nd Annual Seminar of Department of history
Author: R.A. Caulk
PART 1
Outlawry was an avenue to office frequently persued by neglected members of the
office
holding families. Outlaws who took advantage in their careers of the borders
between Christian cultivators in the highlands and Muslim pastoralists towards
the Sudan and lowlands near the Red Sea are particularly well documented.
p41 Labour service by the women ground the grain which permitted an office
holder to feed daily the armed following which gave him security and eminence.
Also official and his escorts had to be given hospitality when on the march.
The poverty and political impotence of the later Solomonic ruling from Gondar
and domination of the empire by regional warlords from 1769 to 1855 gave rebels
great scoop for attacking rivals who obtained appointment from the emperor's
nominal subordinates. Shifta from the gentry could rise a greater following as
they were politically dangerous and provoked large expeditions against
themselves. So, the countryside suffered more from rebellion than of activities
of mere robbers.
Araya Dimtsu of Enderta, maternal uncle of Yohannes IV was probably the most
distinguished senior family member in the court, and died standing his ground
when the emperor's baggage train and corpse were overtaken by the Mahdist
garrison of Metemma in 1889. This heroic loyalty to the dead master and Araya's
statesmanship are what's usually remembered as an ideal nobleman. The means by
which he had risen have been obscured. Like many of his generation, Araya b.
1810-11, fought his way to prominence as a youthful rebel rather than having
office and revenues bestowed upon him and revolted against Wibe of Semien.
Read more
THE MEMORIES of
FRANCESCO CRISPI.
Translated by
MARY PRICHARD-AGNETTI
From the documents
Collected and edited by
THOMAS PALAMENGHI-CRISPI
VOL II
THE TRIPPLE ALLIANCE
LONDON, E.C. MCMXII
CRISPI AND THE BULGARIAN QUESTION.
The ministerial crisis of February 1887- Crispi’s attitude; his talks
with the King; his appointment as Minister of the Interior- The
Bulgarian Question and the conduct of the Italian Government before and
after Crispi´s assumption of control of our foreign policy as regards
affairs in the East- Correspondence and documents- Italy proposes and
prevails upon the Powers to accept the non-intervention policy in
Bulgaria- The Triple Alliance for Eastern Affairs.
The ministerial crisis brought about by the awful slaughter at Dogali at
February 8, 1887, was long and strenuous.
The African enterprise, which had been initiated by the landing of
Italian troops at Massaua (February 5, 1885), was to have constituted,
according to Minister Mancini, an indemnification, a reparation as it
were, for the disappointments Italy had suffered, in the Mediterranean.
*Why will you refuse to recognise,` he said at the Chamber on Jan 27,
1885, addressing his opponents, who had accused him losing sight of the
true object of the Italian policy, that is to say, the Medit, ‘that in
the Red Sea, its nearest neighbour, we may find the key to the Medit?’
Italy, alas! Found naught but disaster in the Red Sea, and a fatal
diversion, which Crispi had foreseen from the very beginning, as appears
from the warning he uttered at the Chamber on Jan 29.
Read more
 Memories/1.pdf
Memories/2.pdf
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