Two Feyissa

Dereje Amharic letters

– Markus of debtera
Virgil Tewelde
Hoehne: Borders and Medhin ofasWelqayt
Borderlands
Resources in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010
from the collection of Antoine d’Abbadie (1849)
(SZÉLINGER Balázs) 140
by Viviane DELPECH7 Conference Reports
with translations by HAGOS Abrha8 and ABREHA Tsegay9
The 18th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa:
Abstract “Movements in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to
3 November 2012 (Wolbert SMIDT – Chikage OBA-SMIDT) 144
The two Amharic letters presented in this article are kept in the “fonds Antoine d’Abbadie”
National
in Workshop:
the archives „Socio-cultural
of the Département Impact
des Pyrénées Assessment
Atlantiques 10 of (reference
in Pau the Welqaytnumber: 152
Sugar and Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle
J 651), found there recently by Viviane Delpech during her doctoral research University
on Antoine
(MITIKU
d’Abbadie. Gabrehiwot)
This article summarizes the life of this early researcher, who resided for many 150
years in Ethiopia,
The Mikael Iyasuand puts theMekelle
Library: letters intoUniversity
their context.
Acquires 2,500 Books from the
Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153
Keywords: history in Ethiopia – debtera
International Workshop on Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian –
French research Tewelde Medhin
Ethiopian scholarly
Cultural andhistory – FitheofNegest
Art Heritage – Amharic
the Haddis letter writing
Alemayehu Cultural and
Research Institute, Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An
Illustrated Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155
Antoine d’Abbadie, researcher in Ethiopia in the 19th century
International Workshop on “Culture, Environment and Development”
Antoineatd’Abbadie
Mekelle University, 15 March 2012
was a Basque-French (Yoko born
scientist, FURUSAKI ) in Dublin 160
in 1810 in
11
Ireland. From his childhood
From Ambivalence he admired
to Acceptance James Bruce
– International and dreamt
Conference of equalling
on Azmari
12
his bravein explorations in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia, University His explorer
of Hildesheim, 6 − 8soul was revealed
January 2012 very early
by his systematic
(Andreas W questions
ETTER) about his environment and his plans to explore the 164
unknown himself one day.13 After six years of material, financial and
Workshop “On the History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at
intellectual preparation, he landed on the Massawa Peninsula on 17 February
Mekelle University, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN
1838. He was accompanied by his younger brother Arnauld-Michel d’Abbadie,
– Zeus WELLNHOFER) 166
who later played a leading role at the court of an Ethiopian prince and got
strongly involved in military campaigns under that ruler. In spite of the mythic
quality of his trip to find the source of the Nile, d’Abbadie’s approach was
Research and Expedition Reports
7 Viviane Delpech, Art Historian, Laboratoire ITEM EA 3002 – Université de Pau et des Pays
A Journey to Central and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE)
de l’Adour (France). – The annotations to the letters are by Wolbert Smidt, as is also the
169
Did the gold
paragraph on theofletters
the Aksumites originate
and the biography in Tigray?
of Tewelde A report on
Medhin.
8 Lecturer in the Department of Foreign Languages, College of Social Sciences and Languages
ongoing research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray
(CSSL), MU, and Team Leader of the Geez Unit in the Department of Amharic, CSSL.
9 Lecturer(Wolbert SMIDT, in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse)
in the Department of Amharic, CSSL.
181
10 Services des Archives départementales des Pyrénées Atlantiques.
11 Travels to discover the source of the Nile was his childhood book.

Research Abstracts
12 Abbadie, A. (d’), Radau, R., Géodésie d’une partie de la Haute-Ethiopie, Duprat, Paris, 1863;

