Diary of a Journey to Abyssinia, 1868: The Diary and Observation of William Simpson

This book features an original manuscript diary account by a leading Victorian journalist, William Simpson. It recounts his experiences during a military expedition by the British army into the heart of Ethiopia (then called Abyssinia) in 1868. The introductory materials by Richard Pankhurst, Peter Harrington and Frederic A. Sharf, and the explanatory notes by Richard Pankhurst, give context and historical background to make the account meaningful to the modern reader. The Expedition to Magdala of 1867-8 was a memorable event in British military history, in the history of warfare in general, and in the history of Ethiopia. Meticulously planned and executed, the campaign was a triumph for its commander, Sir Robert Napier. It was notable for the use of elephants imported from India, the building of a port railway and the use of breech-loading rifles, the first time they employed in war. The expedition sealed the fate of the Ethiopian Emperor Tewodros, or Theodore, II, who committed suicide rather than to fall in the hands of his enemies. The British, by supplying arms to the ruler of Tegray, through whose territory they passed, enabled him to win the ensuing struggle for succession. Manuscripts and other loot taken from Magdala subsequently contributed significantly to the advancement of Ethiopian studies in Europe, but restitution to Ethiopia is now actively demanded. William Simpson, an artist of distinction who accompanied the Expedition on behalf of the Illustrated London News, recorded its day-by-day progress in this diary, as well as in numerous sketches, which were duly published as engravings. His pictures are not of military interest, but also depict the country’s dramatic landscape, and introduce us to its unique churches, as well as to the life of the people.