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NARRATIVE 


OF  THE 


BRITISH  MISSION  TO  THEODORE, 

KING  OF  ABYSSINIA; 


WITH  NOTICES  OF  THE  COUNTRIES  TRAVERSED  FROM  MASSOWAH, 

THROUGH  THE  SOODAN,  THE  AMHARA,  AND  BACK  TO 

ANNESLEY  BAY,  FROM   MAGDALA. 


By   IIORMUZD   lUSSAM,  RR.G.S., 

riBST   439IOTAKT   POLITICAL  BBSII.ENT  AT   AI.EN.    IN   CHABCK  OF  THE   MISSIOK. 


IN  TWO  VOLUMES.— Vor,.  II. 


WITH      MAP,      PLANS,     AND      ILLUSTRATIONS. 


LONDON: 
JOHN    MUKHAY,  ALBEMARLE    STKEET. 

18GJ). 

The  Tiylil  </  Tiautlatioit  u  ruciieU. 


•^"■^  ANI>   C11A1!1N"-OUOSS. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  11. 

CHAPTEK    XIII. 

THE  CAPTIVES  REACH  KORATA. 

Theodore  at  Zag§  —  Letters  from  —  His  inquiries  about  boat-building  — 
An  officer  dispatched  to  Mai^dala  to  release  the  Captives  —  Candidates 
for  the  Royal  Shirt  —  The  Messenger  Hailo  —  Application  for  Captives' 
confiscated  property  —  The  European  artisans  reach  Korata  from  Gdfi"at 

—  Royal  present  fur  the  Zoological  Society  —  Royal  Revenue  —  History 
of  Kanti"ba  Hailo,  ex-Mayor  of  Gondar  —  Corres],x)ndence  with  the  King 

—  A  diSiculty  looming  in  the  distance  —  Theodore  proposes  to  invest  the 
members  of  the  Mission  with  the  Royal  Shirt  —  Intelligence  of  Dr. 
Beke's  arrival  at  Massowah  —  Families  of  the  European  artisaus  reach 
Korata — Arrival  of  the  liberated  Captives — Their  reception  by  the 
Author Rage  1 

ClIArTEil    XIV. 

TRIAL   OF   THE   CAPTIVES. 

Theodore  decides  on  the  trial  of  the  Captives  —  His  charges  against  them 

—  His  object — The  Captives  plea<l  culpable — MistranshUion  of  Earl 
Russell's  and  her  Majesty's  letters  —  A  dilemma — Arrival  of  a  mes- 
senger from  Dr.  lieke  —  The  Petition  from  the  relatives  of  the  Captives 
— The  Order  of"  the  Cross  and  Solomon's  Seal"  —  Another  present  from 
Theodore  —  Dr.  Reke's  mission  injudicious  —  Ona  Mohammed  invested 
with  the  "Royal  Shirt"  —  Ddbtera  DasLa  in  the  royal  garments  — 
Visit  to  Theodore  at  ZagC  [Hjstponed  —  Alaki  I'ngada,  the  royal  Scrilx; 

—  Reception  of  the  Mission  at  Zagfi  —  Theodore's  courtesy  —  Consults 
with  his  Chiefs  about  the  departure  of  the  Mission  and  Captives  — 
His  grievances  against  M.  Lejean,  the  Coptic  Patriarch,  a  German, 
and  Mr.  Si)cedy — His  opinion  of  his  own  subjects  —  ()ur  return  to 
Korata ;il 


a  J. 


1C03749 


iv  CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  II. 

CHAPTEK    XV. 

OUR   EXODUS  SANCTIONED. 

Fresli  difficulties  —  M.  Bardel  and  I'ngada  Wark  —  Intestine  troubles  — 
The  European  artisans  —  Dr.  Bekc's  mission  —  Theodore's  suspicions 
aroused  —  Favourable  prognostications  —  Theodore  and  his  Shirts  — 
Men-milliners  —  The  King's  Dispatch-box  —  Directions  given  for  home- 
ward route  —  Reasons  for  preventing  a  final  meeting  between  the  King 
and  the  Captives  —  Theodore  dispenses  with  the  interview  —  Orders 
our  immediate  departure  —  Arrangements  made  to  re-arrest  the 
Captives Page  66 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

DISGRACE   OF   THE   MISSION. 

The  released  Captives  start  homewards  —  The  Mission  repairs  to  Zage  and 
is  arrested  there  —  Charges  made  against  the  Author  —  Theodore  apolo. 
gizes  —  The  Mission  placed  under  surveillance  —  Our  baggage  ransacked 

—  Present  from  the  King  —  We  destroy  all  our  j^apers  —  The  Captives 
arrested  and  brought  to  Zage  —  A  fresh  trial  —  The  King's  charges 
against  the  Captives  and  against  the  Author  ■ —  He  determines  to  retain 
the  Mission  —  Theodore  unchains  the  Captives  —  Craves  forgiveness  of 
all  the  Europeans  —  The  Petition  from  the  relatives  of  the  Captives  read 

—  Theodore's  letter  to  the  Queen  —  We  are  to  be  kept  as  hostages  — 
Theodore's  request  for  artificers  from  England  —  The  Author's  letter  to 
the  British  Government  —  Mr.  Flad  selected  to  go  to  England  —  A 
native  matricide  —  Theodore  and  Abyssinian  law  —  Charges  against 
Samuel  and  two  other  Aitos  —  Sympathy  for  the  Mission       . .      . .     82 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

UNDER    ARREST    AT     ZAGE. 

Presents  ■  from  the  King  —  He  restores  our  confiscated  jiroperty  —  His 
studied  courtesy  —  Theodore  not  a  good  marksman  —  "  AVho  is  your 
father  ?  "  —  Our  Queen's  birtliday  commemorated  by  the  King  —  Another 
letter  from  Dr.  l?eke  —  Theodore  kills  a  man  at  a  blow  —  Artillery 
practice  —  Theodore's  account  of  his  strategy  and  exploits  —  His  nimble- 
ness  —  His  cruelties  at  this  time  —  A  case  of  liigh  treason  —  "  Shrimps  " 
and  "Bob"  —  The  Itege's  Mdrgaf — The  peninsula  and  town  of  Zage 
—  Theodore's  "imitation  of  a  steamer"  —  A  native  tournament  ..      107 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  II.  v 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

FROM  ZAGfi  TO  DEBRA  TABOR. 

Departure  from  Zage  in  rear  of  the  royal  trocjis  —  Theodore's  courtesy  and 
remorse  —  We  cross  the  Abai  —  The  King's  fickleness  —  Arrival  at 
Korata  —  Cholera  in  the  royal  camp  —  Start  for  Debra  Tabor  —  The 
Mission  accompanies  the  King  to  Gdflat  —  Theodore  and  taxation  — 
Abyssinian  etiquette  in  drinking  —  The  European  artisans  reach  GafiFat 
from  Korata  —  Theodore  handles  a  broom  —  Loses  his  centre  of  gravity 
—  The  Mission  and  Captives  at  Gaflat  —  The  King  pays  the  Author  a 
visit  and  sips  Ilennessy's  brandy  —  Claims  Alexander  the  Great  as  well 
as  Solomon  as  his  progenitor  —  Abyssinian  hagiography  —  Theodore  and 
the  Bible  —  The  Author  arraigned  again  on  fresh  charges  —  The  old 
charges  against  Consul  Cameron  and  Messrs.  Rosenthal  and  Stem  re- 
l)eated  —  llieodore  susjxjcts  our  Government  —  Dr.  Beke's  movements  — 
Tlie  King  detains  the  Author  at  Debra  Tabor  —  Tame  lions  —  Trial  of  a 
Chief  for  high  treason         Page  123 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

FROM    DEBRA   TABOR   TO   mAgDALA. 

We  are  to  be  sent  to  Magdala  —  Theodore  changes  his  plan  —  Another  out- 
burst of  royal  courtesy  —  The  Author  arraigned  again — We  are  confined 
and  guarded  in  the  Treasury  —  A  visit  from  Theodore  —  We  drink 
healths  all  round  —  The  King  believes  he  is  mad  —  The  titles  "  GSta  " 
and  "  Aito"  —  Order  to  set  out  with  the  King  to  Magdala  —  Hailstones 
on  Mount  Ciuna —  We  arc  sent  forward  to  Magdala  under  a  guard  — 
Arrival  at  that  fortress  —  We  are  placed  in  fetters  —  The  Author's 
message  to  Tln'otlore  on  the  occasion  —  The  preliminary  location  of  the 
Captives  —  Kindness  of  the  Chiefs  —  Aito  Samuel's  services        ..     ITjO 


CHAPTER   XX. 

OUR  GUARDIANS  AT  MAGDALA. 

The  Magdala  Council  —  Riis  Kidilna  Maryara,  the  Commandant — Rfta 
Bisawwir  —  Bitwaddad  Daniilsh  —  Bitwaddad  Hallo  —  Bitwaddad  Wusi 
—  Bitwaddad  Bjiliri  —  Dajjiij  (lojjd  —  Bitwaddad  Bakal  —  Bitwaddad 
ilailo,  of  ("iialga — liitwaddad  Dhafar  —  Our  Warders: — AbA  Fdkk  — 
IJasha  Bisawwir — Viuihalaka  Adam  —  Ya.shalaka  Wark^   ..      ..      167 


vi  CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  II. 

CHAPTEE    XXL 

LIFE   AT   MAGDALA. 

Our  domestics  —  A  complimentary  letter  from  the  King  —  Relaxation  of 
prison  discipline — Samuel  and  a  Tigre  Chief  at  loggerheads  —  Duties 
of  the  petty  Chiefs  —  The  Guards  at  the  Gates  —  JMeditated  escape  — 
Escape  impracticable  —  The  Metropolitan,  Abuna  Salama —  His  character 
vindicated  —  His  illness  and  death  —  His  differences  with  Theodore  — 
Concessions  as  to  quailers  —  Abyssinian  red-tape  —  The  Author's  abode 

—  Abortive  sanitary  efforts  —  The  Captives'  quarters — The  Captives 
menage  —  Entertainment  of  public  guests  —  Society  and  sj'mpathy  — 
Native  lady  visitors  —  Water  at  Mdgdala  —  Soil  and  climate  —  Birds 

—  Religious  inquiry  among  the  native  soldiery  —  Reform  movement  — 
Conversions  to  Christianity  from  Islam  —  Christian  names  —  Our  own 
worship       Page  187 


CHAPTEE    XXII. 

MARKIAGE   AND    ETIQUETTE. 

Abyssinian  marriages  —  Marriage  according  to  the  rites  of  the  National 
Church  —  How  dissolved  —  Infidelity  of  the  husbands  —  Continence  of 
wives  married  sacrameutally  —  Theodore's  canonical  marriage  with  the 
daughter  of  Ras  'Ali  —  Obliges  Mr.  Bell  to  follow  his  example  —  His 
marriage  with  the  daughter  of  Dajjaj  Oob§  • —  He  gets  tired  of  her  — 
Marries  Itamanyo,  the  wife  of  a  Mussulman  Galla  —  Itamanyo's  con- 
version and  devotion  —  Secondary  marriages  —  Third-degree  marriages 
—  Native  etiquette  —  "Girding" — The  Shdmma  described  —  Various 
styles  of  wearing  the  same  —  Modes  of  Address  —  Etiquette  in  presenta- 
tion —  In  drinking  —  Covering  the  head,  an  insult —  Privilege  of  priests, 
monks,  and  nuns        215 


CHAPTEE  XXIII. 

IIEBELLION   AROUND    MAGDALA. 

Theodore's  continued  courtesy  —  He  sacks  Gondar  —  He  receives  her 
Majesty's  letter  sent  by  Mr.  Flad  —  Sends  it  to  the  Author,  requesting 
liini  to  write  for  the  English  artisans  to  be  forwarded  on  from  M;issowah 
—  His  letter  to  that  effect  —  'J'he  Author's  reply  —  Theodore  repeats 
his  request  —  The  peasantry  between  Debra  Tabor  and  Magdala  become 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  II.  vii 

disaffected  —  The  Commandant  of  Magdala  sent  in  cliains  to  Debra 
Tabor  —  The  district  of  Bagameder  rebels  —  Intercourse  between  Mag- 
tlala  and  the  royal  camp  cut  ofif —  Rumours  of  Theodore's  having  fled  to 
Kwara  —  His  bloodthirstiness  at  this  time  —  Horrible  atrocity  per- 
petrated by  a  band  of  rebels  —  The  outrage  avenged  —  Theodore  learns 
a  new  lesson  in  cruelty  —  Honesty  and  fidelity  of  Abyssinian  servants 
illustrated  —  Native  agents  beyond  the  fortress  protect  the  messengers 
of  the  Mission  —  How  regular  intercourse  was  kept  up  between  the 
Mission  and  the  coast  —  Scheme  organised  for  rapid  intercommunication 
between  ilagdala  and  Massowah  —  Kindness  makes  friends  —  The 
devotion  of  Mr.  Stern's  native  servants  —  Where  is  Theodore?  —  Rival 
candidates  for  the  possession  of  !Magdala  —  Overtures  from  Ahmed,  the 
Imam  of  the  Wello-Gallas  —  Menilck  the  king  of  Shoa's  futile  display 
—  The  Wakshum  Gobaze  and  his  army  retire  on  the  approach  of  Theo- 
dore—  The  Wakshiim's  friendliness  towards  the  British  Expeditionary 
force Paire  227 


CHAPTEE  XXIV. 

THEODORE  REACHES  MAGDALA. 

Theodore  hoars  of  the  landing  of  the  I'ritish  troops  —  Sir  Robert  Najiier's 
Proclamation  —  Death  of  Hailo,  a  messenger  —  Submission  of  the 
Dalanta  people  —  Tlie  road  oi>en  to  Magdala  —  Death  and  burial  of 
Theodore's  sister  —  TransjKjrt  of  artillery  —  The  Author  sends  dispatches 
to  the  British  camp  —  Abyssinian  mourning  for  the  dead  —  Native  and 
five  European  prisoners  forwarder!  to  Mdgdala  —  Theodore's  polite  mes- 
sages and  sjxH>ches  —  Sir  Robert  Napier's  ultimatum  —  Theodore  in 
}irus|)ect  of  the  imix;nding  invasion  — He  reaches  the  Dalanta  plateau  — 
I'.rcaks  faith  witii  the  Dalanta  ])roj)le  —  The  Amharas — Messengers 
arrive  from  the  British  camp  —  The  Author  released  from  his  chains  — 
Letter  and  present  from  Theodore  —  Communications  to  and  from  the 
British  Camp —  Tlicodorc  reaches  the  plateau  of  Salamge     ..      ..     2rA 


ClI  Al'T  KJi    XXV. 

THEODOItE   AT    mAcDAI-A. 

Thcwlorc  enters  Magdala  —  Tries  two  Priests  for  defamation  and  throe 
Chiefs  for  treason  —  lie  returns  to  Salamgfi  —  His  message  to  the  Author 
about  the  advance  of  the  liritisli  troops  —  Ciianges  the  Magdala  garrison 
—  The   Euroix-an    Captives   placed    under    strict   watch  —  Bitwii<l«la«l 


iii  CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  II. 

Hasani  as  a  soldier  and  a  man — Old  acquaintances  among  our  new 
guard — Magdala  garrison  re-inforced — "We  burn  our  papers  —  Theo- 
dore's second  visit  to  the  fortress  —  Receives  the  Author  in  state  —  His 
altered  appearance  —  His  condescension  on  the  occasion  —  Is  undecided 
whether  he  will  fight  the  British  or  not  —  Requests  the  Author  to  see 
him  buried,  in  the  event  of  his  death  —  His  miscellaneous  conversation 

—  Unshackles  Dr.  Blanc  and  Lieutenant  Prideaux,  and  receives  them 
graciously  —  The  King  "in  labour"  —  Introduces  Prince 'Alamayo  to 
the  Author  —  Abuses  his  Chiefs  at  Salamge  —  Asks  them  if  they  are 
prepared  to  fight  the  British  —  Damash's  replj'  —  A  sally  from  Magdala 
against  the  Gallas,  an  episode  —  Origin  of  the  expedition  —  Theodore's 
charmed  rifle  —  A  night  attack  —  The  Amharas  are  successful  —  Are 
pursued  by  the  Gallas  on  their  return  march  —  Rout  of  the  Amharas  — 
Letters  from  the  British  force  at  Asbangi  —  The  Mission  invited  to 
inspect  the  great  mortar  "  Sevastopol " —  Theodore's  queries  on  Euro- 
pean warfare  —  Recounts  his  troubles  —  Complains  again  of  Consul 
Cameron  and  Mr.  Stem  —  Contrasts  his  soldiers  with  the  British  troops 

—  All  the  European  Captives  are  imshackled  —  The  Author's  projx)sal 
to  report  his  Majesty's  recent  civility  to  Sir  Robert  Napier  declined  — 
Theodore  is  anxious  for  news  from  the  British  camp  —  Esjiics  some  of 
our  troops  descending  into  the  Bashilo  valley Page  279 


ClIAPTEE  XXVI. 

THE    FALL   OF   THEODORE. 

The  European  Captives  summoned  to  Salamge  by  the  King  —  Theodore 
harangues  his  troops  on  the  impending  invasion  by  the  British  —  Uoclines 
communicating  with  Sir  Robert  Napier — Release  of  some  of  the  native 
prisoners  —  Cruel  massacre  of  the  remainder  —  The  European  Captives 
sent  back  to  Magdala  —  Letter  arrives  for  Theodore  from  Sir  Robert 
Napier,  which  he  refuses  to  receive  —  The  native  troops  are  massed 
at  Salilmge  —  Theodore  attacks  the  British,  is  defeated,  and  wishes  for 
peace  —  Lieutenant  Prideaux  dispatched  to  Sir  Robert  Napier  and 
returns  to  Salamge  —  Is  dispatched  again  with  an  angry  letter  from 
Theodore  —  The  Aullior  and  his  fellow-captives  directed  to  go  to  the 
British  camp  —  The  Author's  interview  with  Theodore  previous  to  his 
departure  —  The  Captives  reach  the  British  camp  in  safety  —  Theodore's 
letter  of  apology  and  proffered  gift  of  cattle  to  Sir  Robert  Napier  on  the 
morning  of  Easter  Sunday  —  The  Commander-in-Chiefs  message  in 
reply  —  Theodore  sets  all  the  European  artisans  at  liberty  — Was  Theo- 
dore deceived  V —  The  Author's  justification 311 


CONTENTS  OF  VoF.TTME  IF. 


CHAPTEK   XXVII. 
all's  well  that  ends  well. 

Nan-ative  of  events  between  the  11th  and  13th  April,  18fi8  —  Disjiatch  of 
the  proffered  cattle  to  the  Britisli  camp  —  Theodore's  impression  that 
hostilities  were  at  an  end —  Mr.  Speedy  —  The  King  prepares  to  escape 
on  hearing  that  his  present  had  not  been  accepted  —  His  troops  decline 
to  accompany  him — Prepares  for  defence — Is  abandoned  by  most  of 
his  followers — Some  of  the  Chiefs  surrender  themselves  to  Sir  Roliert 
Napier  —  Theodore  attacks  a  party  of  British  Cavalry  —  Retreats  with 
a  handful  of  followers  and  secures  the  Gates  of  Magdala  —  The  fortress 
stormed  by  the  British — Theodore  shoots  himself — A  summary  of  his 
career — His  surviving  wives  and  children  —  Did  Theodore,  before  his 
death, curse  the  Author?  —  Visit  to  Magdala  after  its  fall  —  The  Author 
charged  with  the  burial  of  Theodore  and  the  care  of  his  family  —  Dis- 
|K>8al  of  the  Chiefs  and  people  of  Mdgdala  —  Contrast  —  Divine  interven- 
tion—  The  Army  of  Rescue  —  Burial  of  Theodore  —  His  son,  'Alamayo, 
made  over  by  his  mother  to  the  care  of  the  British  —  Dismissal  of  the 
Magdala  Chiefs  —  The  Author  proceeds  to  Dalantawith  the  royal  family 
—  Magdala  in  flames  —  Review  of  the  Expeditionary  force' — Illness  and 
death  of  the  Queen  Teru-Wark  —  Dismissal  of  all  Abyssinian  followers 
at  Senafe  —  Arrival  at  ZooUa  —  Journey  to  Europe  —  Dispersion  of  the 
late  EuroiJean  Captives —  On  British  soil  once  more  —  Reception  by  old 
friends  —  Recognition  by  Government  of  the  services  and  sufferings  of 
the  Mission  to  Abyssinia  —  Conclusion Page  329 


VOL.  ir. 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTKATIONS 

IN  THE  SECOND  VOLmiE. 


Action  at  Arogk Frontispiece. 

Order  of  thk  Cross  and  Solomon's  Seal     Page    45 

Captives'  Quarters  at  Magdala     „     202 

Magdala  and  Salamgk  from  the  foot  of  Salassk   Tofacepaije  279 

The  Great  Mortar  "Sevastopol" „           804 

Plan  op  the  Amba  Magdala „           311 

Storming  of  Magdala ,,          329 


THE 

BRITISH  MISSION  TO  THEODORE, 

KING   OF   ABYSSINIA. 


CHAPTEE   XIII. 

THE    CAPTIVES   EEACH   KORATA. 

Tlieodorc  at  Zage — Letters  from  —  His  inquiries  aliout  l)oat-building  — 
All  officer  dispatched  to  Magdala  to  release  the  Captives  —  Candidates 
for  tlie  Royal  Shirt  —  The  Messenger  Hailo  —  Application  for  Captives 
confiscated  property  —  The  European  artisans  reach  Korata  from  (iaffat 

—  IJoyal  present  for  the  Zoological  Society  —  Roj-al  Revenue  —  History 
of  Kantiba  Hailo,  ex-Maj'or  of  Gundar  —  CorresiX)ndence  with  the  King 

—  A  difficulty  looming  in  the  distance  —  Theodore  proposes  to  invest  the 
nieml)ers  of  the  Mission  with  the  Royal  Shirt  —  Intelligence  of  Dr.  Beke's 
arrival  at  Ma.ssowah  —  Families  of  tlie  European  artisans  roach  Korata 

—  Arrival  of  the  liberated  Captives  —  Their  reception  by  the  Author, 

\\'e  heard  this  afternoon  that  the  King  had  come  to  Zage, 
the  capital  of  Metcha,  situated  on  a  high  promontory  on  the 
southern  side  of  the  Lake,  about  ten  miles  from  Korata.  No 
one  seemed  to  know  anything  of  his  movements,  beyond  the 
I'aft  that  he  had  encamped  at  the  bottom  of  a  deep  bay 
formed  by  the  Zage  peninsula — a  long  neck  of  land  projecting 
about  three  miles  into  the  Lake.  The  Abai  enters  the  liakc 
ten  miles  to  the  north-west  of  Zage,  runs  through  it  in  a  strong 
current  round  tlie  peninsula,  and  debouches  on  the  south- 
eastern side  of  the  bay,  about  the  same  distance  below  Zage, 
IGth. — To-day  I  received  the  following  letter  from  the 
]\ing,  which  was  sent  by  water: — 

"  In  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost — ono  God. 
"  From  tho   King  of  kings,  Thoodurus.       3Iay  it    reach  Aito 
VOL.  II.  H 


2  THE  CAPTIVES  BEACH  KOEATA.         Chap.  XIII. 

Ilormuzd  TJassain.  ITow  have  you  passed  the  time?  I,  God  be 
praised,  am  well.  How  have  your  brothers  [Dr.  Blanc  and 
Lieutenant  Prideaux]  passed  the  time?  Ask  them  from  me. 
After  we  parted,  by  the  power  of  God,  I  found  two  lion  cubs 
and  one  young  antelope,  which  I  send  to  you.  I  have  come  to 
Metcha  expressly  for  the  purpose  of  inquiring  about  your  safe 
arrival  at  your  destination.  If  God  permit,  I  shall  come  to  see 
you,  by  boat." 
(Without  date.) 

This  letter  was  brought  by  two  courtiers,  named  Lij  Kasa 
and  Lij  Abitu,  together  with  a  present  from  their  royal 
master  of  two  lion  cubs  and  an  antelope,  which  the  soldiers 
had  caught  on  the  line  of  march,  in  Metcha.  The  King, 
having  heard  that  Agafari  Golam  merely  bent  to  me  when 
we  met,  sent  the  poor  fellow  a  severe  reprimand,  which 
obliged  him,  on  coming  to  me  for  orders  this  morning,  to 
kneel  and  kiss  the  ground.  I  told  him  that  he  might  dis- 
pense with  the  ceremony,  but  he  declared  that  it  might  cost 
him  his  life  to  disobey  the  Sovereign's  order. 

To  the  foregoing  letter  from  the  King  I  replied  as 
follows : — 

''  Kordta,  17th  February,  1866. 
"  Mosr  Gracious  Sovereign, 

"  I  had  the  honour  of  receiving  your  gracious  letter  yesterday, 
by  Lijs  Abttri  and  Kasa,  and  was  glad  to  find  from  its  contents 
that  your  Majesty  was  in  perfect  health.  I  pray  Almighty  God 
to  continue  Ilis  blessings  towards  you,  and  to  show  me  the  light 
of  your  countenance  soon. 

"  The  two  lion  cubs  and  the  antelope,  which  your  Majesty  has 
been  good  enough  to  send  mo,  reached  me  safely,  and  I  return 
you  my  best  thanks  for  them,  and  for  the  other  favours  which 
your  Majesty  has  shown  me  since  I  entered  j-our  country.  By 
the  assistance  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  I  trust  never  to  prove 
unworthy  of  your  great  kindness. 

"  By  your  favour,  we  arrived  here  safely  from  Wandige,  by 
the  Lake,  on  Thursday  last,  and  were  received  hosi^itably  by 


1866.   Yep.  SUPPLEMENTARY  MESSAGES.  3 

Aito   Kasa  and    Aito   AVande,   in   ■\vhoso   houses   wo   arc   now 
residing. 

"  My  companions,  Dr.  P.lanc  and  ^fr.  Prideaux,  desire  me  to 
present  to  j'our  INIajesty  their  respectful  compliments;  and  in 
recommending  you  to  the  protection  of  our  merciful  Creator,  I 
remain,"  &c. 

In  accordance  with  the  prevailing  usage  in  the  countr}-,  I 
had  to  dispatch  one  of  my  o^^n  followers,  with  the  returning 
deputies,  to  inquire  personally  for  me  after  the  King's  health. 
Being  most   anxious  that  Consul  Cameron  and  his  fellow- 
captives  should  be  relieved   of  their  chains  as  speedily  as 
possible,  and  knowing,  moreover,  that  Agafari  Golam  was 
already  charged  with  the  order  for  their  release,  I  sent  his 
Majesty  a  verbal  message,  begging  that  he  would  "  gladden 
my  lieart "  by  directing  Agafari  Golam  to  proceed  to  Mag- 
dala  forthwith  and  bring  the  European  liberated  prisoners 
to  me.     I  had  already  learnt  enough  of  the  King's  character 
to  put  me  on  my  guard  against  instating   him.     A    letter 
might  reach  him  when  in  an  angry  mood,  and  any  request 
preferred  at  such  a  time  was  almost  certain  to  be  denied  or 
wilfully  misapprehended.     Hence,  I  made  it  a  rule,  whenever 
I  had  any  favour  to  ask  which  might  possibly  be  refused, 
always  to  send  the  application  through  a  verbal  message, 
charging  those  who  were  intrusted  with  the  same,  whether  my 
own  followei-s  or  persons  in  the  King's  employ,  not  to  deliver 
it  unless  his  ^lajesty  was  known  to  be  in  good  humour.   For- 
tunately, all  his  immediate  attendants  were  on  the  best  terms 
with  me,  and  readily  co-operated  in  this  plan  of  proceeding. 

The  same  courtiers  returned  the  day  after  with  the  follow- 
ing answer  to  my  message  on  this  ocoasiou  : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"By  tho  power  of  God,  when  I  beard  of  your  safe  arrival  at 
Koruta  I  was   extremely  rejoiced.     Bo  of  good   cheer ;  1  liavo 

ij  2 


4  THE  CAPTIVES  REACH  KOIIATA.  Chap.  XHIl 

ordered  Agafiiri  Golam  to  proceed  at  once  to  release  the 
prisoners  and  bring  tliem  to  you,  in  order  that  I  may  send  you 
to  your  country. 

"  With  respect  to  the  four  double-barrelled  fowling-pieces  and 
eight  double-barrelled  pistols,  with  their  moulds  and  appurte- 
nances, which  you  have  broiight  to  me,  M.  Bourgaud  has  written 
to  me  to  say  that  he  had  sent  to  his  brother  and  obtained  them 
for  the  purpose  of  presenting  them  to  me.  I  have  therefore 
ordered  4,000  dollars  to  be  paid  to  him  by  the  Nagadnls  of  Tigre. 

"  You  told  me  that  Mr.  Munzinger  entertained  a  sincere  regard 
for  me ;  and,  consequently,  when  you  go  T  wish  to  send  him  by 
you  a  token  of  my  esteem.  Let  me  know  what  will  be  accept- 
able, in  order  that  I  may  prepare  it." 

(Without  date.) 

A  case  containing  the  arms  above  alluded  to  was  con- 
signed to  me  by  Padre  Delmonte,  on  our  departure  from 
Massowah,  for  the  French  armourer,  M.  Bourgaud.  Not  to 
excite  suspicion  in  the  King's  mind,  I  had  preferred  taking 
the  arms  to  him — stating  at  the  same  time  how  I  became 
possessed  of  them — instead  of  sending  them  direct  from 
Chalga  to  the  consignee.  His  Majesty  was  highly  gratified 
by  this  mark  of  deference,  and,  instead  of  leaving  me  to  for- 
ward the  case,  he  undertook  to  take  charge  of  it  himself  for 
his  "  son  " — the  name  whereby  he  invariably  designated  his 
Euroj)ean  artisans. 

The  reference  to  Mr.  Munzinger  arose  out  of  the  following 
circumstance.  On  my  arrival  at  the  Court,  the  King  liad 
particularly  requested  me  to  tell  him  who  were  his  friends 
and  who  his  enemies  at  Massowah.  I  replied  that  his  enemies 
were  too  many  to  be  enumerated ;  but  that,  to  the  best  of  my 
belief,  Mr.  Munzinger,  now  British  Consular  Agent  at  Mas- 
sowah, and  the  Nayib  Mohammed,  of  Harkiko,  were  well- 
disposed  towards  him.  This  answer  highly  amused  him,  and 
was  to  him — so  he  said — a  proof  of  my  sincerity,  inasmuch  as 


i8cn.  Fer.  iioyal  queries  about  boats.  5 

Jie  knew  full  well  that  all  the  Turks  bated  him.  On  that 
occasion  he  had  promised  to  send  the  Xayib,  through  me,  a 
fine  mule,  richly  caparisoned ;  the  present  for  Mr.  3Iun- 
zinger  was  left  for  future  consideration. 

I  received  two  verbal  messages  from  the  King,  together 
■^vith  the  foregoing  letter :  one  was  to  the  effect  that,  before 
our  departure  out  of  the  country,  he  wished  to  decorate  with 
tlie  Royal  Shirt  all  those  of  my  followers  who  had  con- 
tributed to  bring  about  our  meeting,  and  had  served  as 
messengers  between  us ;  in  the  other,  his  Majesty  apprised 
me  that  he  had  directed  his  European  artisans  at  Gafiat  to 
build  liim  some  wooden  boats  to  ply  on  the  Lake,  instead  of 
the  ordinary  native  canoes  made  of  bulrushes;  and  that 
having  been  told  that  fresh  and  salt  water  possessed  diflerent 
*|ualities  which  affected  the  floating,  he  wished  me  to  enlighten 
him  on  the  subject.  In  consequence  of  this  message,  a 
rumour  was  circulated  among  the  Europeans  that  the  King 
had  requested  me  and  my  companions  to  build  boats  for 
hini — an  idea  which  1  am  certain  he  never  entertained, 
neither  was  it  his  jwhcy  to  lower  our  dignity  by  supposing 
us  capable  of  doing  the  work  of  artificers  or  mechanics. 
Besides,  if  such  a  thought  had  ever  occurred  to  him,  ho 
would  certainly  not  have  hesitated  to  broach  it  to  mc. 

On  referring  to  Agafuri  Oolam,  who  was  saiil  to  have 
originated  the  report,  he  assured  mc  that  he  must  have  been 
misunderstood,  as  he  had  only  mentioned  the  inquiry  wliich 
the  King  had  made  of  me,  through  Lij  Abitu,  tliat  s;ime  clay. 

To  ray  infinite  delight  Agafari  Golam  started  for  3Iag- 
dala  this  nn.niing.  In  accordance  with  thr  King's  request,  I 
sent  with  him  ^lohammed  Sa'kl,  one  of  my  messengers,  to  see 
tiiat  Consul  C'aiiioron  and  liis  jtarty  wore  well  attended  to  on 
the  road. 


6  THE  CAniVES  KEACII  KORATA,         Chap.  XIII.. 

19fh. — I  tlispatcbed  the  following  to  the  King  in  reply  to 
his  last  letter  and  its  accompanying  verbal  messages : — 

"Kordta,  19th  Fehruanj,  1866. 
"  Most  Geacious  Sovereign, 

"  I  had  the  honour  of  receiving  your  letter  yesterday  by  Lij 
Abitu  and  Hailo,  and  I  was  greatly  pleased  to  learn  therefrom 
of  your  well-being  ;  for  which  I  offer  my  humble  thanks  to  our 
Lord,  the  Most  High.  Thank  God,  both  my  companions  and  I 
are  well,  and  by  your  Majesty's  favour  we  are  all  happy.  Dr. 
Blanc  and  Mr.  Prideaux  send  their  respectful  compliments  to 
your  Majesty. 

"  1  beg  to  return  you  my  most  grateful  thanks  for  sending 
Agafari  Golam  to  Magdala  for  the  purpose  of  releasing  the 
European  prisoners  of  their  fetters,  and  bringing  them  at  once 
to  me ;  and  I^also  thank  you  for  the  liberal  payment  you  have 
made  to  M.  Bourgaud  for  the  guns  and  pistols  which  I  brought 
from  Massowah. 

"  With  regard  to  the  present  which  your  Majesty  wishes  to 
send  to  Mr.  Munzinger,  in  consequence  of  what  I  had  mentioned 
about  his  regard  for  you,  I  beg  to  inform  j'our  Majesty  that 
that  gentleman,  I  am  sure,  will  appreciate  any  little  token  of 
esteem  which  you  may  be  pleased  to  send  him,  were  it  only  a 
few  friendly  lines  to  assure  him  of  your  good-Avill.  I  need  not 
assure  your  Majesty  that  I  shall  be  delighted  to  convey  it  to 
him. 

"  With  respect  to  the  wooden  boat  which  you  wish  to  build  to 
ply  on  the  Lake  Tuna,  I  beg  to  say  that  such  a  vessel  would 
answer  very  well.  The  only  ditfcrence  between  the  Lake  water 
and  that  of  the  sea  to  be  taken  into  consideration  in  this  case 
is,  that  the  latter,  being  salt,  is  more  buoyant. 

"I  feel  greatly  obliged  to  your  Majesty  for  the  honour  you 
intend  to  eonfer  on  some  of  my  followers  by  decorating  them 
with  the  Royal  Shirt,  for  the  good  and  faithful  service  they  have 
rendered  to  your  IMajesty  and  myself  in  our  communications 
with  each  other.  The  men  most  deserving  of  this  royal  favour  are 
llailo,  VVald-Taklu,  Mohammed  Sa'id,  and  Mohammed  Sihiiwy. 
The  two  latter  are  absent  at  present :  one  I  had  to  send  with 
our  animals  from  Wandigu  round  the  Lake,  through  Diimbca  ; 
and   the   other   I   liavc   sent  to  Mdgdala  with  Agafari  Golam,. 


18CG.  Fed.  MOHAMMED  SIHAWY.  7 

according  to  your  desire.  Mohammed  Sihawy  having  com- 
mitted a  fault,  I  feel  it  incumbent  upon  me  to  report  it  to  your 
Majesty,  and  shall  leave  it  to  you,  after  you  learn  his  offence, 
tu  confer  the  royal  distinction  on  him  or  not." 

Mohammed  Siha\\  y,  as  the  reader  will  remember,  was  the 
individual  who  had  told  me  the  falsehood  about  Cameron's 
release.  I  was  compelled  to  include  his  name  as  a  candi- 
date for  the  royal  honour,  because  he  was  unquestionably  the 
man  who  had  brought  about  my  meeting  Avith  the  King,  his 
Majesty  having  entrusted  him  with  his  letter  of  invitation  to 
me.  Moreover,  as  I  had  reason  to  suspect  that  Theodore 
himself  was  cognizant  of  the  deception  which  had  been 
practised  upon  me,  1  did  not  deem  it  advisable  to  manifest  any 
animosity  towards  his  accomplice.  The  messenger  himself 
reporte  1  that  the  Nayib  of  Harkiko  had  instigated  him  to 
fabricate  the  story,  which  I  believe  to  be  another  false- 
hood. However,  I  was  determined  that  his  Majesty  should 
know  what  I  had  to  complain  of  in  the  man  before  he  was 
decorated  ;  hence  my  reference  to  his  misconduct  in  the 
preceding  letter,  but  I  also  sent  him  a  full  account  of  the 
case  by  verbal  message. 

We  were  so  tortured  by  vermin  that  we  were  obliged  to 
leave  the  houses  of  our  hospitable  hosts,  Aito  Kasa  and 
Aito  Wande,  and  take  to  our  tents,  which  we  pitched  in  a 
liue  on  an  eligible  piece  of  ground  near  tlie  Lake,  just  above 
the  spot  where  the  priests  met  us  on  our  first  lauding.  The 
fresh  breeze  from  the  Lake,  and  the  clear  open  sky,  were 
luxuries  after  our  sojourn  in  the  filthy  town.  This  side  of 
the  Lake  being  rocky,  with  a  gravelly  soil,  is  much  healthier 
than  the  opposite  or  north-western  side,  where  the  ground  is 
l<jw  and  covered  with  marshes.  There  are  some  marshes 
also  to  the  south-west  of  Korata,  but  they  are  too  distant  to 


8  TPIE  CAPTIVES  REACH  KOEATA.         Chap.  XIIT. 

afl'ect  the  atmosphere  here.  We  could  plainly  distinguish 
the  chm-ch  of  Zage,  situated  on  the  top  of  the  promontory, 
as  we  looked  westward  from  our  tents.  The  smoke  also  of 
the  royal  camp  was  discernible  behind  the  lolty  peninsula, 
but  the  camp  itself  was  hid  by  the  neck  of  high  land  whereon 
the  scattered  town  of  Zage  is  built. 

9ist. — Hailo,  one  of  the  messengers  who  carried  my  second 
and  fifth  letter  from  31assoAvah  to  the  King,  and  who  had 
been  sent  by  his  Majesty  to  meet  me  at  3Iatamma,  returned 
to-day  in  high  glee,  decorated  with  the  Eoyal  Shirt.     This 
man  \\as  the  most  upright  of  all  the  messengers  who  had 
been  employed  between  the  King  and  myself,  and  he  often 
served  me  subsequently,  in  the  same  capacity,  when  I  w^as  a 
prisoner  at  Magdala.     On  these  latter  occasions  he  generally 
looked  as  if  he  did  not  altogether  relish  the  task  ;  neverthe- 
less, his   sense  of  duty  always  prevailed  over  his  scruples. 
The   last   time  I  emjjloyed   him    was   in  May,  1867,   Irom 
>vhich  journey  he  was  doomed  never  to  return.     When  he 
reached  Debra  Tabor,  on  his  way  back,  the  whole  country 
between   that   place   and   Magdala   had  risen   in  rebellion, 
which  effectually  prevented   his   progress  as  a  bearer  of  a 
message  from  the  King.     He  then  fell  sick,  but  was  brought 
on  when  the  royal  army  began  to  move  towards  Magdala, 
his   Mnjesty   intending  to   forward  him  to   me   as   soon   as 
he   approached   near   cnougli  to  send   him   in  safety.      He 
expired  one  day  before  the  disjjatch  of  the  royal  messengers 
whom  he  had  hoped  to  accompany,  and  who  were  the  first 
to  make  their  way  to  us  after  a  lapse  of  nine  months.     On 
his   return   from    Zage    to-day,   accompanied   by   Lij    Kasa 
and  Lij  Abitu,  he  brought  me  the  following  polite  but  extra- 
ordinary letter  from  the  King,  wherein  his  Majesty  unequi- 
vocally  expresses    liis   satisfaction   at   tlic   fraud   of   which 


A86G.   Feb.  IIOYAL  ETHICS.  9 

3Iobammed  Sihawy  had  Leen  giulty,  on  the  groimd  that  it 
had  been  perpetrated  with  a  good  intention  : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"I  wish  to  decorate  these  servants  [messengers]  of  youis, 
•who  are  present,  Avith  the  Eoyal  Shirt.  Be  not  angiy  with 
the  servant  who  infurmed  you  of  the  release  of  Mr.  Cameron, 
I  thought  that  you  [i.  e.,  the  English]  hated  me  because  I 
delayed  answering  your  letter,  0  sons  of  the  English ;  and 
in  order  that  you  might  not  fear,  but  come  to  me  from 
tliat  great  Queen,  he  tried  in  this  way  to  bring  about  the  inter- 
view between  me  and  you,  Aito  Hormuzd  Kassam,  who  are  a 
■great  man  and  my  friend.  It  is  necessary  that  this  man  should 
be  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Queen,  and  j^ou  yourself  must 
love  him  for  my  sake.  I,  on  my  part,  on  hearing  of  what  he 
had  done,  by  the  power  of  God,  entertained  great  uflection  for 
him.  If  you  had  not  come,  who  would  have  been  able  to  release 
the  prisoners?  And  if  I  had  not  met  you,  how  could  I  have 
obtained  your  [/.  e.,  the  English]  friendship?  May  our  Creator 
from  above  love,  for  our  sake,_  him  who  brought  about  our  in- 
terview and  made  us  friends,  and  those  who  are  His  creatures 
below  will  love  him  also.  Please  God,  I  shall  reward  him. 
1  have  sent  Lij  Abitu  to  Debra  Tabor  to  bring  to  30U  my  Euro- 
pean friends,  in  order  that  they  might  come  and  see  you." 

(Without  date.) 

Lij  Al/itu  left  me  to  go.  to  Gaffat,  near  Debra  Tabor,  in 
order  to  bring  all  tlic  European  artisans  to  keep  mo  com- 
jpany — so  he  stated — until  the  arrival  of  the  captives.  I 
received  another  message  from  the  King  to-day,  expressing 
a  wish  that  I  should  send  my  interpreters  to  liim  to  be  de- 
corated witli  the  Royal  Shirt. 

2']nl. — Dispatched  the  subjoined  letter  by  'Omar  'Ali  and 
IMohammed  Sihawy,  togetlier  witli  llailo,  whom  the  King  has 
appointed  a  confidential  medium  of  intercourse  between  him 
and  myself: — 


10  THE  CAPTIVES  EEACH  KOEATA.  Chap.  XUL 

'^  Kordta,  Tord  Fehniurij,  18G6. 
"  Most  Gractous  Sovereign, 

"  I  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  your  kind  letter  the  day  he- 
fore  yesterda}'  through  Lij  Abitu  and  Hailo,  and  I  was  exceed- 
ingly gratified  to  learn  that  your  Majesty  was  quite  well,  and 
thinking  of  me  and  my  companions.  The  latter  desire  to  be 
respectfully  remembered. 

"  With  regard  to  Mohammed  Siha^y,  he  was  doubtless  the 
one  who  tried  his  best  to  bring  about  our  meeting,  which  I 
was  so  anxious  for,  and  on  that  account  I  forgave  him  the  de- 
ception which  he  practised  upon  me.  I  was  not  a  little  grati- 
fied also  on  learning  that  your  Majesty  had  also  extended  to 
him  your  mercy,  and  pardoned  his  ofience  on  account  of  his 
good  intention  of  pleasing  me. 

"  I  have  also  to  thank  jovir  Majesty  for  the  honour  you  in- 
tend to  confer  on  my  interpreters  by  presenting  them  with  the 
Roj^al  Shirt,  and  no  one  can  be  more  worthy  of  your  kindness 
than  'Omar  'Ali,  whom  I  send  to  you  with  Mohammed  Sihawy. 
The  reason  I  am  not  able  to  send  all  those  whom  you  wish  to 
honour  is,  because  I  do  not  like  to  be  left  without  interpreters, 
whose  services  are  constantly  required." 

To  this  I  received  a  complimentary  answer  the  following 
day,  brought  to  me  by  'Omar  'Ali  and  his  companions. 

Having  been  given  to  understand  that  the  King,  subse- 
quent to  its  seizure  by  his  orders,  had  restored  jiart  of  the 
property  belonging  to  Consul  Cameron  and  the  Missionaries, 
but  had  kept  back  all  the  books,  watches,  rings  and  other 
small  articles,  such  as  keepsakes,  ke.,  which  were  of  little  or 
no  value  to  his  Majesty  but  might  be  liighly  prized  by  the 
owners,  I  had  determined  to  make  an  attempt  to  recover 
them.  I  did  not  venture  to  write  to  the  King  on  the  subject, 
lest  my  letter  might  roacli  liiin  N\hen  he  A\as  in  an  angry 
mood.  I  tlierefore  decided  to  employ  Samuel  in  the  matter, 
and  in  reply  to  a  request  on  my  i)art  to  that  effect  I  received 
the  King's  permission  to-day,  through  'Omar  'Ali,  to  dispatch 


186G.   Fei!.         CAPTIVES'  CONFISCATED  PROPERTY.  11 

Lim  on  a  message  to  his  Majesty.  I  accordingly  held  a  long 
consultation  wth  Samuel  as  to  the  terms  which  ho  should 
use  about  the  confiscated  property,  which  was  said  to  be 
partly  deposited  in  the  house  of  Nagadras  Gabra-Madhan,  at 
Gondar,  and  partly  at  jMagdala.  Samuel's  advice  and  con- 
duct on  this  occasion  convinced  me  that  he  was  a  perfect 
master  of  diplomacy,  and,  moreover,  that  he  was  sincerely  de- 
sirous of  serving  me  to  the  extent  of  his  ability.  He  left 
this  afternoon  with  Dasta,  my  young  interpreter,  in  charge 
of  the  following  letter.  Dasta's  mission  A\as  to  ask  the 
King,  from  me,  how  he  fared,  and  to  receive  the  decora- 
tion of  tlu'  Eoyal  Shirt. 

"Zoro/rt,  2ith  February,  1866. 
"  Most  Gracious  Sovekeigx, 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
Majesty's  letter  of  yesterday's  date,  by  'Omar  'All,  Mohammed 
Sihawy  and  Hailo,  and  I  beg  to  return  you  my  sincere  thanks 
for  the  honour  you  conferred  upon  tUem  by  investing  tliem 
with  the  Eoyal  Hhirt. 

"  Both  my  companions  and  myself  are  well,  and  we  are  glad 
to  find  that  your  Majesty  is  in  perfect  health. 