Abbadie, A. (d’), Géographie de l’Ethiopie, ce que j’ai entendu faisant suite à ce que j’ai vu, vol. I, G.
Mesnil,
Selected Paris, 1890. of research projects in social sciences and humanities
abstracts
13 Darboux, G., Antoine d’Abbadie. 1810-1897, notice historique sur Antoine d’Abbadie, Académie
at Mekelle University
des Sciences, Stedi, Paris, 2001.
193
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012) 53 52
5
 Viviane Delpech with Hagos Abrha & Abreha Tsegay
characterized by its singularity and complexity. He not only planned to localize
the source of the Nile, but he also purposed to provide Dereje a geographic
Feyissawork – Markus Virgil H
about the territory, an ethnographic, linguistic and anthropological study
Resources of thein the Horn of
Ethiopian people, and the development of French diplomacy and involvement
(SZÉLINGER Balázs)
of the Catholic Church in the region. Initially intending to stay for three years,
he ultimately spent eleven years travelling throughout Ethiopia, from Tigray to
Harer, the Oromo countries, Innarya, Shewa and Begémdir, among others.14
His scientific equipment consisted mainly of a trip telescope, The 18ath theodolite,
International Conference
chains and pickets – to make observations and measurements, to study “Movements
the sky, in Ethiopia,
the mountains and the rivers, and to sketch maps. For this, he had 3workedNovember out 2012 (Wolbe
a method of data collection, “la géographie expéditive”, which made
National use of „Socio-cultu
Workshop:
natural landmarks. Sugar and Irrigation Proje
His way of travelling was unique as he pursued a peaceful and(M intellectual
ITIKU Gabrehiwot)
approach. Towards the end of his life, he gave a speech, entitled Credo d’un
The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle
vieux voyageur, in which he explained the best way to travel safely and peacefully.
Family of the Late Mikael
One important lesson that he noted was that it was better not to travel with
International
weapons, considering them as ineffective, just conveying a message Workshop on Docu
of conflict
and aggressivity. He also valorized human sciences and found it mandatoryand
Cultural to Art Heritage
Research
learn local languages in order to integrate into the local cultures and to protect Institute, Debre
himself from translators whom he considered as often too unreliable. Illustrated Conference Re
15

In contrast to his brother who was strongly engaged inInternational

military activities,
Workshop on “Cult
d’Abbadie soon became a recognized scholar in Ethiopia. He succeeded at MekelleinUniversity, 15 M
integrating himself within the circles of Ethiopian intellectuals and religious
From Ambivalence to Acceptance
elites in the traditional schools of higher learning of Gonder and other areas,
and was proud of being considered a memhir [a designation used in forEthiopia,
learned University of
(Andreas
personalities who were active in teaching]. Moreover, he also became known WETTER)
through his Christian engagement. Between 1838 and 1840, Workshop
as he needed“On theto History and C
acquire more adequate scientific material, he used the opportunity Mekelle
of a tripUniversity,
to 17-18 M
Europe to visit Pope Gregory XVI in Rome. He presented three – Zeusfellow
WELLNHOFER)
Ethiopian Christians to the Pope in order to demonstrate that “nos frères de
religion” [‘our brothers in faith’] deserve the support and the attention of the
Roman Church for an evangelization mission in Ethiopia.16 This activity lies at
the beginning of the later Lazarist (and much later Capuchin) missions in
Ethiopia (then mainly encompassing the highlands) and further A Journey
south to in
Central
the and Western
Oromo lands. For his involvement in this missionary project, d’Abbadie
Did the gold of was the Aksumites or
awarded the Cross of Knight of Saint Gregory’s Order. ongoing research on local
(Wolbert SMIDT, in collab
14 Abbadie, A. (d’), Radau R., op. cit. 1863; Abbadie, A. (d’), op. cit, 1890. The provinces and
independant kingdoms mentioned are just examples.
15 Abbadie, A. (d’), Credo d’un vieux voyageur, Paris, 1884. The same recommendations had been

made much earlier in his « Instructions pour les voyages d’exploration » in Bulletin de la Société de
Géographie, Martinet, Paris, 1867, p. 29-30. Selected abstracts of research pro
16 See Abbadie, A. (d’), « Sur l’abolition de l’esclavage en Afrique », Bulletin de la Société des Etudes

Coloniales et Maritimes, numéro d’avril 1896, Paris, 1896.

