  Damped Lyman-alpha systems seen in spectra of background quasars are
generally thought to represent high redshift counterparts of present-day
galaxies. We summarize observations of heavy element abundances in damped
Lyman-alpha systems. The results of a systematic search for CO and C II*
absorption in 17 damped Lyman-alpha systems are also presented using
observations obtained with the 10m Keck telescopes. The latter provides a
useful constraint on the expected strength of [C II] 158 micron emission from
damped Lyman-alpha galaxies. It is hoped that these results will be useful for
planning future radio to millimeter wave observations of high redshift galaxies
using next generation instruments which are now being built.