"  Your  Majesty  has  conferred  a  great  favour  upon  mc  by  order- 
ing Aito  Samuel  to  your  Court,  agreeably  with  my  desire.  His 
confidential  positiou  with  your  Majesty,  and  my  reliance  in  him, 
have  induced  mo  to  intrust  liim  with  a  communication  which  I 
luive  asked  him  to  make  to  you.  I  hope  you  will  not  consider  it 
amiss  in  me  for  having  craved  the  boon  which  I  have  requested 
him  to  ask  of  you.  After  your  great  kindness  and  attention  to 
me,  I  cannot  but  hope  that  you  will  extend  your  gracious  favour 
in  that  behalf." 

In  accordance  w  ith  my  rccpicst,  Mr.  Thul  came  to  me  from 
Gilffat  this  afternoon.  After  the  King  had  ordered  the  release 
of  CdusuI  Cameron  an<l  llic  otiicr  captives,  and  directed  that 
thoy  shoukl  bo  made  over  to  me  to  take  with  nu^  on  my  do- 
[)artur»'  from  Abyssinia,  T  had  begg'-d  his  Mnjesty  h)  allow 


12  THE  CAPTIVES  REACH  KORATA.  Chap.  XIII. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flad  and  tlieir  cliildren,  and  Messrs.  Brandeis, 
Staiger,  Schiller  and  Essler — wlio  were,  in  fact,  prisoners  on 
parole  at  Gaffat,  and  who  had  begged  me  to  urge  the  request 
on  their  behalf — to  leave  the  country  at  the  same  time. 
The  King  had  acceded  to  my  solicitation  at  once,  and  told 
me  that  I  was  at  liberty  to  take  any  persons  away  with  me — 
even  native  Abyssinians — who  wished  to  depart  out  of  his 
.territories.  I  accordingly  sent  for  Mr.  Flad  to  consult  with 
him  about  the  preparations  for  the  jom'ney,  and  also  regarding 
the  reception  of  the  liberated  captives  who  were  expected  to 
xeach  Debra  Tabor  shortly. 

26^/i. — Aito  Samuel  and  Dasta  returned  from  the  royal 
camp,  the  latter  greatly  elated  with  his  decoration,  and  the 
former  intensely  happy  at  having  executed  tlie  commission 
with  which  I  had  entrusted  him  to  my  entire  satisfaction. 
He  handed  me  the  following  characteristic  reply  from  his 
3Iajesty : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"I  acted  formerly  erroneously,  through  the  devil,  without 
consideration ;  and  now  I  have  ordered  Aito  Samuel  to  see  if 
there  is  any  property  [belonging  to  the  prisoners]  which  he  can 
bring  to  3'ou  ;  and  if  anylhing  has  been  lost  or  spoilt,  I  shall 
make  it  good,  not  merely  for  the  sake  of  my  friendship  for  the 
great  Queen,  but  for  the  friendship  which  I  entertain  for  you 
three,  and  which  is  sufficient  for  me.  If  I  can  make  compensa- 
tion from  my  property  to  you  at  all,  by  the  help  of  the  Lord, 
I  will  do  it ;  if  not,  I  offer  my  body.  AMien  the  people  [prisoners] 
reach  you  in  safety,  ask  Ihom  if  what  they  had  done  was  not 
true;  it  will  be  proved  to  you  from  their  mouth. 

"  I  apprehended  that  1  had  lost  all  hopes  of  your  [the  English] 
friendship ;  otherwise,  I  would  not  have  acted  so  badly. 

"Dated  iGth  of  Yekatit." 

The  King  also  ordered  Aito  Samuel  to  proceed  to  Magdala 
as  soon  as  the  captives  joined  me,  for  the  purpose  of  collecting 


18GG.  Feb.  A  LETTER  OF  THANKS.  13. 

and  consigning  over  to  me  all  their  remaining  property. 
They  were  then  expected  to  arrive  within  four  or  five  days, 
but  unfortunately,  owing  to  tlie  inability  of  most  of  them  to 
travel  fast  after  their  long  and  painful  confinement,  they  did 
not  join  us  till  the  12th  of  March,  by  which  time,  as  the 
sequel  will  show,  the  aspect  of  things  had  undergone  a 
change. 

21th. — Dispatched  the  following  reply  to  the  King  this 
morning  by  'Omar  'Ali  and  Wald-Gabriel — the  latter  the 
suspended  interjjreter,  whom  his  Majesty  has  been  pleased 
to  decorate  with  the  Royal  Shirt,  although  at  the  outset  he 
had  objected  to  him  as  a  translator  of  our  intercommuni- 
cations : — 

"Kordta,  21th  February,  18G6. 
'•  Most  Gracious  Sovereigx, 

"Yesterday  I  had  the  honour  of  receiving  your  letter  by  Aito 
Samuel,  and  I  was  glad  to  learn  from  him  that  ho  left  your 
Majesty  in  perfect  health. 

"  IJoth  my  companions,  Dr.  I'lanc  and  Mr.  Prideaux,  and  my- 
self are  extremely  obliged  to  your  Majesty  for  your  gracious 
inquiries,  and  we  all  send  you  our  respectful  regards. 

"  I  have  to  return  you  my  best  and  grateful  thanks  for  having 
granted  the  favour  which  1  asked  of  you  through  Aito  Samuel, 
and  I  pray  our  merciful  Lord  to  reward  you  for  all  your 
kindness. 

"  I  bog  to  inform  your  Majesty'  that  in  consequence  of  Aito- 
Samuel's  second  communication  to  Kiintiba  llailo,  Mr,  Flad 
came  to  mo  from  Gaffat,  agreeably  with  my  request.  That 
gentleman  begs  me  to  present  you  with  his  respectful  compli- 
ments." 

The  foregoing  allusion  to  Kantiba  Hailo  refers  to  a  report 
which  had  reached  Theodore,  that  that  oflicer  had  refused  to 
allow  Mr.  Flad  to  come  to  me  without  a  special  order  to  that 
cfiect.  His  IMajesty,  it  ai)pears,  had  got  into  a  great  rage  on 
hearing  this,  and  would  have  vi^itod  tho  K;'mtil)a  with  severe 


14  THE  CAPTIVES  EEACH  KORATA.  Chap.  XIII. 

cliastisement,  had  not  Samuel  pleaded  that  there  had  pro- 
'  bably  been  some  mistake  in  the  matter. 

The  King  sent  his  valet,  Wald-Gabir,  to  me  this  afternoon 
with  a  most  polite  message,  inquiring  whether  I  had  expended 
the  money  which  he  had  given  me,  as  in  that  case  he  wished 
to  present  me  with  another  similar  sum.  I  replied  that 
through  the  bounty  of  our  gracious  Sovereign  and  his  J\Iajesty's 
munificence,  I  was  amply  provided  with  funds,  and  that  in  the 
event  of  needing  any  I  should  not  hesitate  to  apply  to  him. 

28th. — The  King's  European  artisans  arrived  at  Korata 
from  Gaff  at  this  morning.  They  comprised  Messrs.  Moritz 
Hall,  Schimper,  Waldmeier,  Salmiiller,  Bender,  Bourgaud — 
the  remaining  two,  namely,  Messrs.  Zander  and  Mayer,  did 
not  come  Avith  them.  In  accordance  with  orders  from  the 
Iving  they  all  called  upon  me,  clad  in  their  silk  shirts.  Mr. 
Schimper  began  to  narrate  to  me,  in  Arabic,  his  experience  of 
Abyssinia  and  the  Abyssinians  since  his  arrival  in  the  country, 
warning  me  not  to  trust  present  appearances,  however  favour- 
able they  might  be.  Placing  the  palm  of  his  hand  upwards, 
and  then  reversing  it,  he  said,  "  Abyssinia  is  like  that ;  but  I 
must  say  no  more,  as  the  walls  have  ears."  After  the  artisans 
had  stayed  a  short  time  with  me,  they  went  and  pitched  their 
tents,  as  they  had  been  ordered,  beyond  the  fence  of  our 
encampment. 

Wald-Gabu*  came  again  this  afternoon,  bringing  me  the 
subjoined  letter  from  the  King;  also  two  monkeys  and  a 
baboon,  which  I  was  to  take  to  England  for  the  Zoological 
Society,  together  with  the  lion  cubs  and  antelope : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  Yashdlaka  Wald-Gabir  has  informed  mc  that  you  wished 
my  permission  to  make  the  messenger  a  present.  You  are  the 
servant  of  her  whom  God  has  exalted  and  honoured — the  Queen 


1866.  March.  THEODORE'S  LIBERALITY.  15 

of  England,  and  you  are  also,  bj-  the  power  of  God,  my  friend  ; 
consequently,  you  are  not  restrained  from  giving  remuneration, 
except  in  a  way  unplcasing  to  God.     Do  as  you  please." 
"  Dated  22nd  of  Yekatit"  (28th  February), 

AVhen  Wald-Gabir  came  to  me  on  the  27tli  \\ith  the  mes- 
sage from  the  King  inquiring  whether  I  was  out  of  money, 
I  had  expressed  a  wish  that  his  3[ajesty  would  allow  rae  to 
give  a  gratuity  to  the  royal  couriers  and  others,  in  requital 
of  their  services,  as  it  was  judged  that  he  would  like  me  to 
act  liberally  with  his  people.  The  messenger  had  mentioned 
this  desire  on  my  part  to  the  King ;  hence  this  letter.  He 
sent  me  the  monkeys  to  replace  a  pretty  one  which  had  been 
presented  to  me  while  passing  through  Agowmeder,  and  which 
he  heard  I  had  recently  lost.  Wald-Gabir  was  also  instructed 
on  the  part  of  his  jMajesty  to  say,  that  if  I  wanted  silks,  or 
arms,  or  any  other  articles,  I  must  not  hesitate  to  apply  to 
him  for  them,  as  he  considered  me  in  the  light  of  a  brother. 
I  returned  my  best  thanks  for  the  kind  (•ffcr,  stating  at  the 
same  time  that  at  present  I  was  not  in  want  of  anything. 

Ist  March. — I  had  not  hitherto  received  the  five  thousai  d 

dollars  which  the  King  had  presented  me  with  on  the  Ith 

of  February,  when  I  left   him    in   Agowmeder,   hoping  all 

along  to  leave  the  coimtry  without  taking  any  portion  of  it ; 

but  it  having  been  strongly  urged  upon  me  to-day  that  his 

^fajcsty  might  bo  highly  oiTcnded  if  it  came  to  his  notice  that 

1  had  deferred  accepting  his  gift,  I  was  constrained  to  write 

and  acknowledge  its  receipt,  which  I  did  in  the  following 

terms : — 

''  Kordia,  Ist  March,  18G(). 
"  Most  Gracious  Sovkrkiox, 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
Miijcsty's  letter  on  the  22nd  day  of  the  month  Yekatit,  from 
whilh  I  was  glad  to  learn  that  you  were  in  perfect  health. 


16  THE  CAPTIVES  IJEACII  KORATA.  Chap.  XIIT. 

"  Allow  me  to  thank  j'our  Majesty  for  the  present  of  monkej-s 
you  so  graciously  sent  me  by  Yashalaka  Wald-Gabir,  and  also  for 
the  handsome  gift  of  five  thousand  dollars  you  so  kindly  sent  me 
through.  Aito  Samuel,  and  -which  I  have  duly  received.  May  the 
Lord  reward  you  out  of  His  bountiful  mercies  for  all  your 
favours  ;  and,  with  respectful  salutations  from  my  companions 
and  myself,  I  remain,"  &c. 

The  sum  above  alluded  to  was  paid  out  of  the  revenues  of 
Bagameder.  That  district  comprises  five  chieftainships,  eacli 
paying  70,000  dollars  annually  to  the  Sovereign.  All  the 
other  districts  are  sub-divided  in  a  similar  manner,  for  fiscal 
purposes.  In  addition  to  that  impost,  the  peasantry  gener- 
ally have  to  contribute  one-fifth  of  their  sheep  and  cattle. 
The  tolls  established  throughout  the  country  are  another 
source  of  royal  revenue.  Those  collected  in  Chalga — on  the 
high  road  to  the  Soodau — averaged  100,000  dollars  per 
annum. 

2nd. — The  King  ordered  his  artisans  to  send  for  their  wives 
from  Gafiat,  who  were  to  remain  with  them  until  the  Mission 
left  the  country  with  the  released  captives.  In  his  message 
to  me  on  the  same  subject  he  stated  that,  knowing  how 
much  Europeans  appreciated  the  society  of  ladies,  he  had 
directed  his  European  servants  to  send  for  their  families, 
in  order  that  I  might  have  a  little  agreeable  company  at 
Korata.  He  also  dispatched  orders  to  Agafari  Golam  to 
bring  the  released  captives  to  me  without  delay. 

I  received  a  visit  in  the  course  of  the  day  from  Kautiba 
Hailo,  the  ex-Mayor  of  Gondar.  He  was  considered  a  very 
good  Christian,  and  exceedingly  pious  withal.  During  our 
interview,  when  not  addressing  me,  he  Mas  wholly  engaged 
in  nuittering  prayers.  The  King  reposed  such  confidence  in 
Iris  loyalty  that  ho  appointed  him  overseer  of  his  European 
artisans,  or  their  Baldaraba.      "When  Theodore,  then  DajjaJ 


180G.   Makcii.  KAXTIBA  IIAIL(\  17 

Kasa,  began  to  acquire  political  power,  lie  was  warmly  sup- 
ported by  Kantiba  Uailo,  who  had  great  influence  at  Goudar, 
and  who  espoused  his  cause  niaiuly  owing  to  his  distrust  of 
lias  'Ali,  whom  he  regarded  as  a  questionable  convert,  and 
as   having   embraced   Christianity   merely    for   the  sake   of 
-extenchng  his  sway  over  the  Christians.     Theodore,  who  was 
naturally  of  a  most  suspicious  disposition,  had  accepted  the 
Kautiba's  aid  with   some   reserve   at   first,   but    eventually 
he  adopted  him  as  his  foster-father  by  sucking  his  thumb,  in 
accordance   with   the   Abyssinian  usage  on  such  occasions. 
Thenceforward  Theodore  always  addressed  him  as  "  father ;" 
but  when  his  powrr  began  to  decline,  his  distrust  of  every 
one  around  him  increased.     Even  up  to  the  time  of  which  I 
am  \\Titing,  Kantiba  llailo  considered  Theodore  as  the  best 
man  living;    but  soon   after  my  consignment  to   3Llgdala, 
together   with   my   companions,   matters    assumed    another 
aspect,  and  he  began  to  regard  his  adopted  royal  son  in  a 
diflerent  light.     His  zeal  for  Christianity  bordered  on  fanati- 
cism, and  being  a  native  of  Gondar  he  held  the  churches 
there  almost  in  idolatrous  veneration.     When,  in  November, 
18GC,  the  King  utterly  destroyed  that  capital,  ho  did  not 
spare  one  of  the   forty-eight  churches  which  it  contained. 
This  sacrilegious  act  drew  a  flood  of  tears  from  the  mortified 
Kantiba,  who  dared  not  remonstrate  at  the  time,  knowing 
that  his  life  might  have  been  the  penalty  for  any  such  inter- 
ference.     Ilis  grief  was  duly  reported  to  the  King  by  ill- 
disposed   persons;    but    as    it   was   contrai-y   to   Theodore's 
nature  to  bring  a  straightforward  charge  against  any  one,  he 
bad  given  out  on  tiie  occasion  that  he  had  destroyed  the  old 
apitul  because  its  inhabitants  had  harboured  the  rebels,  and, 
more   especially,  because  they  liad  iu\\  protected  the  mes- 
-enger  of  his  "friend"   Eassam,  and  liad    allowe<l    him  to 
vol..  II.  c 


18  THE  CAniVES  REACH  KORATA.  Chap.  XHT. 

be  plundered  not  far  from  the  cit)'.     Soon  after  tlie  King's 
return  to  Debra  Tabor,  he  had  the  Kantiba  arrested  and 
brought  two  separate  charges  against  him.     The  first  was, 
that  he  had  sent  him  a  present  of  grain,  which  the  accused 
had  declined  to  accept ;  the  second,  that  one  of  the  royal 
female  bakers,  who  had  been  dismissed  by  the  King,  had 
been  received  by  the  Kantiba  into  his  service.    The  old  man's 
defence  was,  that  owing  to  his  Majesty's  bount}"  he  had  more 
grain  than  sufficed  for  his  requirements,  and  that  being  a 
disinterested  and  faithful  subject  he  had  ventured  to  suggest 
that  the  royal  bounty,  in  this  instance,  might  be  bestowed 
on  some  more  needy  follo^Aer.     With  respect  to  the  female 
domestic,  that  she  had  been  brought  up  in  his  house  from 
childhood,  and  he  had  made  her  over  to  the  King  in  conse- 
quence of  his  Majesty's  desire  to  have  her,  she  being  con- 
sidered a  good  hand  at  making  tef  bread ;   that  when   his 
Majesty  had  turned  her  adrift,  having  no  further  need  of  her 
services,  it  was  quite  natural  that  the  woman  should  revert 
for  a  livelihood  to  her  old  master,  and  he  could  not  condemn 
himself  for  charitably  receiving  her  again  into  his  house. 
This  most  reasonable  defence,  however,  failed  to  satisfy  the 
King,  who  forthwith  sentenced  him  to  be  put  in  chains  until 
he  could  adduce  some  better  excuses  for  his  misbehaviour. 
Thereupon  the  degraded  functionary  lost  his   temper,  and 
claimed  to  be  tried  by  the  laws  of  the  realm  as  contained  in 
the  Fttteh-Negust,  declaring  that  he  was  ready  to  be  hanged, 
if  found  guilty  by  the   statutes.     This   unexpected  retort 
somewhat  excited  the  King  who,  turning  to  the  guard,  said, 
"  Take  the  old  woman  away !     Who  or  what  is  the  law  but 
myself?     Am  I  not  the  fountain  of  it?"     To  aggravate  the 
Kantiba's  misery,  the  inexorable  judge  ordered  his  grandson 
to  be  imprisoned  with  him,  simply  because  he  knew  him  to 


I 


18GG.   Mauch.  KAXTIIJA  IIAILO.  19 

be   very  fond  of  hi  in,  the  lad  having  lost  his  father — the 
Kantiba's  son-in-law — ■when  he  was  a  child.     After  they  were 
both  put  into  chains,  the  King  demanded  that  the  old  man 
should  refund  all  the  money  which  he  had  paid  him  for  many 
years.     To  this  the'  Kantiba  replied,  that  not  having  been 
given  to  understand  that  the  money  was  advanced  as  a  loan, 
and  considering:  that  it  was  nothing  more  than  the  regular 
pay  from  a  master  to  his  servant,  he  had  spent  it  all.     The 
two  victims  were  then  put  to  the  dreadful  torture  of  having 
their  hands  tied  tightly  by  a  rope,  wound  several  times  round 
the  body,  imtil  the  blood  spirted  out.     This  fiendish  punish- 
ment was  persisted  in  for  several  weeks  until  the  King,  finding 
that  nothing  more  could  be  squeezed  out  of  tlie  Kantiba,  sent 
him  and  liis  gi-andson  to  Magdala,  where  they  were  retained 
in   chains   until   the  8th  of  April,  1868,  when  they   were 
released  together  with  other  incarcerated   Chiefs  two  davs 
before  the   engagement   with   the   British   army.     Kantiba 
Ilailo  was  uniforndy  kind  to  me  and  friendly  to  the  Mission  ; 
on  one  occasion  he  received  a  severe  reprimand  from  the 
King  for  having  recommended  him  to  permit  me  to  leave 
the  country.     Theodore  had  an  idea  that  the  Kantiba  was 
conversant  with  tlie  black  art,  and  in  former  times,  when 
ho    was  credulous    in  such   matters,  he  had  a  superstitious 
dread  of  his  occult  j)owei.s,  but  of  late  he  appears  to  have 
disregarded  them  altogetlier  ;  for  one  day,  while  the  Kantiba 
was  under  torture,  he  sent  to  tell  the  King  tliut  liis  power 
over  him  would  soon  be  at  an  end,  inasmuch  as  it  was  decreed 
that  his  rule  would  terminate  in  the  fourteenth  year  of  his 
reign,  which  was  not  far  off.     To  this  Theodore  sent  the  fol- 
lowing reply: — "If  your  prediction  be  true,  you  may  live 
long;  but  if  I  survive  the  fourteenth  year,  yoiir  lite  sliall  be 
forfeited."     "Be  it  so,"  was  the  Kantiba's  answer.     It  is  a 


L>0  THE  CAPTIVES  REACH  KOEATA.  Ciia?.  XHI. 

singular  coincidence  that  Theodore  terminated  his  existence 
in  the  fourteenth  year  of  his  reign. 

ord. — I  received  the  subjoined  note  from  the  King  this 
morning  by  Wald-Gubir  and  my  messenger  Haiio  : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  The  people  [prisoners]  whom  you  want,  may  the  Lord  bring 
to  you,  and  may  He  cause  you  to  reach  your  country  in  safety. 
May  the  Lord  plant  my  fricudsliip  and  goodwill  in  3'our  hearts, 
and  may  He  cause  you  to  open  my  blind  eyes. 

"  Dated  24th  of  Yekatit." 

The  messengers  ought  to  have  reached  me  yesterday,  but 
owing  to  a  storm  they  were  driven  to  a  place  called  Zan- 
zalima,  to  tlic  north  of  the  Abai  outlet.  A  lady  who  was 
on  her  way  to  the  royal  camp  ^^'as  so  terrified  when  she  got 
near  the  coast  that,  fancying  the  canoe  to  be  in  shallow 
water,  she  threw  herself  into  the  Lake.  Fortunately,  the 
canoe-men,  who  were  on  tlio  alert,  rescued  her  from  drowning. 

■itJt. — Dispatched  the  following  answer  to  the  King  this 
morning  by  Wald-Gabir  and  Hailo : — 

''Eoruta,  4th  March,  1866. 
"  Most  Gracious  Sovereign, 

"  I  have  received,  Avith  much  pleasure,  your  gracious  and  kind 
letter  by  AVald-Gabir  and  Hailo,  who  only  arrived  here  yester- 
day morning,  owing  to  the  Avinds  and  heavy  sea  they  en- 
countered after  leaving  your  coast  the  da,y  before  j'esterday. 
They  were  driven  to  the  coast  of  Zanzalima,  where  Ihey  had  to 
spend  the  niglit.  I  oftcr  my  humble  thanks  to  Almighty  Cod 
for  their  safety. 

"  I  trust  ihiit  this  letter  will  find  your  ^Majesty  in  perfect 
health,  in  which  happy  condition  both  my  cojupanions  and  ni}-- 
self  are  at  present.  JJr.  Blanc  and  Mr.  Prideaux  beg  to  be  respect- 
fully remeinl)ered  to  your  IMajcsty. 

"  I  return  you  my  best  thanks  i'or  the  good  wishes  conveyed  in 
your  letter  midcr  reply,  and  I  hope  that  by  your  favour  and 


ISGO.   March.  A  SUSPICIOUS  INTDIATIOX.  21 

through  your  prayers  we  sliall  all  reach  our  destinations  safely. 
I  need  not  assure  your  Majesty  that  I  am  ready  to  leave  Abys- 
sinia for  England  as  soon  as  I  shall  obtain  your  leave,  -svhich  I 
hope  you  will  gi-ant  mo  before  long,  because  I  am  most  anxious 
that  we  should  quit  the  Soodan  country  before  the  unhealthy 
season  sets  in. 

"  News  has  reached  this  place  of  the  arrival  of  Agafiiri 
Golam  and  his  companions  near  Debra  Tabor,  and  1  doubt  not 
that  through  your  kindness  they  will  soon  join  me  here." 

lu  the  afternoon  I  received  two  notes  from  the  captives — 
one  from  Consul  Cameron  and  the  otlier  from  j\[r.  Stern — 
int'urmiug  mo  that  they  were  released  from  their  fetters 
on  the  24th  ultimo,  and  were  on  the  way  to  join  me,  but 
lliat  in  consequence  of  physical  debility  they  were  obliged 
to  travel  verj'  slowly. 

ijth. — Dispatched  messengers  to  Consul  Cameron  with  a 
su])ply  of  money. 

(jth. — Eeceived  a  startling  letter  from  his  Majesty  to-day, 
wherein,  for  the  first  time  since  my  arrival  in  Abyssinia,  he 
expressed  a  wish  to  "consult"  with  me  when  the  released 
captives  joined  me.     It  was  as  follows : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  When  the  peojde  [prisoners]  reach  you,  wc  will  consult.  I  liave 
tried  to  find  some  nice  silk  amongst  my  property,  and  also  in 
the  market  in  this  countr}',  but  did  not  succeed ;  but  of  the 
silks  with  which  you  presented  mo,  I  have  sent  lluec  pieces,  Avitli 
their  lining.  If  th'-v  will  suit  yoii,  make  shirts  of  them,  and 
wear  thorn  for  me ;  but  if  you  think  they  will  bring  any  ob- 
htqtiy  on  mo — because  what  Inirts  my  reputation  hurts  yours 
— send  mo  an  answer. 

"Dated  28th  of  Yekutit." 

In  this  communicaliun  hi'  also,  for  the  first  time,  proposed 
to  d<corat<!  my  companions  and  myself  with  silk  shirts.     The 


22  THE  CAPTIVES  REACH  KOTIATA.  Chap.  XIH. 

letter,  however,  was   accompanied  by  a  message  invoking 
God  as  a  witness  between  liis  Majesty  and  myself  that  I  was 
not  to  do  what  would  tend  to  degrade  either  of  us  in  the 
eyes  of  his  people ;  that  he  had  merely  sent  the  three  pieces 
of  silk  in  order  to  know  which  we  preferred,  in  the  event  of 
our  consenting  to  have  shirts  made  of  them.     I  found  out,  on 
inquiry,  that  if  I  accepted  the  shirts,  we  should  be  obliged 
to  wear  them  when  we  met  the  King ;  and  considering  that 
such  an  exhibition  would  have  been  degrading  to  our  posi- 
tion as  British  officers,  as  well  as  ridiculous,  I  determined 
at  once  to  decline  them.     Fortunately,  the  King  himself 
had  helped  me  out  of  my  embarrassment  by  not  sending 
ready-made  shirts,  which  he  certainly  would  have  done  had 
he  fully  resolved  that  w'e  should  wear  them.     It  seemed  also 
very  odd  that  after  what  he  had  stated  some  time  before, 
•svhen  he  decorated  my  servants  with  royal  shirts — namely, 
that  he  could  not  think  of  putting  us  on  the  same  footing 
with  his  own  people  or  any  of  the  Europeans  Vfho  had  pre- 
ceded us,  but  that  he  intended  to  institute  a  new  Order 
specially  for  us — I  say,  it  seems  strange  that  he  should  so 
suddenly  alter  his  mind  in  this  respect,  and  propose  placing 
us  on  an  equality  with  our  own  messengers  and  interpreters. 
I  date  the  change  in  the  King's  conduct  towards  me,  and 
the  misfortunes  which  eventually  befell  the  members  of  the 
Mission  and  the  old  captives,  from  this  day.     Everything, 
as   the   reader   may  judge  for  himself,  had  gone   on  most 
prosperously  up   to  this   time.     Whence,  then,  this  unex- 
pected  alteration   in   his   tone?      I  fully   believe   that   his 
Majesty  had  then  heard,  as  I  did  two  days  after,  of  the  arrival 
of  another  person  at  Massowah  to  intercede  for  the  liberation 
of  the  captives.     This  is   by   no  means  improbable,  seeing 
that  Dr.  Boke  reached  that  place  towards  the  end  of  January. 


18GG.  MARCii.  WE  DECLINE  "SHIRTS."  23 

How  that  gentleman's  ill-timed  intervention  militated  against 
the  interests  of  the  Mission  will  be  made  obvious  in  the  com-se 
of  this  narrative. 

Ith. — Having,  as  already  stated,  declined  to  ^Yeal'  the 
projGfered  shirts,  I  addressed  the  following  letter  to  the  King 

on  the  subject : — 

"  Kordta,  1th  March,  1866. 
"Most  Ghacious  Sovkhkigx, 

"I  have  had  the  honour  of  receiving  your  Majesty's  kind 
letter  of  the  2Sth  of  the  month  Yekatit,  and  was  glad  to  learn 
therefrom  that  you  were  qiiite  well. 

"  Dr.  Blauc  and  ^Ir.  I'rideaux  return  you  their  respectful 
compliments. 

"  Pray  accept  my  most  grateful  thanks  fur  the  honour  which 
your  Majesty  intends  to  confer  upon  me  and  my  companions,  and 
also  for  the  things  which  you  were  ^o  good  as  to  send  me  by 
Yashalaka  \\'ald-Giibir  to  select  from, 

"Be  assured  that  the  meanest  token  (if  friendship  and  good- 
will coming  from  your  ^lajcsty  will  always  be  appreciated  and 
considered  by  mo  a  great  honour. 

"AVhen  the  above-named  Yashalaka  Wald-Gubir  brought  me 
your  giacious  message  the  other  day  concerning  the  t>amo  sub- 
ject, I  had  intrusted  your  confidant,  Aito  Samuel,  with  some 
matters  which  I  hojiod  he  would  have  had  an  opportunity  be- 
fore now  (jf  communicating  in  jterson  to  your  ^Majesty.  I  trust, 
however,  that  when  Agafi'iri  G»">lam  and  his  companions  arrive 
here,  he  will  be  able,  with  your  Majesty's  permission,  to  come  to 
you. 

"  Commending  you  to  the  protection  of  our  Heavenly  Father, 
I  remain,"  &o. 

Having  left  my  explanation  to  bo  mmlv  by  Samuel,  I 
deemed  it  discreet  to  retain  the  silks  until  I  received  his 
^lajesty's  permission  to  return  them.  My  instructions  to 
Sanuud  were  to  this  efiect:  that  if  we  had  the  shirts  made, 
and  did  not  wear  them  before  the  King,  such  a  course  woidd 
hardly  be  becoming;  that   it  was   not  usual   in  the  Courts 


24:  TEIE  CAPTIVES  EEACH  KORATA.  Cii.vr.  XIII. 

of  Christian  Po\\  ers  for  the  representative  of  a  foreign  State 
to  appear  bsfore  a  Sovereign  in  any  other  than  the  uni- 
form of  his  own  Government;  that  liad  Ave  been  in  his 
Majesty's  service  the  case  would  have  been  different, 
but  that  as  matters  stood  it  would  be  derogatory  to  the 
King  if  we  appeared  before  him  in  an  uniform  different 
from  that  which  we  were  bound  to  Avear  before  our  ON\n 
Queen. 

Dr.  Schimper  called  on  me  tliis  morning  with  some  geolo- 
gical specimens ;  also  a  sketch-map  of  the  district  of  Baga- 
meder,  which  he]  requested  me  to  convey  to  the  Eoyal 
Geographical  Society.  As  the  map  A\as  not  completed  as 
far  as  Korata,  I  got  Samuel's  permission  for  him  to  go  up 
to  the  hills  and  make  the  necessary  survey.  I  also  obtained 
the  King's  sanction  to  his  proposal  to  make  a  collection 
of  the  fish  in  the  Lake  to  send  to  England.  I  heard  sub- 
sequently that  he  wrote  himself  to  his  Majesty,  soliciting 
pecuniary  aid  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  his  project — an 
application  which  surprised  the  King  not  a  little,  as  he 
could  not  conceive  why  he  should  take  any  interest  in  Dr. 
Schimper's  ichthyological  researches. 

Sth. — Mr.  Mayer  arrived  this  morning  with  four  brass 
cannons  which  had  been  made  at  Gaffat  by  the  King's 
European  artisans.  They  were  drawn  by  horses,  and  were 
mounted  on  the  carriages  of  the  guns  that  had  been  brought 
to  the  King  by  'Abd-ur-Rahmau  Bey  from  Egypt,  the  guns 
of  which  had  been  left  at  Magdala.  As  his  Majesty  is 
a  great  hand  at  making  roads  by  forced  labour  exacted 
from  the  peasantry,  these  pieces  of  ordnance  were  trans- 
ported through  the  mountains  to  Korata  witliout  much- 
difficulty. 

Dabtera  Dasta,  the  messenger  I  sent  down  to  Massowalh 


186G.  March.  DK.  BEKE.  Oj 

on  the  12th  of  January  with  dispatches  from  Chalga,  re- 
turned to-day  with  letters  from  Colonel  Merewether  and 
Mr.  3Iunzinger.  He  was  the  first  to  inform  me  of  Dr.  Beke's 
arrival  at  Massowah,  and  of  the  object  of  his  visit.  The 
messenger  declared  that  he  had  entreated  that  gentleman, 
to  keep  quiet,  and  not  to  allow  any  intimation  of  his  mission 
to  reach  the  King,  otherwise  harm  might  befall  us  all; 
that  he  had  taken  special  care  to  inform  him  of  the  pre- 
parations which  his  ^Majesty  had  made  to  give  us  a  favourable 
reception,  and  that  it  was  the  general  opinion  in  Abyssinia 
that  the  ca^itives  would  certainly  bo  released,  and  be  allowed 
to  leave  the  country  with  me ;  but  the  only  response '  he 
could  elicit  from  the  gentleman  referred  to  was,  that  I  had 
no  chance  of  succeeding,  and  that  he  was  the  only  person 
likely  to  effect  the  desired  object. 

When  the  King  heard  of  the  arrival  of  my  messenger 
from  the  coast,  he  sent  for  him  immediately,  and  kept  him 
at  the  Court  four  days,  treating  him  very  well,  and  decorating 
him  with  the  lloyal  Shirt.  On  his  return,  I  inquired  whether 
the  King  had  questioned  him  respecting  Dr.  Beke's  mission, 
lie  rejilicd  in  the  negative;  nevertheless,  I  fully  believe 
that  he  related  everything  he  knew  of  the  subject,  but 
was  afraiil  to  confess  to  me  that  he  had  done  so.  It  will 
bo  noticed  tliat  in  the  inllowing  note  which  he  brought  me 
on  the  15th  from  the  King,  his  ^lajosty  says  that  Dasta  had 
accpiaiiitcd  him  with  ''other  matters"  besides  the  state  of 
alVair^  in  'i'i<riv  :  — 


(After  compliments.) 

•' Your  sci'vant  Dasta,  who  carao  from  Massowah,  h  is  informed 
mo  of  the  ro-o-stablislimcnt  of  order  in  Tign",  and  other  matters. 
I'y   the  power  of  God,  1  bavo  rejnicod  greatly.     I  am  glad  to 


26  THE  CAPTIVES  llEACH  KOEATA.         Chap.  XIII. 

hear  of  their  [the  prisoners]  safe  arrival,  and  of  the  good  health 
of  yon  all. 

"  Dated  Monday,  the  4th  of  Magabit." 

9th. — Gave  a  dinner-party  to  all  the  King's  European 
artisans  to-day.  Just  as  we  had  taken  our  seats  at  the  table, 
Kantiba  Hailo  came  in  from  the  royal  camp,  bringing  me 
the  following  letter  from  his  Majesty : — 

After  compliments — 

"  Agafari  Golam  has  sent  to  inform  me  that  your  people 
[prisoners]  had  arrived,  by  the  power  of  God  [at  Debra  Tabor]. 
I  have  greatly  rejoiced,  and  I  wish  you  also  to  be  glad.  AVald- 
Gabir  informed  me  that  you  had  wished  the  doctor  to  go  to 
him  [Consul  Cameron].  Very  well ;  let  Aito  Samuel  go  with 
him  at  once.  When  they  reach  you  safely,  let  me  at  once  know 
of  their  arrival,  by  the  power  of  God,  in  order  that  we  may 
have  a  chat  together. 

"  Dated  Friday,  the  1st  of  Magabit." 

It  was  now  becoming  clear  to  mo,  to  my  great  disappoint- 
ment, as  well  from  the  tenor  of  the  message  with  which 
Kantiba  Hailo  was  charged  as  from  the  foregoing  note,  that 
the  King  had  determined  to  subject  Consul  Cameron  and 
his  companions  to  another  trial.  I  had  also  been  questioned 
whether,  after  conveying  the  released  captives  out  of  the 
country,  it  was  my  intention  to  return  to  Abyssinia  as 
British  Agent,  his  Majesty  having  expressed  a  strong  wish 
that  I  should  represent  the  British  Government  at  his 
Court.  j\ry  reply  to  this  was,  that  I  was  only  a  servant 
and  must  obey  orders.  This  answer,  it  appears,  did  not 
satisfy  the  King,  for  MJion  it  was  repeated  to  him  lie  re- 
marked, "  AYliat  have  I  in  my  hands  to  ensure  Mr.  Kassam's 
return  to  me  ?  " 

Having    been    informed    to-day    that    his    Majesty  Vas 


18G6.  March.  A  FORMAL  VISIT.  27 

particularly  anxious  to  know  the  import  of  tho  crown 
and  star  embroidered  on  the  collar  of  Dr.  Blanc  and  Lieu- 
tenant Prideaux's  uniform,  I  sent  to  tell  him  that  they 
were  symbols  indicating  the  rank  of  officers  in  the  British 
army.  ' 

It  having  been  frequently  represented  to  me  that  the 
King  hated  the  Magdala  captives  so  intensely  that  it  might 
result  in  the  fiiilure  of  the  Mission  if  the  latter  were  brought 
face  to  face  uith  him,  I  was  strongly  advised  to  try  and  pre- 
\^-ent  a  meeting  between  them.  As  I  was  not  in  a  position, 
however,  to  protest  against  any  such  proceeding  on  the  part 
of  his  IMajesty — notwithstanding  that  he  had  already  forgiven 
the  prisoners  and  virtually  made  them  over  to  me  in  accord- 
ance with  his  letter  to  her  Majesty  of  the  29tli  of  January — I 
had  intnisted  Samuel  with  a  message  to  induce  the  Eing  to 
dispense  with  their  attendance  upon  him  ;  but  that  if  he  were 
bent  on  preferring  charges  against  them  before  me,  to  allow 
the  case  to  be  proceeded  with  at  Korata.  I  also  urged  the 
trouble  which  it  would  give  to  convey  so  large  a  party  by 
water  to  Zage,  and  adtluced  Consul  Cameron's  imUsposition 
as  another  consideration  to  lead  him  to  forego  his  intention 
of  having  the  released  captives  brought  before  him,  request- 
ing his  Majesty  at  the  same  time  to  allow  me  to  send  Dr. 
]ilanc  to  the  Consul — a  rccjuest  wliicli,  as  will  be  seen  from 
the  foregoing  iKjte,  he  readily  granted. 

lOth. — AH  the  ladies  of  the  King's  European  artisana  who 
arrived  from  riaflat  yesterday  assembled  in  ]\[r.  Waldnicier's 
tent  tliis  morning  to  receive  a  formal  visit  from  me.  They 
were  uU  in  gorgeous  Abyssinian  attire,  with  tlie  exception  of 
J\Iadame  Bourgaud,  a  French  lady,  who  wivs  dressed  in  the 
Kuropean  style.  Two  of  tho  ladies  were  tho  daughters  of 
tlie  late  Mr.  Bell  by  an  Abyssinian  mother:  one  was  married 


28  THE  CArTIVES  EEACH  KOEATA.  CiiAr.  XIII. 

to  Mr.  Waldmeier,  and  the  other  to  3Ir.  Salmiiller.  There 
were  present  besides,  two  daughters  of  Dr.  Schimj)er — also  by 
an  Abyssinian  mother:  one  of  these  was  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Bender,  the  other  the  widow  of  a  German  named  Kunzlin, 
who  had  died  at  Gafiat  a  few  months  before.  The  wives 
of  Messrs.  Mayer  and  Zander  were  converted  Gallas,  who 
had  made  them  excellent  helpmates ;  and  3Irs.  Moritz  Hall 
Avas  an  Armenian  on  the  father's  and  an  Abyssinian  on 
the  mother's  side.  As  they  all  spoke  Amharic  only,  and 
Madame  Bourgaud  knew  no  other  language  except  her 
native  French,  I  was  obliged  to  address  them  through  an 
interpreter. 

11th. — I  was  glad  to  hear  from  Consul  Cameron  to-day 
that  he  was  a  little  better,  and  that  we  might  expect  him 
and  his  party  to-morrow. 

12th. — At  1  r.M.  the  gratifying  intelligence  reached  us 
that  Consul  Cameron  and  his  companions  had  arrived  in  the 
vicinity  of  Korata;  but  as  Agafari  Golam  had  received 
instructions  from  the  King  to  hand  them  over  to  me  in 
a  particular  form  and  order,  he  kept  the  poor  fellows  outside 
the  town  nearly  an  hour,  until  he  had  ascertained  that  he 
was  not  approaching  me  without  due  notice.  Even  when, 
an  hour  later,  he  entered  our  inclosure,  there  was  endless 
running  in  and  out  of  my  tent  on  some  frivolous  errand 
or  other :  first,  he  Avanted  Samuel,  tlie  lung's  Baldaraba, 
to  be  ready  to  see  the  released  captiA^es  correctly  counted ; 
then  he  Avished  to  know  Avhether  my  tent  Avas  large  enough 
to  receive  them,  or  if  I  Avould  not  have  them  counted  before 
me  outside.  However,  I  soon  brought  this  farce  to  an  end, 
and  Avas  at  length  rejoiced  to  Avelcome  the  unfortunate 
sufferers.  The  following  is  the  list  of  those  who  joined  us 
on  this  occasion : — 


iJ^r.C.    ^Fai:.!!. 


TTIK  r.F.LKASED  ("'APTIYES. 


■29 


Occupation. 


J.  D.  Cameron 


IjHer    Britannic    Majesty's 
\   Consul  at  Jlassowah 


Country. 


.    ,,  (Lite  Secretary  ot  ConsuH 

J.  Kerans  . .      . .  <     ^  ■'  > 

I      Cameron ( 

(Late   servant    of  Cx)nsun| 

\      Cameron / 1 

.. '  Servant  of  Consul  Cameron 

{Late   servant   of  Consul 'I 
Cameron /, 

(■  Painter,  and  late  teacher^ 
"  \     of  lanc^uages       ..       ../ 

H.  A.  Stern,  Missionaiy 

Slissionarv 


County,  &c. 


Inhabitant  of. 


\.  McKelvi, 
r.  Macraire 
).  Pietro  . 
V.  BarJel  . 


^1  Southpark, 
(_  Aliascragh. 

Down        ..       ..  Downpatrick. 

fDepartment    oil  ,.,.           , 

<      11     .    ni  •       /  » hnau-va  . 
\     Haute  Rhin    j 

Turin 


i,  Hosenthal 
tlrs.  K.  Hosenthalj 
>Ir.  T.  M.  Flad.. 
ilrs.  P.  Klad 
V,  Ha.1  I 

''r.  Klad  J  children 
\  Flad  ) 

W.  SLiiger 

I         leis 


Mi.«isionary 


Ireland  . 

Ireland  . 

France  , 

Ibily  . 

France    . 

Cur-IIessen London. 

Mecklenburg  ..     Furstenberg      ..  London. 

Kngland  ..      ..i   London     ..       ..  London. 

Wurtembnrg  ..|  Rentlingen         ..,  L'nlingen. 

Ifhcnihh  Prussia    Treves       . .       . .  Saaibriick. 


Taveia. 


Department  Meuse,  Sampigny. 


Missionary 

Missionary 

>N';itui-al  history  colleciors/ 


(■Grand     Duchy  1 
\     of  Baden       J 


Diichy^ 
jf  Baden 
Ditto 
Prussia    . . 

Hun',';ny  . . 


Lain-..      .. 

Wiesloch   .. 
Posen 

O  loiOiur-  . . 


Langenwinkel. 

Baierthal. 

Posen. 

Neustadthal. 


After  a  little  chat,  I  showed  each  party  where  to  take  up 
their  quarters,  and  then  returned  to  my  tent  to  write  the 
lollowing  letter  to  the  King,  whicli  I  dispatched  forthwith 
}»y  Aito  Samuel  and  two  of  my  messengers: — 

''Kordla,  Vlth  March,  18(1(1. 
•  Most  Gn.vcious  SovERraax, 

*'  I  liavo  had  tlio  honour  of  receiving  yom-  Majesty's  kind 
letter  of  Iho  Lst  Mat!;al)it  hy  Kantiba  llailo,  and  I  was  icjoiced 
to  learn  from  itK  bearer  tliat  he  left  yuu  in  pcrfoct  health  and 
prosjxirity.  >May  thi;  Lord  continue  to  keep  you  in  tlic  samo 
liappy  condition. 

"I  have  tlio  pleasure  to  inform  your  IMaje.sty  that  Con.sul 
'  'amoron  and  Ids  European  companions,  vho  have  been  brought 
liom  Miigilala  b}'  Agafuri  Ciolam,  reaelied  this  place  tliis  after- 
iKXjn  ;  and  I  return  you  my  best  thanks  for  the  kindness  and 
ittention  shown  them  on  the  road  liy  your  Jlajesty's  servants, 
in  accordance  with  your  orders. 


30  THE  CArTIV]-:S  REACH  KORATA.         Chap.  XHL 

"  Mr.  Flad  and  liis  companions  "wlio  were  at  Gaffat  have  also 
joined  me  here. 

"  The  rest  of  the  news  will  be  given  to  your  Majesty  by  your 
servant,  Aito  Samuel,  who  is  going  to  your  Court  with  some 
oommuuications  which  I  have  desired  him  to  make  to  you. 

"  My  companions  join  me  in  presenting  your  Majesty  with  my 
respectful  salutations." 

The  reader  will  probably  have  remarked  that  my  reception 
of  the  captives  was  cold  and  formal.  It  was  so  undoubtedly 
in  outward  appearance,  as  it  was  also  designedly,  for  I  had 
been  specially  warned  against  any  cordial  demonstration  of 
friendship  towards  them,  lest  the  King  migbt  take  umbrage 
thereat,  and  suspect  me  of  siding  with  his  "enemies."  "If 
you  desire  to  leave  the  country  with  them,"  was  the  advice  of 
those  who  knew  the  King's  disposition  well,  "  keep  aloof  from 
them  for  the  present."  It  was  extremely  painful  to  me  to 
act  with  such  reserve,  even  for  a  time,  more  especially  towards 
Consul  Cameron  and  the  Eev,  Mr.  Stern,  with  whom  I  had 
been  formerly  acquainted,  and  above  all  when  they  had  just 
been  released  from  a  long  and  horrible  confinement ;  but  the 
safety  of  all,  the  members  of  the  Mission  included,  obliged 
me  to  repress  my  own  feelings  in  the  matter.  However,  I 
directed  my  servants  to  supply  them  with  every  requisite ; 
and  I  hardly  need  add  that  when  the  Mission  was  disgraced, 
and  there  was  no  longer  any  object  to  be  gained  by  humour- 
ing the  King,  I  gladly  threw  off  the  assumed  disguise,  feeling 
tliat  then  we  were  all  in  the  same  pliglit,  and  must  escape 
or  perish  together. 


1866.   March.  31 


CHAPTEK  XIV. 


TRIAL   OF   THE   CAPTIVES. 


