A

LOST NATION.-A writer in the Natal

Mcrcury, under date of the 2nd of

February, J869, says, when treating of

the ruins of Simbaoe:-"A day's march

from Andow/i, between two hills, at the

end of a vast and fertile valley, are

the ruins of Axum. To this day

incredible flights of stono atepi

conduct the traveller up to the summits

of the hills, in one of which are found

deep grottoes and vast halls, cut out of

the roclc and ornamented with columns.

There, according to the traditions of

the country, is the tomb of the Queen of

Saba. The adjoining valley, shaded by

majestic trees, is i filled by the

remains o( the city, consisting of huge

blocks of stone. Very little of the

debris reveal their former purpose.

There may, however, be distinguished two

groups of fourteen or fifteen obelisks,

thrown down. Seven of them arc covered

with ornaments, and are not less than

thirty six feet in length. These

masterpieces of ancient architecture

reveal to us the fact of an ancient

civilisation in the heart of Africa,

which has disappeared thousands of years

since." Niobuhr tells us of a mighty

Abyssinian empire existing here,

mentioning in particular Saba, and say3

it was so poworfu! that even the Roman

and Parthian strength could not prevail

against it. This last statement is taken

from a Greek inscription found among the

ruins engraved in stone. On the reverse

side is another engraving, in some

ancient language, which has not yet been

deciphered. The savage tribes guard

these ruins with jealous care. No living

animal is allowed to be killed in them,

no tree permitted to be destroyed,

everything connected with them being

held sacred, as belonging either to a

good or evil power." A missionary who

penetrated within a short distanco of

the ruins, writes:-"In this country were

also found sonic very old guns, in a

hole in the mountain. We got one of the

locks of these guns, and found it to

have a wheel outside rwith cogs or teeth

; and a tradition exists that they came

from these ruins. .The Basutos often

tell lis, when asked if they acknowledge

God, about the big stones in the Banyai,

where all created thingB are to be seen,

even sphinxes, pyramidal-shaped

buildings and catacombs."-Letter in the

Aihenxum. CUBE FOB EUTBIPEIIAS.-I am

indebted to the