Ethiopia the Valiant by William Roome

A brief history of Ethiopia and of Christian missions in that country up to around 1936. My thanks to Redcliffe College for providing an original copy of this book to scan. This title is in the public domain.

William John Waterman Roome [1865-1937], Ethiopia the Valiant. London & Edinburgh: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, n.d. Pbk. pp.126. [Click to download complete book in PDF]

Contents

1. Abayte! The Call From Ethiopia
2. Ethiopia, The Land of History and Mystery
3. Abyssinia To-day
4. The Moslem Invader
5. Caesar-Nero!
6. Rome: The Papal Tyrant
7. Ethiopia To-morrow
8. The Negus – Emperor and Gentleman
9. The Healing Touch
10. The Word of Life
    

Epilogue: Ethiopia Prayer League

Chapter 1

A richly furnished reception room in a well-built house on the high plateau in Ethiopia (Abyssinia).

The Ras (Governor) sits there in State, surrounded by his courtiers, soldiers, and State servants. It breathes the atmosphere of ease and security – of contentment and luxury.

Suddenly the silence is broken by a persistent wail from a distant hill-crest. Scanning the horizon, one saw some twenty men, dishevelled, wan, and half clothed; with one frantic cry they sought to draw the Governor’s attention as together they pleaded : “Abayte! Abayte!”

Their anguished cry seemed to stab our spirits, and stir to action: “Abayte! Give justice! Have mercy! Avenge us of our adversaries. Show pity! Abayte! Abayte!”

The cry persisted for thirty – sixty – minutes and more. These desperate men would not be denied. They were in dire need. The Governor could satisfy it. He might continue his journey and then all hope would be lost. He must bear their case; he must give justice now, or else they would perish.

That appeal was eloquent in its brevity and insistence. It said: “You have choice wine: we have nothing to slake our thirst. You have rare and rich food to eat: we are starving. You have friends to comfort and soldiers to protect : we are friendless and helpless. Abayte! Do justice!” [Continue reading]