Theodore  deciilcs  on  the  trial  of  the  Captives  —  His  charges  against  theni 

—  His  object  —  The  Captives  plead  culpable  —  !^fistranslation  of  Earl 
raisscll's  and  her  Majesty's  letters  —  A  dilemma  —  Arrival  of  a  mes- 
senger from  Dr.  Bekc  —  The  Petition  from  the  relatives  of  the  Captives 

—  The  Order  of  "  the  Cross  and  Solomon's  Seal "  —  Another  present  from 
Theodore — Dr.  Bekc's  mission  injudicious  —  Una  Mohammed  invested 
with  the  "Royal  Shirt"  —  Dabtcra  Dasta  in  the  royal  garments  — 
Visit  to  Theodore  at  Zage  postponed  —  Alaka  I'ngada,  the  royal  Scribe 

—  Reception  of  the  Mission  at  Zago — Theodore's  courtesy — Consults 
with  his  Chiefs  about  the  departure  of  the  Mission  and  Captives  —  His 
grievances  against  M.  Lejean,  the  Coptic  Patriarch,  a  German,  and 
Mr.  Speedy  —  His  opinion  of  his  own  subjects  —  Our  return  to  Korata. 

It  took  the  King  two  days  to  decide  how  to  act,  for  he 
evidently  w  avered  between  a  desire  to  gratify  me  by  acceding 
to  my  request,  and  an  inclination  to  refuse  what  I  had  asked, 
and  thereby  to  break  witli  me  at  once.  The  course  he  even- 
tually took  was  this : — he  sent  Alaka  I'ngaiiri  and  Agafari 
Golam  with  Aito  Samuel  to  say,  that  he  wished  me  to 
hold  a  ( Viurt  in  my  tent,  and  that  in  the  presence  of  his 
European  artisans  and  some  Abyssinian  ollicials  the  charges 
whicli  he  luid  preferred  against  the  released  cai)tives  should 
be  read  over  to  them,  and  they  be  asked  whether  they 
were  true  or  not. 

On  delivering  the  King's  letter,  Alaka  I'ngada  told  nic,  in 
the  presence  of  the  assembly  and  his  colleagues,  that  his  royal 
master  felt  hapi)y  that  the  Court,  wliich  was  to  all  intents  and 
purposesMiis  Court,  was  to  be  heUl  in  my  tent,  where  1  should 


.32  TRIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIV. 

represent  bis  Majesty  ;  that  what  the  King  wanted  was  to 
convince  me  that  he  had  been  badly  treated  by  the  released 
captives,  and  to  obtain  for  him  from  them  a  "  Feker-Kasa," 
or  friendly  indemnity ;  that,  on  the  other  hand,  if  I  found 
him  to  be  in  fault,  he  would  indemnify  them  in  any  way  I 
judged  right.  The  following  are  the  documents  which  were 
read  on  the  occasion  : — 

(After  compliments.) 

*'By  the  power  of  God,  and  the  fortune  of  Queen  Victoria  and 
myself,  those  people  [prisoners]  whom  my  friend  [the  Queen] 
asked  me  to  release  have  reached  you  safely,  and  when  I  heard 
of  it  I  Avas  glad.  AVhat  my  friend,  the  Queen,  asked  me  to  do 
I  have,  by  the  power  of  God,  performed.  In  the  letter  which 
my  friend  the  Queen  sent,  it  is  thus  said :  '  We  have  sent  to 
you  Mr.  Hormuzd  Eassam,  who  was  Governor  at  Aden,  and  whom 
we  esteem  and  trust;  consult  with  him  concerning  what  you 
require  of  us,  and  he  will  do  it  for  you.'  She  saj-s  that  I  am 
blind  now,  and  what  I  require  is  a  remedy,  to  give  light  to  my  eyes. 
As  I  have  gladdened  your  heart,  I  wish  you  to  gladden  mine 
by  sending  and  obtaining  for  me  [such  a  remedy].  Of  the  trans- 
lation of  the  Queen's  communication  which  you  gave  me,  I 
send  you  a  copy,  in  order  that  you  may  hear  it.  I  wish  you 
to  ask  the  people  [prisoners]  whom  you  have,  by  the  power  of 
God,  released,  before  your  brothers  and  Mr.  W^aldmeier's  party, 
whether  it  be  true  that  they  had  abused  me  or  not. 

"  Dated  A.M.  7358,  and  a.d.  1858,  in  the  year  of  St.  Mark,  on 
the  6th  of  Magabit." 

(I  may  mention  hero  that  the  translation  of  the  Queen's 
letter  to  Theodore,  of  which  I  was  the  bearer,  was  made  at 
the  request  of  his  Majesty  with  the  assistance  of  Mr. 
Piidcaux,  tlie  royal  Chief  Scribe,  Samuel,  and  one  of  my 
Abyssinian  interpreters.) 


1866.  Mabch.      charges  AGAINST  CONSUL  CAMERON.         33 

Charges  against  the  Prisoners. 

After  compliments : — 

"  The  charges  against  Cameron,  who  calls  himself  Consul,  are 
tliese : — This  gentleman  and  his  agent  Bardcl  sent  to  tell  me 
that  they  had  come  as  messengers  from  the  Queen,  and  wished 
me  to  receive  them.  By  the  power  of  God,  I  sent  an  escort 
to  Massowah  and  brought  him  up.  I  was  then  at  Debra  Mai, 
in  the  district  of  Metcha.  "When  he  arrived,  I  sent  my  nobles 
to  meet  him,  and  had  a  salute  fired  for  him.  According  to  the 
custom  of  my  country,  I  decorated  my  house  for  his  reception, 
and  welcomed  him  therein,  by  the  power  of  God.  lie  then  gave 
me  a  letter,  which  he  said  was  from  the  Queen ;  after  I  had 
read  the  letter,  he  presented  me  with  a  double-barrelled  gun 
and  a  pair  of  double-barrelled  pistols,  which  he  said  were  pre- 
sents from  the  (,)ueen.  I  bowed  on  receiving  thcni,  and  thanked 
her  Majesty  for  them.  In  the  letter  the  Queen  said  that  she  wishes 
to  be  my  friend  and  relation,  and  that  she  heard  that  I  loved 
and  bofiiended  her  on  account  of  what  I  had  done  for  Plow- 
den  and  his  party  against  the  people  of  my  countiy ;  that  for- 
merly England  and  Abyssinia  had  an  interest;  and  now  she 
wislicd  that  lier  Consul  should  remain  with  me,  and  that  sports- 
men and  merchants  should  be  allowed  to  follow  their  avocations. 
He  [the  Consul]  said  to  me  that  a  Consul  from  me  should  go 
to  England,  and  my  sportsmen  and  merchants  also,  and  that, 
by  the  power  of  God,  we  [the  English]  would  protect  them.  I 
was  glad  at  hearing  this,  and  said,  '  Veiy  well.' 

"  In  accordance  with  the  rules  of  my  country,  1  treated  him 
and  I'ardel  well. 

"  1  told  the  Consul  that  the  Turks  had  taken  my  country, 
and  were  my  enemies ;  nor  had  I  a  ship  to  do  my  work,  by  the 
power  of  God,  and  I  said  that  I  wished  that  the  Mission  and 
presents  which  I  intended  to  send  to  the  Queen  should  be  con- 
veyed safely.  I  gave  him  a  friendly  letter  to  the  Queen 
and  sent  him  away.  The  letter  which  he  brought  me,  and 
tlie  consultation  which  we  had  together,  he  abandoned,  and 
went  to  the  Turks,  who  do  not  love  me,  and  before  whom  he 
insulted  and  lowered  me.  Ho  stayed  with  them  some  time,  and 
returtied    to  nie.     I  asked  him,    'Where    is    the    answer   to  the 

vol,.  II.  u 


34  TRIAL  OF  THE  CArTlVES.  Chap.  XIV. 

friendly  letter  I  intrusted  you  with ;  wliat  have  you  come 
for?'  He  said  to  me,  'I  do  not  know,'  So  I  said  to  him, 
'  You  are  not  the  servant  of  my  friend,  the  Queen,  as  you  had 
represented  yourself  to  be ; '  and,  by  the  power  of  my  Creator, 
I  imprisoned  him.     Ask  him  if  he  can  deny  this. 

"  The  cliarge  against  Bardcl  is  this:  that  he  told  me  that  he 
wished  to  make  me  acquainted  with  the  Emperor  of  the  French. 
I  said  to  him,  '  Very  well ; '  and  sent  him.  He  came  hack 
and  said  that  the  Emperor  refused  to  see  him.  I  answered, 
'  Xever  mind;  I  have  my  God.'  After  keeping  silence,  he 
asked  me  to  release  Macraire,  a  Frenchman.  I  replied  that  he 
had  formerly  told  me  that  he  wished  to  make  me  acquainted 
with  the  Emperor  of  the  French,  and  on  his  return  [from 
France]  he  had  told  me  that  he  had  been  ignored.  1  said 
then,  '  For  whose  sake  shall  I  release  him  ? '  and  I  refused 
to  do  so.  He  was  angry  at  what  I  said;  and  in  my  Court 
he  ungirt  himself  and  covered  his  head  with  the  cloth.*  I  was 
annoyed  at  this,  and,  by  the  power  of  my  Lord,  I  imprisoned 
him.     Ask  him  if  he  can  deny  this." 


Charges  against  the  rest  of  the  Prisoners. 

"  The  other  prisoners  have  abused  me,  I  am  well  aware.  I 
used  to  love  and  honour  them,  A  friend  ought  to  be  a  shield 
to  his  friend,  and  they  ought  to  have  shielded  me.  Why  did 
they  not  defend  mc  ?     On  this  account  I  disliked  them. 

"Now,  by  the  power  of  God,  for  the  sake  of  the  Queen  and 
the  British  people  and  yourselves,  I  cannot  continue  my  dis- 
like towards  them.  I  wish  you  to  make  between  us  a  recon- 
ciliation from  the  heart.  If  I  am  in  fault,  do  you  tell  me,  and  I 
will  requite  tliem ;  but  if  you  find  that  I  am  wronged,  I  wish 
you  to  get  them  to  requite  me." 

When  the  letter  was  read  I  noticed  that  the  King  had  only 
sent  charges  against  Consul  Cameron  and  JM.  Bardel,  and  as 
the  latter  had  introduced  himself  to  Theodore — so  the  King 


A  mark  of  insnlt  in  AViyssinia,  especially  before  a  Sovereign. 


«•  ~  '^ 


186G.   M.vnrn.  "FEKER-KASA."  35 

asserted — as  a  servant  of  the  British  Queen,  it  v  as  quite  evi- 
dent that  his  Majesty  was  intent  on  raaking  political  capital 
out  of  his  present  proceedings ;  since  even  Mr.  Stern,  whom 
he  had  always  accused  of  having  abused  hira,  was  not  men- 
tioned by  name  in  the  list  now  sent  of  his  i  rievances. 
Towards  the  end  of  the  document,  however,  an  implied 
charge,  which  caused  me  no  little  uneasiness,  was  made 
against  all  the  released  captives,  together  with  a  hint — aiven 
for  the  first  time — that  he  wished  them  to  give  him  a 
friendly  indemnity,  or,  in  plainer  terms,  substantial  damages. 
I  liad  hitherto  laboured  under  the  mistaken  notion  that  the 
King  simply  wanted  them  to  forgive  and  forget,  and  to  pro- 
mise him  their  lasting  friendship  in  future ;  but  Messrs.  Flad 
and  Waldmeier  disabused  me  of  that  idea,  by  explaining  that 
FeJcer-Kiisa  meant  something  more  substantial.  j\roney,  of 
course,  the  Xing  would  not  demand,  as  that  would  be  beneath 
his  dignity  to  receive  ;  still  he  might  insist  on  their  sending 
to  Europe  for  any  articles  he  might  ftincy,  and  the  chances 
were  that  he  would  detain  them  until  tliey  arrived,  and  when 
they  came  that  he  would  ask  for  more.  I  deemed  it  advisable, 
therefore,  to  make  no  allusion  whatever  to  the  Ftkcr-Kdm  in 
my  reply,  but  put  myself  forward  as  answerable  for  the  whole 
party,  wishing,  if  possible,  to  prevent  his  ]\rajesty  from 
bullying  the  old  captives  again,  which  he  was  evidently 
aiming  at. 

The  Court  was  convened  in  my  tent  at  eleven  o'clock.  wJion 
I  caused  the  charges  to  bo  read  out.  As  Consul  Cameron 
was  rather  weak,  I  took  upim  myself  to  permit  lii?ii  to  bo 
sc:itcd  during  the  trial,  telling  the  Commissioners  that  I  felt 
sure  the  King  would  not  object ;  if  he  did,  tliat  I  would  take 
the  blame.  They  replied  at  once  that  they  were  certain 
what  pleased  me  would  please  his  Majesty.     But  the  whole 

n  'J 


36  'i'lllAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIV. 

thing  Avas  a  farce,  as  there  was  neither  judge  nor  jury  present, 
and  none  of  the  captives  would  have  dared  to  disjDute  the 
King's  assertions,  even  if  he  had  accused  them  of  vhe  most 
inconceivable  criminality ;  consequently,  it  was  unanimously 
agreed  that  they  should  all  admit  having  done  wrong  and  beg 
his  Majesty's  forgiveness.  Mons.  Bardel  had  come  into  my 
tent  before  tlie  opening  of  the  proceedings,  and  on  the  arrival 
of  the  King's  Commissioners  seemed  disposed  to  create  a 
disturbance,  by  calling  upon  his  fellow  released  captives 
and  the  Gaffat  Europeans  to  prove  the  charges  which 
they  had  always  alleged  against  him.  On  my  pointing  out 
to  him,  however,  that  it  was  unbecomiug  to  moot  such  ques- 
tions then,  begging  him  at  the  same  time  to  postpone  all 
these  and  similar  matters  of  discussion  until  we  were  fairly 
out  of  the  country,  he  at  once  desisted. 

^Ye  discovered  now  that  the  letter  which  Consul  Cameron 
had  brought  from  Earl  Kussell,  as  also  the  letter  from 
her  jMajesty  which  I  had  the  honour  to  convey  to  the  King, 
both  of  which  Mere  quoted  in  the  foregoing  communica- 
tions from  his  Majesty,  had  been  sadly  garbled  in  the 
Amharic  version,  and  made  to  state  things  which  were  con- 
trary to  fact.  For  my  own  part,  I  felt  certain  that  the 
additions  and  alterations  were  made  after  the  royal  letter 
was  translated ;  but  as  I  was  told  that  it  would  be  useless, 
and  might  perhajis  do  mischief,  if  I  brought  the  matter  to 
the  King's  notice,  I  was  constrained  to  hold  my  peace. 

It  was  not  true,  moreover,  that  her  IMajesty  the  Queen  had 
sent  a  letter  to  Theodore  by  Consul  Cameron.  The  letter  of 
wliich  he  was  the  bearer  was  written  by  Earl  Kussell,  and 
the  following  copy  of  the  original  will  show  how  strangely 
its  contents  had  been  mistranslated  or  perverted  to  suit  the 
King's  views : — 


1866.   Makcii.     earl  RUSSELL'S  LETTER  TO  THEODORE.      37 

Earl  Rmsell  to  King  Theodore  of  Abyssinia. 

"  Sir,  ''Foreign  Office,  London,  Feb.  20,  1862. 

"  The  Queen  my  Sovereign  has  been  infonned  by  her  servants 
in  the  East  of  the  exertions  which  your  Highness  kindly  made 
to  recover  the  remains  of  her  late  Consul,  Mr.  l*lowden,  and  of 
your  generosity  in  declining  to  accept  repayment  of  the  sum 
of  money  which  you  paid  for  that  pui-pose.  Her  Majesty  com- 
mands me  to  assure  your  Highness  that  she  views  your  conduct 
in  regard  to  this  affair  as  a  proof  of  friendship  towards  herself 
and  the  British  nation,  of  which  she  is  duly  sensible. 

"  In  order  more  partictilarly  to  manifest  her  Majesty's  thank- 
fulness for  these  your  Ilighness's  services,  and  to  show  her  re- 
gard and  friend.ship  for  you  personally,  her  Majesty  requests 
your  acceptance  of  a  rifle  and  a  pair  of  revolver  pistols,  as  a 
present  from  herself.  Her  Majesty  has  intrusted  these  articles 
to  Captain  Charles  Duncan  Cameron,  whom  she  has  appointed 
her  Consul  in  Abyssinia,  as  the  successor  of  the  late  Mr.  Plow- 
den,  and  who  has  lately  taken  his  departure  for  his  post ;  and 
I  take  this  opportunity  of  introducing  him  to  your  Highness, 
and  of  requesting  your  protection  and  favour  in  his  behalf.  He 
is  well  acquainted  with  all  that  concerns  the  interests  of  both 
countries,  and  will,  I  am  confident,  do  all  in  his  power  to 
make  himself  acceptable  to  your  Highness,  and  to  promote  your 
welfare. 

"  I  thank  your  Highness  for  the  letter  which  you  .addressed 
to  me,  informing  mo  of  the  steps  which  you  had  taken  to 
punish  the  men  who  murdered  Mr,  Plowden  and  Mr.  Pell  ; 
and  with  my  best  wishes  for  your  uninterrnpted  health  and 
happiness,  I  recommend  you  to  the  jtrotection  of  the  Almighty. 

"  Your  faithful  friend, 

(Signed)         "  Russell." 
(L.S.     The  largo  Signet.) 

That  siiiiihir  liberties  had  been  takou  with  her  ]\[aj('sty'8 
letter  to  Theodore,  of  whicli  I  was  the  honoured  iM'ar.r,  will 
bo  evident  on  comparin*^  the  subjoined  transcript  with  tlio 
iiitorprctation  which  tlie  King,  either  willully  or  othtrwisc. 
had  |>ut  uj»oii  it : — 


38  TRIAL  UF  THE  CAlTlVEy.  Chai'.  XIV. 

Her  Majesty  the  Queen  to  the  King  of  Abyssinia. 

"  May  26,  186-1. 
'' VicroiUA,  by  the  grace  of  God,  Queen  of  the  United  Kingdom 
of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c.,  &c.,  &c., 
to  Theodore,  King  of  Abyssinia,  sendeth  greeting.  We  have 
duly  received  the  letter  which  your  Majesty  delivered  to  Our 
servant  Cameion,  and  We  have  read  with  pleasure  the  friendly 
expressions  which  it  conveys.  We  learn  with  satisfaction  that 
Your  Majesty  has  successfully  established  your  authority  in  the 
country  over  which  you  rule,  and  We  trust  that  you  may  long 
continue  to  administer  its  a£Fairs  in  peace  and  prosperity.  Our 
servant  Cameron  has  no  doubt  conveyed  to  you  the  assurance 
of  Our  friendship  and  goodwill,  and  ^Ve  are  glad  to  learn  by  your 
letter  that  he  had  been  duly  received  by  j-our  Majesty.  Accounts 
have  indeed  reached  Us  of  late  that  your  Majesty  had  withdra^\^l 
your  favour  from  Our  servant.  We  trust  however  that  these 
accounts  have  originated  in  false  representations  on  the  part  of 
persons  ill-disposed  to  your  Majesty,  and  who  may  desire  to  pro- 
duce an  alteration  in  Our  feelings  towards  you.  But  your 
Majesty  can  give  no  better  proof  of  the  sincerity  of  the  senti- 
ments which  yoTi  profess  towards  Us,  nor  ensure  more  effectually 
a  continuance  of  Our  friendship  and  goodwill,  than  by  dismissing 
Our  servant  Cameron,  and  any  other  Europeans  who  may  desire 
it,  from  your  Court,  and  by  atibrding  them  ever}-  assistance  and 
protection  on  their  journey  to  the  destination  to  which  they 
desire  to  proceed.  With  the  view  of  renewing  to  you  the 
expression  of  Our  friendship,  and  of  explaining  to  you  our  wishes 
respecting  Our  servant  Cameron,  We  have  directed  Our  servant 
Hormuzd  Eassam,  First  Assistant  to  the  Folitical  Kesident  at 
Aden,  to  proceed  to  your  residence,  and  to  deliver  to  you  this 
Our  Eoyal  letter.  We  have  instructed  him  to  inform  your 
Majesty  tliat  if,  notwithstanding  the  long  distance  which  separates 
Our  dominions  from  those  of  your  Majesty,  you  should,  after 
having  permitted  Our  servant  Cameron  and  the  other  Europeans 
to  take  their  leave  and  depart,  desire  to  send  an  Embassy  to  this 
country,  that  Embassy  will  bo  very  well  received  by  Us.  And 
HO,  not  doubting  that  you  will  receive  Our  servant  EavSsam  in  a 
favourable  manner,  and  give  entire  credit  to  all  that  he  shall  say 


18GG.   Maech.  a  dilemma.  39 

to  you  on  Our  part,  as  well  as  comply  with  the  requests  which  he 
is  instructed  to  make  to  you,  We  recommend  you  to  the  protec- 
tion of  the  Almighty. 

"  Given  at  Our  Court  at  Balmoral,  the  Twenty-sixth  day  of 
May,  in  the  year  of  Our  Lord  1864,  and  in  the  Twenty-seventh 
year  of  Our  reign. 

"  Your  good  Friend, 

(Signed)         "  Victoria  11." 

(L.S.     The  large  Signet.) 
(Not  countersigned.) 

Superscribed : 
"  To  Our  Good  Friend  Theodore, 
"  King  of  Abyssinia." 

Towards  evening,  Messrs.  Flad  and  Waldmeier  as  well  as 
Sainiiol  expressed  their  unanimous  opinion  that  as  they 
understood  the  King's  letter  received  during  the  day,  it  was 
evidently  his  Majesty's  intention  to  get  me  to  write  to 
England  for  artisans  to  be  employed  in  his  service,  and  in 
the  mean  time  to  detain  us  in  the  country.  What  was  to 
be  done  under  this  unlooked-for  dilemma?  Was  I  to  refuse 
the  request  at  once  and  stand  the  consequences,  even  to  the 
risk  of  our  all  being  consigned  in  chains  to  IMagdala?  Or, 
was  I  to  consent?  in  whicli  case,  we  should  all  have  to 
remain  in  the  country  as  hostages.  Either  alternative  was 
objectionable ;  however,  as  I  was  told  that  the  King  intended 
to  invite  me  to  spend  a  day  or  two  with  him  at  Zage,  when  I 
should  have  an  opportunity  of  explaining  to  him  verbally 
liow  important  it  was  that  I  should  leave  Abyssinia,  together 
with  all  the  Euroj)ean  party,  as  soon  as  possible,  and  might 
then  manage  to  elicit  his  consent  to  our  speedy  departure, 
1  made  but  slii^dit  allusion  to  this  subject  in  my  next  com- 
munication. Tile  letter  was  written  on  the  Kith,  but  owinir 
to  a  violent  storm  w  hich  raged  over  the  Lake  the  messengers 


40  TRIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIV. 

who  conveyed  it  were  unable  to  proceed  to  Zage  till  the 
day  following : — 

''Kordta,  16th  March,  1866. 
"Most  Gracious  Sovereign, 

"I  have  had  the  honoiiv  of  receiving  your  Majesty's  letter 
dated  the  6th  of  Magabit,  and  I  was  glad  to  learn  from  your 
servants,  Alaktl  I'ngada  and  Aito  Samuel,  that  yon  were  enjoying 
perfect  health. 

"  In  accordance  with  your  jMajesty's  request,  I  summoned  to  my 
tent  yesterday  morning  Mr.  Cameron  and  the  rest  of  the  Euro- 
peans who  came  from  Magdala,  and  had  the  charges  which  yon 
had  preferred  against  them  read  to  them  before  your  sei"vants  Kan- 
tiba  Hailo,  Aito  Samuel,  Xagadras  Gabra-Madhen,  Alaka  I'ngada 
and  others,  and  also  in  the  presence  of  your  European  servants 
of  Gatfat.  They  all  confessed  that  they  had  done  wrong,  and 
hoped  that,  as  your  Majesty  had  been  good  enough  to  release  them 
for  the  sake  of  your  friendship  to  our  Queen,  you  w^ould  extend 
to  them  the  forgiveness  due  from  one  Christian  to  another. 

"  With  regard  to  your  Majesty's  wish  that  I  should  gladden 
your  heart,  as  you  have  done  mine,  by  writing  to  England  and 
obtaining  for  you  a  scientific  person  to  teach  your  people  the 
arts,  be  assured  that  nothing  w^ould  please  me  better  than  to 
be  of  service  to  yon,  especially  after  the  great  kindness  I  have 
received  from  your  Majesty.  I  should  consider  myself  ungrate- 
ful and  unfriendly  were  I  not  to  be  honest  in  all  my  dealings 
with  3'ou,  and  acquaint  you  with  what  would  strengthen  your 
friendship  witli  my  Queen,  and  prove  of  material  service  to  your 
Majesty's  benefit  and  happiness  hereafter. 

"  j\Iy  Queen  sent  you  a  most  friendly  letter,  which  your 
Majesty  received  in  a  cordial  and  honourable  manner.  To  that 
letter  you  have  written  a  most  courteous  answer,  showing  the 
friendly  sentiments  with  which  your  heart  was  inspired.  That 
letter  shall  bo  conveyed  by  me  to  her  Majesty. 

"  Whatever  service  you  wish  me  to  render  yoTi,  I  could  not 
do  it  better  than  for  myself  to  be  on  the  spot,  and  aid  you  in 
everything  which  my  Queen  can  do  for  j'ou ;  but  if  your  Ma- 
jesty desire  otherwise,  I  shall  l)e  happy  to  comply  wdtli  your 
wishes." 

I  dispatched  tliis  letter  by  Aito  ISaniuel,  Alaka  I'ligmla, 


1866.  March.  DR.  BEKE'S  LETTER.  41 

Agcifari  CJolam  and  one  of  my  messengers.  I  requested 
them  all  to  speak  to  the  King  about  the  dangerous  course 
he  was  pursuing,  because,  although  he  intended  to  keep  me 
in  his  country,  as  a  friend,  until  the  arrival  of  the  "  scientiiic 
man,"  yet  that  such  a  step  would  in  Europe  be  construed  to 
moan  that  he  kept  me  as  a  hostage.  I  begged  that  he  ^^  ould 
trust  me,  and  abandon  the  idea  that  I  should  forget  him 
after  I  had  left  Abyssinia. 

As  will  be  seen  from  the  contents  of  the  letter,  I  was  very 
guarded  in  the  expressions  which  I  used  respecting  the 
admission  which  the  captives  had  made  when  the  King's 
charges  were  read  over  to  them.  I  merely  reported  that  all 
had  confessed  that  they  had  done  wrong,  and  begged  his 
Majesty  to  forgive  them,  as  one  Christian  ought  to  forgive 
another ;  and  not  that  they  had  confessed  themselves  to  bo 
guilty,  and  begged  him- as  a  King  sitting  in  judgment  to 
pardon  them.  But  the  whole  thing  was  a  pretext  got  up  by 
the  wily  Monarch  to  veil  his  real  object.  The  die  was  about  to 
be  cast,  and  whether  it  was  to  be  favourable  to  us  or  the  con- 
trary depended  entirely  on  the  whim  of  the  royal  gamester. 

On  the  day  of  the  mock  trial  a  messenger  came  to  me 
with  a  letter,  which  he  said  was  from  Dr.  13eke,  addressed  to 
the  King.  I  asked  the  messenger  if  there  was  with  it  any 
letter  for  me  ;  he  replied  in  the  negative,  saying  that  Dr. 
Beke  had  not  intended  him  to  come  to  me,  but  luvl  told  him  to 
go  straight  to  the  King.  lie  said  he  had  not  done  so,  because 
lie  was  afraid  to  take  the  letter  to  the  King,  and  thought  it 
would  bo  better  to  bring  it  to  me.  Ho  tohl  me  that  he  had 
been  obliged  to  remain  four  days  at  Gondar,  having  been 
too  tired  to  come  on  at  once.  \Vh('n  this  letter  came  to 
hand,  1  was  asked  i)y  some  of  my  follow-Kuropeans  to  sup- 
press it,  as  it  wa8  apprehended  that  it«  receipt  might  prove 


42  TRIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIV. 

a  stumbling-block  to  our  departure  from  Abyssinia.  This,  of 
course,  I  refused  to  do,  and  accordingly  sent  it  on  to  the  King. 
18th. — Aito  Samuel,  accompanied  by  two  of  the  royal 
deputies,  returned  from  Zage  this  morning,  bringing  me  the 
following  satisfactory  answer  from  the  King : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  ^^'ith  regard  to  the  aifair  of  Cameron  and  his  party,  I  used 
to  reckon  them  as  my  friends,  and  honoured  them,  and  it  has 
been  proved  to  you  that  they  have  wronged  mo.  For  the  sake 
of  our  Lord,  and,  below  him,  for  the  sake  of  the  great  Queen, 
my  friend,  Yietoria,  I  have  forgiven  them.  The  contents  of 
your  letter  have  made  me  glad,  by  the  power  of  God ;  I  wish 
to  bow  my  head  and  kiss  your  hand  and  foot.  I  w^ant  you  to 
come  to  me,  in  order  that  we  may  consult  together. 

"  The  relations  of  Cameron  and  his  imprisoned  companions 
have  written  to  me  in  sorrow  about  them.  By  the  power  of 
God,  and  for  the  sake  of  my  friend,  the  great  Queen  Victoria, 
I  have  been  reconciled  to  them,  and  by  the  power  of  our  Creator 
wo  wdll  consult  on  all  matters  when  we  meet. 

"  Dated  Sunday,  the  10th  of  Magabit." 

When  the  King  dictated  the  last  paragraph  in  the  fore- 
going communication,  he  had,  of  course,  perused  the  petition 
of  the  relatives  of  the  captives,  and  also  Dr.  Beke's  letter 
which  accompanied  it;  nevertheless,  he  does  not  mention 
that  he  was  moved  by  either  to  the  announced  reconciliation. 
It  is  by  no  means  improbable,  however,  that  when  he  read 
the  petition,  wherein  the  petitioners  "  humbly,  at  the  feet  of 
your  Majesty,  plead  for  mercy  and  pardon  for  the  wretched 
Europeans,"  and  understood  Irom  Dr.  Beke  himself,  "the 
Englishman,"  that  he  was  commissioned  on  the  part  of  the 
petitioners  to  "  supplicate  your  Majesty  in  their  names  for 
their  [the  captives']  pardon  and  release  " — in  fact,  that  the 
said  "Englishman"  j)roposed  to  come  up  to  him  with  a 
verdict  of  guilty  in  his  hand  against  those  whom  the  King  de- 


1800.   March.  MH.  WALDMEIER'S  TESTIMONY.  -13 

signated  liis  "  enemies  " — that  his  Majesty  began  to  think  he 
had  let  the  captives  oflf  too  cheaply,  and  was  more  than  ever 
disposed  to  exact  satisfaction  in  some  shape  or  other.  That 
tlic  King,  as  he  states  in  his  letter,  had  intended  to  "  consult" 
me  on  this  matter,  there  can  be  no  doubt.  That  he  never 
did  so  was  in  all  probability  owing  to  an  after-suspicion  that 
I  was  cognizant  of  Dr.  Beke's  mission,  and  that  it  \\as  a  trick 
to  overreacli  him. 

The  success  of  the  ^Mission  up  to  this  point  is  thus  de- 
scribed by  jMr.  Waldmeier,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Bishop 
Gobat,  dated  Koruta,  20th  ^larch.  18G(),  and  published  in 
tlic  London  lleconl  of  the  11th  July  of  the  same  year  : — 

"  ^Ir.  liussam  has  so  fiir  perfectly  succeeded.  The  King  lias 
delivered  all  the  liberated  prisoners  into  his  hands,  saying  that 
he  did  it  fur  the  sake  of  friendship  between  England  and  Abys- 
sinia ;  to  which  he  added,  '  the  friendship  between  Abys.sinia  and 
I'^ngland  has  been  disturbed  by  the  Europeans  who  came  to  my 
land  with  the  devil  in  their  hearts,  who  abused  me,  speaking  all 
kinds  of  evil  against  me  ;  but  now  the  great  Queen  of  England 
liaving  sent  a  great  man,  Mr.  Rassam,  to  me  with  a  friendly 
hitter,  1  have  sot  Mr.  Cameron  and  all  the  Europeans  at  liberty, 
desiring  a  cordial  and  solid  reconciliation.'  .  .  .  The  King  has 
invited  us  (the  Scripture  Headers),  together  with  Mr.  Kassani, 
to  go  to  him  at  Zage,  to  consult  together  about  several  particu- 
lai-H.  .  .  .  We  expect  that  in  about  three  weeks  Mr.  Rassam  will 
take  his  departure,  together  with  the  librratcd  Europeans.  At 
ail}'  rate,  it  wcjidd  be  a  dangerous  thing  if  tluy  were  obliged  to 
spend  the  rainy  season  in  this  country.  I  fear,  in  that  case,  that 
the  peace  and  friendship  whieh  have  been  so  wisely  restored  by 
Mr.  Ii'assam  might  sulfei",  wliich  wciuld  bo  most  painful  to  us. 
We  shall,  therefore,  do  our  utmost  to  forward  Mr.  Itassam's 
il<partuie,  together  with  those  to  whom  ho  has  been  a  saviour, 
with  all  jK)nsible  sjteed.  .  .  .  Tliree  days  ago  tho  King  received 
hoveral  petitions  in  favour  of  the  mptivos,  sent  to  him  by  Dr. 
anil  Mrs.  Heke  from  Miissowah.  Those  petitions,  especially  that 
from  Mr.  Stern's  family,  aro  written  in  very  gooil  terms,  and  aro 


44  TRIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIV. 

exceedingly  touching ;  tliey  deeply  moved  the  heart  of  the  King, 
though  they  were  too  late.  The  short  answer  of  the  King  was  : 
'  I  have  delivered  all  these  persons  to  Mr.  Eassam  out  of  friend- 
ship to  the  Queen  ;  they  are  all  free.'  "With  respect  to  the 
presents  about  which  Dr.  Beke  has  written  to  the  King,  his 
Majesty  was  most  displeased,  and  expressed  strongly  his  dis- 
satisfaction that  people  should  think  that  he  loves  presents, 
whilst  friendship  and  love  is  all  that  he  desires." 

I  was  informed  by  the  messengers  that  the  King  was 
vacillating,  and  that  he  had  not  quite  made  up  his  mind 
whether  to  permit  me  to  leave  for  England,  or  keep  me  until 
his  object  was  attained.  They  hoped,  however,  that  as  the 
King  had  expressed  a  wish  to  have  an  interview  with  me,  he 
would  allow  me  to  go  with  all  the  Europeans  that  were  with 
me.  Wednesday,  the  21st  of  March,  was  the  day  appointed 
for  "  consulting  "  me. 

Samuel  informed  me  that  his  Majesty  was  much  pleased 
with  the  message  I  had  sent  him  about  the  Shirts  intended 
for  the  members  of  the  Mission,  and  that  he  had  been 
directed  to  take  the  silk  back  to  Zage.  The  King,  how- 
ever, had  expressed  a  wish  to  institute  an  Order,  to  be 
called  "  the  Cross  and  Solomon's  Seal,"  for  the  special  pur- 
pose of  decorating  the  members  of  tlie  Mission,  in  tolcen  of 
his  esteem,  and  he  asked  me  to  show  his  Abyssinian  gold- 
smiths —  he  sent  no  less  than  four  to  our  camp  —  how 
to  make  them.  They  worked  for  nearly  a  fortnight,  but 
could  not  succeed  in  making  the  Orders  according  to  pattern ; 
so  the  King  ordered  Mr.  Zander,  one  of  the  artisans,  to  under- 
take them.  The  new  Order  was  to  bo  of  three  classes: — the 
first,  wholly  of  gold ;  the  second,  a  gold  cross  and  silver  seal ; 
the  thiid,  wliolly  of  silver.  The  King  insisted  that  three 
of  each  should  be  got  ready  before  our  departure,  in  order 
that  some  of  his  Abyssinian  Cliiefs  might  share  in  the  honour 
which  he  intended  to  confer  on  us.     The  lirst  Order  was  to 


18G6.   March.       "THE  CROSS  AND  SOLOMON'S  SEAL." 


45 


bo  presented  to  lias  Mashisha,  the  King's  eldest  son,  Eas 
I'ngada,   the   chief  minister,  and  myself;    the   second  was 


JUo(to  on  the  ride  to  he 
exposed: 

"  The  fear  of  the  I/ird 

U  the  beginning  of 

wisdom." 


AMto  on  the  obi'erse  : 

"  TliiHulonis,  King  of 
kings  of  Ktbiopia." 


Ori>er  of  the  Ciioss  axd  Solomon's  Skai. 


to  be  conferred  on  Ra>  Tajurga,  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  all 
the  I\Iusketcers,  Dr.  Blanc  and  Lieutenant  I'rideaux.  Who 
was  to  be  invested  with  the  third  Order  had  not  been 
decided  on. 

So  anxious  was  the  King  to  decorate  my  companions  and 
myself  before  we  left,  that  he  sent  daily  to  IMr.  Zander  to 
hurry  on  the  work. 

On  the  same  day  hi.s  Majesty  sent  me,  from  the  royal 
Ticasiiry,  aiiotlnr  present  of  5,000  dollars  liiroiigh  the  Kun- 
tiba,  which  I  nductantly  accepted;  not  thai  I  was  in  want 
of  tlie  money,  but  because,  under  existing  ciicuinstanees,  I 
deemed  it  advisable  to  give  the  King  no  excuse  for  car[)ingat 
my  conduct.  He  also  sent  fifty  milch  cows,  with  their  keepers, 
it  having  been  reported  to  liim  tliut  I  fouii<l  great  dillieiillN  in 


46  TRIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIV. 

providing  milk  for  our  large  party.  I  did  not  actually  receive 
the  money  either  on  this  or  the  previous  occasion,  but  I  told 
Aito  Samuel  that  I  should  draw  on  him  from  time  to  time  for 
\A^hatever  sums  I  required.  As  far  as  the  expenses  of  the 
Mission  were  concerned,  I  had  more  than  enough  money 
remaining  of  the  sum  which  I  took  with  me  into  Abyssinia  for 
all  purposes — quite  sufficient  to  take  us  to  Matamma;  but 
as  I  was  told  that  if  the  King  heard  that  I  had  not  spent  any 
of  the  present  he  gave  me,  he  would  be  greatly  offended, 
I  drew  sometimes  on  his  agent. 

The  King  also  sent  me  Ur.  Beke's  letter,  which  he  asked 
me  to  peruse,  together  with  a  petition  which  had  been  for- 
warded by  Dr.  Beke  from  the  families  of  Messrs.  Cameron, 
Stern,  Rosenthal  and  Kerans.  The  King  said  that  he  did 
not  wish  to  answer  it  until  he  had  seen  me,  and  when  we 
met  he  would  consult  me  about  it.  The  letter  was  headed, 
"  From  the  Englishman  " — a  style  which  is  neither  English 
nor  Oriental,  and  must  have  seemed  as  strange  to  an  Abys- 
sinian as  it  Avould  be  to  an  European.  It  did  not  allude  to 
me  or  the  Mission;  and  from  the  effect  which  the  letter 
apjDeared  to  me  likely  to  produce  upon  a  mind  like  the  King's, 
as  well  as  from  what  afterwards  took  place,  I  could  not  help 
thinking,  that  from  the  day  the  King  heard  of  Dr.  Beke's 
arrival  at  Massowah,  he  began  to  suspect  that  the  British 
Government  was  not  sincere  towards  him. 

As  far  back  as  the  8th  of  March,  18G6,  I  wrote  to  a  friend 
in  England  in  these  terms  of  Dr.  Beke's  enterprise : — "  It  is 
feared  that  his  mission  w  ill  do  a  good  deal  of  harm ;  and 
should  any  interruption  take  place  in  the  good  understanding 
now  existing  between  his  Majesty  of  Abyssinia  and  myself, 
those  who  were  instrumental  in  getting  up  that  job  ought  to 
be  blamed  for  it."     The  Europeans  generally  on  the  spot,  as 


18Cn.   MARcn.  DR.  BEKE'S  MISSION.  47 

well  as  the  native  officials  of  rank  who  were  favourably  dis- 
posed to  our  Mission,  concurred  in  this  opinion.  The  same 
view  was  taken  by  men  eminent  for  their  political  experience 
in  the  East,  wlio  did  all  in  their  power  to  arrest  the  rash 
undertakinfi;.  Colonel  Stanton,  her  Britannic  ]\Iajesty's 
Consul-General  in  Egypt,  in  his  dispatch  to  the  Under- 
Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs,  dated  13th  December, 
18G5,  writes: — 

"Dr.  Bcke,  who  arrived  in  Egypt  some  time  since,  is  still 
here ;  he  ha.s  informed  me  his  intention  is  to  proceed  to  !Mas- 
sowah,  and  from  thence  try  to  reach  Adowa  ;  he  talks  of  proceed- 
ing in  about  a  week.  I  informed  him  I  feared  his  journey 
might  interfere  with  Eassam's  mission,  but  I  hope  the  latter 
will  have  accomplished  bis  task  before  Dr.  Beke  can  reach  the 
country." 

Colonel  ^rerewothcr,  also,  took  special  pains  to  point  out 
the  mischief  which  he  foresaw  would  almost  certainly  arise 
out  of  this  independent  attempt  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Beke.  In 
liis  official  communication  to  that  gentleman,  he  enters  so 
fully  into  the  then  critical  state  of  our  relations  with  Theo- 
doTO,  and  draws  so  correct  a  portrait  of  that  intractable 
monarch,  that  I  shall  make  no  apology  for  quoting  it  in 
exteruio  from  the  Blue  Book  : — 

"Aden,  February  8,  1866. 

••Sir, — Tier  Majesty's  ship  'Lyra'  will  leave  this  for  Mas- 
Bowah  in  a  few  days,  and  I  fake  the  opportunity  of  communi- 
cating to  you  the  latest  intelligence  I  have  received  from  Abys- 
sinia, both  from  the  captives  and  Mr.  Kassani. 

"The  letters  from  the  former  were  up  to  the  2Sth  Soptcmbor 
only,  the  messengers  bringing  them  down  having  delayed  in 
Tigre  from  dread  of  the  cholt-ra,  said  to  bo  raginj^  on  the  coa.st. 
On  the  above  date  Capt^iin  Cain.n.n  and  l)is  fellow  prisoners 
were  still  at  Mdgdala  and  all  well,  Imviiig  j^i.t  tliiough  the  winter 
bettor  than  they  had  exjiected  to  do. 

•♦  Mr.   HasHJun  had  ru^ichod  Ciwda  on  the  6th  November,  and 


48  TIJIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIV. 

left  it  again  on  the  9th,  expecting  to  arrive  at  Matamma  on  the 
20th  idem.  From  there  he  would  immediately  communicate 
with  King  Theodorus,  and  it  was  hoped  would  either  meet  or 
speedily  be  joined  by  an  escort  to  take  him  to  the  King.  Of 
the  latter's  movements  it  was  said  that  he  had  entered  Gojjam, 
so  as  to  be  nearer  to  Matamma,  and  that  be  bad  the  captives 
with  him.  The  first  part  of  this  report  was  supposed  to  bo 
trae,  the  latter  not  to  be  strictly  relied  on. 

"  My  object  in  mentioning  the  above  is  to  show  you  exactly 
the  position  of  affairs  now,  and  while  desirous  of  not  in  the 
least  trammelling  you  in  the  execution  of  the  kindly  object  you 
have  in  view,  to  suggest  to  you  the  unquestionable  expediency 
of  your  deferring  your  entry  into  Abyssinia  until  something 
more  decisive  is  heard  of  the  result  of  Mr.  Eassam's  mission  to 
Matamma.  That  gentleman  has  progressed  as  favourably  and 
as  rapidly  as  could  under  the  circumstances  be  expected ;  he 
is  proceeding  to  the  King  by  the  route  selected  by  that  poten- 
tate, and  at  this  moment,  if  not  actually  with  him,  will  be  in 
direct  commimication,  and  engaged  in  negotiations  regarding 
the  release  of  the  unfortunate  captives  whose  safety  and  free- 
dom is  your  chief  point  of  solicitude. 

"With  your  knowledge  of  Abyssinia,  its  present  ruler  and 
its  people,  I  need  not  enter  at  length  into  the  difficulties  and 
complications  that  are  likely  to  be  raised,  if,  while  these  nego- 
tiations are  going  on,  and  before  they  have  been  brought  to  any 
issue,  the  King  should  hear  that  another  Mission  (for  your  re- 
tinue will  of  course  be  greatly  magnified)  has  entered  Abys- 
sinia, headed  by  an  English  gentleman  of  repute  in  the  country 
itself,  and  having  professedly  the  same  object,  viz.,  the  liberation 
of  the  captives ;  it  will  also  be  pointed  out  to  him  that  this 
second  Mission  is  entering  the  country  not  at  his  invitation — a 
point  on  which,  as  yon  know,  he  is  particularly  sensitive — and, 
further,  that  it  is  proceeding  through  the  territory  of  those  who 
are  rebels  to  his  authority,  and  that  it  is  enabled  to  do  so  only 
by  entering  into  friendly  communication  and  association  with 
those  who  are  in  arms  against  him.  In  any  person's  mind  such 
a  mode  of  procedure  would  naturally  raise  doubts;  how  much 
more  so  will  it  in  a  person  of  such  a  notoriously  suspicious 
and  hasty  nature  as  the  Emperor  of  Abyssinia?  In  the  under- 
standing of  himself  and  those  around    him,  it  will  be  impos- 


18GG.   March.  DK.  BEKE  ADVISED.  49 

sible  to  dissever  you  from  the  British  Government,  or  to  induce 
them  to  believe  that  you  are  acting  separately,  and  entirely  in 
a  private  capacity ;  it  will  therefore  seem  as  if  Government  was 
acting  on  two  different  plans,  one  of  which  would  personally 
be  most  objectionable  to  him,  and  would  immediately  lead  him 
to  question  the  other.  The  confidence  in  Mr.  Kussam's  mission, 
which  has  been  brought  about  by  careful  management  and  long 
patient  waiting,  would  be  at  once  withdrawn,  and  the  position 
of  the  captives  rendered  more  critical  than  ever. 

"As  far  as  we  are  able  to  judge,  3Ir.  Eassam's  mission  has 
every  chance  of  success ;  ho  is  proceeding  to  join  the  King's 
Court  at  tlie  invitation  of  that  Monarch.  On  the  20th  of 
November  he  was  to  have  reached  the  place  appointed,  and  if 
the  King  was  in  Gujjam,  there  would  not  be  above  fourteen 
days'  march  between  them  ;  and,  farther,  he  is  the  bearer  of  a 
letter  from  her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  England,  which  cannot 
fail  to  prove  most  satisfactory  to  his  wounded  dignity ;  but  the 
receipt  thereof — so  all  are  agreed — is  the  point  on  which  he  has 
always  laid  the  greatest  stress,  as  the  one  essential  before  the 
question  of  the  condition  of  the  captives,  or  any  other,  could  be 
entertained. 

"  Under  these  circumstances  I  would  strongly  recommend  your 
deferring  your  advance  fiom  Massowah  until  further  tidings 
have  been  received  of  ^Ir.  Kassam's  movements.  Such  cannot  bo 
long  delayed  now ;  they  may  indeed  be  at  ^lassowah  at  this 
moment ;  and  to  save  time  I  shall  by  this  opportunity  write 
and  request  M,  Munzinger,  who  is  in  charge  of  the  British 
Consulate,  to  be  good  enough  to  communicate  to  you  any  au- 
thentic intelligence  he  may  receive,  that  you  niay  be  the  better 
ul)le  to  judge  how  you  can  act  with  advantage  to  the  cause 
you  have  undertaken. 

