3-021-443 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The British Expedition to Abyssinia: the Amba Alaejieh, near Lake Ashangi, 1868. Engraving of a sketch showing '...the tremendous scenery of the Aladjieh Pass, half way on the road from Antalo to Lake Ashangi. The upper part of the high peaked mountain, surrounded with a threefold escarpment, forms the Amba Aladjieh, a strong fortress, commanding the pass. It is garrisoned by 500 men, belonging to Welda Yasous, a robber chief, who has revolted against King Theodore, on the one hand, and against Prince Kassa, the ruler of Tigre, on the other. He dwells, with his 500 men, in the hamlet of small conical huts, perched upon the ledges of rock near the top of this mountain. He ventured, though with some hesitation, to descend from his eyrie, and visit the camp of Sir Robert Napier, where he was feasted, and is said to have got drunk on the English port wine'. The Imba Alaje (or Amba Alagi) is a steep-sided, flat-topped mountain in northern Ethiopia. In the foreground is a British Army column with Indian elephants carrying Armstrong guns. From "Illustrated London News", 1868.