at Mekelle University
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
54
53 ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
 Two Amharic letters of debtera Tewelde Medhin of Welqayt
Back in Ethiopia, Antoine d’Abbadie succeeded in accomplishing one truly
major
Dereje project.
Feyissa –In 1846,Virgil
Markus after Hoehne:
an exhausting
Bordersexpedition,
and Borderlands the two
as brothers
reachedResources
what theyinthought
the Horn to of
be Africa.
the source of the Nile,
Woodbridge 2010between the Innarya
17
and Jimmaa kingdoms.
(SZÉLINGER Balázs) For this incomparable achievement they received the 140
prestigious Légion d’Honneur and the Gold Medal of the French Society of
Geography in 1850.18 Unfortunately, after claiming for Conference more than tenReports
years to
have located the Nile’s main stream, the discovery of its source was ultimately
The 18th International
attributed to the BritishConference of Ethiopian
explorers Speke Studies
and Grant. in Dirre
It was Dawa: that the
discovered
“Movements
d’Abbadie brothers hadin Ethiopia,
mistakenly Ethiopia
studiedintheMovement”,
Omo River29 October
instead to Nile.
of the
However,3 November
this error2012and (Wolbert
deceptionSMIDTdid –notChikage OBA-Sthe
take away MIDT )
value 144
of their
contribution to Ethiopian
National Workshop: studies. Indeed,
„Socio-cultural ImpactAntoine d’Abbadie
Assessment of the created
Welqaytthe first
19
Amharic-French dictionary consisting of 15.000 words,
Sugar and Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University elaborated with the
help of (M
hisITIKU
teacher, the Ethiopian professor debtera Tewelde Medhin. Started
Gabrehiwot) 150
already during his journey in Ethiopia, d’Abbadie continued with the colossal
The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the
task of updating and deepening this dictionary over a period of thirty years.
Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153
This also explains its fairly late publication in 1881, long after Tewelde
International
Medhin’s Workshop
death. The Frenchon Documentation
scholar also and Preservation
worked for many of Ethiopian
years on the
Cultural and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu
sketching and publication, in 1863, 1873 and 1890, of the first geodesy Cultural and and
Research Institute, Debre Markos
20 University, 19
cartography of Highland Ethiopia. Furthermore, he collected a treasure May 2012 – An of
Illustrated
nearly three Conference
hundred Ethiopian Report (Manuel R
manuscripts, kept
AMOS )
today at the Bibliothèque155
21
nationale de France.
International Workshop Throughout
on “Culture, hisEnvironment
life, he valorized Ethiopian culture and
and Development”
passed on his studies about Ethiopia’s people
at Mekelle University, 15 March 2012 (Yoko FURUSAKIthrough many )of his speeches 160
and publications, which focused particularly on the fight against slavery.22
From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari
On his way back home in 1848, d’Abbadie accompanied Tewelde Medhin
to Egyptinand
Ethiopia, University
Jerusalem for his of Hildesheim,
Christian 6 − 8 23January
pilgrimage. 2012 to France did
The return
(Andreas W ETTER)
not mean the end of his Ethiopian engagement, however. He kept in touch 164
Workshop
and “On the
developed History
relations andEthiopians,
with Culture of the Horn
such as of Africa” atand Tewelde
Assegeheñ
Medhin,Mekelle
westernUniversity,
explorers 17-18
such asMarch 2011 (Carsten
Munzinger, HOFFMANN
and Catholic missionaries such
– Zeus
as Massaja, WELLNHOFER
Taurin and Juste ) d’Urbin, who used to send him information, 166

Research and Expedition Reports

17 « Lettre de M. d’Abbadie à M. Arago, sur la découverte de la principale des sources du Nil
blanc », in Compte-rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des Sciences, vol. 25, juillet-décembre
A Journey to Central and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE)
1847, Bachelier, Paris, p. 485-487.
169
Did the gold of the Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on
18 Darboux, G., op.cit., 2001.
19 Abbadie, A. (d’), Dictionnaire de la langue amariñña, Actes de la Société Philologique, tome 10,
ongoing research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray
F. Vieweg, 1881.
20 Abbadie,(Wolbert SMIDT, in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse) 181
A. (d’), Radau, R., op.cit. 1863 ; Abbadie, A. (d’), Observations relatives à la physique du
globe, Paris, 1873; Abbadie, A. (d’), op.cit, 1890.
21 On this particular subject, see Bosc-Tiessé, C., Wion, A., « Les manuscrits éthiopiens