"  I  have,  &c., 

(Signed)  "  W.  L.  Merewetiikr. 

"  To  Dr.  Beke." 

Kindly  remonstrances  like  these  would  have  induced  any 
ordinary  philanthropist  to  liositato  before  ho  placed  in  jeo- 
jiunly  the  liberty,  and  perhaps  the  lives,  of  those  whoso  releaso 
it  was  his  avowed  object  to  effect.    But  Dr.  Beke's  overween- 

VUL.  II.  E 


50  TRIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIY. 

ing  estimate  of  liis  own  abilities  and  of  his  kno^Yledge  of  the 
customs  of  the  country — a  knowledge  which  the  tenor  of  his 
letter  to  the  King  goes  far  to  disprove — led  him  to  persist  at  all 
risks — not  to  himself,  but  to  the  captives  generally  and  the 
members  of  the  Mission — in  his  most  injudicious  scheme.  Even 
Samuel  laughed  when  he  handed  me  that  gentleman's  letter, 
and  said,  "Do  you  know  that  man  Beke,  sir  ?  He  is  a  queer 
man.  I  travelled  with  him  for  some  time  in  Abyssinia.  He 
coming  to  release  the  captives,  indeed !  He  had  better  remain 
where  he  is ;  for  from  what  I  know  of  him  he  will  not  be  two 
days  with  the  King  before  he  is  sent  to  Magdala  in  chains." 
Fortunately,  when  the  ill-timed  letter  arrived  I  was  on  the 
best  terms  with  his  Majesty,  otherwise  we  should  all  have 
been  condemned  to  that  fate  at  once;  but  the  King's  sus- 
picions had  been  aroused,  and  the  consequence  was  not  long 
delayed  in  the  disgrace  of  our  Mission  and  the  re-incarceration 
of  the  captives. 

Mohammed  Siha\vy,  the  false  reporter,  was  presented  by  the 
King  to-day  with  a  small  district  in  Tigre,  called  Wena, 
together  with  the  title  of  "  Ona,"  and  by  royal  order  he  was 
in  future  to  be  styled  "  Ona  Mohammed."  He  was  inordi- 
nately puffed  up  with  his  new  title,  and  assumed  at  once  an 
overbearing  demeanour  towards  his  late  comrades.  Ddbtera 
Dasta,  who  had  just  returned  from  Massowah,  took  ofifence  at 
his  assumption  of  superiority,  and  on  receiving  some  direc- 
tions from  him  iriven  in  the  tone  of  a  command,  he  asked 
him  who  or  what  he  was  to  think  so  much  of  himself.  The 
new  Ona  adjured  liim,  by  the  death  of  the  King,  to  hold  his 
tongue,  which  merely  added  fuel  to  fire,  for  Dasta  thereupon 
abused  him  roundly,  and  then,  stripping  ofif  liis  Royal  Shirt, 
threw  it  on  the  ground,  saying,  "Here  are  the  few  ells  of 
silk ;  give  them  back  to  the  King."     As  Samuel  and  other 


1866.   Makch.  DASTA  IN  ROYAL  APPAREL.  51 

of  the  King's  officers,  who  were  witnesses  of  this  scene,  ex- 
pressed their  fears  that  if  a  report  of  Avhat  had  occurred 
should  reach  his  Majesty,  the  rash  man  might  lose  his  Yiio, 
I  ordered  him  to  be  arrested  forthwith,  as  well  with  the  hope 
of  saving  the  poor  fellow,  as  to  show  the  officials  that  I  dis- 
approved of  his  conduct.  During  the  night  a  consultation 
took  place  between  Samuel  and  his  colleagues,  Ona  Mo- 
liammed  among  the  number,  when  it  was  unanimously 
agreed  that  the  matter  should  be  hushed  up,  and  they  all 
came  to  me  in  a  body  to  solicit  forgiveness  for  the  culprit. 
I  accordingly  sent  for  him  and  made  him  receive  the  Shirt, 
with  a  stone  on  the  back  of  his  neck,  in  accordance  with  the 
Abyssinian  custom  in  such  cases.  After  kissing  the  Shirt 
thrice,  he  put  it  on,  not  a  little  delighted  to  find  that  he  had 
got  out  of  the  scrape  so  easily.  I  sent  this  man  again  to 
Massowah  with  letters  in  IMay,  1866,  and  on  his  return  in 
August  he  was  plundered  and  imprisoned  by  the  rebels  near 
Ooiular.  (That,  as  I  have  already  mentioned,  was  the  King's 
alleged  reason  for  destroying  the  capital.)  He  eventually 
effected  his  escape,  and  on  the  way  back  to  me,  via  Debra 
Tabor,  he  thought  he  might  as  well  pay  his  respects  to  the 
Sovereign — in  the  hope,  of  course,  of  getting  something  from 
him.  He  was  clad  in  rags  at  the  time,  and  on  seeing  him  in 
tlmt  plight  the  King  bade  him  approach,  saying:  "What  is 
the  matter  with  you,  Dabteia  Dasta?  Why  are  you  so 
ragged?"  He  then  narrated  all  that  had  befallen  liim, 
whereupon  his  Majesty  remarked,  "  So  you  have  been  plun- 
<lered  and  imprisoned  by  those  vicious  rebels !  Come  here, 
and  put  on  these  clothes,  and  when  you  have  rested  I  will 
send  you  to  your  master;"  the  King  simultaneously  divesting 
himself  of  his  drawers  and  shdnima,  and  giving  them  to  tho 
.Mian,  who  came  to  me  shortly  after,  at  ^lugdala,  chid  in  these 

E  2 


52  TEIAL  OF  THE  CArTIVES.  Chap.  XIV. 

royal    garments.     I    subsequently    employed    this   Dabtera; 

Dasta  as  a  courier  between  ]\Iagdala  and  the  coast,  and  when 

Dajjaj  Kasa  took  possession  of  Tigre  he  was  the  confidential 

messenger  between  me  and  that  Chief.     I  also  sent  him  once 

charged  with  an  important  communication  to  the  Wakshum 

Gobaze,  Dajjaj  Kasa's  rival ;  but  although  he  was  so  engaged 

on  my  belialf  with  contending  parties,  and  that  at  a  most 

critical  time,  ho  never  once  failed  to  keep  his  counsel. 

Idth. — I  wrote  the  following  letter  to  the  King  to-day,  but 

the  messengers  Avere  unable   to  proceed   with  it  till   next 

morning : — 

"  Kordta,  19tJi  March,  18G6. 
"  Most  Gracious  Sovereign, 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  kind 
and  welcome  letter  of  the  10th  of  the  niontli  of  Magubit,  which 
was  brought  to  me  by  Aito  Samuel  and  his  companions,  and  I 
am  not  a  little  rejoiced  to  learn  that  3'ou  are  in  j)erfect  health 
and  prosperity. 

"  The  five  thousand  dollars  with  which  you  have  kindly  pre- 
sented me,  through  Kautiba  Hailo,  have  reached  me  in  full,  and 
now  I  beg  to  return  you  my  best  thanks  for  them.  I  pray  God 
to  reward  you  for  all  your  kindness  to  me. 

"  With  refeience  to  your  Majesty's  desire  that  I  should  come 
and  see  you,  doubtless  it  is  a  pleasure  for  which  my  heart  has  been 
longing  ever  since  we  separated ;  and  by  God's  help  I  hope  to 
repair  to  you  with  my  companions,  Dr.  Blanc  and  Mr.  Prideaux,, 
on  Wednesday  morning  next,  as  those  gentlemen  are  also  glad 
of  the  oj)portunity  of  being  honoiu'ed  once  more  by  seeing  your 
Majesty. 

"  I  pray  God  to  show  iis  the  light  of  your  countenance  in 
gladness  and  joy. 

*'  My  companions  join  me  in  respectful  compliments." 

I  must  remark  on  the  above  that  his  Majesty  had  er- 
pressed  a  desire  to  see  me  "alone;"  for  Avhat  object,  i)ro- 
bably  none  but  that  inscrutable  Monarch  himself  knew.. 
However,  I  was  determined  not  to  be  scijarated  from  my 


18G0.  March.  OUR  VISIT  POSTPONED.  53 

colleagues,  who  Lad   thus  far   shared   the   fortunes   of  the 
Mission. 

20th. — This  morning  I  received  the  following  note  from 
the  King : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  Unavoidable  business  has  called  me  hence,  and  I  wish  you 
to  remain  where  you  are  until  I  return,  when  1  will  send  for 
you. 

"  Dated  the  12th  of  Magubit." 

The  reason  for  this  postponement  of  my  visit  was,  because 
he  thought  iit  to  go  in  person  to  escort  his  horses,  which  he 
had  ordered  from  Debra  Tabor.  As  they  were  to  be  con- 
ducted to  Zage  round  tlie  south-eastern  side  of  the  Lake, 
he  feared  that  in  reaching  tlie  Abai  they  might  be  pounced 
upon  by  the  rebels  of  Gojjam.  A  detachment  headed  by  a  Ras 
would  have  sufficed  for  the  duty,  but  he  evidently  distmsted 
jtlacing  even  a  small  body  of  troops,  under  independent 
command,  any  distance  out  of  his  sight.  All  his  female 
establishment  also  came  from  Debra  Tabor  on  the  same 
occasion;  but  thfy  were  sent  to  Zage  in  canoes,  together 
A\ith  all  the  ladies  of  rank  who  \\ero  going  to  join  their 
husbands  at  the  royal  cam]). 

2l8t. — Received  the  subjoined  from  the  King  just  as  he 
was  starting  ibr  the  Abai : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  I  have  been  desirous  and  anxious  to  have  an  intei-view  witli 
you,  but  now  I  intend  to  be  absent  from  this  place  for  a  day  (»r 
two.  When  I  return,  l»y  the  power  of  Cod,  I  will  send  for  you, 
j\.s  I  am  longing  for  your  friendship.  May  our  Creator  cause  us 
to  nioet  in  peace,  and  may  Tie  give  you  and  nie  health. 

*•  Dated  Wednesday,  the  i;;(Ii  of  iMaj,'abit." 

lie   .Ncnt   no    reply   eitlur    verbally  or   l)y   letter   to   my 


5^-  TRIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIV., 

intimation  tliat  I  should  take  my  companions  with  me  to 
Zage.  I  did  not  answer  the  foregoing,  because  I  was  told 
that  his  Majesty  would  send  for  me  on  his  return. 

As  I  was  uncertain  what  would  be  the  upshot  of  the  pro- 
jected interview,  I  deemed  it  advisable  to  dispatch  a  post 
to  the  coast,  in  order  to  give  the  captives  an  opportunity  of 
communicating  with  their  friends  at  home.     I  enjoined  them 
to  be  very  careful  to  write  nothing  which  might  compromise 
us,  having  been  given  to  understand  that  the  King  was  very 
fond  of  prying  into  other  people's  secrets,  and  that  he  would 
not  scruple  to  have  all  the  correspondence  seized.     I  am 
bound,  on  the  other  hand,  to  state  that  my  own  experience 
wholly  absolves  his  late  Majesty  from  any  such  propensity  ; 
for  during  our  detention  in  Abyssinia  he  had  possession  of 
all  our  papers  for  some  time,  and  on  two  occasions  when 
my  letters  fell  into  his  hands  he  sent  them  to  me  unopened. 
Nor  have  I  the  least   reason  to  believe   that   he   surrepti- 
tiously caused  any  single  document  belonging  to  us  to  be 
read  to  him.      Judging  that  it  would  be  better  to  make 
no  secret  of  the  proposed  transmission  of  letters  to  Mas- 
sowah,  I  instructed  Samuel  to  obtain  a  couple  of  messengers 
for  me  from  the  Chief  of  Korata,  and  they  started  on  their 
journey  on  the  morning  of  the  23rd.     On  the  same  day  I 
received  the  following  letter  from  the  King  by  Alaka  I'ngada, 
who  brought  also  a  number   of  canoes   with   liim   for   the 
transport  of  all  the  European  artisans  to  Zagu : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  By  the  power  of  God,  I  have  returned  in  safety  to  my  home. 
I  had  gone  to  escort  my  hor-ses,  which  were  coming  to  me,  and 
now  may  He  cause  me  to  meet  with  you,  my  friend,  in  safety. 

"  I  used  to  pray  to  our  Creator  that  the  people  [prisoners] 
whom  I  disliked  and  imprisoned  might  reach  you  in  health  and 
safety.  Now,  firstly,  1  pray  that  God  may  give  peace  and  prosperity 


18GG.  MAitcn.  ALAKA  I'XGADA.  55 

to  my  friend,  the  Queen  ;  and,  secondly,  that  He  may  give  you,  who 
are  the  flower  of  my  gladness,  health  and  long  life.  I  also  crave 
from  our  Creator  that  He  will  cause  you  to  concede  mo  your 
love.  "With  regard  to  myself,  whether  I  dislike  you  or  love 
you,  oh  English!  you  can  discover  from  my  conduct  in  the 
a  flair  of  I'lowden  and  YuhannOs  [Mr.  Bell].  According  to  the 
rules  of  my  country  and  my  ability,  I  used  to  love  and  honour 
them  [the  English].  My  love  and  honour  towards  them  was  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  regard  of  the  Queen  and  yourselves. 
That  love  of  yours  which  I  was  longing  for,  I  feel  convinced 
I  have  obtained,  and,  by  the  power  of  God,  it  has  given  me  jo}-. 
I  send  you,  by  Alilkd  I'ugridu,  boats.  Come  yourself  and  the 
party  of  Kantiba  Hailo  [the  European  artisans]. 

"  Dated  Friday,  the  loth  of  Magabit." 

Alaka  I'ngada  was  chief  Amharic  scribe  to  the  King,  and 
the  only  servant  he  implicitly  trusted.  He  always  carried  the 
royal  seal,  had  possession  of  the  King's  papers,  and  was  his 
Majesty's  constant  companion.  He  was,  in  fact,  his  public 
and  private  secretary,  and  one  of  the  few  men  about  the  Court 
who  could  boast  that  he  had  never  been  abused  or  beaten 
by  the  Sovereign.  He  was  a  man  of  undoubted  integrity, 
and  I  never  heard  him  utter  a  disparaging  word  of  any  one. 
His  remarks  touching  his  master's  subsequent  treachery  and 
ill-treatment  of  me  were  generally  confined  to  the  follow- 
ing : — ''  Trust  in  God,  sir,  and  He  will  yet  deliver  you ;  for 
lie  will  not  forsake  you  after  having  implanted  such  strong 
aflcctiou  for  you  in  the  heart  of  the  Iving."  Eventually, 
however,  when  his  jMajcsty  reached  Magdala,  at  the  end 
of  ^larch,  ISOS,  and  the  lives  of  all  were  in  imminent  danger, 
he  applied  to  me  to  provide  him  witli  guides  to  enable  him 
to  effect  his  escape  from  the  royal  camp  and  through  tin 
intervening  rebels  to  the  invading  British  army.  But  1 
advised  him  to  wait  until  the  arrival  of  our  troops,  when 
inalt<is  might  assume  a  more   favourable  aspect;  whereais, 


56  TRIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIV. 

if  detected  in  his  attempt  to  escape,  liis  life  and  that 
of  the  guides  would  be  forfeited,  and  the  safety  of  myself 
and  party  compromised.  This  man  was  disj)atched  by  the 
King  with  a  letter  to  Sir  Eobert  Napier  on  Easter  Sunday, 
the  12th  of  April,  and  was  fortunate  enough  to  remain  in  the 
British  camp  until  after  the  attack  on  Magdala.  He  was 
always  friendly  towards  me,  and  if  he  was  scrupulously 
cautious  not  to  reveal  his  master's  secrets,  he  was  equally 
careful  never  to  betray  me.  The  King  allowed  me  to 
present  him  with  a  silver  inlistand,  made  after  an  English 
pattern,  which  one  of  the  Korata  silversmiths  managed  to 
copy  remarkably  well.  He  was  also  one  of  those  whom 
the  King  allowed  to  wear  a  silk  shirt  of  my  presentation, 
and  he  and  other  courtiers  who  were  similarly  privileged 
made  it  a  point  of  wearing  these  shirts  whenever  I  was  well 
received  by  his  Majesty,  or  whenever  they  came  to  me  on 
business  from  the  royal  Court. 

25^Z(. — Dr.  Blanc,  Lieutenant  Prideaux  and  all  the  European 
artisans,  with  Kantiba  Hailo,  accompanied  me  to  Zage  early 
this  morning.  We  landed  about  two  miles  from  the  bottom 
of  the  bay,  where  the  King's  residence  stood,  to  put  ou  our 
imiforms.  On  reaching  the  beach  we  found  Eas  I'ngada 
and  other  Chiefs  in  waiting.  ]\Iules  with  rich  trappings 
had  been  prepared  for  us,  and  when  all  were  mounted  we 
followed  the  Prime  Minister  at  a  brisk  trot  towards  the 
royal  dwelling.  Three  new  silk  tents  had  been  prepared 
for  the  Mission,  and  Dr.  Jjlanc,  Lieutenant  Prideaux  and 
myself  were  ushered  into  them  by  Eas  I'ngada.  Two  other 
red-cloth  tents  Ascre  pitched  for  our  followers,  besides  a 
black  one  lor  our  kitchen.  Our  canii)  had  been  i:)itched 
in  a  corner  of  the  King's  inclosure,  partitioned  off  by  a  fence, 
which  to  make  it  look  neater  was  covered  ^^ith  v.hite  native 


ISGG.  March.  A  VISIT  FROM  THEODORE.  57 

calico.  Immediately  after,  a  plentiful  supply  of  live  stock, 
lioney,  butter,  tej  and  curry-stuflf  were  sent  to  the  kitchen, 
with  a  polite  message  from  the  King,  that  although  it  was  then 
the  fast  of  Lent  in  Abyssinia,  yet  his  English  friends  must  not 
scruple  to  eat  meat.  To  show  his  joy  on  the  occasion,  he 
allowed  my  Mohammedan  servants  to  slaughter  their  sheep 
within  the  royal  inclosure — a  privilege  which  Mussulmans 
had  never  been  allowed  before. 

In  the  course  of  a  couple  of  hours  the  King  sent  to  say 
that  he  wanted  to  come  and  pay  me  a  visit,  in  order  to  show 
aU  his  jjeoplc  how  he  respected  me.  As  he  had  never,  to  my 
knowledge,  visited  any  one  since  his  accession  to  the  throne, 
I  sent  and  begged  him  not  to  trouble  himself,  but  liopcil  he 
would  grant  me  an  interview  where  he  was.  lie  answered, 
*' Are  yon  not  my  brother,  and  tlie  servant  of  my  friend,  the 
great  Queen  of  Euglaud,  and  sliall  it  be  below  my  dignity  to 
enter  the  tent  of  the  Queen,  which  I  have  pitched  expressly 
for  her?  No,  my  friend,  I  will  not  listen  to  you  in  this 
matter."  Accordingly,  he  came  to  see  me  soon  afterwards ; 
and  on  entering  my  tent,  as  a  mark  of  respect,  he  put 
his  right  arm  out  of  his  robe,  and  said,  "I  feel  as  happy 
as  if  I  were  visiting  the  Queen."  After  remaining  about 
ten  minutes  in  my  tent,  he  rose,  took  me  liy  the  hand,  and 
Kiiid  to  I  >r.  Diane,  Lieutenant  Prideaux  and  me,  "Come 
along,  and  let  us  have  a  chat." 

The  King  and  I  walked  hand  in  hand  until  we  reached 
the  audience-hall,  where  we  found  carpets  had  been  spread 
tor  all  the  lOuropeans.  My  eompanious  and  I  sat  near 
the  King,  but  the  artisans  occupied  places  at  some  distance 
on  our  left.  After  some  friendly  conversation,  in  wliich  the 
King  could  not  help  alluding  to  his  old  grievances,  Kas 
3Iusbisha,  the  eldest  illegitimate  sou  of  Theodore,  came  in, 


58  TKIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIV, 

v.eariiig  a  sliirt  of  the  Lyons  silk  that  I  had  presented  to 
his  father.  As  soon  as  we  saw  him  come  in  we  stood  up, 
and  the  King  said,  "Mashisha,  draw  near,  and  shake  hands 
with  my  English  friends  in  the  English  fashion,  as  I  want 
you  to  become  one  of  them."  After  he  had  shaken  hands 
with  my  companions  and  myself,  he  sat  down  next  to  us,  by 
his  father's  directions.  The  King  then  turned  round  to  me, 
and  said,  "  Mr.  Eassam,  I  wish  this  son  of  mine,  and  another 
at  Magdala  (Dajjaj  'Alamayo),  to  be  adopted  children  of  the 
English ;  and  when  you  go  back  to  your  country,  I  want  you 
to  recommend  them  to  your  Queen,  in  order  that,  when  I 
die,  they  may  be  looked  after  by  the  English,  and  not  be 
allowed  to  govern  badly." 

When  this  ceremony  was  over,  different  kinds  of  muskets 
and  pistols  were  shown  us,  the  King  exhibiting  them  to  us 
singly,  relating  the  history  of  each  weapon — from  that  which 
had  been  presented  to  him  by  Mr.  Plowden,  to  those  which  I 
had  brought  from  Massowah  for  M.  Bourgaud,  the  French 
gunsmith,  for  the  King's  use. 

We  sat  together  about  two  hours  discussing  different  topics, 
Theodore  making  casual  allusions  to  the  Bishop,  Consul 
Cameron  and  Mr.  Stern  in  the  course  of  the  conversation.  We 
were  then  dismissed,  the  King  ordering  Eas  Mashisha,  Eas 
I'ngada,  and  all  the  European  artisans  to  escort  us  to  our 
tents. 

Early  next  morning,  26th  of  March,  it  was  reported  to 
me  that  the  King  had  summoned  all  the  great  Chiefs  to  con- 
sult them  about  our  departure  for  the  coast,  and  that  the 
European  artisans  were  also  ordered  to  attend.  First,  he 
consulted  Aito  Samuel  and  Wald-Gabir,  the  valet  and  con- 
stant attendant  on  the  King,  and  when  they  advised  him  to 
send  me  to  my  country  with  jo)',  he  told  them  that  they 


18G6.   M.vncn.        A  MULTITUDE  OF  COUNSELLORS.  59 

were  asses  and  blockheads,  and  did  not  know  what  they  were 
saying.  The  European  artisans  were  called  next,  and  on 
their  unanimously  advising  him  to  send  me  away,  the  King- 
said,  "  But  what  surety  have  I  in  my  hand  ?  "  Mr.  Zander 
now  came  forward,  and  taking  up  her  Majesty's  letter  of  the 
26th  May,  186-1,  which  was  before  the  King,  he  first  opened 
it,  and  then  placing  his  hand  on  the  royal  signature  and  seal, 
exclaimed,  "  Trust  to  these,  your  Majesty  ;  they  are  a  true 
voucher  to  the  word  of  the  English  Queen,  who  never  breaks 
her  word."  Thereupon  the  Europeans  were  told  to  go  out 
of  the  room  and  wait  outside. 

The  King  had  now  only  the  native  Chiefs  to  depend  upon 
for  the  decision  which  he  desired.  They  were,  I  believe, 
about  eighty-five  in  number,  and  of  the  highest  rank.  When 
they  had  all  assembled,  the  King  asked  them  whether  he  ought 
to  allow  me  to  return  to  England,  or  keep  me  until  the  friend- 
ship of  my  Government  had  been  proved  to  him  by  external 
evidence.  They  all,  without  a  dissenting  voice,  answered, 
"  Let  Ml'.  Eassam  go."  "  But  what  have  I  in  my  hands  ? " 
was  the  rejoinder.  One  of  the  Eases,  named  Tagga,  replied, 
"  We  beg  your  JMajesty  to  let  Mr.  Eassam  depart  in  peace ; 
and  if  he  behaves  falsely  to  you,  let  God  be  judge  between 
him  and  you.  Trust  in  God ;  He  is  enough  for  us."  Another 
Chief  said,  "  If  your  Majesty  does  not  trust  the  English,  make 
Mr.  Eassam  swear  on  the  Bible,  before  you  permit  him  to 
go,  that  he  will  lujt  prove  false  to  you ;  because  the  English 
are  very  scru})ulous  in  keei>ing  an  oath  taken  on  the  Bible." 
These  arguments  silenced  the  King  for  a  time,  but  they  did 
not  satisfy  him. 

After  all  the  counsellors  were  dismissed,  the  King  sent  for 
nic  by  Eas  rngadu  and  Kautiba  Jlailo,  the  ex-^Iayor  of 
(Jondar,  to  communicate  to  me  the  result  of  that  morning's 


>60  TRIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chav.  XIV. 

council.  As  usual,  I  repaired  to  the  audience-cliamber  with 
my  compauions,  and  found  that  all  the  native  Chiefs  had 
gone,  but  the  European  artisans  were  standing  outside  the 
door.  As  soon  as  we  entered,  the  King  called  out  to  them 
to  join  us.     This  time  they  sat  in  front  of  us. 

On  going  in  I  noticed  that  the  King  was  not  in  the  best 
of  moods,  and  the  first  thing  he  said,  after  we  had  sat  down, 
was:  "I  have  this  morning  called  all  those  people  in  whom  I 
trust,  Europeans  as  well  as  Abyssinians,  and  I  inquired  of 
them  whether  it  would  be  better  to  let  you  go  back  to  your 
country  at  once,  or  keep  you  with  me  until  I  obtained  a  token 
■  of  friendship  from  England.  They  all  said  that  I  ought  to 
send  you  away,  and  you  shall  depart  as  soon  as  our  Easter 
is  over ;  but,"  he  continued,  "  how  can  I  trust  any  European 
now  after  the  ill-behaviour  of  those  whom  I  have  treated 
like  brothers  ? "  He  then  proceeded  to  relate  his  grievances 
against  different  Europeans,  the  names  of  some  of  whom  I 
-had  never  heard  before.  He  began  to  inveigh  against  the 
Bishop,  whom  he  accused  of  having  taken  liberties  with 
the  Queen,  and  who  had  given  him  trouble  both  in  political 
and  domestic  affairs.  M.  Lejean  was  the  next  subject  of  the 
royal  displeasure.  He  said,  "  A  man  came  to  me  riding  on  a 
donkey,  and  said  that  he  was  a  servant  of  the  great  Emperor 
of  the  French,  and  that  he  had  come  to  my  country  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  establishing  friendship  between  me  and  his 
Sovereign.  I  said,  '  I  do  not  object  to  making  friends  with 
great  Christian  Kings ;  you  are  welcome.'  The  next  day 
he  said  he  wished  to  see  me  on  business,  and  I  assented  ; 
but  to  my  astonishment  he  came  to  me  \^itll  a  bundle  of 
rags  [patterns  of  silk].  I  asked  him  A\]iat  those  were.  He 
replied  that  the  French  had  a  large  town  in  their  country 
where  they  made  sill<s,  and  that  the  merchants  of  that  place 


186G.   March.  THEODORE  AND  M.  LEJEAX.  G> 

had  commissioned  him  to  bring  them  to  me  for  the  sake  of 
barter.  I  said  to  myself,  '  what  have  I  done  that  these  people 
insult  me  thus  by  treating  me  like  a  shopkeeper  ? '  I  bore  the 
insult  then,  and  said  nothing.  Another  day,  while  I  was  out 
on  a  war  expedition,  this  Frenchman  sent  to  say  that 
he  wished  to  see  me.  I  told  the  messenger  that  I  was 
very  busy  just  then  and  could  not  see  him.  On  receiving 
my  message  he  rushed  out  of  his  tent,  dressed  in  his  uniform, 
and  said,  that  as  he  was  wearing  his  King's  robes,  he  could 
not  disgrace  them  by  taking  them  off  before  he  had  had 
an  interview,  and  that  I  must  see  him.  On  hearing  this  I 
said,  '  Who  is  his  father?  seize  him  ! '  and  I  put  him  in  chains 
in  the  very  dress  of  liis  King.  After  a  short  time  I  had 
pity  on  him,  as  I  thought  the  man  was  not  in  his  right 
senses;  so  I  ordered  him  to  be  unfettered  and  sent  out  of 
the  country.  All  the  time  he  was  with  me  I  treated  him 
kindly  and  hospitably ;  and  when  he  reached  MassoAvah  he 
icwarded  my  kindness  by  sending  me  an  insulting  letter, 
in  which  he  abused  mo  most  grossly."  I  afterwards  learned 
from  the  late  ]\[r.  Dufton  that  it  was  he,  and  not  his  fellow- 
traveller  M.  Lojean,  who  came  to  the  royal  camp  riding  on  a 
donkey. 

It  appears  that  when  M.  Lejcan  arrived  at  Massowah,  after 
his  disgrace,  he  wrote  what  he  called  *•  a  protest"  to  the 
K'iiig,  in  which  he  commented  very  strongly  upon  his 
Ma ji  sty's  conduct  towards  him.  It  was  very  well  for  M. 
J>-j(!an  to  say  what  he  liked  to  a  crazy  monarch  while  he 
was  safe  out  of  his  reach  ;  he  ought  to  have  known,  however, 
that  such  a  letter  could  do  no  good,  but  jnight  endanger  the 
safrty  of  the  Europeans  who  were  still  in  the  power  of  the 
despot.     I  believe  that  letter  did  a  good  deal  of  harm. 

The  King   then   commenced   his  complaints  against   the 


G2  TRIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIV. 

Egyptian  Government,  and  said  that  they  had  sent  him  a 
man  who  called  himself  a  Patriarch,  to  whom,  as  the  head  of 
the  Abyssinian  Church,  he  had  accorded  a  good  reception, 
and  had  condescended  so  far  as  to  carry  his  chair  in  public. 
The  King  concluded  by  saying,  "  This  did  not  content  the 
man,  because  the  next  day  he  asked  me  to  give  him  the 
crown."  '  What,'  said  I,  '  do  you  want  to  take  my  crown 
and  give  it  to  the  Turks  ?  Is  this  the  mission  on  which  you 
have  come  ?'  After  that,  I  was  compelled  to  watch  his 
movements;  and,  for  a  few  days,  I  did  not  allow  him  to 
leave  his  house." 

I  heard  through  a  reliable  authority  that  the  Patriarch 
of  the  Copts  had  never  presumed  to  ask  Theodore  for  the 
crown,  but  only  begged  for  a  bishop's  mitre,  thinking  it 
Avould  look  well  when  he  went  back  to  Egypt  if  he  wore  a 
mitre,  which  he  could  say  had  been  given  to  him  by  a  Chris- 
tian King,  who  was  one  of  his  flock.  In  Amharic,  there  is 
only  one  word  for  mitre  and  crown ;  and  as  the  King  wished 
to  have  a  case  against  the  Patriarch,  he  accused  him  of 
having  come  to  Abyssinia  to  give  his  country  to  the  Turks. 
He  thought  it  was  very  hard  that  one  bishop  should  take 
possession  of  his  wife,  and  another  covet  his  crown.  Although 
these  charges  were  utterly  unfounded,  the  King  seems  to  have 
worked  himself  up  into  believing  them. 

The  King  then  continued  the  statement  of  his  grievances, 
saying  that  after  the  Patriarch  had  left,  the  Egyptian 
Government  sent  him  a  Turk,  named  'Abd-ur-Eahnicin  Bey, 
to  establish  good  friendship  between  him  and  the  Egyptian 
Government,  and  that  this  Mohammedan  had  scarcely  been 
a  year  in  the  country  before  he  began  to  play  all  kinds  of 
tricks,  and  plunder  the  inhabitants ;  that  one  day,  while  the 
Ambassador  was  at  Gondar,  tlie  King  gave  a  feast  to  his 


1866.  March.  THEODORE'S  GRIEVANCES.  63 ' 

soldiers,  and,  in  accordance  with  Abyssinian  custom,  the  Chiefs 
commenced  a  war-dance  after  the  entertainment  was  over ; 
that  thereupon  the  Turkish  Envoy  came  out  of  his  tent  and 
ridiculed  the  royal  troops  before  thousands  of  people ;  that 
when  the  King  heard  of  this,  he  sent  to  tell  'Abd-ur- 
Kahman  Bey  that  he  could  not  put  up  with  his  imperti- 
nence any  longer,  and  that  he  must  pack  up  and  leave  the 
country  at  once ;  that  when  the  Turkish  Envoy  reached 
Chalga,  on  the  western  frontier  of  Abyssinia,  he  began  his 
old  pranks  again,  ordering  his  people  to  plunder ;  that  he 
even  went  so  far  as  to  carry  off  some  girls,  but  that  the 
villagers  fell  upon  him  and  his  people  and  took  the  girls  and 
the  other  spoil  away  from  them. 

The  King  then  spoke  of  what  he  called  the  ingratitude 
of  a  German  and  an  Englishman.  The  former,  he  said,  who 
was  tlie  Austrian  Consul  at  Khartum,  had  come  to  Abyssinia 
and  made  a  treaty  with  him,  which,  on  his  return,  he  tried 
to  turn  to  the  benefit  of  the  Turks.  The  latter,  whose  name 
was  Fallake  (Mr.  Speedy),  had  stayed  some  months  with  him, 
and  he  had  in  every  respect  treated  liim  well ;  but  when  he 
went  down  to  Massowah  he  had  abused  him  before  the  Turks, 
and  called  the  Abyssinians  "  asses." 

The  King  finished  by  saying,  "  You  see  how  I  have  been 
treated  by  people  who  ought  to  have  requited  me  differently. 
How  am  I  to  know  that  you  will  act  differently  ?  You  may 
not  abuse  me  when  you  leave  my  country,  but  still  you 
may  forget  me."  I  replied  that  it  would  not  be  becoming 
in  me  to  praise  myself  by  saying  that  I  should  behave  better 
tlian  others.  I  only  begged  him  to  try  mo,  and  judge  from 
my  future  conduct  what  kind  of  a  person  I  was.  He  said, 
"  Very  well,  I  will  try  yon  ;  and  may  you  reach  your  country 
^Mf.ly." 


G4  TRIAL  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  Chap.  XIV. 

After  this,  he  reverted  to  the  rebellion,  and  asked  me 
to  advise  liim  how  to  stop  it.  As  I  did  not  wish  to  meddle 
in  siieli  a  delicate  affair,  and  yet  did  not  deem  it  advisable 
to  vex  him  by  telling  him  that  it  was  not  my  business  to  mis 
myself  up  in  matters  which  did  not  concern  me,  I  related  to 
him  the  history  of  the  Indian  mutiny,  and  how  her  Majesty 
the  Queen  had  ultimately  granted  an  amnesty  to  all  those 
who  had  been  implicated  in  it.  On  saying  this  the  King 
smiled,  and  said,  "  Do  you  think  the  Abyssinians  are  like  other 
people  ?  They  are  bad  and  will  not  listen  to  reason.  To 
show  you  that  I  am  right,  I  will  instantly  proclaim  a  general 
amnesty  to  all  the  rebels,  and  you  will  find  that  no  one 
•will  give  heed  to  me."  He  then  asked  me  to  send  my  inter- 
preter to  hear  the  proclamation  by  the  herald.  The  crier 
was  accordingly  ordered  to  announce  the  amnesty,  and  one 
of  my  interpreters  had  to  witness  the  ceremony. 

On  this  day  the  King  did  not  refer  to  Dr.  Beke's  letter, 
but  that  gentleman's  messenger  received  orders  that  he  was 
to  return  with  me  to  Massowah,  without  an  answer.  I  began 
then  to  hope  that  the  King  had  put  Dr.  Beke's  mission  out 
of  his  mind. 

Our  interview  lasted  more  than  two  hours,  and  on  dis- 
missing us  the  King  said  he  wished  me  to  return  to  Korata 
that  evening,  and  that  I  was  to  prepare  myself  to  start  from 
Abyssinia  with  my  companions  and  the  released  captives. 
He  said  he  would  sec  me  again,  because  he  wanted  me  to 
come  and  bid  him  good-bye  before  I  finally  left  Abyssinia. 
Towards  evening,  the  European  artisans  came  to  ask  me  to 
remain  until  the  following  morning,  as  it  was  hardly  pleasant 
to  cross  the  Lake  at  night ;  or,  if  I  did  not  like  to  do  so 
on  my  own  responsibility,  to  request  liis  Majesty's  j)ormission 
to  that  efl'ect.     As  I  was  given  to  understand  that  the  King 


18GG.  March.  RETURN  TO  KORATA,  '65 

was  not  in  the  best  of  moods,  I  declined  to  alter  the  original 
plan,  unless  the  jn-oposal  came  from  the  King  himself. 
Kantiba  Hailo  repaired  accordingly  to  the  royal  presence  to 
request  permission  to  depart,  and  on  his  rejoining  us  we  started, 
Eas  I'ngada,  as  usual,  escorting  us  as  far  as  the  boats.  He 
said,  on  wishing  me  good-bye,  "  I  hope  to  escort  you  much 
farther  next  time ; "  meaning,  that  when  I  went  again  to 
Zage,  according  to  appointment,  to  take  leave  of  the  King, 
he  would  have  to  travel  with  me  some  distance  from  the 
royal  camp.     I  truly  believe  that  he  meant  what  lie  said. 


VOL.  II. 


66  OUR  EXODUS  SANCTIONED.  Chap.  XV. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

OUR   EXODUS   SANCTIONED. 

Fresh  difficulties  —  M.  Bardel  and  I'ugada,  Wark  —  Intestine  troubles  — 
The  European  artisans  —  Dr.  Beke's  mission  —  Theodore's  suspicions 
aroused  —  Favourable  prognostications  —  Theodore  and  his  Shirts  — 
Men-milliners  —  The  King's  Dispatch  box  —  Directions  given  for  home- 
ward route  —  Eeasons  for  preventing  a  final  meeting  between  the  King 
and  the  Captives  —  Theodore  dispenses  with  the  interview  —  Orders  our 
immediate  departure  —  Arrangements  made  to  re-arrest  the  Captives. 

Two  or  three  days  after  my  return  to  Korata,  I  found  fresh 
troubles  looming  in  the  distance.  Every  day  messengers 
from  I'ngada  Wark  were  going  to  and  fro  between  Zage 
and  Korata,  visiting  M.  Bardel.  I  also  heard  that  the  latter 
had  a  document  in  his  possession,  by  the  use  of  which  he 
threatened  to  prevent  Consul  Cameron  from  leaving  the 
country.  It  appears  that  when  Consul  Cameron  was  a 
prisoner  at  Magdala,  before  I  went  to  Abyssinia,  he  had 
given  a  kind  of  passport  to  a  number  of  rebel  Chiefs  who 
were  then  confined  in  the  same  place  with  the  Europeans,, 
promising  them  British  protection  and  rewards  in  case  of  war 
with  England.  Afterwards,  however,  it  was  feared  that  the 
existence  of  such  papers  involved  great  rislv,  for  if  the  King 
heard  of  them,  the  safety  of  Consul  Cameron  and  his  fellow- 
prisoners  would  be  compromised.  The  passports  Mere  there- 
fore recalled  and  destroyed ;  but  M.  Bardel  managed  to  ob- 
tain a  copy  through  Consul  Cameron's  secretary,  and  kept  it 
concealed,  in  order  that  he  might  use  it  against  us  when 


18GC.   JlAucn.  MISCHIEF-MAKERS.  07 

it  suited  him.  The  said  copy  was  eventually  burnt  at 
Korata,  which  relieved  us  from  any  further  anxiety  on  that 
score. 

Soon  after  the  return  of  the  Mission  from  Zage,  one  of 
the  courtiers  sent  to  apprise  me  of  a  report  having  reached 
the  Court  that  some  of  my  party  had  requested  Messi's. 
Schimper  and  Waldmeier  to  furnish  them  with  an  outline 
of  the  I'ormor  sufierings  of  the  captives,  as  they  ha<I  forgotten 
several  of  the  incidents  and  dates.  I  was  accordingly  advised 
by  my  Abyssinian  informants  to  put  a  stop  to  such  a  dangerous 
proceeding,  otherwise  the  King  might  get  wind  of  it  and 
conclude  that  other  "  abusive "  accounts  of  him  were  beinfr 
prepared  for  publication  on  our  return  to  Europe,  to  the 
certain  jeopardy  of  the  Mission  and  the  released  captives. 
"Let  those  who  want 'to  write  books,"  was  the  wise  and 
friendly  injunction  conveyed  to  me,  "  wait  until  they  are  safe 
out  of  the  country;  tlien  let  them  write  whatever  they 
please."  On  receiving  this  intelligence  I  immediately  sent 
for  Messrs.  Scliimper  and  AValdmeier,  and  was  glad  to  heai- 
from  them  that  they  had  refused  the  solicited  assistance. 
They  also  kindly  promised  to  give  no  countenance  whatever 
to  a  proposition  so  fraught  with  hazard  to  all  concerned  ;  in 
fact,  the  Giiffat  artisans  were  always  avowedly  friendly  to 
the  Mission. 

These  were  some  of  the  difficulties  which  beset  the  Mission 
at  this  time.  Jealousy,  and  envy,  and  self-interest  seemed  at 
work  aroiuid  us,  and  there  is  no  knowing  how  far  their 
imitcd  influence  was  brought  to  bear,  directly  or  indirectly, 
on  the  mind  of  the  King.  Then,  again,  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  Dr.  Beke's  intervention  excited  the  misgivings  of 
the  mistrustful  M(jnarch.  Thus  much  is  certain,  that  at  thr 
end  of  January,  18GG,  Theodore  had  no  thought  of  detaining 

F  2 


C8  OUR  EXODUS  SAXCTIOXED,  Chap.  XY. 

US,  and  that  he  began  to  change  his  mind  wlien  he  heard  of 
the  arrival  at  Massowah  of  another  person  whose  ostensible 
object  was  to  procure  the  liberation  of  the  Magilala  captives. 
Ignorant  as  he  was  of  the  liberty  of  the  subject  in  England,  it 
is  not  surprising  that,  at  a  loss  to  comprehend  how  a  private 
Englishman  dared  to  interfere  in  an  important  matter  which 
had  already  been  taken  in  hand  by  his  Sovereign,  Theodore 
was  led  to  question  whether  we  were  dealing  with  him  in  a 
straightforward  manner ;  and,  of  course,  his  suspicions  would 
be  confirmed  on  hearing  that  the  agent  referred  to  had  been 
conveyed  to  and  from  Massowah  in  a  Government  steamer. 

Another  circumstance  which  seems  to  have  aroused  the 
susj)icion  of  Theodore  at  this  juncture  was  a  rumour,  set  on 
foot  at  Korata,  that  I  had  been  sent  by  the  British  Govern- 
ment to  obtain  the  release  of  Consul  Cameron  only.  If  so, 
it  seemed  inconsistent  in  me,  in  his  estimation,  that  I  should 
make  such  strenuous  efforts  to  secure  the  liberation  of  all  the 
captives. 

The  foregoing  are  some  of  the  causes  to  which  I  attribute 
the  King's  altered  tone  towards  the  Mission.  Indications  of 
the  unfavourable  change  were  already  evident,  but  I  thought 
then  that  the  symptoms  would  prove  merely  transitory. 

I  reached  Korata  about  midnight,  and  next  morning  dis- 
patched the  following  letter  to  the  King : — 

"Korata,  27th  3Iarch,  1866. 
"  Most  Gracious  Sovereigx, 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  your  Majesty  that,  by  God's 
mercy  and  your  favour,  I  arrived  here  safely  last  night,  with 
ICantiba  Ilailo  and  our  respective  parties.  I  trust  that  this  letter 
will  find  you  in  perfect  health  and  prosperity. 

"  Allow  me  to  return  you  my  grateful  thanks  for  the  kind- 
ness and  favour  I  received  at  your  hands,  which  I  trust,  by  the 
help  of  God,  I  shall  never  forget;  and  may  lie  who  knows  our 


18GG.   March,  A  GLEAM  OF  SUNSHINE.  G9 

hearts   enable  me  to  do   always  what  is  pleasing  to  ITim  and 
agi-eeable  to  your  ]\Iajesty. 

"  In  presenting  you  "with  my  respectful  compliments,  in  which 
my  companions  join,  I  remain,"  &c. 

His  Majesty  had  written  mo  a  complimentary  letter  the 
same  day,  begging  me  to  report  my  safe  arrival  at  Korata. 
In  fact,  we  seemed  to  be  trying  •  which  should  outvie  the 
other  in  courtesy.  Three  days  later  I  received  the  following 
note,  to  my  intense  gratification,  inasmuch  as  it  reassured 
me  that  our  departure  was  in  contemplation : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  Before  this  I  sent  to  inquire  after  your  safe  an-ival,  and 
afterwards  Lij  Abitu  and  his  party  came  and  informed  mc  of  it. 
By  the  power  of  God,  I  was  greatly  delighted.  I  had  ordered 
the  party  of  Kantiba  Ilailo  [the  European  artisans]  to  do  certain 
work  [to  make  saddles,  shields,  &c.];  if  it  is  completed,  I  wish 
you  to  hold  yourselves  in  readiness  to  start  [for  Europe],  by  the 
power  of  God. 

"  Dated  Friday,  the  22nd  of  Magabit." 

I  certainly  believed  at  this  time  that  the  clouds  had  blown 
over,  and  that  wc  might  now  hope  for  uninterrupted  fair 
weather ;  this  confidence,  however,  did  not  restrain  me  from 
wishing  all  shields  and  saddles  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea. 
Even  a  few  days'  delay,  or  some  malicious  report  brought 
to  his  notice,  might  suffice  to  change  the  fickle  mind  of 
the  King.  However,  it  was  useless,  in  our  position,  to  kick 
against  the  pricks:  his  Majesty  had  directed  the  presents 
to  be  prepared  for  us,  and  we  miglit  not  loave  without  them. 
They  had  been  ordered  as  far  back  as  the  beginning  of 
Fcbniary,  but  his  Majesty  had  only  just  heard  that  the 
golden  saddle  destined  for  me  could  nut  be  got  ready  before 
the  end  of  April.  In  consequence  of  that  intimation,  his 
^Majesty  gave  instructions  today  that  the  best  gold  saddle 


70  OUR  EXODUS  SANCTIONED.  Chap.  XV. 

available  among  his  Gaffat  servants — European  and  native — 
should  be  taken  up  for  me ;  all  the  filigree  work  was  to  be 
regilt,  and  the  leather  and  velvet  renewed.  To  expedite  the 
completion  of  the  Orders  of  the  Cross  and  Solomon's  Seal,  he 
directed  six  additional  silversmiths  to  assist  Mr.  Zander  to 
have  a  certain  number  prepared  by  the  Abyssinian  Easter, 
which  fell  on  the  8tli  of  April. 

To-day  I  wrote  to  the  King  as  follows : — 

"Kordta,  31st  March,  1866. 
"Most  Gracious  Sovereign, — 

"  1  have  had  the  honour  to  receive  your  welcome  epistles,  dated 
respectively  the  20th  and  22nd  of  the  month  of  Magabit,  from 
which  I  was  glad  to  learn  that  your  Majesty  was  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  perfect  health. 

"  Thank  God,  we  are  all  well  here,  and,  by  your  favour,  in 
good  spirits. 

