GONDAR  , properly GvENDAR, a

town of Abyssinia, formerly the capital of the Amharic kingdom, situated on a basaltic ridge some 7500 ft. above the sea, about 21 M . N.E. of Lake Tsana, a splendid view of which is obtained from the castle . Two streams, the Angreb on the east side and the Gaha or Kaha on the west, flow from the ridge, and meeting below the town, pass onwards to the lake . In the early years of the 20th century the town was much decayed, numerous ruins of castles, palaces and churches indicating its former importance . It was never a compact city, being divided into districts separated from each other by open spaces . The chief quarters were those of the Abun-Bed or bishop, the Etchege-Bed or chief of the monks, the Debra Berhan or Church of the Light, and the Gemp or castle . There was also a quarter for the Mahommedans . Gondar was a small village when at the beginning of the 16th century it was chosen by the Negus Sysenius (Seged I.) as the capital of his kingdom . His son Fasilidas, or A'lem-Seged (1633-1667), was the builder of the castle which bears his name .