d’Antoine d’Abbadie à la Bibliothèque nationale de France. Collecte, Research

copie etAbstracts
étude » in
Dercourt, J. (ed.), Antoine d’Abbadie, de l’Abyssinie au Pays basque, voyage d’une vie, Atlantica,
Biarritz,
Selected2010, p. 77-116.
abstracts of research projects in social sciences and humanities
22 For example, Abbadie, A. (d’), op.cit., 1896.
23 Darboux, G., op.cit.,University
at Mekelle 2001.
193
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012) 55 54
5
 Viviane Delpech with Hagos Abrha & Abreha Tsegay
objects or manuscripts that he had ordered.24 When he had his personal ‘castle
of Abbadia’ built by the famous architect Viollet-le-Duc,25Dereje
he alsoFeyissa
sought– Markus
to Virgil H
decorate it with references to Ethiopia. This is also the reasonResourceswhy twoin the Horn of
éthiopisant portraits were found in his lounge: one showing d’Abbadie in 1838 Balázs)
(SZÉLINGER
on his aforementioned visit to Rome with his three fellow Ethiopian
Christians, and the other Tewelde Medhin’s portrait, indicating d’Abbadie’s
admiration for his Amharic teacher. These artworks are significant examples
for the orientalist stream of arts in the 19th century. The 18th International Conference
“Movements
The originality and uniqueness of d’Abbadie’s castle lies especially in the in Ethiopia,
3 November
painted scenes of Ethiopian daily life. These wall paintings are found in the 2012 (Wolbe
hallway and were arranged by the architect decorator, Duthoit. Based on „Socio-cultu
National Workshop:
rationalist principles recommended by Viollet-le-Duc, Duthoit depicted
Sugar anda realIrrigation Proje
ethnologic study: women’s preparation of injera, the reception of (M a chief, an
ITIKU Gabrehiwot)
Oromo parliament, a Christian school, a warrior holding a speech, a Christian
The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle
procession, one painting shows a case of church asylum (with a fugee running
Family of the Late Mikael
to a church compound to protect himself from persecution), and a hunting
scene. These scenes convey a didactic message that is International
underlined by Workshop
an on Docu
Cultural
Ethiopian calligraphic register, composing the figurative paintings’ legends. and Art Heritage
Throughout the castle, he used Ethiopian proverbs in Ge’ezResearch script Institute,
as Debre
decoration. More than teaching Ethiopian habits, d’Abbadie’s Illustratedchoice ofConference Re
emblematic Ge’ez calligraphy serves the purpose of elevating Ethiopia to
International the
Workshop on “Cult
level of an antique and authentic civilization. He also integrated at in Mekelle
his neo-University, 15 M
gothic decors an Ethiopian collection composed of leather shields, hunt
From Ambivalence to Acceptance
trophies and numerous daily objects. Last but not least, he positioned a statue
in Ethiopia,
of the young Ethiopian Adula in the center of his hallway, in rememberance of University of
Adula, who had accompanied him and had lived with him in France. This(Andreas WETTER)
refined wooden sculpture is situated at the second floor ofWorkshop “On the History and C
the main staircase,
positioned at the centre of the building, surrounded by the wall Mekelle University, 17-18 M
paintings
– Zeus
described above. The symbol is very eloquent: dressed as a warrior and WELLNHOFER)
holding
a torch, Adula is settled on a powerful buffalo head. With his youth, his
garment and his attitude, he characterizes and even serves as an allegory of the
Ethiopian nation, which d’Abbadie considered to be young, proud, combative,
intellectually enlightened and free. Its central positioning reveals the
A Journey to Central and Western
Did the gold of the Aksumites or
ongoing research on local
24 Delpech, V., Orientalisme rêvé et souvenirs de voyage au château d’Abbadia, Master 2 recherche
(Wolbert SMIDT, in collab
Histoire de l’art, Laboratoire ITEM EA 3002, Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, 2008.
25V. Delpech has done a Ph. D. thesis in History of art on this castle and its owners, Antoine
and Virginie d’Abbadie (Le château d'Abbadia à Hendaye: le monument idéal d’Antoine d'Abbadie,
Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, 2012). The castle of Abbadia was built near Hendaye
(French Basque country), on the French southwest coast cliffs, between 1864 and 1879. It is
characterized by its blend of oriental and Gothic concerning furniture, Selected
decor, architecture
abstractsandof research pro
collections. As stipulated in d’Abbadie’s last will, it belongs today to the French Academy of
Sciences, along with his entire legacy.
at Mekelle University
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
56
55 ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
 Two Amharic letters of debtera Tewelde Medhin of Welqayt
importance of his attachment to Ethiopia, as the centre of this
scientist’s universe
Dereje Feyissa even far
– Markus away
Virgil Borders26and Borderlands as
from Ethiopia.
Hoehne:
Resources in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010
(SZÉLINGER Balázs) 140