"  With  regard  to  our  departure,  we  are  ready  to  start  as  soon 
as  your  Majesty  shall  give  us  leave  to  do  so.  I  trust  ere  long  to 
behold  the  light  of  your  countenance  again. 

"Dr.  Blanc  and  Mr.  Prideaux  present  you  with  their  respect- 
fid  compliments." 

1st  April,  18G6. — This  being  our  Easter  Sunday,  all  the 
Protestant  community  met  together  to  offer  up  our  united 
thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  His  care  over  us.  Twenty-two 
])ersons,  including  the  wives  of  the  European  artisans,  assem- 
bled in  my  tent  for  solemn  worship.  The  Eev.  Mr.  Stern 
officiated  on  the  occasion,  and  administered  the  Lord's 
Supper. 

'Ind. — I  gave  a  party  this  afternoon  to  all  the  European 
artisans  and  their  families.  As  we  had  not  tables  sufficient 
to  accommodate  all  the  guests,  the  dinner  was  served  on  the 
floor.     Eeceivcd  the  following  from  the  King : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  The  shirts  a\  hich  you  sent  me   by  Ona  Mohammed  have 


186C.  April.        THEODORE  AXD  EUROrEAN  SHIRTS.  71 

reached  me,  and  I  return  you  my  tlianks  for  them.  Why  do 
you  give  yourself  such  trouble  and  such  thought  for  mo  ? 
You  are  my  guest,  and  it  is  for  me  to  inconvenience  myself  for 
you.  If  God  assist  you,  1  -wish  you  to  trouble  yourself  about 
ivliat  I  require  ;  but,  oh  my  brother !  do  not  incommode  yourself 
by  parting  with  your  property. 

"  At  Amba  Chiira,  in  the  province  of  "Waggara,  my  toll-keepers 
seized  some  messengers  who  were  coming  this  way  with  letters. 
They  imprisoned  them  and  sent  the  packet  on  to  me.  I  found 
it  directed  in  an  European  language,  and  as  I  thought  it  might 
belong  to  you,  I  send  it  to  you  unopened.  If  you  should  find 
it  to  be  yours,  I  have  directed  that  your  messengers  should  be 
released ;  if  not,  return  the  packet  to  me,  and  I  shall  order  the 
messengers  to  be  brought  to  me. 

"  I  have  ordered  some  cows  to  bo  given  to  you,  in  order  that 
you  may  have  a  merry  feast.  I  did  not  know  that  your  Easter 
fell  before  ours,  but  thought  that  both  corresponded  in  date, 
otherwise  I  would  have  sent  them  before.  Why  did  you  not 
inform  me,  since  my  house  is  yours,  and  the  house  of  your 
brothers  and  friends  ? 

"  Dated  Monday,  the  25th  of  Magabit." 

On  first  reaching  the  King's  Court  I  had  presented  him 
with  a  dozen  of  my  own  shirts,  which  were  made  at  Aden, 
of  fine  calico,  with  loose  wristbands,  and  without  buttons. 
These  he  admired  very  much,  but  with  his  usual  liberality 
ho  had  given  most  of  them  to  his  favourite  Chiefs.  I  sent 
him  another  dozen  on  the  31st  of  March,  the  receipt  of  which 
he  acknowledges  in  the  above.  Subsequently,  he  sent  two 
pieces  of  longcloth,  with  which  I  had  also  presented  him, 
bogging  me  to  have  thorn  made  into  shirts  like  mine,  which 
I  wits  enabled  to  do  through  the  joint  kindness  of  Mrs.  Flad 
and  Mrs.  Kosenthal.  'I'ho  most  amusing  part  of  this  shirt 
business  was,  that  mine  were  made  for  studs,  of  which  I  gave 
his  ]\rajesty  a  set.  These,  however,  ho  lost  the  first  time  of 
using  them,  and  was  obliged  afterwards  to  call  in  a  tailor. 


72  OUR  EXODUS  SANCTIONED.  CiiAr.  XV. 

whenever  he  donned  his  shirt,  to  put  in  a  few  stitches  to 
keep  the  front  together.  This  expedient  was  the  more 
troublesome  because  it  is  considered  disgraceful  for  an  Abys- 
sinian, male  or  female,  to  sleep  in  any  kind  of  garment ; 
consequently  his  Majesty  was  under  the  necessity  of  sending 
for  a  tailor  whenever  he  retired  for  the  night.  One  day 
he  became  so  impatient  that  he  tore  his  shirt  open,  and 
resorted  to  me  to  remedy  the  inconvenience.  This  I  did 
by  sending  him  a  supply  of  buttons,  directing  the  tailor  to 
affix  them  to  one  side  after  he  had  sewn  up  the  button- 
holes. It  may  sound  somewhat  strange  to  English  ears  that 
a  tailor,  rather  than  his  wife  or  one  of  his  female  domestics 
should  have  been  called  in  by  his  Majesty  to  put  a  few 
stitches  to  his  shirts;  but  the  reason  is,  that  few  if  any 
Abyssinian  women  can  sew;  and,  even  if  they  could,  it 
would  be  deemed  highly  unbecolning  in  them  to  ply  the 
needle  in  public.  Sewing  and  laundry-work  are  left  to 
the  males ;  spinning  and  carrying  wood  and  water  are  tasks 
apportioned  to  the  weaker  sex. 

I  was  extremely  surprised  to  see  the  packet  which  I  had 
dispatched  to  the  coast  on  the  23rd  of  March  brought  back 
to  me  to-day.  It  appears  that  the  guards  at  the  toll-gate 
near  Amba  Chara  had  been  ordered  to  arrest  all  persons 
carrying  letters  either  up  or  down,  and  that  my  messengers 
had  accordingly  been  seized,  bound  with  cords,  and  put  into 
prison  until  the  King's  pleasure  was  known.  The  packet 
which  was  taken  from  them  was  brought  to  his  Majesty 
simultaneously  with  Ona  Mohammed's  arrival  at  Court 
with  my  letter  of  the  31st  March,  and  the  guard  who  de- 
livered it  stated  that  the  messengers  from  whom  it  had  been 
seized  said  that  it  came  from  the  Franchotsli  (Europeans). 
On  being  asked  by  the  King  if  he  knew  to  whom  the  packet 


18CG.  Ai'Rii..  EOYAL  COURTESY.  73. 

Ijelonged,  Una  Mohammed,  with  his  usual  assurance,  replied 
that  it  belonged  to  me.  Thereupon  Lij  Abitu  was  ordered 
to  bring  it  to  me  for  identification,  and  to  direct  the  release 
of  the  messengers,  should  it  prove  to  be  mine.  Fortunately^ 
no  inhibition  had  been  given  against  their  resuming  the 
journey,  and  Lij  Abitu  kindly  undertook  to  forward  the 
packet  to  the  detained  messengers,  who,  on  their  release, 
were  to  proceed  with  it  at  once  to  the  coast.  The  Aitos 
Kasa  and  Wande  had  sent  a  letter  with  the  packet  to  their 
agent  at  ^Eassowah,  which  the  King  caused  to  be  opened  and 
read.  On  finding  that  it  related  solely  to  mercantile  matters, 
lie  took  no  further  notice  of  it ;  but  he  did  not  return  it  to 
the  owners. 

^rd. — I  addressed  the  subjoined  letter  to  the  King  to- 
day :— 

"  Kordta,  ord  April,  18GG. 
"Most  Gracious  Sovkheigx, 

"  I  have  received  with  much  pleasure  your  Majesty's  gracious 
letter  by  Lij  Abitu  and  Ona  Mohammed,  dated  the  25th  of 
!Magubit,  and  was  glad  to  learn  from  them  that  they  had  left 
you  in  perfect  health. 

"  \Vith  regard  to  the  packet  of  letters  which  your  Majesty 
kindly  sent  me,  I  found  it  to  bo  mine — one  which  I  forwarded  a 
few  days  ago  to  Mr.  Munzinger  at  IMassowah.  It  contains  several 
communications  from  myself  and  my  companions,  and  the  other 
Europeans  who  are  with  me  at  Korata,  addressed  to  different 
friends  at  Aden  and  in  Europe,  reporting  my  good  reception  by 
your  Majesty,  and  the  safe  arrival  of  the  released  prisonei-s  at 
our  camp. 

"In  accordance  with  your  orders,  Lij  Abitu,  immediately  on 
linding  that  the  messengers  who  were  detained  at  And)a  f'hara, 
in  N\  ligguru,  were  those  whom  I  had  sent  to  Massowah,  t-ent 
orilore  to  have  them  released,  and  forwarded  the  packet  aho  to 
be  given  to  them  to  take  on  to  Mr.  Munzingi^r. 

"  I  am  extremely  obliged  to  your  Majesty  fur  your  continual 
acts  (jf  kindness  to  mo,  and  fur  your  thought  of  ns  at  the  com- 


74  our.  EXODUS  SANCTIONED.  Cuap.  XV. 

memoration  of  our  Saviour's  Eesurrection,  by  sending  us  a  token 
of  your  good-will.  It  is  quite  impossible  for  me  to  requite  your 
favours  in  this  countrj^,  but  I  trust  I  sliall  liave  it  in  my  power 
when  I  go  to  England  to  show  my  sincere  gratitude  for  all  your 
kindness. 

"  In  presenting  jowv  Majesty  with  my  salutations,  in  which 
my  companions  join,  I  remain,"  &c. 

On  the  5th  I  received  the  following  note  from  the  King, 
acquainting  me  with  his  rigid  fast,  and  his  joy  at  the 
approach  of  Easter : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  I  have  been  long  fasting,  and  have  abstained  from  eating 
meat,  and  I  am  anxious  to  see  the  light  of  Easter.  Pray  that  I 
may  sec  it  in  health.  By  the  power  of  God,  I  will  also  offer  up  to 
Him  the  same  supplication  for  you. 

"  Dated  Wednesday,  the  27th  of  Magabit." 

On  the  same  day  his  Majesty  sent  me  twenty  jars  of  honey, 
half  of  which  contained  honeycomb  perfectly  transparent. 
What  led  to  this  gift  was  my  having  asked  Samuel  to  pro- 
cure some  good  honey  for  me.  Samuel,  accordingly,  having 
heard  that  it  was  procurable  in  the  market  near  the  royal 
camp,  directed  his  friend  Balambaras  Gabra-Madhane  'Alam, 
the  Governor  of  Wandige,  to  purchase  a  few  jars.  By  some 
means  or  other,  these  facts  were  reported  to  the  King,  who 
forthwith  sent  for  the  Chief  and  reprimanded  him  most 
severely  for  having  presumed  to  resort  to  the  market  for  me, 
instead  of  ajiplying  to  the  royal  store-house,  where  he  might 
have  obtained  as  many  jars  of  honey  as  he  pleased.  Samuel 
also  got  a  similar  rebuke  from  his  Majesty  the  day  following ; 
and  both  were  not  a  little  delighted  to  have  got  off  so 
easily. 

Gth. — Wrote  as  follows  to  the  King,  in  rejDly  to  his  last : — 


18G0.  April.  THEODORE'S  DISPATCH-BOX.  75 

''Kordta,  Gth  Ajjyil,  ISGG. 
"  Most  Gracious  Sovereign, 

"  I  have  had  the  honour  of  receiving  your  Majesty's  welcome 
letter  of  the  27th  of  Magiibit,  by  Lij  Abitu  and  Una  Mohammed, 
together  with  your  acceptable  present  of  honey.  Tray  accej)t  my 
best  thanks  for  all  your  kindness  and  favours. 

"  May  the  Almighty  who,  as  on  this  IToly  Friday  [Abys- 
sinian reckoning]  gave  His  Only-begotten  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  to 
suffer  death  upon  the  Cross  for  our  redemption,  grant  that  your 
fasting  and  prayers  may  be  registered  in  heaven;  and  that 
through  our  Saviour's  suffering  we  may  rise  with  Him  to  endless 
salvation. 

"I  pray  our  Heavenly  Father  to  enable  you  to  commemorate 
the  day  of  His  Son's  resun-ection  in  good  health  and  prosperity, 
and  may  He  grant  you  a  long  and  happy  life  to  celebrate  that 
blessed  day  for  many  years  to  come. 

"  In  presenting  you  with  my  respectful  congratulations  on  the 
anniversary  of  our  Lord's  rising  from  the  dead,  in  which  my 
companions  join,  I  remain,"  &c. 

I  gave  the  foregoing  to  Samuel,  who  had  been  summoned  to 
Zage  to  receive  instructions  about  our  departure.  By  the 
same  opportunity  I'sent  his  Majesty  a  tin  dispatch-box,  which, 
I  was  told,  he  would  appreciate  very  much.  He  certainly 
did,  for  he  afterwards  used  it  as  the  receptacle  for  what  he 
called  hLs  important  papers,  and  always  kept  it  by  him.  On 
several  occasions  ho  was  heard  to  say,  placing  his  hand  the 
while  on  the  box,  "  When  the  English  troops  come,  I  shall 
show  them  some  astonishing  letters  that  I  have  here."  Un- 
fortunately, tliis  box  was  found  open  in  the  Treasury  at 
Magdala,  rifled  of  its  contents,  when  that  place  was  captured 
by  the  IJritisli  Army. 

i^(h. — Samuel  returned  with  Lij  Abitu  and  Una  Mo- 
liamined,  bringing  me  the  following  from  the  King : — 

*'  May  God  grant  mo  a  meeting  with  you,  my  friend,  after  tho 
light  of  Easter.     Tho  token  of  friendship,  namely,  the  tin  box 


76  OUR  EXODUS  SANCTIONED.  Chap.  XV. 

which  yon  sent  mc,  I  have  received  with  much  pleasure,  and  I 
return  j^ou  my  best  thanks  for  it.  I  have  ordered  Lij  Abitu  to 
take  your  mules  through  Dambea ;  and  Kantiba  Hailo  and  Aito 
Samuel  to  bring  you  to  mo." 

In  this  letter  tlie  King  did  not  mention  the  released 
captives;  but  he  sent  me  a  verbal  message  that  I  was  to 
take  all  the  Europeans  with  me,  including  the  artisans,  and 
all  the  baggage ;  the  mules,  he  said,  were  to  go  roimd  the 
northern  side  of  the  Lake,  but  no  place  was  named  where 
we  were  to  meet  them.  No  reason  was  assigned  for  the 
change  in  the  former  more  definite  arrangement,  which  was, 
that  the  released  captives  should  proceed  to  Gqjja,  on  the 
north-western  corner  of  the  Lake,  where  Dr.  Blanc,  Lieutenant 
Prideaux  and  I  were  to  join  them,  after  we  had  taken  leave 
of  the  King  at  Zage.  We  were  told  at  first  that  we  (the 
Mission)  were  not  to  carry  any  tents  Mith  us  when  we  went 
to  take  leave  of  the  King,  or  more  luggage  than  was  neces- 
sary for  three  or  four  days ;  but  on  the  8th  of  April  the  old. 
plan  was  wholly  set  aside.  I  was  also  told  that  the  King 
had  inclosed  a  large  space  outside  his  camp  at  Zage,  within 
\\  hich  we  were  to  pitch  our  tents  on  our  arrival  there.  These 
proceedings  perplexed  mc,  and  I  asked  Aito  Samuel  and 
Lij  Abitu  what  they  meant.  They  answered  that  they  were 
as  much  in  the  dark  as  I  was,  and  did  not  know  what  the 
King  intended  to  do.  The  inclosure  seemed  to  every  one 
most  suspicious. 

Up  to  that  day  I  had  been  repeatedly  advised  to  try  all  I 
could  to  prevent  the  King  from  seeing  Consul  Cameron  and 
Messrs.  Stern  and  Roscntluil ;  and  wlion  Aito  Samuel  and 
Lij  Abitu  came  with  tlic  message  from  their  master  that  I 
was  to  take  the  released  cajitives  witli  me  to  Zage,  it  was 
thought  tliat  wc  sliould  l)c  inevitably  detained  if  I  did  so — 


18CC.  April.  TRECAUTIONS.  77 

so  intense  was  his  3Iajesty's  hatred  towards  them.  Taking 
all  these  objections  into  consideration,  I  deemed  it  advisable 
to  try  to  induce  the  King  to  dispense  with  the  attendance 
of  the  released  captives. 

Had  he  written  to  me  in  a  straightforward  manner  and 
told  me  that  he  wished  to  see  the  released  captives  before 
they  left,  or  even  that  he  wished  to  be  reconciled  to  them — 
though  a  reconciliation  had  been  effected  twice  l)efore — I 
should  certainly  have  taken  them  to  liim ;  but  all  that  he 
did  was  to  write,  directing  mo  to  go  to  him,  without  even 
mentioning  the  name  of  any  released  captive  in  the  letter, 
sending  me  a  verbal  message  only  to  take  all  the  Europeans 
with  me,  some  of  whom  he  detested,  and  whose  faces  he  had 
been  heard  very  often  to  say  he  hoped  never  to  see  again. 
In  fact,  T  was  told  that  had  I  taken  tliciu  with  nio  to  Zage, 
he  would  have  had  me  and  my  companions  arrested,  on 
the  plea  that  I  had  insulted  him  by  taking  his  enemies 
to  the  royal  camp,  without  his  having  written  to  me  to 
do  so. 

M.  Bardel  and  I'ngada  Wark  were  all  this  time  in  constant 
communication,  and  it  was  rumoured  that  the  former  was 
about  to  be  reconciled  to  the  King,  and  to  remain  in  liis 
service  as  formerly. 

After  careful  deliberation,  I  resolved  to  ask  the  King's 
permission  to  allow  tlie  released  captives  to  proceed  straight 
on  their  way  to  Matamma,  round  the  eastern  side  of  the 
Lake,  and  Lij  Abitn,  who  always  befrionded  me,  undertook 
to  return  to  tlic  King  with  my  communication — tliougli  it 
was  hazardous  for  him  to  do  so,  after  the  previous  order 
which  he  had  receive<l  from  his  Majesty,  directing  him  to 
take  our  mules  round  the  Lake.  I  therefore  entrusted  him 
with  the  following  letter,  directing  him  to  tell  the  King  that 


78  OUR  EXODUS  SANCTIONED,  Chap.  XY. 

wliat  I  was  proposing  was  for  the  welfare  of  all,  and  to  ask 
his  Majesty's  forgiveness,  if  he  did  not  approve  of  the  sug- 
gestion : — 

"Most  Gracious  Sovereign', 

"  I  have  had  much  pleasure  in  receiving  your  Majesty's  letter 
of  the  30th  Magabit,  by  Aito  Samuel,  Lij  Abitu  and  Qua 
Mohammed,  and  I  was  greatly  rejoiced  to  learn  therefrom  that 
you  are  quite  well. 

"  Dr.  Blanc  and  Mr.  Prideaux  beg  to  present  their  respectful 
compliments  to  your  Majesty. 

"I  am  taking  the  liberty  of  sending  Lij  Abitu  to  you,  with  a 
message  from  me ;  and  I  trust  your  Majesty  will  pardon  me  for 
having  done  so." 

Before  Lij  Abitu  started  I  received  the  following  note 
from  the  King,  which  I  acknowledged  with  suitable  com- 
pliments in  a  postscript  to  the  above  : — 

"  I  send  you  good  tidings  of  my  having  passed  Easter.  How 
have  my  friends  passed  it  ?  Let  me  know  if  yon  have  spent  it 
haj)pily  and  prosperously,  by  the  power  of  God. 

"  Dated  Monday,  the  2nd  of  Miyazeya." 

On  the  10th  of  April,  Lij  Abitu  returned  with  the  follo'OTng 
answer,  and  he  also  gave  me  the  joyful  intelligence  that  the 
King  had  made  no  objection  to  the  released  captives  pro- 
ceeding on  their  way  romid  the  eastern  side  of  the  Lake,  as 
had  been  formerly  arranged  : — 

"  When  I  heard  of  your  good  health  and  prosperity,  by  the 
power  of  God,  I  was  greatly  delighted.  Very  avoII  ;  as  you  say, 
Lij  Abitu  shall  take  them  by  the  lower  road,  and  your  baggage 
will  cross  to  any  spot  wdiich  you  may  choose.  I  have  directed 
Agafuri   Golam  and   the  party  of  Aito  Kiisa  to   convej'  it   for 

you." 

I  had  hoped  that  we  were  certain  of  being  allowed  to  leave, 
especially  as  arrangements  were  made  for  the  transport  of 


1866.   Apbii..  the  ROUTE  ORDERED.  7^ 

om-  biijrgago  across  the  Lake  to  Gojja,  where  we  were  all  to 
meet  before  our  departure.  Lij  Abitu  was  formally  appointed 
by  the  King  to  escort  the  released  captives  to  Gojja ;  and 
tlie  two  principal  merchants  of  Korata,  Aito  Kasa  and 
Alto  Wande,  with  Agafari  Golam,  Avere  to  transjjort  the 
baggage  in  boats  across  the  Lake,  while  Kantiba  Hailo,  with 
all  the  European  artisans,  were  to  escort  the  Mission  to 
Zage  on  the  same  day. 

There  is  no  doubt  that,  on  the  8th  of  April,  the  King 
really  intended  that  I  should  leave  Abyssinia  with  the  re- 
leased captives,  although  he  had  previously  thought  of 
keeping  us  a  few  months  longer ;  but  everything  depended 
upon  the  whim  of  the  moment.  It  was  a  mere  chance  how 
long  he  would  keep  to  his  word,  as  he  could  not  be  depended 
upon  for  an  hour.  A  mere  suspicion,  or  a  mischievous  report 
while  he  was  heated  with  drink,  was  quite  sufficient  to  make 
him  order  hundreds  of  men  to  be  executed  for  whom,  per- 
haps a  few  minutes  before,  he  had  professed  great  friendship. 
I  was  also  told,  on  good  authority,  that  the  King  had  even 
given  orders  on  the  11th  of  the  month  directing  the  silk 
tents  to  be  pitched  for  tlio  IMission  within  his  inclosure,  as  on 
a  former  occasion,  and  that  he  had  actually  indicated  the 
mules  and  horses  which  were  to  be  presented  to  us ;  also, 
that  Ras  I'ngada  was  told  tliat  ho  was  to  escort  us  as 
lar  as  Wandige,  while  Aito  Saniud,  with  Lij  Abitu  and 
Agafari  (lolani,  were  to  go  with  us  to  Clialga,  where 
we  wore  to  be  handed  over  to  the  old  escoil  who  had 
brouglit  us  to  the  King  from  the  frontier.  There  is  no  doubt, 
moreover,  that  these  Cliiefs  of  Clialga  were  ordered  to  be 
ready  to  receive  us  after  the  Abyssinian  Easter-week,  and 
directed  to  collect  carriers  to  transport  our  baggage  as  far  as 
i^rattimmiu 


80  OUR  EXODUS  SANCTIONED.  Chap.  XV. 

On  the  morning  of  tlie  12tli  it  was  reported  to  the  King, 
from  Korata,  that  the  Orders  of  the  Cross  and  Solomon's  Seal 
could  not  be  got  ready  by  the  time  his  Majesty  wished  us  to 
leave  Abyssinia,  and  that  the  saddle  and  shields,  which  had 
been  ordered  for  my  companions  and  myself,  were  not  quite 
completed.  He  had  been  told,  also,  that  I  had  supplied  his 
enemies,  the  released  captives,  with  arms ;  and  as  he  knew  I 
had  not  brought  any  spare  muskets  and  pistols  with  me,  and 
that  those  he  had  himself  given  me  I  had  long  since  disposed 
of,  he  wondered  how  I  had  got  them,  and  began  to  suspect 
that  I  had  them  concealed,  and  might  have  more  to  give  to 
his  other  enemies,  the  rebels,  when  I  went  down  to  Chalga. 
He  had  also,  probably,  just  then  heard  of  Dr.  Beke's  visit  to 
the  rebels  of  Tigre.  At  all  events,  on  the  morning  of  Thurs- 
day, the  12th  of  April,  1866,  the  King  was  in  a  fearful  mood, 
and  sent  orders  to  Korata  that  we  were  to  start,  without  fail, 
early  next  morning,  according  to  previous  arrangement.  In 
the  evening  he  began  to  waver,  and  asked  Wald-Gabir  and 
I'ngada  Wark  whether  he  should  let  me  go.  The  former  in- 
formed me  that  he  had  advised  the  King  to  let  me  depart  in 
peace ;  but  he  did  not  know  what  answer  the  latter  gave,  as 
they  were  asked  separately.  The  King  could  not  sleep 
that  night,  and  towards  the  morning  he  sent  for  Bitwaddad 
Tadla,  and  in  a  private  interview  commanded  him  to  take 
the  soldiers  under  his  command  and  cross  at  once  to  Korata, 
but  to  take  care  to  land  at  Zanzalima,  about  four  miles 
from  our  encampment,  towards  Zage ;  that  he  was  to  go  on 
to  a  certain  village  about  a  day's  march  on  the  other  side  of 
Korata,  and  stay  there  till  the  arrival  of  the  released  captives, 
whom  he  was  ordered  to  arrest  and  bring  back  in  chains  to 
Korata,  and  await  further  orders.  One  of  Bitwaddad  Tadla's 
soldiers  was  directed  to  remain  at  Korata  to  give  orders  as  to 


18GG.   April,  PRECONCERTED  ARREST.  81 

the  disposal  of  our  baggage.  About  10  o'clock  a.m.,  ou  that 
day,  the  silk  tents,  which  had  been  pitched  for  the  Mission, 
were  ordered  to  be  struck  and  packed  up,  and  all  the  Chiefs 
in  camp  were  summoned  to  attend.  The  King  had  been 
drinking  a  great  deal  for  three  days,  and  that  day  he  was 
very  much  excited.  While  the  Chiefs  were  assembling,  the 
King  called  for  an  Amharic  writer,  and  got  him  to  write 
down  the  different  charges  he  had  against  me — not  omitting, 
of  course,  to  include  his  genealogy  in  fuU.  I  was  told  that 
the  King  did  not  think  of  having  us  arrested  until  after  Eas 
I'ngada  had  been  sent  to  meet  me ;  and  wlien  that  Chief  saw 
us  arrested  he  was  as  much  surprised  as  we  were.  The  King 
ordered  nine  colonels  to  arrest  me  and  my  companions — three 
ofhcers  for  each — as  soon  as  we  entered  tlie  reception-hall; 
and  they  were  to  guard  us  against  any  attempt  at  suicide, 
until  they  received  further  orders. 

I  have  been  obliged  to  digress  from  the  main  narrative 
because  I  wished  to  show  what  took  place  at  Zage  from  the 
time  the  King  got  into  a  rage  on  the  morning  of  the  I'ith 
until  the  afternoon  of  the  next  da  v. 


VOL.  II. 


82  DISGRACE  OF  THE  MISSION.  Chap.  XVI. 


CHAPTEE  XVI. 

DISGRACE   OF   THE   MISSION. 

The  released  Captives  start  liomewards  —  The  Mission  reimirs  to  Zagg  and 
is  arrested  there  —  Charges  made  against  the  Author  —  Theodore  apolo- 
gizes—  The  Mission  placed  under  surveillance  —  Our  baggage  ransacked 

—  Present  from  the  King  —  We  destroy  all  our  papers  —  The  Captives 
arrested  and  brought  to  Zage  —  A  fresh  trial  —  The  King's  charges 
against  the  Captives  and  against  the  Author  —  He  determines  to  retain 
the  Mission  —  Theodore  unchains  the  Captives  —  Craves  forgiveness  of 
all  the  Europeans  —  The  Petition  from  the  relatives  of  the  Captives  read 

—  Theodore's  letter  to  the  Queen  —  We  are  to  be  kept  as  hostages  — 
Theodore's  request  for  artificers  from  England  —  The  Author's  letter  to 
the  British  Government — Mr.  Flad  selected  to  go  to  England  —  A 
native  matricide  —  Theodore  and  Abyssinian  law  —  Charges  against 
Samuel  and  two  other  Aitos  —  Sympathy  for  the  Mission. 

About  10  o'clock  on  Friday,  the  ]  3th  of  April,  the  released 
captives  started  from  Korata  on  their  way  to  the  north-west- 
ern corner  of  the  Lake,  and  Dr.  Blanc,  Lieutenant  Prideaux 
and  I  embarked  on  board  tlie  canoes  provided  for  us  by 
the  Chiefs  of  Korata  and  went  on  to  Zage,  accompanied  by 
the  European  artisans,  Aito  Samuel  and  Kantiba  Hailo. 
About  two  miles  before  we  reached  the  landing-place  at 
Zage,  we  were  told  to  land  and  put  on  our  uniforms  under 
some  trees  on  the  beach,  that  we  might  appear  in  due  trim 
before  his  Majesty.  We  landed  at  Zage  at  about  one  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  and,  as  usual,  Eas  I'ngada  met  us  on  the 
beach  below  the  King's  house,  with  mules  for  the  members 
of  the  Mission.  The  first  thing  that  struck  me  on  entering 
the  royal  courtyard  was,  that  there  were  no  tents  pitched 
for  us  ;  but  as  Eas  I'ngada  took  us  straight  to  the  audience- 


18C6.  April.  HUSSION  ARRESTED  AT  ZAC.fi.  83 

hall,  I  tlidu^lit  that,  owing  to  the  heat  of  the  weather,  the 
King  was  going  to  locate  us  in  houses.  When  we  reached 
the  door  of  the  hall  I  was  surprised  to  find  it  crowded  with 
Chiefs,  all  dressed  in  their  silk  shirts.  Even  this  I  thought 
nothing  of,  as  I  knew  it  was  still  the  feast  of  Easter,  and 
imagined  that  the  King  was  only  entertaining  his  troops,  as 
was  his  wont.  On  going  into  the  room  I  looked  towards  the 
throne,  intending  to  salute  the  King,  when  su<ldenly  three 
strapping  Chiefs  fell  on  me,  two  of  whom  held  my  arms  and 
the  other  the  tixil  of  my  coat ;  meanwhile  they  all  searched 
me  to  see  if  I  carried  any  arms.  The  arrest  took  place  so 
abruptly  that  I  thought  at  first  I  had  passed  the  King  with- 
out noticing  him,  and  that  these  Chiefs  were  only  kee]iing 
me  back,  lias  I'ngaila  then  glanced  round,  and  said,  "  Do 
not  fear."  It  now  struck  me  that  there  was  something  wrong ; 
and  on  looking  behind  for  my  companions  I  found  that  they 
also  had  been  arrested  and  were  being  roughly  handled  by  the 
soldiers.  "NVe  were  then  pushed  up  towards  the  throne,  but  held 
.so  tightly  by  the  soldiers  that  we  could  scarcely  move  our  arms. 
After  reaching  the  throne  we  were  made  to  wait,  standing,  for 
further  orders  from  the  King,  who  was  sitting  and  listening 
behind  the  door  at  the  back  of  the  room,  not  more  than  ten 
yards  from  us.  Even  in  our  disgrace  the  King  ordered  that  we 
should  have  the  highest  seat  amongst  the  Chiefs,  for  we  were 
placed  at  the  foot  of  the  throne,  and  on  our  right  and  left  were 
the  liases,  all  dressed  in  1  loyal  l^hirts  made  of  the  silks  I  had 
brought.  The  first  message  sent  to  me  was,  "  Where  are  the 
Magdala  European  jtriscmcrs?"  I  replied,  that  the  King 
knew  better  than  I  did  where  they  were.  He  then  sent  to  say 
that  we  ought  not  to  fear,  as  the  jircsent  was  only  a  misunder- 
standing whieh  Would  soon  vanish,  I  replii>(l,  "  W'baf  have 
we  to  fear?     Have  we  not  come  into  this  country  depending 

a  2 


84  DISGRACE  OF  THE  MISSION.  Chap.  XVI. 

upon  the  word  of  a  King,  and  one  who  calls  himself  a  Chris- 
tian? And  where  are  we  now  but  in  the  house  of  the  very 
person  w  ho  ought  to  afford  us  protection  ?  But  why  this  insult 
.and  disgrace  ?  Is  this  the  way  to  receive  the  messengers  of 
a  friendly  Sovereign,  who  came  for  the  sole  purpose  of  esta- 
blishing friendship  ?  "  No  sooner  were  these  w^ords  trans- 
lated to  the  King's  Commissioners,  Eas  I'ngada  and  Kantiba 
Hailo,  who  were  appointed  by  the  King  to  carry  our  messages 
backwards  aud  forwards,  than  all  the  Rases  cried  out,  "  Mal- 
cam  !  ]\[alcam ! " — well  said  ! 

Kantiba  Hailo,  who  was  the  spokesman,  then  returned 
with  Ras  I'ngada  and  told  me  that  the  Chief  Scribe  had  a 
paper  which  contained  some  charges  against  me,  and  that 
the  King's  order  was  that  they  should  be  read  over  to  me,  and 
I  must  answer  each  charge  separately.  The  scribes  were  also 
ordered  to  put  down  in  writing  what  I  said. 

The  Chief  Scribe  then  produced  the  document  and  began 
to  read,  first,  the  pedigree  of  Theodore,  who  was  the  offspring 
of  Solomon  and  David  by  the  Queen  of  Sheba.  To  this  I 
made  no  objection,  but  said  I  was  delighted  to  learn  that  he 
was  descended  from  so  wise  a  King.  After  this  the  history 
of  my  Mission  was  read  :  how  I  had  arrived  at  Massowah 
and  had  come  to  Abyssinia  on  the  invitation  of  the  King, 
who  had  received  me  graciously  and  released  his  enemies, 
the  European  captives,  for  my  sake.  I  replied  that  I  fully 
admitted  all  that  had  been  said  on  that  point,  and  had 
already  proclaimed  our  good  reception  to  the  world. 

Now  came  the  charge  that,  while  I  knew  that  the  King 
hated  the  European  captives,  I  had  sent  them  towards  Ma- 
tainma  without  reconciling  him  to  them.  I  replied,  that  I  did 
not  understand  why  the  King  made  such  a  charge  against  me, 
when  he  himself,  in  a  letter  to  me,  had  given  the  released 


18GC.   April.  THE  AUTHOR  ARRAIGNED.  85 

captives  permission  to  depart,  which  letter,  if  his  Majesty 
uould  allow  me,  I  would  produce ;  and,  besides,  Lij  Abitu 
had  been  sent  to  escort  them  by  order  of  the  King.  '*  As  for 
the  reconciliation,"  I  continued,  "  I  took  it  for  granted  when 
the  King  wrote  to  me  that  he  had  forgiven  the  European 
captives,  that  he  really  meant  what  he  said ;  and  the  only 
reason  why  I  preferred  their  going  away  from  Korata  instead  of 
coming  to  Zage  was,  because  I  had  heard  from  different 
people,  one  of  whom  was  Aito  Samuel,  that  the  King  disliked 
the  released  captives,  and  did  not  wisli  to  see  them.  But 
if  his  Majesty  really  wished  to  have  them  here,  why  did  he 
not  write  to  mo  to  say  so  ?  I  had  always  been  honest  in 
ray  transactions  with  the  King,  and  his  jMajesty  ought  also 
to  have  dealt  with  me  in  the  same  manner."  Aito  Samuel 
broke  down  before  I  had  half  finished,  and  obtained  per- 
mission to  be  seated.  A  native  of  Adwa  was  then  brought 
to  translate,  and  before  he  had  acted  as  dragoman  five 
minutes  he  also  had  to  retire,  after  disputhig  with  the 
writers  as  to  the  way  of  recording  my  words.  ^^'h('U  this 
man  sat  down,  it  was  found  that  even  the  writers  had  got 
somewhat  frightened,  and  could  not  proceed  with  their  occu- 
})ation.  At  last  the  King,  who  must  have  understood  every 
word  I  said,  as  he  knew  Arabic  well,  sent  to  say  that  the 
scribes  might  dispense  with  writing  what  I  said,  but  that 
the  Commissioners  shouhl  communicate  to  him  all  my 
answers.  The  Jung  now  ordered  two  other  interpreters  to 
come  forward — one  a  native  of  Tigie  and  tlie  other  a  Copt. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  sham  trial  the  European  artisans 
were  closeted  with  the  King,  and  wliile  the  mock  Court  was 
b  •iii;^  held  they  came  in  and  sat  down  below  the  liases. 

The  document,  which  was  in  charge  of  tiie  Chief  Scribe, 
not   half  of  which   had  been   read,   was   now  ordered    to  be 


86  DISGRACE  OF  THE  MISSIOX.  CnAr.  XVI. 

folded  up  and  placed  in  the  tin  box  ^vliicli  I  had  given  to 
the  King. 

The  hist  charge  was,  that  I  had  sent  letters  to  the  coast 
without  the  King's  permission,  and  that  his  Majesty  had  not 
been  told  what  I  had  written.  I  said,  first,  I  did  not  know 
it  was  agjainst  the  rules  in  Abyssinia  to  communicate  with 
one's  friends  without  the  sanction  of  the  King.  Secondly,  that 
I  had  dispatched  the  letters  through  the  Governor  of  Koiata, 
with  the  sanction  of  Aito  Samuel,  whom  he  had  given  me  as 
Baldaiaha,  and  that  none  of  his  officials  had  objected  to  my 
having  done  so.  Moreover,  the  letters  were  from  myself  and 
fellow-Europeans,  wherein  we  gave  our  friends  an  account 
of  the  good  reception  of  tlie  Mission  by  the  King  and  the 
release  of  the  Magdala  captives.  This  I  had  already  com- 
municated to  his  Majesty. 

Aito  Samuel  was  first  interrogated  whether  he  had  assisted 
me  in  sending  letters  to  the  coast;  and  on  his  answering 
in  the  affirmative,  the  King  sent  to  say  that  he  did  not 
remember  my  having  written  to  him  about  these  letters. 
I  referred  him  to  the  Chief  Scribe,  who,  after  a  long  hesita- 
tion, corroborated  my  statement.  Then  I  concluded  by 
saying,  "But  supposing  I  had  really  committed  an  unin- 
tentional error,  was  it  right  of  the  King  to  insult  my  com- 
panions and  myself  as  he  had  done  that  afternoon  ?  Did 
1  not  ask  him  the  first  day  I  met  him  to  i'orgive  any 
mistake  iny  companions  or  I  might  commit  during  our 
stay  in  his  country,  and  did  he  not  promise  to  do  so?  Is 
tliis  the  way  that  he  keeps  his  word?"  No  sooner  had 
I  finished  this  sentence  than  some  of  the  Eases  cried  out 
again  "  Malcam  ! "  Even  Mr.  Zander  joined  tliis  time  in 
expressing  his  approval  of  v  hat  I  had  said. 

After  this  the  King  thought  it  best  not  to  jirocced  uith 


1 


1866.  April.  THEODORE  APOLOGIZES.  87 

the  other  charges — two  of  which,  I  was  told  afterwards,  were, 
first,  that  I  had  supplied  arms  to  Consul  Cameron  and  the 
IMissionaries ;  and,  secondly,  that  after  he  had  warned  me 
against  using  the  money  he  gave  me  in  any  \vay  "  unpleasing 
to  the  Lord,"  I  had  given  large  sums  to  his  enemies,  the 
captives.  (He  discovered  afterwards  that  the  arms  were  pur- 
chased from  his  European  artisans,  and  that  the  money 
which  I  had  given  to  the  released  captives  was  from  my 
own  funds,  and  not  from  the  sum  with  which  he  had  pre- 
sented me.) 

Thereupon  the  King  began  to  change  his  tactics  and 
apologized  for  his  misbehaviour  towards  us.  After  the  last 
answer  had  been  delivered  to  him  he  sent  to  say,  that  he 
hoped  I  would  not  take  to  heart  his  treatment  of  us  that 
afternoon,  because  he  had  always  loved  me  and  held  me 
in  high  esteem,  and  that  he  was  very  much  vexed  with 
those  Europeans  who  had  always  abused  him  and  treated 
him  with  contempt ;  that  he  could  not  allow  them  to  leave 
the  country  before  they  had  been  tried  before  me,  there- 
fore he  had  sent  for  them,  and  they  would  be  at  Zage  in 
a  day  or  two ;  until  then  wo  were  to  remain  with  him, 
and  his  European  artisans  were  to  act  as  our  Buldaialjas. 
Tiic  latter  arrang<'inent,  however,  was  subsequently  cancelled. 
\\  ith  regard  to  our  arrest  and  the  disarming  of  Dr.  Blanc 
and  Lieutenant  Pritleaux,  the  King  said  that  he  had  ordered 
it  because  he  was  afraid  that  we  might  kill  oiuselves  from 
vexation  when  the  charges  were  read  to  us,  as  he  had  heard 
that  Europeans  very  often  committed  suicide  when  they 
got  into  difliculty.  On  hearing  this  I  exclaimed,  ''What! 
I  »o(  s  the  King  tjiiiik  that  we  do  not  bejievi'  in  eternal  salva- 
tion, that  we  .should  put  an  end  to  our  lives  in  that  uu-Ciu-istian 
manner?"     The  Tigre   interpreter   was   afraid    to    translate 


88  DISGRACE  OF  THE  MISSION.  Chap.  XVT, 

my  answer,  but  the  others  came  forward,  including  Aito 
Samuel,  and  said  that  the  Assembly  ought  to  know  what 
I  had  said,  and  the  Copt  recommended  that  I  should  add 
that  I  was  not  so  wicked  and  impure  as  the  Magdala 
captives.  I  objected  to  this  addition,  and  at  last  my  former 
answer  was  translated.  On  this  occasion  only  two  Eases 
and  Mr.  Zander  showed  their  approbation  by  saying  "  ]\Ial- 
cam." 

By  this  time  the  King  had  got  over  his  angry  mood  and 
began  to  look  somewhat  placid.  He  sent  and  dismissed 
all  the  officers  in  attendance,  but  kept  two  Eases,  Wald- 
Maryam  and  Gabrie,  with  a  few  followers  to  watch  us. 
They  were  to  be  our  jailors  while  we  remained  at  Zage. 
They  behaved  very  civilly  to  us  all  the  time  we  were  in 
their  charge.  Tliese  two  Eases  were  afterwards  chained  and 
imprisoned  by  the  King,  merely  because  he  was  afraid  to 
trust  them  at  large.  They  were  ultimately  released  by  Sir 
Eobert  Napier,  after  the  taking  of  Magdala. 

At  the  end  of  the  trial  we  found  that  all  the  baggage 
had  been  brought  to  Zage  and  submitted  to  the  King's 
inspection.  His  jMajcsty  sent  to  say  that,  as  he  could  not 
trust  his  soldiers,  he  was  obliged  to  see  if  all  our  things 
were  right ;  and  he  asked  us  to  send  him  the  keys  of  our 
boxes  in  order  that  he  might  not  be  obliged  to  break  them 
open.  At  the  same  time  ho  promised  to  return  everything  to 
us  in  perfect  order.  1  began  to  fear  that  he  was  going  to  search 
our  papers,  as  in  the  case  of  the  IMissionaries.  After  a  while 
we  were  informed  that  he  was  looking  for  concealed  arms,  as 
he  was  afraid  that  we  should  kill  ourselves  in  case  we  had 
any  with  us.  He  took  possession  of  every  article  of  defence 
that  ho  cuuhl  lay  his  eye  upon,  even  to  the  kitchen-knives; 
but  he  overlooked  Dr.  Blanc's  formidable  case,  of  dissecting 


1866.   April.  OUR  BAGGAGE  RANSACKED.  89 

instruments,  wliich  he  returned.  One  of  my  interpreters 
was  called  to  witness  the  overhauling  of  our  kit,  aud  the 
King  said  to  him  jocosely,  "  'Omar  'Ali,  come  and  see  that 
I  do  not  steal  any  of  your  master's  things."  All  the  European 
artisans  also  were  ordered  by  the  King  to  attend  the  examina- 
tion, and  had  to  note  down  everything  the  King  chose  to 
keep.  He  told  them  they  were  to  act  as  witnesses  between 
him  and  me. 

The  King  at  first  wished  to  imprison  my  companions  aud 
myself  in  the  iiiclosuro  which  had  been  constructed  for  us 
about  ten  days  bol'ore ;  but  when  ho  had  cooled  down  he 
thought  he  could  not  send  his  friends  out  of  his  sight,  so 
he  ordered  one  single  white  tent  to  be  pitched  for  us  at  some 
distance  from  the  hall,  aud  a  black  one  for  a  kitchen,  and  as 
soon  as  ours  was  erected  we  were  ordered  into  it,  escorted  by  the 
two  Rases.  A  strong  guard  was  appointed  to  watch  us,  and  we 
could  not  move  a  yard,  cither  within  or  without  the  tent, 
without  a  soldier  scrutinizing  our  movements.  Afterwards, 
all  onr  things  were  sent  back  to  us,  excepting  the  arms, 
silver  trinkets  and  money.  We  were  glad  to  find  that  none 
of  our  books  or  papers  had  been  retained.  This  was  satis- 
factory proof  that  the  King's  suspicions  were  not  directed  to 
anything  which  we  had  written. 

Dr.  Blanc's  and  my  servants  were  detained  in  the  mean 
time  by  the  soldiers  in  a  corner  of  the  audience-hall; 
and  when  the  King  went  in,  after  we  had  left,  and  found 
them  there,  he  asked  them  what  they  were  about.  On 
their  rej)lying  tliat  they  were  confined  by  the  soldiers,  ho 
said,  "  What!  who  luis  dared  to  imprison  the  servants  of  my 
friend,  Kassam  ?  Do  not  think  that  I  am  angry  with  him. 
There  is  only  a  little  disagreement  between  us,  wiiich  will 
soon  bo  got  over."    That  evening  he  sent  us  ten  jars  of  nif/ad, 


90  DISGRACE  OF  TUE  MISSION.  Chap.  XVI. 

and  the  same  number  of  sheep,  ■with  butter  and  red-pepper 
sauce.  The  soldiers  had  strict  orders  not  to  interfere  Nvith 
our  servants,  who  were  allowed  to  visit  us  and  go  out  of  the 
inelosure  whenever  they  liked. 

We  had  no  idea  what  was  to  befall  us  next,  but  fearing 
that  our  property  might  be  seized  again,  and  memoranda 
capable  of  being  misconstrued  to  our  greater  risk  found 
therein,  we  deemed  it  advisable  to  destroy  every  scrap  of 
written  paper  we  had.  Some  we  attempted  to  chew,  others 
we  soaked  in  wash-basins,  but  were  obliged  to  abandon  both 
expedients,  for  the  former  was  rather  an  unpalatable  and  the 
latter  a  slow  process.  The  kitchen  fire  was  finally  resorted  to 
as  the  best  alternative,  and  by  filling  our  butlers'  pockets  with 
them  every  time  they  were  called  to  wait  upon  us,  we  soon 
got  rid  of  all  our  written  documents. 

