Each year the provinces which the soldiers could plunder became fewer; severe Famines broke out; large districts such as Dembea, the granary of Gondar and of central Abyssinia, lay waste and uncultivated.
"A Narrative of Captivity in Abyssinia With Some Account of the Late Emperor Theodore, His Country and People"
Henry Blanc
27. Famines in Scotland, i.
"A History of the Four Georges, Volume I (of 4)"
Justin McCarthy
Famines, at this time, occurred very often, and men were glad to be slaves for their own daily bread.
"Old Church Lore"
William Andrews