Conference Reports

The 18th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies in Dirre Dawa:

“Movements in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to
3 November 2012 (Wolbert SMIDT – Chikage OBA-SMIDT) 144
National Workshop: „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt
Sugar and Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University
(MITIKU Gabrehiwot) 150
The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the
Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153
International Workshop on Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian
Cultural and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and
Research Institute, Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An
Illustrated Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155
International Workshop on “Culture, Environment and Development”
at Mekelle University, 15 March 2012 (Yoko FURUSAKI) 160
From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari
in Ethiopia, University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012
(Andreas WETTER) 164
Workshop “On the History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at
Mekelle University, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN
– Zeus WELLNHOFER) 166

Research and Expedition Reports

A Journey to Central and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE) 169

Fig.
Did1:thePortrait
goldof of
debtera Tewelde Medhinoriginate
the Aksumites in Egypt (kept in the Abbadia
in Tigray? castle, Hendaye,
A report on France), courtesy
of the French Academy of Sciences
ongoing research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray
(Wolbert SMIDT, in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse) 181
D’Abbadie’s distinctions are extremely numerous. The most glorious one was
his election as a member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1867 in
recognition for his geographical works concerning Ethiopia. He became one of
Research Abstracts
Selected abstracts of research projects in social sciences and humanities
26See Delpech, V., « L’Ethiopie au château d’Abbadia: de la création à l’expression d’un
at Mekelle University
programme orientaliste », Annales d’Ethiopie 26, 2011, pp. 129-165.
193
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012) 57 56
5
 Viviane Delpech with Hagos Abrha & Abreha Tsegay
the most important éthiopisants, and was consulted by numerous travelers and
scientists. In 1885, some years before his death in 1897,Dereje he went back– Markus
Feyissa to Virgil H
Ethiopia once more, aged more than 70, accompanied by his wife Virginie.in the Horn of
Resources
During this last stay he felt nostalgic, given the increase of European influence, Balázs)
(SZÉLINGER
which would profoundly change the mythic land of his youth.

The letter writer: debtera Tewelde Medhin of Welqayt27

The 18th International Conference
The letters presented here belong to the first ones written by his“Movements
Ethiopian in Ethiopia,
travel companion Tewelde Medhin after his arrival in Jerusalem and 2012 (Wolbe
3 November
d’Abbadie’s departure to France. Tewelde Medhin had been commissioned to
National Workshop: „Socio-cultu
write a full scholarly commentary to the Fithe Negest, the Ethiopian law book of
Sugar and Irrigation Proje
the kings, and had been promised payment by Antoine d’Abbadie. These
(MITIKU Gabrehiwot)
letters are of minor importance, but still interesting examples of Amharic letter
writing. They document an exchange of information regarding The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle
the payment,
which was carried out by d’Abbadie, but more slowly than expectedofby Family the Late Mikael
Tewelde Medhin. An interesting feature of this otherwise rather prosaic
International Workshop on Docu
document is that Tewelde Medhin underlined his report and his claims by and
Cultural an Art Heritage
Ethiopian proverb and also some cultural references: The Ethiopian monks Institute,
Research in Debre
Jerusalem had troubled him, but the patriarch had become his “relative”, with
Illustrated Conference Re
which he shows that by now he is well protected and accepted by the leading
International Workshop on “Cult
personalities of Jerusalem – while hinting indirectly at some controversies with
at Mekelle University, 15 M
the monks, probably about doctrinal questions (we shall note here that he was
close to d’Abbadie and thus perhaps also to some of hisFrom ideasAmbivalence
of religious to Acceptance
reform). in Ethiopia, University of
The Ge’ez inscription in the above-mentioned portrait (see(Andreas WETTER)
fig. 1) of
Tewelde Medhin “from Aqewerq in Welqayt” describes him as a professor
Workshop “On theof History and C
law at Medhané Alem in Gonder, which shows that he had alreadyMekelle acquired a
University, 17-18 M
certain scholarly rank in the traditional schools of higher learning. He was
– Zeus WELLNHOFER)
therefore not just the Amharic teacher and main source for d’Abbadie’s
Amharic dictionary, but also an experienced scholar, before he decided to
retreat to Jerusalem as a pilgrim and later as a monk.28