The  King  sent  us  no  compliments  either  that  evening  or 
the  next  morning,  as  had  been  his  wont ;  and  Aito  Samuel 
was  kept  at  a  distance  from  his  master  after  the  trial.  The 
European  artisans,  as  well  as  our  Abyssinian  acquaintances, 
were  afraid  to  approach  us,  or  even  to  send  us  their  compli- 
ments. The  only  persons  who  ventured  to  communicate 
with  us  during  our  disgrace  and  rigorous  confinement  were, 
the  lady — an  old  friend  of  the  late  Consul  Plowdeu — to 
whom  I  had  shown  some  slight  attention  on  our  journey 
through  Agowmeder,  and  the  Balambaras  Gabra-31adhane 
'Alam.  AMien  this  lady  heard  that  I  was  going  to  Zage 
to  take  a  final  leave  of  the  King,  she  came  to  the  royal 
camp  to  bid  me  larewell,  and  on  finding  that  I  had  been 
imprisoned  she  sent  me  a  present  of  eggs  and  fowls,  and 
tried  to  encourage  me.  The  other,  the  Governor  of  Wan- 
dige,  who  had  been  severely  reprimanded  by  the  King  for 
purchasing  honey  for  me,  sent  to  tell  me  to-day  that  he  bad 


18GG.   April.       ARRIVAL  OF  CAMEROX  AND  TARTY.  91 

it  still  in  his  possession,  and  asked  if  he  should  send  it  to 
me,  offering  at  the  same  time  to  procure  any  other  supplies 
that  I  might  require. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  14th  the  King  sent  us  some  fowls 
and  eggA,  but  no  message  came  with  them ;  so  I  asked  Aito 
Samuel  if  he  could  go  and  thank  the  King  for  his  present. 
He  said  it  was  dangerous  for  liim  to  do  so  without  having 
first  obtained  the  royal  permission ;  nevertheless,  he  would 
go  at  all  hazards.  Theodore  at  the  time  occupied  a 
raised  seat,  near  the  audience-hall,  hearing  a  case  judicially; 
so  Samuel  went  and  stood  before  him.  The  King  asked  him, 
through  his  spokesman,  what  he  wanted;  and  on  Samuel 
answering  that  he  had  a  message  from  me,  he  commanded 
liini  to  approach  and  communicate  what  he  had  to  say. 
After  my  message  was  delivered  he  said,  "  Ah  !  my  friend, 
Aito  Rii-ssam,  why  liave  I  ill-treated  you  thus?"  Thereupon 
lie  called  his  valet,  Wald-Gabir,  and  directed  him  to  accom- 
pany Aito  Samuel  and  convey  his  compliments  to  my  com- 
panions and  myself.  I  was  also  told  that  I  might  send  one 
of  my  interpreters  every  day  with  compliments  to  the  King, 
as  I  had  done  heretofore. 

On  the  morning  of  the  lotli  we  were  allowed  to  pitch 
our  tents,  and  the  guard  was  ordered  not  to  intrude  upon  our 
privacy,  but  to  watch  a  short  distance  off.  In  the  afternoon 
the  King  sent  to  inform  me  that  Consul  Cameron  and  his 
party  had  arrived  from  Korata,  and,  as  he  did  not  wish  them 
to  bo  with  the  ^fission,  he  had  ordered  them  to  be  placed  in 
the  inclnsurc,  some  distance  from  us.  As  the  day  was  very 
h(4,  anil  I  knew  that  Consul  Cameron  and  the  ladies  must 
be  very  tired  after  what  they  luul  undergone,  I  sent  and 
asked  the  King  if  he  would  allow  them  to  ride  as  far  as  the 
inclosure.     IJo  immediately   gave  his  consent,   and  ordered 


92  DISGRACE  OF  THE  MISSION.  Chap.  XYI. 

three  mules  to  be  supplied  from  bis  stable.  He  afterwards 
sent,  through  me,  a  cow,  a  basket  of  tej  bread,  and  a  jar 
of  mead,  for  each  of  the  European  prisoners,  with  some 
butter  and  red-pepper  sauce.  After  a  while,  when  I  heard 
that  they  had  been  allowed  only  one  tent,  I  sent  and 
requested  his  Majesty  to  permit  me  to  send  them  another — 
one  belonging  to  the  Mission.  As  he  made  no  objection, 
I  sent  it  to  them,  with  a  few  skins  for  bedding. 

Early  on  Monday,  the  16th,  all  the  Chiefs  were  ordered  to 
attend  the  Court  A\hich  his  Majesty  had  intended  to  hold  on 
the  European  prisoners.  About  eight  o'clock  everything  was 
in  readiness  for  our  reception,  and  the  King  sent  to  us  to 
say  that  as  he  wished  to  receive  my  companions  and  myself 
as  friends,  we  were  to  go  to  him  iu  uniform,  at  once,  before 
he  sent  for  the  prisoners ;  so  \\  e  dressed  and  repaired  to  his 
presence.  We  found  the  King  sitting  on  a  couch,  on  the 
left  of  the  throne,  at  the  door  of  the  audience-chamber,  and 
about  1,000  officers  standing  on  the  right  and  loft,  while  the 
Eases  were  sitting  below  him,  on  the  left,  with  their  backs 
turned  to  him,  in  accordance  with  court  etiquette.  The 
European  artisans  occupied  a  place  about  ten  feet  behind 
us.  As  soon  as  my  companions  and  I  appeared,  he  wel- 
comed us,  and  asked  us  to  sit  at  the  foot  of  the  throne,  on  his 
right  hand.  He  said  he  had  sent  for  us  before  the  captives 
came,  in  order  to  assure  us  of  his  unceasing  friendship,  and 
that  we  must  not  think  he  was  going  to  place  us  on  a  par 
with  them ;  for  it  was  quite  impossible  for  him  to  have  any 
ill-feeling  against  us.  liefcrring  to  our  arrest  on  the 
lijth,  he  said  he  was  sorry  for  what  had  taken  place,  but 
he  never  meant  that  we  should  bo  roughly  handled ;  it 
Avas  true  that  ho  had  given  Jiis  soldiers  orders  to  search 
us,  but  they  had  greatly  exceeded    their   duty ;    that   my 


18GG.   April.  A  ROYAL  ASSIZE.  93 

companions  ought  not  to  have  worn  swords  ;  and  that  it  was 
only  through  tlie  stupidity  of  Samuel  that  they  were  allowed 
to  appear  with  them  on  our  first  visit  to  him  in  Damot. 

As  the  morning  was  very  hot,  and  we  were  sitting  in  the 
sun,  the  King  provided  us  with  umbrellas.  In  the  mean 
time  the  imprisoned  Europeans  were  sent  for,  and  I  was 
glad  to  find  that  ]\[rs.  Ivosenthal  and  Mrs.  Flad  were  not 
summoned  with  their  husbands.  Samuel  having  intimated 
that  Consul  Cameron  was  not  well  enough  to  walk,  the 
King  ordered  him  a  mule  from  his  own  stable.  After  we  had 
been  more  than  an  hour  talking  to  the  King  upon  different 
subjects,  Consul  Cameron  and  his  party  made  their  appear- 
ance, chained  arm  to  arm,  in  coujiles.  After  the  usual  com- 
jiliments,  they  were  told  to  approach,  and  directed  to  stand 
about  twenty  yards  in  front  of  the  King.  Consul  Cameron 
was  then  called  to  come  forward,  and  the  King  ordered  him 
to  be  unfettered.  Wlien  freed  from  his  chains,  ho  was 
told  to  sit  with  my  companions  and  myself,  the  King 
turning  towards  me,  saying,  "Pie  is  one  of  you;  let  him 
sit  down  witli  you."  'M.  Bardel  was  then  called  forward; 
and  after  his  chain  had  been  removed,  ho  was  told  to  take 
a  seat  next  to  us.  I  was  not  at  all  surprised  to  see  this  last 
act  of  clemency  on  the  part  of  the  King;  my  only  wonder 
was  that  M.  Ijardel  had  not  been  released  before. 

Alter  this  the  King  told  mo  that  some  of  tlio  Europeans 
who  were  present  had  abused  him  and  said  that  be  was 
of  low  origin:  whereas  ho  was  n^idy  to  prove  before  me 
tluit  he  was  desceuded  from  ncjbh'  families  both  on  the  fatluir 
and  mother's  side.  A  number  of  ol  1  men  wore  called  and 
nked  different  questions  about  the  King's  pedigree ;  of  course, 
lh<y  all  (h'clared,  on  oath,  that  what  the  King  had  said 
aljout  his  forefathers  was  true.     All  the    witnessi-s    had    to 


94  DISGRACE  OF  THE  MISSION.  Chap.  XVI. 

swear  by  the  dcatli  of  tlie  Bishop — the  most  biuding  oath 
in  Abyssinia — that  the  King  was  descended  from  the  first 
King  of  Judah;  and  even  the  puppet  Emperor,  liatse  Yu- 
liannes,  who  was  sick  and  could  not  come  to  the  assembly, 
was  referred  to.  The  King  was  so  anxious  that  I  should 
believe  all  this,  that  he  insisted  upon  my  sending  a  repre- 
sentative with  Eas  I'ngada  and  two  other  Chiefs  to  hear,  in 
my  behalf,  the  testimony  from  the  mouth  of  the  ex-Emperor. 

When  the  King  was  satisfied  that  I  was  convinced  of  his 
noble  descent,  he  said  that  he  had  some  charges  against 
the  Europeans  who  were  then  standing  before  him,  and 
he  requested  that  all  questions  and  answers  should  pass 
through  me.  I  had  no  other  alternative  but  to  assent.  As 
the  King  spoke  in  Amharic,  Aito  Samuel  had  to  translate 
what  his  Majesty  said  into  Arabic ;  and  as  some  of  the 
prisoners  did  not  understand  English,  Mr.  Flad  had  to  render 
what  I  said  into  German.  So  both  questions  and  answers 
had  to  pass  through  three  different  mouths  before  they  were 
disposed  of.  The  King  did  not  choose  on  that  occasion  to 
speak  Amharic  either  to  Mr.  Flad  or  to  any  of  liis  fellow- 
captives  ;  and  as  they  were  standing  a  good  distance  oflP,  I 
had  sometimes  to  repeat  his  Majesty's  words  twice  before 
they  could  hear  them. 

The  first  thing  tlie  King  asked  the  prisoners  was,  why  they 
had  left  without  coming  to  see  him  ?  Whereupon  I  inter- 
posed and  remarked  that,  if  allowed  to  do  so,  I  would  answer 
that  question  [myself.  Tlie  King  replied,  "  Wait :  I  m  ant  to 
see  what  Mr.  Stern  and  his  party  say." 

When  this  question  was  put  to  them,  IMr.  Flad  replied  on 
the  part  of  his  fellow-prisoners,  that  th(^y  had  nothing  to  say 
on  the  subject,  as  the  King  had  made  them  all  over  to  me, 
and  they  had  only  to  listen  to  my  orders ;  that  I  was  the 


1800.  April.  THE  AUTHOE'S  DEFENCE.  95 

only  one  wlio  was  responsible  to  his  Majesty,  and  that  through 
me  tln-y  had  acted  as  they  had  done.  The  King  then  told 
them  thoy  ought  to  have  begged  me  to  bring  them  to  him. 
I  then  told  the  King  that  if  any  one  was  to  blame  for  the 
released  captives  not  having  gone  to  him  it  was  myself,  and 
I  trusted  that  ho  would  not  lay  the  fault  to  tlieir  charge. 
He  then  began  the  old  complaints  against  tlio  prisoners  indi- 
vidually ;  even  Mr.  Flad,  who  had  never  before  been  accused 
of  having  abused  the  King,  did  not  escape  on  that  occasion. 

When  the  King  had  finished  with  the  prisoners,  he  ordered 
me  to  stand  before  him,  with  Dr.  Blanc  and  Lieutenant 
Prideaux,  to  answer  certain  questions  which  he  wished  to  put 
to  me.  I  was  asked  why  I  had  not  taken  the  Mugdala 
European  prisoners  to  him  to  beg  his  ^lajesty's  pardon  before 
they  left  the  country.  I  replied,  that  he  had  never  intimated 
to  mo,  either  by  letter  or  otherwise,  that  he  wished  me  to  do 
so;  but,  on  the  contrary,  I  had  always  heard  that  he  did  not 
wish  to  see  them.  He  then  asked,  why  I  had  allowed  the 
released  captives  to  leave  Korata  instead  of  bringing  them  to 
Zago?  I  replied,  that  I  had  done  so  with  his  sanction,  which 
I  could  prove  by  his  IMajesty's  letter,  and  also  through  his 
own  oflicer,  Lij  Abitu.  Whereupon  the  King  called  Lij 
Aljitu  to  come  forward,  and  asked  him  if  it  was  true  that  ho 
had  received  his  ]\rajesty's  permission  to  take  the  released 
ca[)tives  away  from  Korata.  He  answered  in  the  aflirmative; 
nml  ho  even  went  so  far  as  to  tell  the  King  that  when  he 
had  delivered  my  message  to  him  about  dispensing  with  the 
iittendance  of  the  released  captives,  his  ^lajesly  had  received 
my  suggestion  with  great  approbation. 

After  this,  the  King  looked  at  mo  and  saitl,  "I)o  you  con- 
sider yourself  a  King?"  I  replied  in  the  negative,  but  said 
that  I  was  his  friend,  and  begged  to  knctw  what  T  had  done  to 


9G  DISGRACE  OF  THE  MISSION.  Chap.  XVI. 

lead  him  to  ask  me  such  a  question.  He  said  that  I  had  taken 
away  the  European  released  captives  witliout  reconciling 
them  to  him,  in  order  that  I  might  boast,  on  my  return  to 
England,  that  I  had  conducted  them  out  of  Abyssinia  by  my 
own  power  and  skill ;  *  that,  had  I  brought  them  to  Zage,  he 
would  have  given  them  mules  and  money,  whereas  they  were 
now  in  chains. 

AVe  were  then  asked  to  sit  down,  as  formerly,  at  the  foot 
of  the  throne — reckoned  the  most  honourable  post — and  he 
recommenced  his  grievances  against  the  rebels  and  the 
Turks,  and  said  that  he  hoped  one  day  to  show  me  how 
he  could  thrash  the  unbelievers.  "  Ah  !  "  he  said,  "  if  the 
English  would  only  assist  me,  we  could  build  a  fence  round 
Sennaar."  (Sennaar  is  a  large  district  in  the  possession  of  the 
Egyptian  Government,  on  the  western  frontier  of  Abyssinia.) 
He  then  concluded  by  saying,  "  Is  this  your  friendship,  Mr. 
Rassam,  that  you  wish  to  leave  me  and  take  away  those  who 
have  abused  me  ?  Wherever  I  am,  there  you  shall  be."  He 
then  became  all  smiles^  rose,  and  told  us  to  go  back  to  our 
tents.  I  thought  that  as  I  had  taken  the  blame  upon  myself 
for  the  departure  of  the  prisoners  from  Korata,  ho  would  now 
release  them  from  their  fetters  ;  but,  on  seeing  that  he  did  not 
do  so,  I  asked  him  to  oblige  me  by  ordering  their  chains  to 
be  removed.  He  replied,  "  We  have  had  enough  for  to-day ; 
I  will  see  to  the  rest  to-morrow."  Thereupon,  Dr.  Blanc, 
Lieutenant  Pridoanx   and  I  rctiirnt-d  to    our  tents,  Consul 


*  From  some  invidious  remarks  which  have  recently  been  published  on 
the  Continent,  wherein  the  writer  assumes  to  have  been  cognizant  of  my 
feelings  when  the  success  of  the  Mission  seemed  certain,  and  ventures, 
moreover,  to  dilate  on  the  anticipation  which  I  then  entertained  of  a  hand- 
some reward  in  store  for  me  from  the  Government,  I  have  no  doubt  that 
this  idea  was  suggested  to  the  King,  indirectly,  by  some  of  the  European 
artisans. 


186C.   April.  KOYAL  FROWNS  AXD  SMILES.  97 

Cameron  accompanying  us,  tbe  King  having  given  him 
permission  to  that  effect.  His  Majesty  left  in  company  with 
M.  Bardel. 

Never  before,  since  my  arrival  in  Abyssinia,  had  Theodore 
manifested  such  bitter  animosity  against  the  prisoners  as  he 
did  on  this  occasion ;  and  although  I  took  all  the  blame 
upon  myself  for  their  not  having  gone  in  person  to  be  recon- 
ciled to  him,  nevertheless  he  declined  to  accede  to  my  earnest 
appeal  for  their  release,  and  it  was  not  until  I  had  engaged  to 
become  surety  for  them  that  he  allowed  their  fetters  to  be 
removed.  On  the  other  hand,  M.  Bardel,  against  whom  so 
much  has  been  said,  as  having  been  at  the  bottom  of  all  the 
mischief  which  created  the  breach  between  the  King  and  his 
European  captives,  underwent  no  questioning  whatever,  and 
was  directed  to  sit  by  our  side.  That  the  whole  thing  was 
a  solemn  farce,  there  cannot  be  the  shadow  of  a  doubt ;  even 
Theodore  himself  could  not  restrain  a  smile  when  he  blamed 
me  for  having  tried  to  smuggle  a  large  party  of  Em'opeans 
out  of  his  territories,  just  as  if  they  were  a  bale  of  cotton, 
knowing  at  the  same  time  that  I  had  acted  throughout  with 
his  special  sanction.  If  I,  personally,  had  been  the  object  of 
the  King's  displeasure,  why,  before  the  arrival  of  the  captives 
on  the  day  of  the  trial,  did  he  ask  me  to  sit  by  his  side  and 
have  a  friendly  chat  ?  And  how  comes  it,  if  such  had  been 
the  case,  that  he  did  not  tell  me  to  hold  my  peace,  when  I 
afterwards  begged  him  to  ludVtter  the  captives?  Why, 
moreover,  if  ho  entertained  any  distrust  of  me,  did  he  shortly 
after  grant  my  request,  on  condition  that  I  became  security  for 
them  ?  And  why,  lastly,  if  he  really  had  been  offended  with 
me,  did  he  never  again,  for  a  whole  year,  allude  to  the  charge 
ho  had  preferred  against  me  on  that  occasion  ?  Tiie  whole 
aflfair  had  been  got  up — as  he  liimself  afterwards  told  me  on 

VOL.  II.  H 


98  DISGEACE  OF  THE  MISSION.  Chap.  XVI. 

several  occasions,  and  as  the  tenor  of  his  subsequent  letters 
to  me  ^vill  prove — as  a  mere  pretext  to  detain  me  in  the 
coimtry  for  the  furtherance  of  his  own  indefinite  views.  But 
I  am  anticipating. 

At  sunrise  next  morning,  the  17th,  we  saw  the  King  busily 
engaged  in  marking  out  a  piece  of  .ground  within  the  royal 
inclosure,  which  was  to  be  fenced  in,  and  we  were  told  that 
it  was  intended  for  u?,  as  his  Majesty  had  resolved  to  place 
us  there,  together  with  all  the  Europeans  for  whom  I  stood 
security.  When  the  soldiers  began  to  construct  the  fence, 
the  King  sent  me  this  message — that  for  my  sake  he  would 
release  the  prisoners  from  their  chains,  provided  I  became 
surety  for  their  good  behaviour.  I  replied,  that  I  could  not 
give  him  an  answer  before  I  had  spoken  to  them,  as  none  of 
them  were  servants  of  our  Government,  nor  were  they  all 
British  subjects.  The  King  then  ordered  them  all  to  repair 
to  my  tent.  When  they  had  expressed  their  willingness  that 
I  should  be  surety  for  them,  I  sent  and  informed  his  Majesty 
of  the  fact.  After  a  while,  the  King's  consent  was  obtained  for 
striking  o£f  the  chains,  and  when  his  Majesty  heard  that  all 
had  been  unfettered,  he  sent  me  this  message :  "  Mind,  Mr. 
Kassam,  although  you  have  become  surety  for  all  the  Euro- 
peans, and  I  hold  you  alone  responsible  for  their  acts,  yet 
I  shall  always  be  at  your  service  to  assist  you  in  case  any  of 
them  become  refractory  or  troublesome.  Only  tell  me  to 
chain  this  man  or  imprison  the  other,  and  I  will  do  as  you  bid 
me.     Do  not  fear ;  I  will  take  care  of  them  for  you." 

Shortly  after,  all  the  Europeans  were  summoned  to  appear 
before  the  King  that  we  might  have  a  private  "  chawata " 
(chat)  together.  We  all  went  to  the  same  audience-hall  in  a 
body,  and,  aftcn-  the  usual  salutations  were  over,  Dr.  Blanc, 
Lieutenant  Pridcaux,  Consul  Cameron  and  I  were  invited 


186G.  April.  THEODORE'S  PENITENCE.  99 

by  the  King  to  sit  next  to  him,  on  his  left  hand,  while  the 
artisans  were  told  to  occupy  a  place  between  the  door  and 
tlie  King's  right.  His  Majesty  placed  a  pillow  for  me  to  lean 
upon,  near  him.  When  we  had  sat  down,  the  released 
captives  were  called  in,  and  after  prostrating  themselves 
they  were  directed  to  sit  on  our  left,  near  another  entrance. 
The  King  on  that  occasion  put  on  a  most  humble  counte- 
nance, and  asked  us  all  to  forgive  and  to  forget.  He  then 
bowed  his  head  and  said,  "For  Christ's  sake,  forgive  me." 
All  of  us,  including  myself  and  companions,  were  obliged  to 
stoop,  following  his  example.  So  intent  were  we  on  showing 
our  respect,  that  we  forgot  the  royal  head  was  still  bent,  till 
one  of  the  European  artisans  called  out,  '•'  You  have  forgotten 
the  King's  head ;  tell  his  Majesty  to  sit  up."  I  then  apolo- 
gized to  the  King,  and  begged  him  to  raise  his  head. 

When  this  ceremony  was  over,  the  King  told  Consul 
Cameron  that  he  had  received  a  petition  from  his  (the  Con- 
sul's) relatives  and  the  relatives  of  his  late  fellow-captives, 
which  he  characterized  as  "  touching,"  and  asked  him  to  read 
it  for  the  edification  of  all  those  who  understood  English. 
Accordingly,  Consul  Cameron  read  it  in  full.  This  done,  the 
King  looked  towards  Mr.  Stern  and  his  party,  and  said  that 
they  ought  to  be  very  grateful  to  me  for  the  great  trouble  I  had 
undergone  for  them.  They  were  all  dismissed,  but  my  com- 
panions, the  European  artisans  and  myself  were  told  to 
remain  a  little  while  longer.  Dr.  Beke's  letter  was  not 
produced,  neither  did  the  King  make  any  allusion  to  it. 

I  had  hoped  that  after  this  formal  reconciliation  there 
would  be  no  furtlier  hindrance  to  our  departure ;  but  I  \Aas 
sadly  disappointed.  As  soon  as  we  were  left  alone,  the  King 
called  the  Chief  Scribe  and  directed  him  to  write  what  he 
should  dictate.     Aito  Samuel  was  ordered  to  translate  to  mo 

n  2 


100  DISGRACE  OF  THE  MISSION.  Chap.  XYI. 

word  by  word  as  they  went  on ;  and  after  a  great  deal  of  dis- 
puting about  certain  phrases  and  titles,  between  the  Monarchy 
the  scribes,  Aito  Samuel  and  "Wald-Gabir,  the  yalet,  the 
following  letter  to  our  Queen  was  decided  upon : — 

"  In  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost — One  God. 

"  From.  God's  slave  and  His  created  being,  the  son  of  David, 
the  son  of  Solomon,  the  King  of  kings,  Theodorus. 

"  To  her  whom  God  has  exalted  above  all  people,  the  Defender 
of  the  Christian  Faith,  the  Protector  of  the  poor  and  oppressed, 
the  Queen  of  England,  Victoria. 

"Had  not  yonr  servant  Mr.  Ilormuzd  Eassam,  whom  yovt 
said  that  yon  had  sent  in  the  affair  of  Mr.  Cameron,  come,  but 
the  lowest  of  yonr  slaves,  I  would  have  welcomed  him.  By  tho 
power  of  God,  I  have  released  Mr.  Cameron  and  made  him  over 
to  your  ser\^ant,  Mr.  Eassam ;  and,  by  the  powder  of  God,  I  have 
also  released  the  other  prisoners  and  all  other  Europeans  wlio 
might  wish  to  leave  the  country,  and  made  them  over  to  him ; 
and  I  have  kept  your  seivant  Mr.  Hormuzd  Eassam  for  the  sake 
of  consulting  together  upon  the  extension  of  our  friendshijx 
We,  the  people  of  Ethiopia,  are  blind,  and  we  beg  of  j^our 
Majesty  that  j^ou  would  give  light  to  our  eyes,  aud  so  may 
you  receive  light  in  the  kingdom  of  Heaven." 

My  feelings  may  well  be  conceived  when  I  understood  that 
I  was  to  be  retained  as  a  hostage  ;  for  such,  undoubtedly,  was 
the  case,  although  the  King  had  expressed  it  differently. 
We  were  then  in  his  power,  and  it  was  useless  to  protest 
against  his  double-dealing,  or  to  refuse  sending  the  lettei-. 
Good  advice  he  would  not  take,  and  any  opposition  to  his 
will  on  my  part  might  have  led  him  to  treat  all  the  Europeans 
with  still  greater  severity. 

It  luis  been  asserted  that  tlio  King  liad  asked  me  tO' 
remain  with  him  as  a  hostage,  leaving  Consul  Cameron  and 
the  otlicr  released  captives  to  depart  out  of  the  country,  aud 
that  I  had  refused  my  consent.  How  this  absurd  story  origi- 
nated I  cannot  tell ;  all  I  can  say  is  that  Theodore  never 


1806.  Aprix.      THEODORE'S  LETTER  TO  THE  QUEEN.  101 

once  hinted  any  such  proposal  to  me.  Besides,  the  story 
itself  is  preposterous,  since  if  the  Iving  really  entertained  a 
desire  to  send  the  captives  away,  retaining  me  in  his  power, 
ho  unquestionably  might  have  done  so  without  asking  my 
sanction  to  the  arrangement.  Having  once  made  them  over 
to  me,  to  be  taken  by  me  out  of  Abyssinia,  I  am  convinced 
that,  ill-disposed  as  he  was  towards  them,  the  thought  never 
occurred  to  him  to  let  them  go  without  me.  The  fact  is, 
from  the  time  he  informed  her  Majesty  that  he  had  released 
the  captives  and  consigned  them  to  me,  he  never  considered 
them  in  any  way  apart  from  me  as  the  head  of  the  Mission. 
In  his  letter  to  Dr.  Beke,  in  answer  to  the  petition  forwarded 
by  the  relatives  of  the  captives,  he  says,  "  the  prisoners,  from 
Avhose  families  you  brought  a  petition,  I  have  released  for  the 
sake  of  my  friend,  the  Queen,  and  have  made  them  over  to 
3rr.  Rassam  to  take  out  witli  him  when  he  leaves  Abyssinia." 
In  like  manner,  whereas  the  King  had  sent  all  my  fellow- 
captives  with  me  to  the  British  camp  on  the  11th  of  April, 
1868,  when  referring  to  that  circumstance  on  the  following 
day,  in  his  letter  to  Sir  Robert  Napier,  he  merely  says,  "  I 
sent  to  you  Mr.  Rassam  the  same  evening,  that  your  heart 
might  be  made  easy." 

After  we  left,  Theodore  sent  me  the  following  note,  with  a 
message  that  he  wished  me  to  write  a  letter  to  accompany 
his  own.  lie  also  asked  me  to  select  one  of  the  Europeans  to 
take  it  to  England  and  bring  an  answer : — 

"  From  God's  slave  and  II is  created  being,  the  son  of  David, 
tho  son  of  Solomon,  the  King  of  kings,  Thcodorus. 

"  To  my  friend  and  counsellor,  the  sei-vant  of  tho  Queen  of 
England,  Aito  Hormuzd  Iiassam. 

"  My  dosiro  is  that  you  should  send  to  her  Majesty,  the  Queen, 
and  obtain  for  me  a  man  who  can  make  cannons  and  nniskcts, 
and  one  who  can  smelt  iron;  also  an  instructor  of  artillery.     I 


102  DISGRACE  OF  THE  MISSIOX.  Chap.  XVI.. 

want  these  people  to  come  liero  with  their  implements  and  every- 
thing necessary  for  their  work,  and  then  thej^  shall  teach  us  and 
return.  By  the  power  of  God,  forward  this  my  request  to 
England." 

He  said,  further,  that  he  would  like  to  see  the  letter  before 
I  sent  it.  This  led  me  to  draw  it  up  in  terms  which  might 
please  him,  in  case  he  had  it  read.  The  following  is  a  copy 
of  the  letter  which  I  addressed  on  the  occasion  to  her 
Majesty's  Principal  Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs  : — 

"  Emperor's  Court  at  Zage,  April  18,  1866. 
"My  Lord, 

"  I  HAVE  the  honour  to  report  to  your  Lordship  that  my 
companions,  Dr.  Blanc  and  Mr.  Prideaux,  and  I  reached  the  Court 
of  the  Emperor  of  Abyssinia  on  the  28th  of  January,  and  his 
Majesty  gave  us  a  most  magnificent  reception,  and  treated  us  with 
great  kindness  and  civility. 

"He  received  her  Majesty's  letter  graciously;  in  answer  to 
which  he  wrote  a  very  friendly  and  courteous  reply. 

"  I  had  the  first  interview  with  his  Majesty  on  the  very  after- 
noon of  my  arrival  at  his  Court,  when  he  related  to  me  all  his 
grievances  with  regard  to  Consul  Cameron  and  the  other  Euro- 
pean prisoners.  Early  the  next  morning  he  ordered  the  release 
of  all  the  prisoners,  a  nominal  list  of  whom  is  hercAvith  inclosed 
for  your  Lordship's  information.  All  the  released  prisoners  have 
been  made  over  to  me  by  his  Majesty,  and  are  now  with  me,  en- 
joying good  health. 

"  All  the  prisoners  presented  themselves  before  the  Emperor 
on  the  16th  instant,  and  after  the  charges  were  read  to  them, 
they  all  confessed  that  they  were  wrong  in  what  they  had 
written  and  spoken  against  his  Majesty.  The  Emperor  then  for- 
gave Ihem  for  all  that  they  had  done,  and  said  that  he  would  bo 
as  friendly  towards  them  henceforth  as  he  is  towards  myself  and 
my  companions. 

"His  Majesty  has  been  good  enough  to  present  me  with  10,000 
dollars  for  my  expenditure,  and  has  in  every  respect  been  very 
kind  and  hospitable.  The  other  day  ho  did  me  the  honour  of 
coming  in  person   to  see  me  in  my  tent,  and  said  that  he  held. 


1866.  April.        LETTER  TO  THE  FOREIGN  OFFICE.  103 

me  dear  on  account  of  my  being  the  servant  of  his  friend,  the 
British  Queen.  He  has  also  presented  me  with  a  royal  saddle, 
shield,  sword,  spear  and  armlet,  and  has  given  each  of  my  com- 
panions a  shield,  spear  and  armlet,  in  addition  to  five  mules. 
He  is  about  to  create  an  Order,  with  which  he  intends  to  invest 
us. 

"  His  Majesty  has  had  for  some  years  a  desire  to  procure  some 
scientific  men  from  England,  and  yesterday  he  spoke  to  me  about 
obtaining  for  him  two  or  three  men  who  could  teach  his  people 
how  to  make  cannons,  muskets  and  shot,  and  how  to  melt  iron ; 
also  an  instructor  of  artillery.  He  said  he  wished  these  persons 
to  come  here  with  their  instruments  and  everything  necessaiy 
for  their  work,  and  after  they  had  taught  his  people  they  should 
be  allowed  to  return. 

"  His  Majesty  would  be  much  obliged  to  her  Majesty's  Govern- 
ment if  his  request  could  be  complied  with,  and  from  his  second 
letter  to  the  Queen,  which  I  inclose  herewith,  your  Lordship  will 
perceive  that  we  are  all  detained  in  this  country  for  the  present, 
for  friendship's  sake. 

"  I  should  be  obliged  if  her  Majesty's  Government  could  send 
me  100,000  percussion-caps  of  different  sizes,  a  few  double- 
barrelled  rifles  and  pistols,  some  gunpowder,  a  boat,  if  practi- 
cable, for  the  use  of  his  Majesty  on  the  Lake,  and  any  other  thing 
which  Mr.  Flad,  who  is  the  bearer  of  this  letter,  may  suggest. 

"  If  her  Majesty's  Government  are  able  to  send  the  persons  re- 
quired, it  is  necessary  that  they  should  be  informed  that  they 
will  be  required  to  remain  in  the  service  of  the  Emperor  at  least 
one  year,  and  that  no  European  articles  are  obtainable  here." 

With  regard  to  the  messenger,  I  left  the  selection  to  the 
King,  and  I  was  glad  to  find  that  he  chose  Mr.  Flad,  as 
I  knew  he  would  report  honestly  and  truthfully  all  that  had 
taken  place  between  me  and  the  King  since  my  first  recep- 
tion at  Court.  I  did  not  omit  to  request  Mr.  Flad  to  inform 
her  Majesty's  Government  of  the  restraint  under  which  I 
wrote  the  forcfjoiuff  letter. 

Before  writing  the  letter,  however,  I  asked  Aito  Samuel 
to  speak  to  the  King  about  the  unfriendly  course  be  was 


101  DISGRACE  OF  THE  MISSION.  Chap.  XVI. 

pursuing,  and  to  advise  him  to  allow  us  all  to  leave  the 
country ;  to  say,  also,  that  everything  lie  wanted  would  be 
attended  to.  His  answer  was,  that  I  ought  by  that  time  to 
know  the  King  well  enough  to  be  convinced  that  he  was  not 
a  man  to  listen  to  advice,  or  to  be  diverted  from  doing  what 
he  had  decided  upon,  whether  good  or  bad.  I  also  applied 
to  Mr.  Waldmcier  and  Mr.  Moritz  Hall,  who  were  then  in 
great  favour  with  his  Majesty,  on  the  same  subject ;  but  they 
agreed  with  Samuel  that  no  intervention  would  be  of  any 
avail. 

In  the  coiurse  of  the  day  the  King  sent  me  an  Abyssinian 
criminal  in  chains,  a  young  man  about  twenty  years  of  age, 
who  had  killed  his  own  mother  for  the  sake  of  plunder.  His 
Majesty  wished  me  to  hear  the  murderer's  confession  of  guilt, 
in  order  that  I  might  see  what  a  bad  set  of  people  he  had  to 
deal  with.  "  Were  I  to  order  this  wicked  man  to  be  ex- 
ecuted according  to  law  " —  such  was  the  conclusion  of  Theo- 
dore's message — "  some  of  the  Europeans  whom  I  have  made 
over  to  you  would  denounce  me  as  a  murderer."  By  the 
Abyssinian  code,  this  matricide  A\ould  have  been  mutilated 
and  his  remains  left  to  rot  above  ground ;  but  the  King 
ordered  him  to  be  shot,  and  his  body  to  be  interred.  Kot- 
withstandiug  all  the  cruelties  practised  by  Theodore,  he  was 
fur  more  lenient  in  his  judgments  than  the  Ftitteh-Negust,  or 
the  common  law  in  Abyssinia.  It  is  undeniable  that  he 
occasionally  sacriiiced  human  life  wholesale ;  nevertheless  he 
^^as  not  guilty  of  half  the  barbarities  of  Dajjaj  Oobe  or 
Sahela  Salasse,  the  old  king  of  Shoa.  Trior  to  Theodore's 
reign,  men  \\  ere  deprived  of  their  eyes,  tongues,  hands,  and 
other  members — to  say  nothing  of  still  more  horrible  tor- 
tures to  which  they  were  liable — for  slight  misdemeanours  ; 
whereas  I  beheve  a  traveller  might  go  through  the  length 


S66.  April.  THE  AITOS  ARRAIGNED.  105 

and  breadth  of  the  country  without  fiuding  a  single  instance 
of  such  mutilation  caused  by  Theodore. 

In  the  afternoon  we  moved  our  tents  within  the  fence 
which  had  been  erected  for  us  in  ^the  morning,  and  then 
the  rest  of  the  Europeans  were  brought  to  the  same  place. 
The  artisans  were  allowed  to  occupy  a  spot  at  the  outskii-ts. 

After  we  had  returned  to  our  tents,  the  Aitos  Samuel, 
Kasa  and  Wande  were  summoned  before  the  King  to  be 
tried  for  having  assisted  me  in  sending  letters  to  the  coast. 
The  two  last  were  the  first  to  be  arraigned.  Their  simple 
answer  was,  that  having  received  a  written  order  from  his 
Majesty  to  attend  to  my  wants  and  to  obey  any  instructions 
which  they  might  receive  from  me  through  Aito  Samuel, 
they  had  conformed  strictly  to  the  directions  of  his  Majesty's 
•confidential  Baldaraba. 

Samuel's  turn  came  next,  and  on  being  asked  whether  it 
Avas  true  that  he  had  told  those  merchants  to  find  messenfjers 
for  me,  and,  if  so,  how  he  dared  to  do  so  without  his  Majesty's 
permission,  he  replied  in  the  affirmative,  alleging  that  he  did 
not  think  there  was  any  harm  in  my  -writing  to  inform  my 
friends  in  England  of  the  release  of  the  captives,  and  of  his 
Majesty's  kindness  towards  me,  which  I  had  assured  him 
formed  the  contents  of  the  letters.  He  pleaded,  moreover, 
that  when  we  left  the  King  in  Ag6\vmeder,  his  Majesty  hud 
given  him  stringent  orders  to  obey  mo  in  everything,  and  to 
serve  me  as  a  slave. 

The  merchants  were  then  charged  with  having  supplied 
the  rebels  of  Gojjam  with  muskets.  This  they  indignantly 
denied,  as  being  two  of  In's  Majesty's  most  loyal  subjects ; 
whereupon  he  ordered  them  to  be  chained  by  the  hand  to 
a  couple  of  his  soldiers,  and  imposed  a  fine  upon  them  of 
20,000  dollars.     They  managed  to  scrape  together  a  moiety 


106  DISGRACE  OF  THE  MISSIOX.  Chap.  XYI. 

of  that  sum  by  the  sale  of  their  property,  but  the  King 
insisted  that  it  should  be  paid  in  full,  and,  to  that  end,  had 
them  subjected  to  torture.  By  borrowing  and  begging  they 
collected  a  little  more.  As  even  that  did  not  satisfy  the 
inexorable  tyrant,  he  resorted  to  the  rope.  Finding,  after 
subjecting  them  to  every  species  of  cruelty  for  several  months, 
that  nothing  more  could  be  extorted  from  'them,  he  left  them 
in  chains,  and  ultimately  sent  them  to  Magdala.  Aito  Kasa, 
who  was  really  a  good  man  and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him,  was  upwards  of  sixty  years  old. 

As  soon  as  Kantiba  Hailo  heard  that  I  was  to  be  detained, 
he  went  to  the  King  and  advised  him  to  send  me  away, 
telling  him  that  ten  thousand  men  would  be  a  less  formidable 
array  for  him  to  contend  against  than  my  tongue.  The  only  re- 
joinder he  received  was  this : — "  Aha !  I  know  now  that  you  are 
my  enemy  and  that  Mr.  Eassam  is  my  friend.  You  had  better 
hold  your  tongue,  you  old  fool,  and  go  away."  The  kind 
man  came  to  me  afterwards,  and  recommended  me  to  put 
the  best  face  upon  my  misfortunes ;  "  for,"  said  he,  "  you  can 
do  no  good  by  appearing  gloomy."  In  the  course  of  the 
evening,  Itamanyo,  the  favourite  Queen,  sent  me  a  similar 
message,  with  this  addition : — "  If  you  take  matters  cheerily, 
you  have  nothing  to  fear ;  everything  will  come  right  at  last^ 
for  the  King  really  loves  you."  The  disgrace  of  the  Mission 
was  also,  I  believe,  sincerely  deplored  by  the  European 
artisans,  especially  by  Mr.  Waldmeier  and  Mr.  Moritz  Hall — 
two  upright  men,  who  I  am  sure  would  have  done  their  best 
to  assist  us.  Unfortunately,  they  were  powerless  in  this 
instance  to  influence  the  perverse  Monarch. 


1866.  Apbil.  107 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

UNDER   AEEEST   AT   ZAGE. 

Presents  from  the  King  —  He  restores  our  confiscated  property  —  His 
studied  courtesy  —  Theodore  not  a  good  marksman  — "  Who  is  your 
father  ?  "  —  Our  Queen's  birthday  commemorated  by  the  King  — Another 
letter  from  Dr.  Beke  —  Theodore  kills  a  man  at  a  blow — Artillery 
practice  —  Theodore's  account  of  his  strategy  and  exploits  —  His  nimble- 
ness  —  His  cruelties  at  this  time  —  A  case  of  high  treason  —  "  Shrimps  " 
and  "  Bob  "  —  The  ItCge's  Mdrrjaf  —  The  peninsula  and  town  of  Zage 
—  Theodore's  "  imitation  of  a  steamer  "  —  A  native  Tournament. 

On  the  IStli  of  April  the  King  sent  the  presents  which  he 
had  intended  to  give  us  on  leaving  Abyssinia,  namely,  to  me, 
a  royal  saddle,  shield,  sword,  spear  and  armlet ;  and  a  shield, 
spear  and  armlet  to  each  of  my  companions.  Dr.  Blanc  and 
Lieutenant  Prideaux ;  also  a  first-rate  mule  for  each  of  us. 
(When  we  were  sent  to  Magdala  as  prisoners,  all  these  pre- 
sents were  taken  from  us,  excepting  the  armlets.)  That  day 
my  companions  and  I  went  out  for  a  ride,  as  we  were  told  it 
would  please  the  King.  The  Master  of  the  Horse  and  two 
other  officers  accompanied  us. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st,  the  day  Mr.  Plad  left  for 
England,  the  King  restored  all  our  arms  and  silver  trinkets  ; 
and  of  the  money  he  took  on  the  13th  of  April  he  sent  me  back 
1,000  dollars,  with  a  promise  that  he  would  soon  give  me  back 
the  whole,  and  present  my  companions  and  myself  with  the 
Order  of  the  "  Cross  and  Solomon's  Seal,"  the  decorations  of 
which  were  not  quite  ready.  Of  the  cash  which  was  taken 
from  the  other  captives  when  they  were  arrested  and  chained 


108  UNDER  ARREST  AT  ZAGfi.  Citap.  XYII. 

near  Koiita,  amounting  nearly  to  800  dollars,  lie  only  sent 
them  back,  through  me,  550  dollars,  which,  he  said,  was  all 
the  money  that  had  reached  him.  It  appears  that  the  soldiers 
who  carried  out  the  confiscation  had  not  forgotten  to  help 
themselves  on  the  occasion. 

As  the  King  wished  to  show  Mr.  Flad,  before  he  left  for 
Europe,  that  his  jMajesty  and  I  were  on  the  best  terms,  he 
came  to  pay  me  a  visit  just  before  that  gentleman  started ; 
and,  on  seeing  the  floor  of  my  tent  bare,  he  fetched  some 
carpets,  and  spread  them  himself  on  the  ground,  with  the 
assistance  of  Eas  I'ngada  and  Aito  Samuel.  He  afterwards 
sent  the  chief  minister  to  carpet  the  tents  of  Dr.  Blanc  and 
Lieutenant  Prideaux.  On  his  rising  to  depart,  I  asked  him 
if  he  would  allow  me  to  escort  him  as  far  as  his  house.  He 
immediately  advanced,  took  me  by  the  hand,  and  said,  "  Come 
on."  We  walked  together,  hand  in  hand,  all  the  way,  and 
the  Abyssiniaus  could  not  help  smiling  to  sec  the  Great 
Emperor  walking  as  a  bosom  friend  ^\ith  his  prisoner.  On 
going  out  of  the  inclosure  the  King  saw  one  of  the  Chiefs  of 
our  guard,  Eas  Wald-Maryam,  standing  at  attention;  his 
Majesty  stopped  and  asked  him  what  business  he  had  there. 
The  Chief  answering  that  he  was  keeping  guard,  he  said  to 
him,  "  "What !  you  are  watching  my  friend  Eassam  ?  Go  away 
at  once.  I  have  nothing  to  fear  from  him ; "  and  then, 
pointing  to  his  mouth,  lie  added,  "not  if  he  were  to  put  the 
muzzle  of  a  pistol  here." 

After  that  day  every  one  ^^"as  able  to  go  out  when  he  liked, 
either  walking  or  riding ;  but  I  was  not  allowed  to  move  a 
yard  without  some  oflicers  to  attend  me,  whom  the  King 
called  a  "  guard  of  honour."  Ultimately,  my  protectors  were 
reduced  to  the  Bahlaraba  and  the  Master  of  the  Horse. 

Soon   alter   Mv.   ]"lad's    departure,   tlie    King  presented 


186G.   April.  "WHO  IS  YOUR  FATHER?"  109' 

Dr.  Blanc,  Lieutenant  Prideaux  and  myself  with  a  tliorongli- 
bred  Galla  horse  each. 

The  King  became  more  afifectionate  in  his  manner  towards 
me  every  day,  taking  me  with  him  on  several  occasions  to 
shoot  hippopotami  at  one  of  their  favourite  haunts  on  tlic 
northern  extremity  of  the  Zage  peninsula,  where  the  southern 
side  of  the  Lake  takes  the  form  of  a  spacious  bay.  Twice 
he  left  me  alone  with  his  followers  to  try  my  luck,  while  he 
retired  into  the  thick  wood  to  pray,  as,  starting  from  home 
as  he  always  did  before  sunrise,  it  was  too  early  for  him  to 
repair  to  the  church.  He  was  by  no  means  a  good  shot,  and 
whenever  he  missed  he  always  abused  the  rifle,  saying, 
"Who  is  your  father?"  This,  one  of  the  most  offensive 
epithets  in  Abyssinia,  consists  of  two  words,  both  Semitic, — 
"  3Ian  abut  ?  " — and  is  addressed  indiscriminately  to  animate 
and  inanimate  objects.  A  native  almost  instinctively  uses  it 
to  a  stone  which  has  tripped  him,  or  to  a  troublesome  fly. 
Thus,  on  tlie  great  day  of  the  trial  at  Zage,  there  were  so 
many  flies  near  the  door  of  the  audience-hall  where  the  King- 
was  seated,  that  one  entered  the  royal  mouth  and  nearly 
choked  him.  On  ejecting  it,  he  vilified  the  hapless  insect 
by  the  usual  reflection  on  its  paternity.  Whenever  the 
question  is  asked,  no  abuse  being  intended,  the  words  arc 
transposed — the  noun  being  made  to  precede  the  pronoun, 
thus :  "  Abateh,  mannu  ?  " — "Your  father,  who  is  ho  ?"  Twice, 
at  Magdala,  I  inadvertently  used  the  wrong  phrase  when 
asking  whose  cliild  my  visitor  was.  The  Abyssinians,  who 
arc  generally  good-natured,  knowing  that  I  did  so  from 
ignorance  of  their  language,  could  not  help  bursting  out  into 
laughter  at  my  mistake. 

The  King,  having  heard  from  Samuel  tliat  tli<^  21th  of 
May  was  our  Queen's  birthday,  sent  to  me  in  the  morning 


110  UNDER  ABEEST  AT  ZAGfi.  Chap.  XVII. 

to  say  he  was  going  to  make  a  holiday  in  honour  of  Her 
Majesty,  and  that  he  had  ordered  all  his  people  to  be  merry. 
He  asked  me  to  give  him  permission  to  entertain  all  the 
servants  of  the  Europeans  who  were  with  me,  Indians  as 
well  as  Abyssinians.  There  was  nothing  but  feasting  the 
whole  day  in  our  establishment,  as  well  as  in  that  of 
the  King.  His  Majesty  having  learnt  also  that  it  was 
customary  in  our  country  to  fire  a  salute  on  this  anni- 
versary, ordered  that  the  same  form  should  be  observed. 
He  requested  me  to  take  all  my  fellow-Euro j)eans  do^Mi 
to  the  shore  of  the  Lake  to  witness  the  firing.  At  noon 
precisely  we  were  ready  on  the  sj)ot,  and  witnessed  the 
salute  of  twenty-one  guns  fired  "  in  honour  of  the  birthday 
of  the  great  Queen  of  England." 