A Journey to Central and Western

Did the gold of the Aksumites or
ongoing research on local
(Wolbert
27 I am grateful to Wolbert Smidt for contributing this section and the annotations to the twoSMIDT, in collab
letters.
28 The information in this paragraph is based on a reading and analysis of the portrait of
Tewelde Medhin and the scarce biographic information found in d’Abbadie’s writings and
other sources; see Wolbert Smidt, “Tewelde-Medhin ze-Aqewerq”, in Biographisch-
Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon, vol. 33, 2012, München - Nordhausen: Traugott Bautz,
Selected Sp. 1411-
abstracts of research pro
15. See also the summary of his biography: Wolbert Smidt, “Täwäldä Mädhən”, in Siegbert
at Mekelle
Uhlig (ed.), Encyclopaedia Aethiopica, vol. 4 (O-X), Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz 2010, p. 876f.
University
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
58
57 ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
 Two Amharic letters of debtera Tewelde Medhin of Welqayt
Translation of letter I29 (s. fig. 2)
Dereje Feyissa – Markus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and30Borderlands as
This letterResources
is sent by in
debtera
the Horn Tewelde MedhinWoodbridge
of Africa. to Int’onyos, 2010
the Frenchman. Peace be to
you, my dear, and peace
(SZÉLINGER Balázs) be to your brothers, who are also my brothers. Have you arrived140 at
your country peacefully, and is your family fine?
Concerning the book,31 four paragraphs have already been written, and the fifthReports
Conference is begun.
However, we have agreed that the writer would get fifty birr32 after writing some; why did you
say
Thetwenty? You transgressed
18th International what you had
Conference said. A proverb
of Ethiopian says:in‘Better
Studies Dirre toDawa:
be the death of
one’s child“Movements
than to break in a promise.’ I did not break my promise.
Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to
The monks troubled me,2012
3 November but the patriarch
(Wolbert and the
SMIDT counsel are
– Chikage OBA with me (have
-SMIDT ) become 144 my
relatives).
National Workshop: „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt
I have written this on Thursday, on the 21st of the month of Sené, in 1841 E.C.33 Amen.
Sugar and Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University
[Followed by a postscript:]34
(MITIKU Gabrehiwot) 150
Regarding abune [our father] P’awlos it is like this: He said, ‘I have asked an old Roman
–The Mikael
before Iyasuwas
the church Library:
burnt,Mekelle
there wereUniversity
two graves Acquires
around our2,500Lord’sBooks from
shrouding the
[maybe
Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (A
the name of a place], after the church was burnt, Rome built a temple inside, but I don’t
YELE Bekerie) 153
know whether the
International skull is (still)
Workshop on there or was taken away.’
Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian
Cultural and Art 35Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and
Translation
Research of letter II (s.
Institute, fig. 4)Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An
Debre
Illustrated Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155
This letter is sent by debtera Tewelde Medhin, Professor of Fithe Negest, to Debadi
International
Int’onyos. 36 Workshop
Greetings to you,on my“Culture,
dear. I amEnvironment
happy you reachedand home
Development”
in peace. The Fithe
Negest has fifty-one articles. I have written ten of them and sent this to )you. But, you have
at Mekelle University, 15 March 2012 (Yoko F URUSAKI 160
not
FromsentAmbivalence
the salary of the to scribe yet. You–promised
Acceptance me thatConference
International you will sendona Azmari
letter about the
money byinBirut Hup. But you did not. So the scribe refused
Ethiopia, University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012 to write without agreement. That
is why I received
(Andreas thatWfifty
ETTERbirr.) 164
You know that I never disobey your orders and I will not. However, shortly after you left they
Workshop “On the History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at
took me down to the ground floor and then put me out of the house. I lost my dignity and
Mekelle University, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN
– Zeus WELLNHOFER) 166

29 Translated by Hagos Abrha.

30 Ethiopian form of the name Antonius. Research and Expedition Reports
31 The two letters show that he is referring here to the writing of the Fithe Negest

commentary, which he was commissioned to write by Antoine d’Abbadie; the final manuscript
A Journey to Central and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE)
was produced by a scribe, as we learn from these letters, to be paid by Tewelde Medhin from
169
Didfunds
the the gold of thebyAksumites
provided originate
d’Abbadie (for in Tigray?
information on theA incomplete
report on manuscript in the
possession of d’Abbadie,
ongoing see Smidt
research on 2010,traditions
local op. cit.). of gold mining in Tigray
32 Amh. for ‘silver’, referring in this case to Maria Theresa Thalers, the silver currency most
(Wolbert SMIDT, in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse)
widely used in Near Eastern countries at that time.
181
33 The note on the back of the letter by Antoine d’Abbadie (s. fig. 3) clarifies that this is the

date according to the Ethiopian Calendar (1849 in the Gregorian Calendar). According to the
note he replied to this letter on 19 August 1849. Research Abstracts
34 This probably refers to a question by Antoine d’Abbadie regarding local traditions on an

ancient
Selected sacred grave. of research projects in social sciences and humanities
abstracts
35 Translated by Abreha Tsegay.
at Mekelle
36 I.e. “d’Abbadie University 193
Antonius”, which is the full Ethiopian version of Antoine d’Abbadie’s name.
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012) 59 58
5
 Viviane Delpech with Hagos Abrha & Abreha Tsegay
rented a house for ten girsh37 monthly payment. I am living only from what you gave me.
Now the only thing I have is twenty girsh. Dereje Feyissa – Markus Virgil H
This letter has been written on Wednesday, 3 Meskerem 1842 E.C.38 Resources in the Horn of
(SZÉLINGER Balázs)

The 18th International Conference

“Movements in Ethiopia,
3 November 2012 (Wolbe
National Workshop: „Socio-cultu
Sugar and Irrigation Proje
(MITIKU Gabrehiwot)
The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle
Family of the Late Mikael
International Workshop on Docu
Cultural and Art Heritage
Research Institute, Debre
Illustrated Conference Re
International Workshop on “Cult
at Mekelle University, 15 M
From Ambivalence to Acceptance
in Ethiopia, University of
(Andreas WETTER)
Workshop “On the History and C
Mekelle University, 17-18 M
– Zeus WELLNHOFER)

A Journey to Central and Western

Did the gold of the Aksumites or
Fig. 2: Letter I by debtera Tewelde Medhin ongoing research on local
(Wolbert SMIDT, in collab

37Ottoman term for the local money (from Lat. grossus, Germ. Groschen, Selected
Tgn. qirshi).abstracts of research pro
38 The note on the back of the letter by Antoine d’Abbadie (s. fig. 3) shows that he received
this letter on 4 October 1849 and answered it the same day.
at Mekelle University
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
60
59 ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
 Two Amharic letters of debtera Tewelde Medhin of Welqayt

Dereje Feyissa – Markus Virgil Hoehne: Borders and Borderlands as

Resources in the Horn of Africa. Woodbridge 2010
(SZÉLINGER Balázs) 140

Conference Reports
th
The3:18
Fig. NotesInternational Conference
by Antoine d’Abbadie on the lettersofbyEthiopian Studies
debtera Tewelde Medhin,inwith
Dirre
dates Dawa:
“Movements in Ethiopia, Ethiopia in Movement”, 29 October to
3 November 2012 (Wolbert SMIDT – Chikage OBA-SMIDT) 144
National Workshop: „Socio-cultural Impact Assessment of the Welqayt
Sugar and Irrigation Project”, 6 October 2012, Mekelle University
(MITIKU Gabrehiwot) 150
The Mikael Iyasu Library: Mekelle University Acquires 2,500 Books from the
Family of the Late Mikael Iyasu – Inauguration (AYELE Bekerie) 153
International Workshop on Documentation and Preservation of Ethiopian
Cultural and Art Heritage of the Haddis Alemayehu Cultural and
Research Institute, Debre Markos University, 19 May 2012 – An
Illustrated Conference Report (Manuel RAMOS) 155
International Workshop on “Culture, Environment and Development”
at Mekelle University, 15 March 2012 (Yoko FURUSAKI) 160
From Ambivalence to Acceptance – International Conference on Azmari
in Ethiopia, University of Hildesheim, 6 − 8 January 2012
(Andreas WETTER) 164
Workshop “On the History and Culture of the Horn of Africa” at
Mekelle University, 17-18 March 2011 (Carsten HOFFMANN
– Zeus WELLNHOFER) 166