On  the  27th,  another  messenger  arrived  with  a  letter  from 
Dr.  Beke,  dated  from  Halai,  to  the  address  of  the  King. 
His  Majesty  forwarded  the  letter  to  me  after  he  had  read  it, 
and  asked  me  to  reply  to  it.  I  sent  him  back  word  that 
it  was  not  customary  in  our  coimtry  to  answer  a  letter  which 
was  not  addressed  to  one's  self.  Next  day  he  sent  to  say 
that  as  I  objected  to  answer  Dr.  Beke  myself,  he  hoped  that 
I  would  get  his  Amharic  version  translated  into  English  for 
him.  Not  wisliing  to  annoy  the  King  by  refusing,  I  asked 
Lieutenant  Prideaux  to  do  so. 

Dr.  Beke  told  the  King  in  his  letter  that,  as  he  had  heard 
that  his  Majesty  had  graciously  released  the  captives,  he 
Avas  coming  up  to  thank  liim  for  his  act  of  clemency.  He 
also  informed  the  King  that  the  rebels  of  Tigre  had  im- 
prisoned him,  and  demanded  from  him  as  many  dollars  as 
there  were  stones  at  Halai,  and  as  much  powder  as  there  was 
dust.  He  asked  his  Majesty  to  send  and  have  him  released. 
Li  his   answer   Theodore   told  Dr.  Beke   that  ho   had  no 


1866.  Apktt.  THEODORE  KILLS  A  SUPPLIANT.  Ill 

business  to  penetrate  into  Abyssinia  witbout  bis  (tbe  King's) 
permission,  and  he  directed  bim  to  go  down  to  ]^Iasso^\ab 
and  await  there  until  further  orders.  He  would  not  see 
either  Dr.  Beke's  first  or  second  messenger,  and  both  were 
told  to  remain  in  our  encampment  imtil  they  were  dis- 
missed. 

Tbe  King  was  reported  to  be  very  much  out  of  temper 
this  morning,  and  while  in  that  mood  be  had  caused  tbe 
death  of  a  poor  peasant  who  bad  applied  to  him  for  justice 
in  the  matter  of  a  field  which  was  in  dispute  between  him 
and  one  of  bis  neighbours.  Tbe  appellant,  it  appears,  not 
hearing  distinctly  what  tbe  King  bad  said,  repeated  his 
question,  whereupon  bis  Majesty,  who  was  then  standing  in 
the  courtyard,  stooping  down,  seized  a  piece  of  a  rafter  about 
six  inches  long  and  five  in  diameter  and  felled  him  with  it 
to  the  groimd  with  one  fatal  blow.  Mr.  Bender  and  Mr. 
Moritz  Hall,  two  of  tbe  royal  artisans,  who  were  just  then 
paying  some  visits  within  our  fence,  were  summoned  before 
his  Majesty,  who  abruptly  asked  where  they  had  been 
prowling.  They  replied  that  they  bad  been  to  see  me,  which 
was  not  tbe  case,  as  they  had  not  entered  my  tent.  Mr. 
Moritz  Hall  told  me  tbe  story  laughingly,  stating  that  they 
'  were  in  too  great  dread  of  a  severe  rebuke  to  say  at  tbe  time 
that  they  had  been  calling  on  any  one  else. 

It  bad  previously  been  arranged  by  tbe  King  that  I  should 
accompany  him  this  same  morning  to  witness  some  practice 
from  a  three-pounder  gun  which  had  been  cast  at  Gafifut. 
When,  in  pursuance  of  this  arrangement,  Samuel  came  to 
take  me  and  my  companions  to  follow  his  ]\Iajesty,  he  could 
scarcely  walk  from  fear  of  meeting  bis  royal  master  in  his 
present  dangerous  mood ;  but  as  neither  be  nor  I  dared  to 
refuse,  Blanc,  Prideaux  and  I  donned  our  uniforms  and  set 


112  UNDER  ARREST  AT  ZAGE.  Chap.  XVIL 

ofl'.  Two  of  the  released  captives,  named  Kerans  and 
McKelvie,  both  Irishmen,  who  had  formerly  been  in  Consul 
Cameron's  employ,  the  former  as  secretary  and  the  latter 
as  a  servant,  had  already  volunteered  to  enter  the  royal 
service,  but  for  some  reason  or  other,  known  only  to  the 
King,  his  Majesty  had  declined  their  offer.  On  this  occasion, 
however,  he  sent  to  say  that  McKelvie,  who  had  informed 
him  that  he  was  au  artilleryman,  was  to  accompany  us. 
When  we  were  yet  full  half  a  mile  from  the  royal  cavalcade^ 
Samuel  advised  us  to  dismount.  We  did  so,  and  marched 
slo\\  ly  onward,  no  one  venturing  to  utter  a  word — not  unlike 
a  funeral  procession.  The  King,  who  had  an  eye  like  a 
haAvk,  on  seeing  that  we  had  arrived,  sent  to  bid  us  mount 
and  follow  him,  and  in  less  than  five  minutes  we  were  by  his 
side.  After  the  usual  inquiries  about  our  health,  which  he 
uttered  in  a  most  lugubrious  style,  as  if  he  had  just  been 
bereft  of  both  his  parents,  he  asked  me  where  he  should  post 
the  gun  for  practice  towards  the  Lake.  Being  altogether 
ignorant  of  gunnery,  I  referred  him  to  Messrs.  Moritz  Hall 
and  McKelvie,  who  were  walking  near  me.  Thereat  he 
looked  as  black  as  thunder — his  bare  reply  made  many  a  man 
quake  behind  me — and  said  peevishly  to  me,  "Never  mind 
Moritz  and  McKelvie :  I  want  you  to  indicate  the  site."  As 
soon  as  Samuel  translated  these  words  to  me,  I  pointed  out  a 
slight  rise  in  the  ground  a  little  in  advance  of  us,  where  the 
King  immediately  ordered  the  gun,  which  had  been  brought 
on  the  back  of  one  mule  and  the  carriage  on  another,  to  be 
put  together.  His  Majesty  then  retired  to  the  wood  to  pray 
for  about  half  an  hour;  on  his  return  he  looked  much  more 
placid,  and  began  to  relate  to  me  his  exploits  against  ''those 
infidel  Mohammedans,  the  Turks  and  Gallas."  He  told  me  that 
from  childhood  he  had  been  fond  of  artillery  practice,  and  that 


18GG.   April.  THEODORE'S  CIIUSADES.  113 

the  first  cannon  he  made  was  constructed  out  of  the  trunk  of 
a  tree,  bored,  and  bound  round  with  rings  of  iron.  To  charge 
it,  he  had  the  butt-end  fixed  in  the  ground,  and  after  it  was 
filled  with  powder  and  stone,  and  well  rammed  down,  he  fired 
it  against  the  infidels  by  means  of  a  train.  He  said,  also, 
that  he  had  been  addicted  to  using  mines  in  his  engagements 
with  the  Gallas,  believing  that  all  Mohammedans  deserved  to 
be  killed  and  sent  to  Gehenna  wholesale.  One  day  he  made  a 
formidable  mine,  which  he  intended  to  spring  when  the  Galla 
horse  advanced  to  the  attack,  but  one  of  his  disaifected  sub- 
jects had  apprised  the  enemy  of  tlie  design,  which  caused 
them  to  change  their  tactics.  He  had  also  employed  looking- 
glasses  to  dazzle  the  eyes  of  man  and  beast,  and  by  these 
and  other  stratagems  he  had  concluded  an  honourable  peace 
witli  tlie  Gallas,  after  having  obliged  them  to  pay  the  tribute 
■which  they  had  refused  to  his  forefathers  for  centuries. 
Wliile  on  the  expedition  referred  to,  a  Turk  of  high  rank 
was  seized  by  his  soldiers  and  taken  before  him,  and  on 
seeing  the  wretched  man,  he  said  to  him,  '*  So  you  have  come 
thus  fiir  to  fight  against  me !  Lut,  never  mind ;  as  you  are  a 
stranger  and  know  no  better,  I  will  do  you  no  harm.  There- 
upon," continued  his  Majesty,  "  I  sent  him  safely  to  the 
border,  telling  him  to  go  home,  and  not  to  let  me  behold  his 
face  again."  The  King  was  highly  excited  while  relating 
these  adventures  to  mo,  and  every  one  was  delighted  that  lie 
seemed  so  fully  absorbed  by  his  subject. 

Although  j\[('Kelvio  had  offered  his  services  to  his  ]\Injesty 
as  a  skilled  artilleryman,  and  he  had  been  specially  ordered 
to  attend  on  this  occasion,  he  was  not  called  upon  to  assist 
in  any  way,  th<!  entire  management  of  the  gun  being  left 
to  I\[r.  ]\roritz  Hall.  His  practice  was  so  successful  that 
the  King  rushed  upon  him  in  an  ecstasy  of  delight,  kissjing 

VOL.  II.  I 


114  UNDER  ARREST  AT  ZAGE.  Chap.  XVII. 

his  head  and  calling  him  his  "pet  son."  '(In  less  than 
a  year  afterwards  this  same  Moritz  Hall,  than  whom  none  of 
the  other  Europeans  served  Theodore  more  faithfully,  was, 
out  of  sheer  caprice  on  the  part  of  his  ungrateful  employer, 
dragged  in  foot-  and  hand-  chains  for  nearly  six  months 
between  Debra  Tabor  and  Magdala.)  The  artillery  practice 
ended,  his  Majesty  asked  me  to  follow  him  to  a  rocky  part 
near  the  Lake,  to  shoot  at  the  ducks  and  geese  which  frequent 
the  beach,  presenting  me  at  the  same  time  with  a  fowling- 
piece,  which  he  thought  better  than  my  own.  We  had  not 
proceeded  more  than  a  hundred  yards  when  he  called  my 
attention  to  a  flying  goose.  I  accordingly  fired,  and  must 
have  winged  the  bird,  for  it  could  not  fly,  but  was  swimming 
as  fast  as  it  was  able  towards  the  open  Lake.  Not  wishing 
to  lose  the  prize,  I  commenced  running  over  the  rough 
ground,  and,  on  placing  my  foot  on  a  smooth  rock,  slipped 
and  fell.  The  King  was  by  my  side  in  a  moment,  and  raising 
me  by  one  arm  said,  in  Arabic,  "Else,  my  son,  and  take 
heart ;  may  your  enemies  die  in  your  stead !  "  It  was  mar- 
vellous to  see  with  what  dexterity  his  Majesty  jumped  from 
one  rock  to  another,  never  tripping  and  never  seemingly 
deterred  by  the  sharp  stones,  though  he  was  barefooted.  He 
then  proceeded  to  shoot  vultures — a  sure  sign,  so  Samuel 
informed  me,  that  he  was  out  of  temper.  Betaking  himself 
to  "  sleep,"  or  scourging  and  ruthlessly  shedding  of  blood, 
were  other  well-known  symptoms  of  his  being  in  an  angry 
mood.  In  fact,  during  this  period,  the  King  perpetrated 
some  fearful  deeds  of  cruelty,  causing  several  Chiefs  and  also 
a  lady  of  rank  to  be  flogged  to  death  a  few  yards  from  our 
inclosure.  I  was  generally  out  riding  when  these  tragedies 
were  jjerformed,  and  only  heard  of  them  on  my  return.  The 
fence  round  our  camp  was  so  loosely  constructed  that  every- 


1866.  April.  A  LADY  SCOURGED.  115 

thing  wliicli  took  place  on  the  opposite  side  could  be  dis- 
tinctly seen  through  it.  Unfortunately  for  her,  Mrs.  Eosen- 
thal's  tent  was  nearest  to  the  spot  where  these  horrible  scenes 
occurred,  so  that  she  could  hear  every  Jash  as  it  descended  on 
the  body  of  the  writhing  sufferers.  When  the  King  was  about 
to  commit  one  of  these  outrages,  the  Master  of  the  Horse 
generally  came  to  me  beforehand  and  suggested  that  I 
should  take  a  ride,  under  the  plea  that  his  Majesty  would 
be  pleased  to  know  that  I  was  enjoying  myself.  On  one 
occasion,  on  our  return  from  a  short  excursion,  the  same 
official,  hearing  the  lash  going,  told  me  to  proceed  at  a  slow 
pace,  as  it  was  not  desirable  that  we  should  enter  the  royal 
Court  while  the  King  was  holding  an  assize  in  the  inclosure. 
We  accordingly  took  another  turn,  and  reached  our  own 
camp  just  as  the  King  had  inflicted  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  lashes  with  an  Abyssinian  whip,  called  a  jerdf,  on  a 
young  lady  of  noble  birth,  because  she  had  not  given  due 
notice  that  her  husband  intended  to  desert  and  join  the 
rebels  in  Gojjam.  The  poor  creature  swore  that  she  was 
utterly  ignorant  of  her  husband's  plans  until  the  day  after 
his  desertion,  and  appealed  to  the  generosity  of  her  inexor- 
able judge  not  to  punish  her  for  the  sake  of  a  man  whose 
very  desertion  proved  that  he  did  not  care  for  her.  "  Throw 
her  down;  by  my  death,  scourge  her!"  was  the  only  reply 
to  her  earnest  pleadings.  Twice,  while  I  was  in  our  camp, 
he  held  a  Court  to  try  officers  charged  with  high  treason, 
but  on  neither  of  these  occasions  was  the  sentence  of  the 
lash  awarded.  The  victims  were  ordered  to  be  stripped 
naked  and  left  day  and  night  in  the  open  air,  in  the  market- 
place, for  the  space  of  a  fortnight,  loaded  with  chains  and 
with  a  heavy  beam,  branching  out  at  one  end  like  a  yoke, 
affixed  to  their  necks.     On  one  of  these  trials  he  sent  to 

I  2 


IIG  UNDER  ARREST  AT  ZAG£.  Chap.  XVIL 

request  that  I  would  depute  one  of  my  followers  to  be 
present,  in  order  that  I  might  be  convinced  what  atrocious 
subjects  he  had.  The  case  was  one  of  high  treason,  and 
the  accuser  a  notorious  tool  of  the  King's,  named  Bit- 
waddad  Tadla,  a  Chief  of  Bagameder,  the  man  who  was 
sent  to  arrest  Consul  Cameron  and  liis  party  on  their  way 
to  the  coast  from  Korata,  and  who  eventually  took  us 
prisoners  to  i\ragdala.  His  solitary  witness  was  one  of 
his  own  servants,  who  could  only  swear  that  he  once  saw 
the  arraigned  whisper  in  his  master's  ear,  but  did  not  know 
what  he  said.  The  charge  was,  that  the  accused,  who  was 
also  a  Bagameder  Chief,  had  endeavoured  to  induce  Bitwaddad 
Tadla  to  desert  with  him,  and  to  stir  up  the  peasantry 
of  that  district  against  the  King,  and  that  he,  Bitwaddad 
Tadla,  should  be  acknowledged  as  their  Chief.  The  evidence 
adduced  was  considered  sufficient  to  condemn  the  unfortunate 
man,  and  when  sentence  was  passed  upon  him,  his  Majesty 
bade  my  interpreter  come  and  inform  me  what  a  treasonable 
set  of  people  he  had  to  deal  with. 

One  day  the  King  took  it  into  his  head  to  direct  that  all 
the  great  Chiefs,  from  the  Eases  downwards,  should  dismount 
on  meeting  me,  and  stand  still  to  receive  my  salutation,  if 
they  happened  to  be  walking.  This  despotic  order  was  as 
disagreeable  to  me  as  to  the  Chiefs;  nevertheless  we  were 
obliged  to  submit :  they  in  obedience  to  the  Sovereign,  and  I, 
to  do  liDnc^nr  to  his  Majesty  through  them,  had  also  to 
dismount  when  they  did. 

It  having  been  reported,  on  his  own  authority,  that  M. 
Bardcl  had  been  released  and  taken  again  into  the  royal 
favour,  specially  in  order  that  he  might  translate  to  the 
King  certain  letters  and  books,  taken  from  the  captives, 
which  wcYG  known  to   bo  in  his  Majesty's  possession,  and 


1866.  April.  THE  QUEEN'S  ROBE.  117 

as  M.  Bardel's  friend,  I'ngada  Wark,  was  in  constant  com- 
munication with  M.  Macraire,  Consul  Cameron's  French, 
servant,  we  agreed  to  call  M.  Bardel  '•  Shrimps,"  lest  any 
of  his  intimates  should  overhear  and  report  that  we  had  been 
talking  about  him.  The  King  we  nicknamed  "  Bob,"  for  the 
same  reason.  In  fact,  we  were  obliged  to  exercise  the  greatest 
caution  in  our  conversation  during  the  whole  time  of  our 
detention  at  Zage.  I  am  bound,  however,  to  mention  here 
that  M.  Bardel  promised  not  to  translate  correctly  to  the 
King  any  passages  wliich  might  prove  injurious  to  the  cap- 
tives. At  this  same  period  the  King  himself  was  unre- 
mitting in  his  attentions  to  the  Mission.  On  one  occasion 
he  sent  us  twenty  shdmmas  as  bedding,  and  three  mdrgafs — 
the  latter  an  Abyssinian  cotton  robe,  worked  with  silk  instead 
of  twist — because  he  feared  that,  as  the  rainy  season  had  set 
in,  we  might  feel  the  cold.  The  mdrgaf  intended  for  me  he 
had  taken  from  the  Queen's  person,  Itamanyo,  the  same 
evening,  and  the  message  which  accompanied  it  was  as 
follows : — "  I  hope  that  after  to-day,  when  you  go  out  riding, 
you  will  wear  it,  because  the  ignorant  Abyssinians  consider 
that  a  man  is  naked  unless  he  wears  a  shdmma  or  a  mdrgaf, 
and  I  wish  you  to  look  well  when  you  go  abroad ;  but  if  you 
will  not  wear  it  for  my  sake,  I  hope  you  will  do  so  for  the 
sake  of  the  Itege,  from  whom  I  have  taken  it  to  send  to 
you."  In  my  reply,  I  thanked  his  Majesty  for  the  honour 
he  had  done  me,  and  also  for  his  kind  thought  for  us ;  at  the 
same  time,  I  begged  to  be  excused  wearing  a  dress  to  whicli 
I  was  unaccustomed,  and  one  which  was  unsuited  to  me 
as  a  servant  of  the  British  Queen,  assuring  him,  however, 
that  in  any  other  way  I  should  bo  delighted  to  please  him  to 
the  best  of  my  ability ;  tliat  I  should  not  value  the  mdrgaf 
tlie  less  because  I  did  not  wear  it ;  and  that  I  should  care- 


lis  UNDER  AEREST  AT  ZAG^fi.  Chap.  XVII. 

fully  treasure  it  in  remembrance  of  the  King  and  his  favourite 
consort.*  This  message,  I  was  glad  to  find,  was  well  received, 
for  he  sent  back  word  immediately  that  I  might  wear  the 
robe  or  not,  just  as  I  pleased.  In  reality,  there  would  have 
been  no  disgrace  in  our  assuming  the  robe ;  on  the  contrary, 
the  King  was  justified  in  saying  that  we  should  have  been 
regarded  with  greater  respect  by  the  common  people.  On 
the  other  hand,  however,  had  I  consented  to  wear  it,  my 
companions  would  have  been  obliged  to  follow  my  example, 
and  there  are  so  many  formalities  attached  to  the  mode  of 
wearing  this  garment  that,  situated  as  we  were,  the  guests 
of  the  King  and  inmates  of  the  royal  camp,  the  least  breach 
of  etiquette — such  as  wearing  it  round  the  body  instead  of 
over  or  below  the  right  or  left  shoulder — might  have  subjected 
the  innocent  culprit  to  a  beating,  or  to  a  severe  reprimand 
from  the  King.  His  Majesty  always  held  his  Court  on  the 
outside  of  an  inclosure  which  had  been  erected  for  the 
purpose  within  the  yard  of  the  royal  precincts,  so  that  any 
one  passing  to  or  from  our  quarter  must  needs  be  seen  by 
the  King,  who  was  generally  squatting  on  a  small  platform 
raised  above  the  hedge  surrounding  his  residence. 

My  usual  ride,  during  our  stay  at  Zage,  was  to  the  church 
situated  on  the  summit  of  the  peninsula,  about  fifteen  hun- 
dred feet  above  the  Lake,  and  a  mile  and  a  half  from  our 
camp.  There  was  always  a  delicious  breeze  there,  and  the 
scenery  of  the  neighbourhood  is  magnificent.  Zage  was 
formerly  one  of  the  largest  and  wealthiest  towns  in  Abys- 
sinia, and  consisted  of  as  many  as  two  thousand  houses,  or 
huts,  spread  over  the  peninsula,  which  is  about  three  miles 
in  length  and  two  in  breadth.     Every  hut  was   detached, 


*  This  robe  has  been  leut  to  the  Managers  of  the  Crystal  Palace  for 
public  exliibition. 


18G6.  Apeil.  the  ZAG£  PENINSULA.  119 

with  ground  sm-rounding  it  for  cultivation.  The  locality  was 
famous  for  the  growth  of  coffee,  and  also  for  the  plant  called 
Gesho,  the  leaf  of  which  is  used  for  fermenting  Uj  and  beer. 
It  is  both  bitter  and  pungent.  "WTien  the  King  destroyed 
the  flourishing  district  of  IMetcha,  of  which  it  is  the  capital, 
Zage  shared  in  the  common  disaster;  but  when  he  visited 
the  place  in  February  he  determined  to  consummate  its  ruin. 
On  the  pretext  that  the  priests  had  supplied  the  rebels  of 
Gojjam  with  arms,  he  imposed  a  fine  upon  the  inhabitants 
which  he  knew  full  well  they  were  unable  to  pay,  and  when 
the  clergy  pleaded  that  they  themselves  were  starving  for 
want  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  he  ordered  his  troops  to  sack 
the  place,  and  to  level  every  hut  to  the  ground — the  timber 
of  which  they  were  directed  to  use  as  fuel — so  that  the  un- 
fortunate residents  might  be  deprived  of  shelter.  In  less 
than  two  hours  not  a  house  was  left  standing,  and  hundreds 
of  women  and  children  were  driven  to  beg  their  bread,  with 
hardly  a  rag  to  cover  them.  The  men  were  allowed  the 
option  either  of  entering  the  royal  service  or  going  wherever 
they  pleased.  The  latter  alternative  was  a  sheer  mockery, 
as  it  was  well  known  that  the  guards  at  the  outposts  were 
directed  to  seize  all  who  left  the  camp,  and  that  a  cruel 
death  awaited  them.  Even  when  we  were  there,  although 
all  the  dwellings  had  been  destroyed,  the  whole  peninsula 
was  thickly  wooded  with  the  coffee  plant,  the  geslio,  and  a 
variety  of  other  indigenous  trees.  It  is  certainly  a  charming 
locality,  and,  blessed  with  a  good  government,  Zago  might 
in  a  few  years  become  the  centre  of  a  flourishing  and  remune- 
rative trade ;  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  many  other 
equally  eligible  places  in  Abyssinia  proper.  The  King  had 
declared  that  he  intended  to  make  Zago  his  new  capital ; 
but,  like  many  other  projects  of  a  similar  nature,  he  never 


120  UXI>ER  AEREST  AT  ZAG£.  Chap.  XYIL 

attempted  to  carry  it  out.  He  did  indeed  erect  a  great 
number  of  large  rooms,  in  the  ordinary  Abyssinian  style,  and 
on  our  first  going  to  Zage,  subsequent  to  our  disgrace,  he 
talked  of  building  us  huts  for  the  winter,  but  finding  the 
place  somewhat  imhealthy  he  abandoned  the  idea  of  spending 
the  rainy  season  there.  For  nearly  a  month  he  was  engaged 
in  building  what  he  called  an  imitation  of  a  steamer.  Twa 
large  boats,  sixty  feet  long  and  twenty  wide,  midships,  with 
wooden  decks,  and  a  couple  of  wheels  affixed  to  the  sides  of 
each,  to  be  turned  by  a  handle  like  that  attached  to  a  com- 
mon gi-indstone,  were  accordingly  constructed ;  but  although 
nearly  a  hundred  men  were  taken  on  board,  tlie  wheels  were 
only  immersed  about  four  inches.  The  day  they  were 
launched,  he  invited  the  members  of  the  Mission  to  witness 
the  experiment,  and  the  vessel  in  which  he  had  embarked 
luoved  so  rapidly  after  the  bulrushes  had  got  well  soaked,, 
which  made  it  subside  deeper  into  the  water,  that  he  seemed 
almost  frantic  with  joy,  whilst  the  natives  looked  on  with 
admiring  wonder.  He  did  not  take  us  with  him  on  the  trial 
trip  because,  as  he  sent  to  tell  us,  he  feared  the  boat  might 
sink  so  deep  that  we  should  get  wet.  He  proceeded  to  try 
how  the  vessel  would  behave  against  the  wind,  and  on  round- 
ing the  peninsula  encountered  a  strong  breeze,  which  soon 
convinced  him  of  the  futility  of  his  attempt.  The  incon- 
gruous materials  of  which  the  bt)at  was  constructed,  one 
elastic  and  the  other  the  opposite — no  effort  having  been 
made  to  ensure  an  equal  pressure  upon  them  from  without — 
began  to  give  way  after  a  little  tossing,  and  his  Majesty 
deemed  it  prudent  to  return  as  speedily  as  possible  to  the 
smooth  water  in  the  bay.  From  tliat  time  he  appears  to 
liave  abandoned  all  idea  of  building  a  royal  navy  for  the 
liuke  of  Dumbca. 


18CC.   April.  A  Js'ATlYE  TOUENAMEXT.  121 

On  another  occasion  be  invited  the  members  of  the  Mission 
to  witness  the  national  pastime,  called  "  Giiks  " — a  kind  of 
tournament,  in  which  he  himself  was  to  play  a  part.  On  our 
approach  he  left  the  field  and  came  forward  to  welcome  us ; 
then,  placing  ns  in  a  convenient  spot,  he  ordered  his  pages  to 
.spread  their  shdmmas  on  the  ground  for  us  to  sit  upon,  and 
left  Eas  Adilo,  of  YadjoAv,  with  us  as  a  guard  of  honour, 
saying  as  he  returned  to  the  arena  that  he  hoped  we  should 
enjoy  the  spectacle.  Theodore  himself  opened  the  joust  on 
horseback,  but  whotlier  or  not  because  they  were  pitted 
against  the  Sovereign,  the  feigned  antagonists  soon  gave  way 
before  him  and  his  party,  who  always  came  off  victorious. 
Reeds  were  used  instead  of  spears,  and  I  noticed  that  the 
King  made  frequent  jocular  thrusts  with  this  harmless 
Aveapon  at  his  favourite  warriors.  When  tired  of  riding,  his 
Majesty  dismounted,  and  ordered  a  sham  fight  on  foot.  This 
was  certainly  a  wild  and  picturesque  sight.  Hundreds  of 
gaily-dressed  soldiers  entered  tlie  lists  with  silver  shields  and 
glittering  spears.  The  King  chooses  his  party  at  random, 
and  the  officer  on  whom  the  high  honour  is  conferred  of 
coping  with  his  Majesty  does  the  same.  When  the  opposing 
combatants  are  fully  arrayed,  about  one  hundred  yards  from 
each  other,  the  side  which  represents  the  King's  enemies  is 
allowed  to  attack  first.  They  rush  to  the  onset  with  a  loud 
yell,  the  royal  party  remaining  in  the  mean  time  on  the  de- 
fensive. When  tlie  combatants  meet  hand  to  hand,  a  general 
outburst  of  screams  and  whoops  ensues,  intermingled  with 
snatches  of  the  native  war-sonjr  and  the  rinjjin":  of  the  butt- 
end  of  lances  on  each  others'  shields — sucli  a  clash  as  baffles 
description.  The  King  seemed  to  surpass  all  the  rest  in  the 
agility  of  his  movements  and  his  dexterity  in  the  use  of 
th<'  lance,  and  wherever  ho  appeared  in  person  his  adver- 


122  UNDER  ARREST  AT  ZAG£.  Chap.  XVII. 

saries  gave  way,  until  at  length  the  royalists  remained  masters 
of  the  field.  I  could  not  help  deploring  on  this  occasion  that 
Theodore,  who  had  so  many  qualities  calculated  to  make 
him  the  idol  of  his  people,  and  especially  of  his  army,  should 
possess  those  qualities  in  conjunction  with  other  characteristics 
which  neutralized  his  influence  for  good,  and  rendered  him 
the  scourge  of  his  subjects.  On  rejoining  us  he  addressed 
me  as  follows  : — "  I  hope,  Mr.  Eassam,  you  do  not  laugh  at 
us  for  amusing  ourselves  in  this  barbarous  style.  Oh !  how 
I  long  to  see  your  way  of  fighting."  To  this  polite  speech  I 
replied  that  it  would  be  altogether  unbecoming  in  me  to 
ridicule  the  usages  of  other  nations.  Every  country  had  its 
peculiar  mode  of  warfare,  and  his  feelings,  I  was  sure,  were 
reciprocated  by  many  in  England,  who  would  have  been 
delighted  to  witness  what  we  had  seen  that  day.  We  rode 
back  together,  and  on  entering  the  royal  courtyard  the  King 
dismounted  and  insisted  on  escorting  me  to  my  tent.  On 
reaching  it  I  said,  "  Now,  as  your  Majesty  has  done  me  this 
honour,  I  cannot  allow  you  to  proceed  to  your  residence 
without  accompanying  you  thither ;  and  I  beg  you  will  grant 
me  that  favour."  He  laughed  heartily  at  this,  and  remarked 
that  if  I  went  with  him  he  must  needs  return  with  me  again, 
and  our  mutual  civility  would  be  endless;  "but,  never 
mind,"  he  added,  "  I  shall  not  vex  you  by  refusing  your 
request  to  accompany  me  home." 


186G.  May.  DEPARTURE  FROM  ZAGE.  123 


CHAPTEE   XVIII. 

FROM  ZAGE  TO  DEBRA  TABOR. 

Departure  from  Zage  in  rear  of  the  royal  troops  —  Theodore's  courtesy  and 
remorse  —  We  cross  the  Abai  —  The  King's  fickleness  —  Arrival  at 
Korata  —  Cholera  in  the  royal  camp  —  Start  foi  Debra  Tabor  —  The 
Mission  accompanies  the  King  to  Gaffat  —  Theodore  and  taxation  — 
Abyssinian  etiquette  in  drinking  —  The  European  artisans  reach  Gaifat 
from  Korata  —  Theodore  handles  a  broom  —  Loses  his  centre  of  gravity 
—  The  Mission"  and  Captives  at  Gaffat  —  The  King  pays  the  Author  a 
visit  and  sips  Hennessy's  brandy  —  Claims  Alexander  the  Great  as  well 
as  Solomon  as  his  progenitor  —  Abyssinian  hagiogi-aphy  —  Theodore  and 
the  Bible  —  The  Author  arraigned  again  on  fresh  charges  —  The  old 
charges  against  Consul  Cameron  and  Messrs.  Rosenthal  and  Stern  re- 
jxated  —  Theodore  suspects  our  Government  —  Dr.  Beke's  movements  — 
The  King  detains  the  Author  at  Debra  Tabor  —  Tame  lions  —  Trial  of  a 
Chief  for  high  treason. 

At  the  end  of  May,  Zage  began  to  be  unhealthy,  owing  to 
the  rain  that  had  fallen  during  that  month.  Consul  Cameron 
and  Mrs.  Kosenthal  having  suffered  from  the  effects  of  the 
climate,  I  asked  the  King  to  allow  them  to  go  to  Korata 
for  change  of  air.  I  also  obtained  permission  for  Mr.  Rosen- 
thal to  go  with  his  wife,  and  for  Dr.  Blanc  to  accompany 
them  as  medical  attendant.  The  King  had  been  tliinking  of 
moving  his  camp  to  Korata  from  the  beginning  of  May  ;  but 
for  some  cause  or  other  he  had  delayed  his  departure  until 
cholera  and  typhus  fever  broke  out  simultaneously  amongst 
his  troops.  By  the  time  he  began  to  move,  about  one 
hundred  persons  were  dying  daily  in  camp.  The  King 
had  already  sent  his  female  establishment  by  water  to  Korata, 
retaining    only   his    favourite    wife,   the    Itege    Itanianyo, 


124  FROM  ZAGfi  TO  DEBRA  TABOE.      Cuap.  XVIII. 

to  keep  liim  company.  At  noon  on  the  Cth,  the  King 
gave  orders  for  his  troops  to  march  towards  Korata,  round 
the  southern  extremity  of  the  Lake,  and  appointed  Infaraz, 
about  six  miles  from  Zage,  to  be  the  halting-phice  for  the 
night.  He  himself,  "\\ith  the  Itege,  went  thither  by  water. 
Prideaux,  the  rest  of  our  European  party  and  myself  were 
left  to  bo  escorted  by  Eas  I'ngada  and  a  cavalcade  of 
other  Chiefs.  The  King  actually  stood  on  the  shore  that 
day  to  superintend  the  embarkation  of  our  luggage, 
and  ho  would  not  start  until  he  was  told  that  everything 
had  been  dispatched.  At  1  p.m.  Ras  I'ngada  was  ready 
for  us,  and  forthwith  we  accompanied  him  on  our  journey. 
AVe  reached  Infaraz  after  two  hours'  slow  march.  The 
King  had  also  just  arrived,  and  on  hearing  of  our  presence 
he  sent  a  Eas  and  two  Dajazmatshes  with  their  men  to  pitch 
our  tents.  Being  in  very  good  spirits  just  then,  he  even 
ordered  Mr.  Stern's  tent  to  be  put  up  by  an  officer  of  high 
rank.  An  hour  afterwards  he  sent  us  two  very  large  boa- 
constrictors,  each  about  fifteen  feet  long,  which  had  been 
killed  by  his  soldiers  in  the  wood  close  by,  and  asked  if  we 
had  any  like  them  in  our  country. 

In  the  evening  the  King  sent  to  tell  me  that  he  could  not 
sleep  the  previous  night  from  thinking  about  the  unfortunate 
day  on  which  he  had  arrested  me  and  my  companions  (he 
alluded  to  the  13th  April).  He  said,  "I  have  in  my  time 
killed  hundreds  of  people,  but  I  liavo  never  had  a  feeling  of 
remorse  fur  their  death,  because  I  knew  I  was  doing  the 
will  of  my  Creator  in  punisliing  them  as  they  deserved  ;  but 
with  regard  to  yourself,  I  feel  that  I  have  done  you  wrong, 
and  my  conscience  lias  suffered  ever  since." 

Early  the  next  morning,  17th  June,  we  heard  that  the 
(diolera  had  made  great  havoc  during  the  night  in  the  camp. 


18C6.  June.  CHOLEEA  IN  CAMP.  Uo 

and  that  500  persons  had  been  attacked,  most  of  whom  had 
died. 

When  we  began  to  move,  soon  after  sunrise,  it  was  obvious, 
from  the  litters  which  we  observed  borne  by  soldiers  on  all 
sides,  that  a  great  epidemic  must  have  broken  out  amongst 
the  troops.  The  King  marched  in  front,  and  after  we  had 
gone  on  about  an  hour  we  came  to  a  standstill,  as  his  3Iajesty 
had  stopped  and  was  waiting  for  something.  As  soon  as  we 
reached  the  royal  body-guard,  a  messenger  came  to  Aito 
Samuel  and  said  that  liis  ]\Iajesty  wished  to  see  me.  I  imme- 
diately went  to  him  with  Lieutenant  Prideaux.  We  found 
him  sitting  on  a  stone,  and  when  he  saw  us  he  looked  per- 
plexed and  seemed  at  a  loss  what  to  say.  He  rose  and 
asked  Samuel  by  whose  orders  he  had  brought  us.  It  turned 
out  that  the  messenger  had  given  Samuel  a  wrong  message  ; 
nevertheless,  his  3Iajesty  asked  us  to  sit  down.  After  he  had 
inquired  after  our  health,  he  told  mc  that  in  consequence  of 
the  number  of  sick  amongst  his  troops,  he  was  obliged  to 
remain  behind  and  see  that  all  the  sufferers  were  well 
attended  to,  and  that  I  had  better  go  on  in  front  \Nith  my 
European  party.  AVe  then  went  on,  crossed  the  Abai  about 
10  o'clock,  and  arrived  at  our  halting-place,  Gadiro,  at  IToO. 
The  King  did  not  arrive  till  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
He  sent  me  no  compliments,  as  he  usually  did  on  arriving 
from  a  journey,  which  seemed  to  me  strange.  At  six  o'clock 
ho  summonod  Aito  Samuel,  and,  after  a  short  time,  sent 
him  back  with  Wald-Gabir,  with  an  indignant  message  to  the 
effect  that  my  companion  and  I  had  insulted  him  that  day 
before  all  his  people,  by  coming  on  without  the  horses 
which  ho  had  presented  to  us.  I  answered,  that  we  should 
not  think  of  insulting  even  a  servant  of  the  King,  much 
less  his   3Iajesty.      With   regard    to   the   groundless   com- 


126  FROM  ZAG£  TO  DEBRA  TABOE.      Chap.  XVIII. 

plaint,  I  said  that  liis  Majesty  must  be  aware  that  although 
he  had  presented  me  and  my  companions  with  horses  and 
mules,  yet  we  had  never  had  them  in  our  possession,  and 
they  had  always  been  in  charge  of  the  Master  of  the  Horse ; 
that  we  had  only  got  them  when  lie  chose  to  give  them  to 
us  to  ride;  and  that  I  had  been  informed  such  was  his 
Majesty's  order;  how,  therefore,  could  he  say  that  I  had 
insulted  him  by  not  taking  the  horses  with  us,  when  the 
King  himself  had  told  us  to  go  on  in  front  ? 

When  a  great  man  travels  in  xVbyssinia,  as  I  have  already 
had  occasion  to  remark,  he  generally  rides  a  mule  for  ease, 
and  has  his  richly-caparisoned  horse  led  behind  or  in  front 
of  him.  When  the  King  presented  my  companions  and 
myself  with  the  horses,  he  sent  to  say  that  as  we  had  no 
proper  stable  for  them  he  would  keep  them  for  us,  but  we 
might  send  for  them  whenever  we  wanted  them.  On  that 
occasion,  when  the  King  told  us  in  the  morning  to  go  on  in 
front,  he  himself  sent  for  our  mules,  as  we  had  to  go  before 
him  on  foot ;  and  it  was  he  who  ought  to  have  ordered  the 
borses  to  follow  us.  I  have  described  this  affair  so  minutely, 
because  I  wish  to  show  how  fickle  and  unreasonable  Theodore 
was.  One  day  he  sends  to  say,  that  he  could  not  sleep  the 
night  before,  because  liis  late  ill-treatment  of  me  had  troubled 
his  conscience  ;  and  the  next  he  asks,  in  an  angry  tone,  why  I 
had  insulted  him,  when  I  was  all  the  while  doing  my  best 
to  gratify  and  to  act  courteously  towards  him. 

Aito  Samuel  and  Wald-Gabir  carried  my  reply  to  the 
King,  and,  after  a  little  reflection,  his  Majesty  sent  to  say 
that  I  ought  not  to  take  the  message  he  had  sent  me  to 
heart ;  that  he  was  quite  certain  I  would  never  do  anything 
to  annoy  him  ;  that  all  the  misunderstanding  had  originated 
witli  my  Baklaraba,  Aito  Samuel,  and  Balambaras  Tasamma, 


1866.  June.  THEODORE'S  FICKLENESS.  127 

the  Ma.stor  of  the  Horse.  "  Had  I  knoN\Ti,"  he  concluded, 
"  that  you  woukl  not  bo  angry  with  me  for  it,  I  would  have 
given  them  both  a  severe  flogging."  He  then  requested 
that  thenceforward  I  should  order  the  Master  of  the  Hoi-se, 
or  any  other  royal  groom,  to  do  what  I  wanted ;  and  that  I 
sliould  reckon  them  in  future  as  my  own  servants.  He  said 
that  the  horses  must  always  be  led  before  us,  and  that 
I  ought  never  to  ride  any  saddle  but  the  gold  one  which 
lie  had  given  me,  in  order  that  when  the  Abyssinians  saw 
me  they  might  know  at  once  that  I  was  the  servant  of  the 
great  Queen  of  England,  and  the  friend  and  guest  of  the 
Emperor  of  Ethiopia.  I  tlien  asked  the  King  to  forgive 
the  Master  of  the  Horse  and  Aito  Samuel  for  my  sake,  and 
he  afterwards  sent  them  to  thank  me  for  having  interceded 
for  them. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  that  Theodore's  out- 
bursts of  affection  and  anger  were  like  those  of  a  spoilt  child, 
or  of  a  madman.  The  only  way  I  could  get  on  with  him  at 
all  was  by  humouring  him. 

The  unfortunate  Master  of  the  Horse  above  referred  to 
was  put  into  chains  a  few  months  afterwards  for  having  lost 
one  of  the  royal  mules,  and  forwarded  on  to  Magdala,  with 
other  Chiefs,  when  the  King  was  approaching  that  fortress. 
On  the  8th  of  April,  18G8,  he  was  unfettered,  together  witli 
six  other  prisoners ;  and  when  the  attack  was  made  on  our 
advanced  guard,  on  the  afternoon  of  Good  Friday,  he  was  one 
of  those  ordered  to  join  in  it  NNitli  spear  and  shield,  accom- 
panied by  about  one  hundred  comrades,  of  whom  not  a  man 
returned.  The  poor  fellow  camo  to  see  me  on  the  9th — the 
day  after  his  release — and  seemed  frantic  with  joy  tliat  bis 
chains  had  been  removed.  Next  day  he  was  numbered 
amon<r  the  slain — the  victim  of  the  injrratitude  and  ambitious 


128  FROM  ZAGfi  TO  DEBRA  TABOR.       Chap.  XVII I. 

temerity  of  a  master  who  did  not  hesitate  to  send  his  most 
loyal  subjects  to  be  slaughtered  'like  sheep  by  an  enemy 
against  whom,  he  might  have  knoA^Ti,  it  was  sheer  frenzy 
in  him  to  contend. 

On  the  night  of  the  7th  very  few  cases  of  cholera  oc- 
curred in  camp,  the  King  having  located  his  troops  in 
Gadiro,  on  high  ground.  We  left  that  place  early  on  the 
8th,  and  reached  Korata  after  a  three  hours'  slow  ride. 
The  King  encamped  with  his  troojDS  upon  marshy  ground, 
about  two  miles  to  the  south-west  of  Korata ;  but  he  was 
gracious  enough  to  allow  mo  to  choose  the  encampment  for 
myself  and  our  European  party.  I  chose  a  height  betw  een  the 
King's  position  and  the  town,  and  as  soon  as  his  Majesty  saw 
our  tents  pitched,  he  sent  to  say  that  he  approved  of  the 
spot,  and  hoped  that  we  might  all  be  preserved  from  the  pre- 
vailing epidemic.  In  returning  the  compliment,  I  sent  to 
tell  the  King  that  I  thought  the  place  he  was  occupying 
most  dangerous  just  then ;  that  we  always  avoided  marshy 
ground  at  the  healthiest  of  seasons,  and  regarded  such  as 
almost  deadly  during  the  prevalence  of  cholera. 

Next  morning,  the  9th  of  June,  the  King  sent  to  say  that 
I  was  right,  and  that  about  one  thousand  of  his  soldiers  and 
camp-followers  had  been  attacked  during  the  night  by  cholera, 
of  ^\hom  about  three  hundred  had  died  already.  He  asked 
me  if  I  could  recommend  a  remedy.  I  replied  that  the  first 
thing  he  ought  to  do  was  to  leave  the  Lake,  and  go  up  to  the 
mountainous  country,  and,  if  possible,  to  disperse  the  troops  in 
different  directions.  He  immediately  followed  my  advice,  and 
moved  with  all  his  camp  to  high  ground  on  the  north-eastern 
side  of  Korata.  lie  gave  me  the  option  of  going  with  him, 
or  of  encamping  in  tlio  old  place  where  we  had  encamped 
before,  on  the  Lake.     I  chose  the  latter,  as  the  ground  was 


18GG.   June.  A  PRE-ARRANGED  BURIAL,  12'J 

rocky,  and  out  of  the  way  of  all  nuisance.  He  appointed 
Kantiba  Hailo  and  Agafari  Golani  to  superintend  the 
moving  of  our  tents  and  luggage.  The  latter  was  attacked 
by  cholera  as  soon  as  he  came  to  our  camp,  and  died  three 
days  after.  To-day,  for  the  first  time  since  the  13th  of  April, 
[  was  able  to  go  about  alone.  I  had  not  even  Aito  Samuel 
with  me,  as  he  had  been  summoned  by  the  King  to  receive 
orders  about  my  burial,  in  case  I  should  bo  seized  with 
cholera  and  die  while  his  Majesty  ^\as  absent.  The  King 
intended  to  attack  some  rebels  who  were  reported  to  be  in 
the  neighbourhood,  and  expected  to  be  away  about  eight 
or  ten  days ;  and  as  he  was  afraid  that  I  might  die  before  he 
came  back,  and  my  remains  miglit  not  receive  proper  respect, 
he  deemed  it  advisable  to  leave  the  necessary  instructions 
with  Samuel  and  other  Chiefs  how  I  was  to  bo  interred. 

Early  on  the  10th  the  King  sent  for  Aito  Samuel  and  told 
liim  that  he  was  afraid  to  leave  me  where  I  was  during  his 
ubsence,  as  the  wicked  rebels  might  cany  me  off  some  night, 
and  then,  what  answer  could  he  give  to  the  English  ?  Con- 
sequently, he  or(lor(,'<l  him  to  tell  mo  that  it  would  be  better 
that  I  should  go  and  encamp  near  his  Empress,  where  we 
could  both  bo  protected  by  tlie  soldiers.  "  Besides,"  he  con- 
cluded, *'  I  want  ]\Ir.  Kassam  to  take  care  of  the  Itege  and 
my  f'hildren  during  my  absence."  The  fact  is,  the  King  was 
alia  id  that  while  lie  was  away  on  the  other  side  of  Debra 
Tabor,  whither  he  was  going  in  pursuit  of  the  rebels,  I  should 
take  it  into  my  head  to  decamp  witli  all  the  Europeans  who 
wished  to  leave  the  coimtry.  This  we  might  easily  have 
done,  if  ho  had  left  us  there  where  wo  were,  alone. 