Research and Expedition Reports

A Journey to Central and Western Tigray (Dietrich RAUE) 169

Did the gold of the Aksumites originate in Tigray? A report on
ongoing research on local traditions of gold mining in Tigray
(Wolbert SMIDT, in collaboration with GEBREMICHAEL Nguse) 181

Research Abstracts
Selected abstracts of research projects in social sciences and humanities
Fig. 4: Letter II by debteraUniversity
at Mekelle Tewelde Medhin 193
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012)
ITYOP̣IS vol. 2 (2012) 61 60
5
 Viviane Delpech with Hagos Abrha & Abreha Tsegay

Dereje Feyissa – Markus Virgil H

Bibliography Resources in the Horn of
(SZÉLINGER Balázs)
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1847, Paris: Bachelier, pp. 485-487. The 18th International Conference
ABBADIE, Antoine d’ (1867), « Instructions pour les voyages d’exploration “Movements » in in Ethiopia,
Bulletin de la Société de Géographie, Paris: Martinet, pp. 29-30. 3 November 2012 (Wolbe
ID. (1873), Observations relatives à la physique du globe, faites au Brésil et en Éthiopie,
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ID. (1890), Géographie de l’Ethiopie, ce que j’ai entendu faisant suite à ce queFamily
j’ai vu,of
vol.the Late Mikael
I, Paris: G. Mesnil. International Workshop on Docu
ID. (1896), « Sur l’abolition de l’esclavage en Afrique », Bulletin de Cultural la Société and
des Art Heritage
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ABBADIE, Antoine d’ – RADAU, Rodolphe (1863), Géodésie d’une Illustrated partie de laConference Re
Haute-Ethiopie, Paris: Duprat.
International Workshop on “Cult
BOSC-TIESSÉ, Claire – WION, Anais (2010), « Les manuscrits éthiopiens
at Mekelle University, 15 M
d’Antoine d’Abbadie à la Bibliothèque nationale de France. Collecte, copie
et étude », in: DERCOURT, Jean (ed.), Antoine d’Abbadie, de From Ambivalence
l’Abyssinie au Pays to Acceptance
basque, voyage d’une vie, Biarritz: Atlantica, pp. 77-116. in Ethiopia, University of
DARBOUX, Gaston (2001), Antoine d’Abbadie. 1810-1897, notice historique (Andreassur WETTER)
Antoine d’Abbadie, Académie des Sciences, Paris: Stedi. Workshop “On the History and C
DELPECH, Viviane (2008), Orientalisme rêvé et souvenirs de voyageMekelle au château
University, 17-18 M
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ID. (2011), « L’Ethiopie au château d’Abbadia: de la création à l’expression
d’un programme orientaliste », Annales d’Ethiopie 26, pp. 129-165.
ID. (2012), Le château d’Abbadia à Hendaye: le monument idéal d’Antoine d’Abbadie,
Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour. A Journey to Central and Western
ID., Abbadia, le monument idéal d’Antoine d’Abbadie, PU de Rennes, Rennes
(doctoral thesis, forthcoming). Did the gold of the Aksumites or
SMIDT, Wolbert (2010), “Täwäldä Mädhən”, in: Siegbert UHLIG ongoing research on local
(ed.):
Encyclopaedia Aethiopica, vol. 4 (O-X), Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, p.(Wolbert 876f. SMIDT, in collab
ID. (2012), “Tewelde-Medhin ze-Aqewerq”, in: Biographisch-Bibliographisches
Kirchenlexikon, vol. 33, München – Nordhausen: Bautz, Sp. 1411-15.

Selected abstracts of research pro

at Mekelle University
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