()n  the  11th  the  King  returned,  having  heard  on  the  road 
that  the  rebels  had  been  defeated  by  one  of  the  Chiefs  of  Baga- 
mcnler.    On  his  arrival  he  sent  to  tell  mo  that,  as  the  cholera 

VOL.  II.  K 


130  FROM  ZAGfi  TO  DEBEA  TABOR.       Chap.  XVIII. 

was  still  raging  in  liis  camp,  he  had  determined  to  follow 
my  advice  and  go  up  to  the  heights  of  Debra  Tabor,  request- 
ing me  to  send  at  once  and  tell  Dr.  Blanc,  Consul  Cameron 
and  Mr.  Rosenthal  to  join  me.  Mrs.  Rosenthal  was  to  do  as 
she  liked :  either  remain  with  his  European  artisans  or  come 
with  us.  As  the  King  was  aware  that  Mrs.  Rosenthal  was  ill, 
he  offered  to  have  her  carried  in  a  litter,  if  she  chose  to 
accompany  us.  She,  of  course,  preferred  to  be  with  her 
husband,  and  joined  us  on  the  12th  June,  as  she  was  well 
enough  to  travel  on  a  mule.  The  European  artisans,  with 
Mrs.  Flad  and  Messrs.  Steiger  and  Braudeis,  Avere  told  to 
follow.  On  that  day  Mr.  McKelvie  and  a  number  of  our 
Abyssinian  servants  were  attacked  by  cholera,  but  it  only 
proved  fatal  to  one  of  Consul  Cameron's  servants. 

On  the  13th,  we  started  from  Korata  and  reached  the 
Gumara  river  in  about  four  hours'  ride.  The  King  halted 
there,  and  directed  two  Rases,  who  commanded  the  right 
and  left  divisions,  to  disperse  with  their  men.  We  heard 
afterwards  that  no  sooner  had  the  troops  separated  than  the 
epidemic  began  to  decline. 

Early  on  the  11th,  we  left  the  Gumara  river  and  reached 
Ondo  at  2  p.m.,  after  a  four  hours'  slow  ride.  Here  the  King 
ordered  the  rear  division  to  disperse  as  those  had  done  who 
had  been  left  behind  the  day  before.  To-day  the  King  lost  a 
number  of  his  Chiefs  from  cholera,  one  of  whom  had  been 
brought  up  with  him  from  boyhood.  His  death  made  him 
very  sad  all  the  evening. 

On  the  15th  of  June  his  Majesty  started  very  early  for 
Debra  Tabor,  and  it  was  reported  that  he  intended  to 
make  arrangements  for  our  reception  there.  On  our  arrival, 
however,  we  were  told  that  the  King  had  determined  to 
let  us   spend  the   next  three  months   with   his   European 


18C0.   June.  THEODORE  ON  TAXATION.  131 

artisans  at  Gaffat,  about  three  miles  to  the  north  of  Debra 
Tabor.  On  reaching  the  foot  of  the  hill  on  which  the 
royal  residence  was  erected  we  saw  the  King  descending. 
He  sent  us  word  that  as  he  wished  to  stay  at  Gaffat  we 
should  accompany  him  thither.  Accordingly,  Dr.  Blanc, 
Lieutenant  Prideaux  and  I  joined  him  and  rode  on  with 
him  towards  that  place.  On  the  road  we  were  overtaken  by 
a  severe  hailstorm,  which  obliged  us  to  halt  until  its  fury 
had  abated.  His  Majesty  was  accompanied  by  Eas  I'ngada 
and  twenty  other  followers.  We  were  conducted  to  one 
of  the  foundries,  where  the  King  ordered  a  fire  to  be  kindled 
to  warm  us  and  to  dry  our  clothes,  which  were  thoroughly 
drenched.  Aito  Samuel  and  Ras  I'ngada  were  then  instructed 
to  go  up  to  the  village  and  select  houses  for  our  party.  The 
King  himself  allotted  Mr.  Waldmeier's  house  to  me,  because 
it  had  a  large  upper  room,  and  on  Eas  I'ngada  sending  to 
apprise  him  that  the  room  was  unfurnished,  his  Majesty 
ordered  him  to  go  up  to  Debra  Tabor  and  bring  carpets 
enough  to  cover  the  floor,  and  to  place  his  own  throne  in 
it,  to  give  it  the  aspect  of  a  royal  residence.  In  the  mean 
time  the  King  conversed  with  me,  through  my  yoimg 
interpreter,  Dasta,  on  different  topics,  sometimes  in 
Arabic  and  sometimes  in  Tigrean.  His  IMajosty  dwelt 
particularly  upon  the  system  of  taxation  in  England,  and 
laughed  heartily  when  I  informed  him  how  the  income-tax 
was  levied  and  realized.  "  The  people  of  my  country,"  he 
said,  "  would  sooner  bury  their  money  in  the  ground  than 
trade  with  it  or  pay  mo  a  percentage  out  of  it."  When  I 
told  him  of  the  tax  on  horses  and  male  servants,  he  re- 
marked :  "  Mr.  Rassam,  you  do  not  know  the  Abyssinians. 
AVere  I  to  tax  their  mules,  horses  and  domestics,  not  one  of 
them  would  ride,  and  every  man  would  become   his  own 

K  2 


132  FEOM  ZAGfi  TO  DEBRA  TABOE.      Chap.  XVIIL 

servant."  As  the  cholera  Avas  raging,  and  the  weather  was 
damp,  I  generally  carried  a  little  brandy  iu  a  flask,  and' 
feeling  somewhat  chilly  at  the  time  I  thought  a  few  drops 
of  the  stimulant  would  not  be  amiss.  Sitting,  however,  as  I 
was,  on  a  plank  by  the  side  of  the  King,  I  judged  that  it; 
would  be  only  polite  to  offei-  him  a  little.  To  my  great  sur- 
prise, he  drank  off  what  I  poured  out  for  him.  I  discovered 
afterwards  that  I  had  been  guilty  of  two  breaches  of  Abys- 
sinian etiquette  in  this  matter ;  for,  in  the  first  place,  I  had 
partaken  of  tlie  brandy  from  the  same  vessel,  which  I  ought 
not  to  have  done,  because  the  Sovereign  may  not  drink  from 
the  same  cup  which  any  one  else  hos  used  in  his  presence  ; 
and,  secondly,  instead  of  passing  him  the  cup  with  both 
hands  I  presented  it  to  him  with  my  right  hand  only — the 
sign  of  a  superior  giving  anything  to  an  inferior.  However, 
as  the  King  doubtless  knew  that  I  erred  in  such  matters 
through  ignorance  of  native  customs,  he  took  no  notice  of 
these  mistakes. 

When  Messrs.  Cameron  and  Stern  arrived  from  Debra 
Tabor  they  liad  to  come  to  the  inclosure  of  the  foundry,  and' 
as  they  passed  the  door,  I  asked  the  King  to  allow  them  to  dry 
their  clothes,  hoping  that  he  might  invite  them  to  join  us ;  but 
he  refused,  and  ordered  a  fire  to  be  kindled  for  them  outside. 
On  this  occasion  he  was  extremely  civil  to  the  members  of 
the  IMission :  for  more  tlian  two  hours  he  was  quite  alone  with 
lis,  and  at  last  he  became  so  gracious  that  he  told  my  inter* 
preter  to  cover  himself  and  sit  near  the  fire,  as  it  was  cold. 
When  he  heard  that  lias  I'ngadu  liad  arrived  with  the 
carpets,  he  went  up  to  Mr.  Waldmeier's  house  and  assisted 
personally  in  carpeting  my  room  and  placing  the  throne  at 
the  back  of  it.  This  done,  he  returned  to  Debra  Tabor 
to  give  orders  for  the  remaining  front  division  of  the  army  to 


ISGO.  June.  OUR  LOCATION  AT  GAfFAT.  133 

disperse.  The  King  was  now  left  with  only  a  few  followers. 
He  even  dispensed  with  more  than  half  of  his  household 
establishment.  From  the  13th  of  xVpril,  the  King  had  never 
intermitted  sending  rations  for  my  party.  Aito  Samuel  had 
the  charge  of  everything,  and  kept  open  house  on  my 
behalf. 

llt/i. — Early  tliis  morning  his  Majesty  sent  me  a  large 
glass  bottle  containing  about  three  gallons  of  very  old  and 
clear  mead,  which  ho  requested  me  to  drink  for  his  sake. 
He  was  aware,  he  said,  that  I  was  not  partial  to  such 
beverages,  nevertheless  as  the  mead  was  coeval  with  his 
reign  he  wished  me  to  try  it,  and  to  give  my  opinion  of 
its  quality.  I  drank  a  little  to  gratify  him,  and  found  it 
mnch  superior  to  any  liquor  I  had  hitherto  tasted  in  the 
country.  It  was  as  clear  as  hock,  with  a  flavour  of  Grave. 
At  10  to-day  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stern  celebrated  Divine  Service 
in  my  room,  in  front  of  tlie  empty  throne,  and  I  could  not 
help  contrasting  at  the  time  the  vanity  of  the  one  ^^ith 
the  solemnity  of  the  worshij)  in  which  we  were  engaged. 
In  the  afternoon  the  European  artisans  whom  we  liad  left 
at  Korata  reached  Gaff'at,  and  on  their  way  had  visited  the 
King  at  Debra  Tabor.  His  Majesty  informed  them  tliat  lie 
had  placed  mo  and  my  party  in  some  of  their  dwellings,  and 
further  expressed  his  hope  that  we  should  enjoy  each  other's 
society  during  the  winter;  by  which  he  meant  that  we 
■were  to  live  together.  They  replied  that  they  would  prefer 
tents  to  lodging  with  our  party,  as  they  objected  to  several 
Europeans  who  had  been  consigned  over  to  me  by  the 
King;  but  as  they  did  not  wish  to  make  any  invidious 
distinctions,  they  begged  to  be  allowed  t<>  dcclini!  living 
with  us.  Before  I  left  Korata,  botli  ^Ir.  Waldnu-icr  and 
Mr.   Moritz    Hall    had    kindly   dfTcred    nic    the   use  of  tlu-ir 


13J:  FROM  ZAGE  TO  DEBRA  TABOR.      Chai-.  XVIII. 

houses  during  the  Aviuter;  and  when  we  reached  Gaifat,  on 
hearing  that  the  King  had  made  up  his  mind  to  locate  us 
in  the  residences  of  his  European  artisans,  I  told  Samuel 
of  this  offer,  and  suggested  that  if  the  King  knew  of  it  he 
w^ould  probably  allow  me  to  avail  myself  of  one  of  the  two 
houses.  Samuel,  however,  judged  it  advisable  that  I  should 
say  nothing  on  the  subject,  as  the  King  might  be  offended 
with  the  artisans  for  taking  it  upon  themselves  to  allot  their 
dwellings  to  whom  they  pleased,  seeing  that  they  themselves 
were  merely  tenants  at  the  will  of  his  Majesty.  Their 
answer,  it  appears,  vexed  the  Kiug,  as  he  came  early  next 
morning  and  removed  me  to  the  large  foundry,  not  wishing 
it  to  be  supposed  that  he  wanted  to  force  the  British  Mission 
on  any  one.  He  left  the  rest  of  my  party,  however,  iii  theu* 
different  abodes.  The  King  swept  the  room  himself,  and  he 
and  M.  Bardel  carried  the  dust  in  their  hands,  and  threw 
it  out  of  the  window.  He  then  had  the  walls  covered  with 
cloth  to  hide  the  dirt,  and,  after  carpeting  the  floor,  placed  his 
throne  in  the  apartment. 

19th. — Early  this  morning  his  Majesty  paid  me  a  visit 
at  the  foundry,  and  told  me  that  ho  could  not  sleep  last 
night  from  thinking  that  I  was  uncomfortable.  While  with 
me,  he  sat  on  the  throne,  on  my  invitation,  and  as  it  was 
about  four  feet  high  I  had  to  set  one  of  my  camp  folding- 
stools  to  enable  him  to  take  his  seat  there.  He  went  up 
all  right,  but  on  descending  he  placed  his  foot  on  an  angle  of 
the  stool  instead  of  the  centre,  and  had  I  not  rushed  and 
held  it  firndy  he  would  certainly  have  come  down  head 
foremost,  and  there  was  probably  not  an  Abyssinian  in  the 
country,  himself  included,  who  would  not  have  attributed 
the  mishap  to  design  on  my  part.  I  never  saw  a  man  so 
astonished  as  the  Kiug  when  I  ran  and   laid  hold  of  the 


18GG.  Jl-xe.  our  quarters  CHANGED.  135 

stool.  However.,  on  learning  the  cause,  he  was  much  pleased 
with  my  attention. 

As  the  King  wished  to  have  all  my  European  party  to 
be  near  me,  he  said  he  would  select  proper  houses  for  us 
to  live  in,  until  new  ones  could  be  budt  for  us.  He  then 
went  to  the  quarters  of  the  native  artisans,  below  the 
European  village  of  Gaffat,  and,  after  fixing  ujjon  the  house 
that  I  was  to  occupy,  he  ordered  that  all  the  houses  in  its 
immediate  vicinity  should  be  vacated  for  the  use  of  my 
companions  and  their  fellow-Europeans.  The  Kantiba  and 
two  other  officers  were  ordered  to  have  my  room  properly 
furnished,  and  the  walls  covered  with  cloth.  He  directed, 
also,  that  the  throne  sliould  be  placed  as  usual  in  my  house ; 
but  this  I  induced  him  to  dis^jense  with,  on  the  i)lea  that  the 
room  was  too  small.  In  the  afternoon  we  moved  to  our 
respective  abodes,  seven  in  number,  and  in  addition  to  these 
a  few  extra  huts  were  allowed  for  our  servants.  Mr.  Stern 
had  to  live  in  a  tent,  as  no  good  house  could  be  foimd  for 
him  near  us.  Mr.  Flad  and  Messrs.  Steiger,  Brandeis, 
Schiller  and  Essler  were  permitted  to  occupy  their  old 
dwellings  on  an  adjacent  hill. 

IQth. — Tlie  King  came  early  this  morning  to  the  second 
foundry  at  Gaffat  to  inquire  about  some  work  then  in  pro- 
gress. On  hearing  of  his  arrival  we  put  on  our  uniforms, 
in  order  to  be  in  readiness  to  attend  him,  in  case  he  desired 
our  presence.  As  he  did  not,  but  merely  sent  his  compli- 
ments, 1  dispatched  a  messenger  to  ask  whether  he  would 
allow  me  and  my  com})anions  to  pay  our  respects  to  him. 
The  foundry  was  not  above  fifty  yards  from  our  huts,  and 
on  his  Majesty  sending  a  reply  to  my  message  in  the  allirma- 
tivo,  wo  repaired  to  his  presence.  On  reaching  the  inclosure 
of  th<'    foundrv,  mc  noticed  all  the  courtiers  standing  in  a 


136  FROM  ZAGfi  TO  DEBRA  TABOR.      Chap.  XVIIT. 

very   gloomy   mood,  wliicli   augured   uufavouraLly  for   our 
reception.     We  found  the  King  busily  engaged  in  giving 
angry  orders  to  his  European  workmen,  and  looking  quite 
black   in   the   face   with   suppressed   ill-humour.      Without 
asking  after  our  health,  as  was  his  wont,  he  looked  straight 
at  me,  and  said,  "  Is  it  not  a  great  shame  that  I  should  put 
you  in  that  dirty  and  inconvenient  house,  where  you  must  be 
very  unhappy  ?"     I  answered  promptly,  "Pray  don't  say  so ; 
for  I  feel  that  I  have  one  of  the  best  houses  in  Abyssinia, 
and,  through  your  kindness,  it  has  been  so  nicely  decorated 
and  carpeted  by  your  servants  that  it  is  quite  impossible  to 
make  it  more  comfortable."     "Are  you  in  jest  or  earnest?" 
he  rejoined.     "If  your  Majesty  will  deign  to  come  and  see 
it,"  I  replied,  "  you  will  be  convinced  that  I  am  in  earnest, 
for  you  yourself  will  at  once   admit  that  it  is  most   com- 
fortable, fit  even  for  the  residence  of  a  King."     "  Very  well ; 
I  will  come  with  you  when  I  have  finished  with  my  people 
here,"  was  his  answer.     Thereupon  the  frown  on  his  counte- 
nance began  to  relax,  and  when  he  entered  my  dwelling,  about 
half  an  hour  afterwards,  he  was  comparatively  cheerful.     He 
admired  the  way  I  had  arranged  my  three  muskets  round 
one  of  the  wooden  pillars  of  the  room,  with  the  shield  and 
spear  whicli  he  had  given  me  above  them,  and  the  gold 
saddle   in   front.      I   also   took   care   to  spread   the   Itege's 
Mdrgaf  with  which  he  had  presented  me  over  the  table  in 
the  centre  of  my   room.      I  offered   him  some   Hennessy's 
brandy,  which  he  drank,  witliout  asking  any  one  to  taste  it 
first  in  order  to  prove  tliat  it  was  not  poisoned.     This  he 
did,  as  he  stated,  to  show  his  people  how  much  lie  trusted 
me,  and  the  great  respect  lie  entertained  for  my  Queen  and 
her  Government,  which  ho  (lid  l>y  sitting  in  their  house — for 
such  he  considered  it — and  enjoying  himself  there.     He  then 


18G6.   June.       THEODORE'S  ALEXANDRIAN  DESCENT.  137 

spent  half  an  hour  talking  of  the  love  which  he  had  for  the 
English,  asserting  more  than  once  that  he  had  conceived 
that  rejrard  from  childhood. 

2l8t. — The  King  came  down  again  to  the  factory  this 
morning,  and  on  receiving  his  permission  to  that  effect  wo 
paid  him  another  visit.  He  was  in  excellent  humour,  and 
seemed  highly  pleased  with  my  attention  in  having  sent  an 
easy  chair,  covered  with  red  cloth,  for  his  accommodation, 
which  I  begged  him  to  occupy  while  superintending  the 
European  workmen.  At  this  time  he  Avas  busily  engaged  in 
making  small  gun-carriages,  to  be  borne  by  mules,  for  his 
projected  expedition  against  the  rebels  of  Lasta,  whom  he 
intended  to  bring  to  accomit  during  the  winter.  He  related 
the  story  of  Diogenes  and  his  tub,  and  asked  me  whether  I 
thought  the  cynic  was  mad  or  merely  eccentric.  He  then 
went  far  beyond  my  depth  into  the  history  of  Europe,  and 
told  me  that  he  was  descended  from  one  of  its  greatest  kings, 
as  well  as  from  Solomon  by  the  Queen  of  Sheba.  On  my 
seeking  information  from  him  on  that  point,  he  proceeded  to 
narrate  Ikjw  an  Abyssinian  princess  had  visited  Alexander 
the  Great,  just  as  Balkis  did  Solomon,  and  after  staying  with 
him  some  time  she  gave  birtli  to  a  child  who,  when  he  grew 
up,  governed  more  than  half  the  world.  He  then  told  me 
that  Alexander  the  Great  was  held  in  the  highest  reverence 
by  the  Abyssinians,  as  being  the  only  person  who  had  visited 
Paradise  during  his  lifetinio.  On  expressing  my  wonder 
how  this  could  possibly  be,  he  directed  Ivantiba  Hailo  to 
go  and  fetch  tho  book  wherein  this  astonnding  fact  was 
recorded,  in  order  that  I  might  be  assured  of  that  great 
man  having  really  gone  to  Paradise  and  returned  again  to 
t-arth.  Kantiba  llailo,  who  believed  in  these  legends  as  fully 
as  he  believed  in  the  revelations  of  the  Bible,  brought  the 


13S  FROM  ZAGfi  TO  DEBRA  TABOR.        Chap.  XVIII, 

book  referred  to,  and  was  directed  by  the  King  to  explain 
the  pictures  to  me — it  contained  about  thirty.     He  did  so,  as 
he  sat  by  my  side,  and  began  describing  their  import  to  me 
one  by  one,  through  Samueh     Anything  more  absurd  can 
liardly  be  conceived.     If  I  reHiember  aright,  the  first  picture 
represented  the  Empress  Helena  iu  the  act  of  praying  that 
God  would  bless  her  with  a  male  child.     Her  petition  is 
heard,  and  Alexander   the    Great  is  born   into   the   world. 
While  yet  a  child,  he  prays  to  have  a  sight  of  Paradise; 
whereupon   countless  angels  are  employed  in  making  pre- 
parations for  his  trip.     He  is  then  transported  up  to  Heaven, 
where  he  is  permitted  to  walk  about  and  enjoy  its  delectable 
sights.    Finally,  he  is  brought  back  to  earth,  where  dominion 
is  given  to  him  over  all  the  sons  of  Noah.    When  the  exposi- 
tion of  the  picture-gallery  came  to  an  end,  the  King  asked 
me  how  I  liked  the  history  of  Alexander   the   Great.      I 
replied,  "  To  tell  the  truth,  your  Majesty,  I  think  Alexander 
was  wise  in  wishing  to  obtain  admittance  into  Paradise  ;  but 
I  think  he  was  a  fool  for  returning  to  earth  again.     Had  I 
been  in  his  place,  once  permitted  to  enter  that  delightful 
abode,  I  should  certainly  have  remained  there."     When  this 
answer  was  translated  to  him,  he  burst  into  a  fit  of  laughter, 
and  nearly  fell  from  the  easy  chair ;  then  turning  to  me,  after 
his  merriment  had  somewhat   subsided,  he  said,  "Do   you 
imagine  that  I  believe  in  this  trash?"     I  replied,  "No,  your 
Majesty ;  I  am  sure  you  have  more  sense."  Poor  Kantiba  Hailo, 
M  ho  heartily  credited  the  stupid  fable,  was  struck  speechless  at 
such  incredulity,  but  looked  round  upon  the  grinning  spectators 
with  a  countenance  which  seemed  to  say,  "  How  I  pity  your 
infidelity!"     After  spending  two  hours  with  the  King,  we 
Avere   permitted  to   return    to    our    respective   abodes ;   his- 
Majesty  also  went  bade  to  Debra  Tabor. 


18GC.   Jt-NE.  THEODORE  AND  THE  BIBLE.  13» 

22nd. — We  had  another  interview  with  the  King  under 
circumstances  similar  to  those  of  yesterday.  He  was  again 
in  good  spii-its,  and  it  was  certainly  very  pleasant  to  meet 
him  when  in  that  mood.  After  he  had  finished  his  work  I 
asked  leave  to  retire,  but  he  insisted  on  escorting  me  to  my 
dwelling.  On  reaching  the  hut  I  begged  him  to  sit  a  few 
minutes  with  me,  to  which  he  readily  assented.  He  honoured 
me  again  by  drinking  a  few  drops  of  brandy  from  a  tumbler ; 
— on  the  former  occasion  he  had  used  the  metal  cup  attached 
to  the  flask.  He  was  also  gracious  enough  to  allow  some  of 
the  bystanders  to  taste  the  liquor,  saying  that  it  was  useful 
in  time  of  cholera,  and  that  the  weather  was  cold.  On  enter- 
ing the  room  he  sighed,  an<l  said  how  much  he  wished  he 
could  visit  the  English  Queen  and  her  Council,  and  see  all 
the  wonders  of  England.  "  However,"  he  concluded,  "  I  fear 
there  is  no  chance  of  that,  although  I  feel  while  in  your 
presence  as  if  I  were  beholding  your  masters."  Seeing  an 
English  book  on  my  table,  he  took  it  up  and  asked  if  it  were 
the  liibh.'.  On  my  answering  in  the  negative,  he  remarked, 
"  Handling  this  book  reminds  me  of  the  Bible,  which  Eng- 
land has  been  good  enough  to  print  and  circulate  amongst 
us;"  then,  looking  up,  he  added:  "Oh  God!  how  can  we 
Abyssinians  forget  the  English  wlio  have  given  us  so  many 
thousand  l^ibles."  Next,  turning  to  mc,  he  said :  "  I  assure 
you,  j\Ir.  Kassiim,  that  before  your  people  printed  the  Bible 
for  us,  wo  had  scarcely  four  complete  copies  of  the  sacred 
volumf  in  all  tlio  churches;  and  now  every  village  in  the 
countrj'  can  boast  of  having  one  or  more.  But  wo  Abys- 
sinians are  an  ungrateful  people,  and  do  not  deserve  such 
favours."  After  half  an  hour  spent  on  tliese  and  other  topics 
the  King  returned  to  Debra  Tabor,  but  before  leaving  he 
directed  the  men  who  were  engaged  in  erecting  a  new  fence 


140  FROM  ZAGfi  TO  DEBRA  TABOrt.      Chap.  XYIIT. 

round  the  Mission-huts  to  hasten  on  the  work,  in  order  that 
our  privacy  might  be  respected,  and  that  we  should  not  be 
annoyed  by  beggars  during  the  day  or  by  hyteuas  during  the 
night. 

At  this  time  we  had  no  guard  at  all,  and  were  allowed  to 
do  as  we  pleased  ;  even  our  horses  and  mules  were  sent  to  us 
-to  keep,  and  I  certainly  did  believe  then  that  mo  were  going 
to  spend  the  winter  in  peace ;  but  I  was  soon  disappointed. 

On  Saturday,  the  23rd  of  June,  the  King  did  not  come  to 
the  foimdry,  but  the  following  day  he  sent  for  his  European 
artisans,  and  had  a  private  consultation  with  them ;  what 
about,  we  could  never  learn.  It  was  reported  to  me,  how- 
ever, that  his  Majesty  was  not  in  the  best  of  moods  and  had 
expressed  a  wish  to  have  me  and  my  fellow-captives  near 
him,  and  that  he  had  spoken  of  having  huts  built  for  us  at 
Debra  Tabor. 

At  dawn  on  the  25th  the  King  sent  one  of  his  domestic 
servants,  named  Paul,  to  inquire  after  the  health  of  myself 
and  party,  and  the  man  would  not  leave  until  he  had  satisfied 
himself  that  every  European  was  in  his  room.  As  usual,  I  sent 
Samuel  and  one  of  my  interpreters  to  reciprocate  the  compli- 
ment. They  returned  instantly,  and  said  that  the  King  had 
intimated  to  them  that  he  intended  to  hold  a  court  that 
morning,  and  wished  me  to  attend  with  my  companions. 
Consul  Cameron,  the  Missionaries,  and  any  other  "  gentle- 
man "  I  had  \\  itli  me.  The  message  was,  "  Be  quick."  Two 
days  previously,  1  had  heard  that  a  rebel  Chief  had  been 
brought  a  prisoner  to  Debra  Tabor,  and  I  concluded  that  he 
was  to  be  tried  before  us  that  morning.  However,  in  the 
course  of  half  an  hour,  my  fellow-ofiicials,  Messrs.  Stem 
and  Rosenthal  and  I  ^\ere  ready  to  start,  and  as  Mr.  Eerans 
came  within  the  category  of  "gentleman,"  he  also  accom- 


ISCG.  June.  THE  AUTHOPw  RE-ARRATGXED.  lU 

panied  us  on  our  doubtful  visit.  On  passing  the  houses  of 
tlie  European  artisans,  they  joined  us  ^vith  Kantiba  Hailo. 
and  went  on  with  us  to  Debra  Tabor.  On  ascending  the  hill 
on  which  the  royal  residence  Avas  built,  I  was  surprised  to 
find  that  only  the  Afa-Negus  (]Mouth  of  the  King)  came 
out  of  the  inclosure,  with  31.  Bardel,  to  meet  us.  We  were 
taken  to  a  large  black  tent  made  of  goats'  hair,  generally 
occupied  on  a  journey  by  the  Itege,  which  we  found  car- 
peted, but  no  one  was  in  it.  We  were  told  by  the  Afa- 
Negus  to  take  a  seat  until  the  pleasure  of  the  King  was 
known.  Affairs  now  looked  rather  threatening ;  consequently, 
Avhile  the  British  officials  and  the  Missionaries  sat  on  the 
right  side  of  the  tent,  the  artisans  took  care  to  sit  as  far  as 
possible  on  the  other;  and  as  Messrs.  Steiger  and  Brandeis 
also  desired  to  show  that  they  did  not  belong  to  the  English 
party,  they  went  and  sat  with  the  artisans. 

As  soon  as  our  arrival  was  communicated  to  the  King,  he 
summoned  the-  European  artisans.  Messrs.  Steiger  and 
Brandeis  also  rose  to  follow,  but  Aito  Samuel  told  them  that 
as  they  belonged  to  our  party  they  must  remain.  The  dis- 
pute was  soon  settled,  however,  by  the  King,  who,  finding 
that  those  two  gentlemen  preferred  the  company  of  his 
European  artisans  to  ours,  directed  that  thenceforward  they 
should  be  reckoned  with  them.  In  about  ten  minutes  the 
European  artisans  returned,  with  Kantiba  Hailo  and  other 
Chiefs,  with  a  message  from  the  King  to  the  effect,  that  a 
railroad  had  been  laid  down  between  Egypt  and  Casala  for 
the  passage  of  English,  French  and  Turkish  troops,  with  a 
view  to  the  invasion  of  Abyssinia,  and  his  Majesty  wished  to 
know  why  I  had  not  reported  the  fact  to  him  on  my  arrival, 
.i-<  I  must  have  seen  the  railroad  when  I  passed  through 
(a-sala.     He  said,  *' Is  this  the  friendship  which  you  profess 


142  FROM  ZAGfi  TO  DEBRA  TABOE.      Chap.  XVIIL 

to  have  for  me  ?  "  I  replied,  that  there  could  he  no  founda- 
tion for  the  rumour,  because  A\lien  I  passed  through  Casala, 
nine  months  before,  no  such  scheme  was  thought  of.  I  tried 
all  in  my  power  to  dissuade  liim  from  believing  such  reports, 
which  I  said  were  invented  by  wicked  people  for  mischievous 
ends.  • 

The  second  message  was,  that  he  had  heard  from  Jerusalem 
of  my  having  been  sent  to  him  by  the  British  Government 
on  false  pretences,  in  order  that  I  might  obtain  the  release 
of  the  European  captives ;  and  that  after  we  were  safe  out  of 
the  country,  England  would  send  troops  to  avenge  the  insult 
offered  to  her  by  the  imprisonment  of  her  Consul.  The  King 
asked,  "  Is  this  true  or  not  ?  "  I  replied  that  this  report  from 
Jerusalem  was  false  and  villanous.  Aito  Samuel,  Mho  acted 
then  as  interpreter  to  the  royal  delegates,  translated  my 
words  thus : — "  Whoever  invented  that  report  is  a  liar  and  a 
villain."  M.  Bardcl,  on  hearing  these  words,  interposed,  and 
said  to  his  fellow  delegates  that  I  had  not  used  the  words 
*'liar  and  villain."  As  the  dispute  was  referred  to  me,  I 
replied  that  I  had  not  actually  used  the  words  "liar  and 
villain,"  still  what  I  had  said  was  tantamount,  as  false  and 
villanous  reports  were  only  invented  by  liars  and  villains, 
and  that  the  delegates  might  take  the  words  used  by  Samuel 
to  the  King.  After  this  his  Majesty  sent  to  say  that  I  ought 
not  to  misunderstand  him,  because  he  had  never  changed  his 
friendly  feeling  towards  me,  nor  ftiiled  to  place  implicit  con- 
fidence in  me ;  but  that  my  Government  was  not  behaving 
well  towards  him,  and  tliat  he  considered  it  no  fault  of  mine 
if  my  Government  chose  to  act  insincerely,  after  sending  me 
to  him.  I  replied  that  my  Government  was  not  in  the  habit 
of  deceiving  any  one,  and  if  the  King  would  only  trust  it,  it 
would  be  to  his  advantage.     The  commissioners  came  back 


186G.  Juke.  THE  AUTHOR'S  SURETISHIP.  143 

to  repeat  the  charges  against  Consul  Cameron  and  3Ir. 
liosenthal,  the  former  for  returning  to  Abyssinia  without  an 
answer  to  the  letter  he  had  sent  by  him ;  and  the  latter  for 
having  -written  that  the  British  Government  had  laughed 
at  him. 

On  this  occasion  I  had  to  make  the  King  understand  that 
the  "  Clerks  "  of  the  Foreign  Office  were  not  the  Government. 
M.  Bardel  bore  me  out  on  that  point.  When  this  was  settled, 
the  King  sent  to  ask  me  if  I  was  still  security  for  Mr.  Stern 
and  others;  and  whether  I  would  continue  to  keep  to  my 
old  engagement.  I  certainly  then  began  to  fear  that  Mr. 
Stern  had  written  to  his  friends  in  England  complaining  of 
our  ill-treatment  by  the  King,  and  that  his  Majesty  had 
seized  the  letter.  Whereupon  I  begged  to  be  told  at  once 
if  any  of  my  party  had  done  anything  to  displease  the  King 
since  I  became  security  for  them,  inasmuch  as  I  conceived 
it  was  fully  understood  that  I  was  responsible  for  all  their 
acts  from  that  time. 

The  King  sent  to  say  he  had  always  distrusted  Mr.  Stern, 
as  he  knew  he  hated  and  abused  him ;  on  tliat  acconnt 
he  wanted  to  bo  doubly  sure  that  I  had  not  witlidrawn  my 
security  for  him.  "  Seeing  that  you  still  hold  yourself 
responsible  for  him  and  the  others,"  liis  Majesty  concluded, 
"  let  it  be  so,  and  you  can  all  remain  together  as  before ;  but 
I  cannot  let  you  henceforth  live  far  from  mo,  not  knowing 
what  your  Government  intends  to  do.  You  shall  always  live 
near  me,  and  I  will  keep  a  good  look-out  upon  you  until  Mr. 
Flad's  return." 

I  was  told  afterwards  that  the  King  liad  hoped  I  would  refuse 
to  keep  to  my  old  ongagcmont,  in  order  that  he  might  feel 
at  liberty  to  cliaiu  tlio  old  Magdala  prisoners,  including 
Consul  Cameron. 


141  FROM  ZAGfi  TO  DEBRA  TABOR.      Chap.  XVIIL 

I  had  great  suspicion  on  that  day  that  the  statement  made 
by  the  King  of  his  having  heard  from  Jerusalem  that  I  had 
been  sent  by  her  Majesty's  Government  on  false  pretences 
"was  a  trumped-up  story,  and  that  the  letter  which  the  Greek 
priest  had  brought  from  his  Bishop  in  Jerusalem  merely  con- 
tained a  request  for  a  donation  to  build  a  refuge  for  poor 
strangers  visiting  the  Holy  Land.  I  was  at  Massowah  when 
the  priest  arrived  there,  as  has  already  been  stated,  and  an 
Armenian  merchant  who  w^as  intimate  with  him  informed  me 
of  the  object  of  his  visit  to  Abyssinia,  before  he  left  Massowah, 
in  the  beginning  of  1865.  On  reaching  Adwa,  he  was  de- 
tained by  Dajjaj  Dakla-Guargis,  the  then  Governor-General 
of  Tigre,  who  had  orders  from  the  King,  after  the  incarcera- 
tion of  Consul  Cameron,  to  detain  every  European  who  might 
go  up  to  Abyssinia  without  the  royal  sanction.  When  the 
Wakshum  Gabaze  took  possession  of  Tigre,  in  May,  1866, 
the  priest  obtained  his  liberty,  and  went  up  with  his  letter^ 
w^hich  he  had  had  in  his  possession  more  than  a  year.  Kan- 
tiba  Hailo,  who  Avas  subsequently  sent  as  a  prisoner  to 
Magdala,  informed  me,  in  conjunction  with  others,  that  there 
was  no  foundation  for  the  report  alleged  by  the  King  to  have 
reached  him  from  Jerusalem. 

I  am  convinced  that  the  King  had  then  heard  of  Dr.  Beke's 
return  to  England,  after  his  promise  to  visit  him,  even  though 
the  captives  were  released.  The  King  had  written  to  him 
that  lie  was  to  remain  at  Massowah  until  he  should  inform 
him  what  route  to  take.  Although  Dr.  Beke  had  then  left 
for  Europe,  yet  the  King's  reply  showed  that  he  did  not  wish 
him  to  leave  before  he  had  seen  him.  Dr.  Beke  had  also 
written  to  tell  the  King  that  he  was  imprisoned  by  the  rebels, 
and  asked  him  to  send  and  liave  him  liberated.  The  King 
forthwith  wrote  to  the  Tigre  Chiefs,  and  told  them  to  have 


18GG.   JcN-E.  AFTER  THE  TRIAL.  145 

Dr,  Beke  released  and  sent  down  to  Massowali.  When  the 
royal  letter  reached  them,  the  supposed  prisoner  was  nowhere 
to  be  found.     He  had  returned  to  his  country. 

There  is  another  fact  which  strengthens  my  belief  that,  at 
the  time  of  our  second  disgrace,  the  King  had  heard  of  Dr. 
Beke's  abrupt  departure  for  England — namely,  Messrs.  Kerans 
and  McKelvie,  two  Irishmen,  had  volunteered  to  enter  the 
King's  employ  when  Mr.  Flad  left  for  England.  Their  ser- 
vices had  been  accepted,  but  their  engagement  was  postponed 
from  day  to  day  until  the  end  of  June,  two  months  after 
Mr.  Flad's  departure,  when  Mr.  McKelvie  was  allowed  to 
remain  behind,  and  Mr.  Kerans,  who  was  one  of  those  men- 
tion cd  in  the  petition  sent  by  Dr.  Beke,  was  ordered  to 
accompany  us  to  Magdala. 

When  the  trial  was  over,  the  King  gave  me  permission  to 
send  to  Gafifat  for  whatever  I  required  for  myself  and  party ; 
and  as  ^hs.  Waldmeier  was  dangerously  ill,  and  Dr.  Blanc 
was  attending  her,  I  asked  his  Majesty  to  allow  him  to  go 
and  see  her  for  an  hour  or  two ;  this  he  acceded  to.  Towards 
evening,  Mr.  Waldmeier  returned  to  Debra  Tabor  to  ask  the 
Iving  to  permit  Dr.  Blanc  to  remain  with  his  wife  two  or 
three  days,  as  she  was  ill,  and  required  medical  attendance 
hourly.  The  King  replied,  "What!  is  Dr.  Blanc  ray  servant? 
Ho  was  sent  to  me  by  the  Queen  of  l^^ngland  with  Mr.  Rassam, 
and  Mr.  Rassam  is  tiie  proper  person  to  ask."  His  Majesty 
then  sent  to  say  that  I  was  to  do  as  I  pleased.  Accordingly, 
it  was  decided  that  Dr.  Blanc  should  remain  at  GafFat  with 
Mrs.  Waldmeier,  until  she  recovered. 

When  the  King  told  me  that  I  might  send  to  GafTat  for 
\vhatever  I  wanted,  he  also  directed  that  any  of  my  party 

light  pitch  a  tent  to  live  in.     Mr.  Stern  accordingly  had  his 
'aought  with  that  object,  and  at  my  request  Samuel  indicated 

VOL.    II.  L 


14G  FROM  ZAGfi  TO  DEBRA  TABOE.       Chap.  XVIII. 

a  spot  near  our  black  tent  where  it  might  be  pitched,  advising 
me,  however,  at  the  same  time,  as  Mr.  Stern's  friend,  not  to 
let  him  be  separated  from  me,  as  he  was  only  safe  in  my 
company.  He  then  went  on  to  say,  "You  remember,  Mi*. 
Eassam,  that  on  your  first  arrival  in  Abyssinia  I  enjoined  you 
not  to  be  too  intimate  either  with  Mr.  Stern  or  with  any  of  his 
fellow-captives,  for,  as  I  wished  you  to  succeed  and  to  leave 
the  country,  I  thought  it  best  at  that  time  that  the  King 
should  not  tliink  that  you  took  part  with  his  enemies.  Since 
his  Majesty,  however,  has  chosen  to  treat  you  so  badly,  you 
will  do  well  to  stand  by  all  the  late  captives,  for  they  will 
only  be  safe  while  in  your  company.  You  are  all  now  in  the 
same  predicament,  and  must  either  stand  or  fall  together." 
I  may  here  remark  that  at  this  same  juncture  I  was  being 
warned  by  several  Europeans  to  keep  aloof  from  Mr.  Stem  as 
much  as  possible,  in  order  to  avoid  getting  into  trouble  witli 
Theodore  on  his  account.  However,  having  determined,  as  I 
said  before,  to  take  my  chance  with  the  rest,  and  to  die  rather 
than  incur  the  remorse  of  having  saved  my  own  life  at  the 
sacrifice  of  theirs,  I  asked  Mr.  Stern  to  remain  with  me  in 
the  black  tent.  I  adduce  this  as  another  instance  of  the 
very  false  impression  which  many  have  entertained  respecting 
Samuel.  The  man  stuck  to  our  cause  unflinchingly,  when  we 
got  into  difficulty,  and  I  owe  it  to  him  to  state,  that  he  never 
said  an  unkind  word  to  me  against  any  of  my  fellow-captives. 
On  the  evening  of  the  25th  I  deemed  it  advisable  to  send 
and  tell  the  King,  by  Aito  Samuel,  ho^\  unwise  and  unfriendly 
it  was  of  him  to  treat  me  and  the  Europeans  who  were 
with  me  so  rudely,  while  I  was  trying  my  best  to  befriend 
and  act  honestly  towards  him.  I  said  that  our  Government 
would  be  quite  puzzled  on  hearing  of  his  unjustifiable 
ill-treatment  of  us,  A\hen  perha2)s  they  Avere  making  every 


A 


1800.  JcNK.  THEODORE'S  WILFULNESS.  147 

effort  to  gratify  liim.  I  warned  hiin  against  the  machinations 
of  evil-doers,  Avho  were  trying  all  they  could  to  increase  his 
troubles  and  misfortunes.  I  told  him  that  he  had  still  time 
to  retrace  his  steps  and  show  his  friendship  by  trusting  us.  The 
only  answer  I  could  obtain  from  him  was,  "  My  friend,  I  believe 
in  you ;  but  there  are  customs  in  every  country  which  only 
the  natives  of  the  place  understand.  You  are  a  foreigner, 
and  know  not  our  rules,  nor  could  you  understand  why  I 
have  acted  in  this  way  towards  you.  You  follow  your  way 
and  I  mine,  and  you  will  see  if  I  am  not  right  in  the  end." 
When  Samuel  tried  to  persuade  him  that  I  was  his  true 
friend,  and  that  he  ought  to  listen  to  my  advice,  he  said, 
"  Aito  Samuel,  have  you  sold  yourself  like  a  slave  to  the 
English?  You  are  an  ass;  I  want  you  only  to  hold  your 
tongue;  go  and  deliver  my  message  to  Mr.  Rassam." 

Next  day  I  obtained  permission  for  Mr.  Rosenthal  to  join 
his  wife.  In  giving  him  leave,  the  King  ordered  Wald-Gabir 
and  Aito  Samuel  to  tell  me  that  I  need  not  take  the  trouble 
of  sending  to  ask  him  about  everything:  I  was  only  to 
give  the  order  and  it  would  be  obeyed.  "  With  regard  to 
your  asking  me  for  permission  to  allow  Mr.  Rosenthal  to  go 
to  Gaffat,"  the  King  said,  "  have  I  not  given  you  all  the 
EurDpcans  to  do  as  you  like  with  ?  And,  besides,  are  you  a 
})risuner  that  you  should  remain  in  your  tent  day  and  night? 
If  y(ju  want  to  jjlcasc  mo,  go  out  when  you  like;  and  you 
ought  to  go  down  to  Guffat  and  sec  your  friends ;  because, 
if  you  stay  and  mope,  you  will  fall  ill,  and  then  what 
shall  I,  your  friend,  do?  Sliall  I  not  bo  ill  too?"  Ho  then 
sent  an  ordi.-r  to  the  Master  of  the  Horse  to  let  us  have  our 
mules  and  horses  whenever  we  wanted  them. 

After  tlie  above  courteous  message  we  felt  somewhat  hap- 
I)iur   for  a  time,   with  the  privilege  also  of  taking  a  little 

L  2 


148  FROM  ZAGfi  TO  DEBRA  TABOR.      Chap.  XVIII. 

exercise ;  and,  in  accordance  with  the  King's  desire,  I  visited 
C4aftat  the  next  day,  the  27th  of  June.  I  had  no  guard,  but 
Aito  Samuel  accompanied  mo,  with  the  Master  of  the  Horse, 
as  far  as  the  viUage,  and  then  left  me.  Thenceforward  we 
were  able  to  go  about  as  we  pleased. 

The  King  had  business  in  the  foundry  at  Gafiat,  and  used 
to  go  down  almost  every  day  to  see  his  artisans  at  work. 
"Whenever  he  went  there  he  sent  me  his  compliments ;  and 
on  his  return  he  communicated  his  arrival  to  me,  with  a 
courteous  message  that  through  my  prayers  and  good  wishes 
he  had  readied  home  safely.  Once,  he  brought  four  lions 
which  were  at  Debra  Tabor  for  me  to  look  at,  and  directed 
their  keepers  to  let  them  loose,  in  order  that  I  might  see 
how  tame  they  were.  They  ran  about  after  cattle  and  mules 
in  the  plain  below  for  a  long  time,  and,  at  a  signal  from  the 
King,  their  keepers  called  them  back  and  conveyed  them  to 
their  dens.  That  day  he  sent  me  500  dollars  more  of  the 
money  he  had  taken  from  me. 

On  another  occasion  he  invited  me  to  witness  the  trial  of  a 
rebel  Chief  and  his  two  associates,  who  had  been  seized  and 
brought  before  him  from  AVadala,  as  ho  wanted  to  prove  to 
me  wliat  bad  subjects  he  had.  Three  different  witnesses  gave 
their  evidence  in  a  calm,  straightforward  manner,  unbiassed 
apparently  by  any  ill-will  towards  the  accused.  The  latter,  on 
Ijcing  asked  in  a  quiet  tone  by  the  Iving  what  they  had  to 
urge  in  self-defence,  admitted  their  guilt,  pleading  that  they 
had  been  misled  by  the  devil,  and  begged  his  Majesty  to 
forgive  them.  The  King  then  remarked  that  Satan  was 
atrociously  bad,  and  must  not  be  encouraged,  and  that  in 
accordance  with  th(^  Frtijli-Negiist  they  must  suffer  death, 
but  that  he  would  have  them  executed  in  a  respectable 
manner,  and  then  buried.     They  were  taken  to  the  market- 


1860.  June.  EXECUTIOX  OF  KEBELS.  149 

place,  and  there  shot  dead,  and  after  the  bodies  were  exposed 
for  an  hour  or  two,  as  a  warnino;  to  others,  they  were  interred 
in  ditches  made  to  receive  them  whore  they  lay.  After  these 
rebel  Chiefs  had  been  led  away,  their  wives  were  brought 
forward,  stripped  to  the  waist,  in  accordance  with  Abyssinian 
usage  when  women  fall  into  disgrace.  The  King  ordered 
them  at  once  to  be  covered,  and  on  learning  that  the  only 
crime  they  were  charged  with  was  that  they  were  the  wives 
of  the  condemned  rebels,  he  told  the  soldiers  that  it  was  a 
pity  they  had  been  at  so  much  trouble  with  regard  to  them, 
as  it  was  no  fault  of  theirs  that  they  had  bad  husbands.  He 
then  directed  the  women  to  be  supplied  with  food  and  cloth- 
ing, and  told  them  that  they  were  at  liberty  to  go  where 
they  pleased.  It  was  fortunate  for  these  poor  females  that 
his  Majesty  was  not  in  one  of  his  savage  humours,  otherwise 
the  probability  is  they  would  have  been  adjudged  to  share 
tlie  fate  of  their  husbands. 


IDO  FEOM  DEBRA  TABOR  TO  MAGDALA.     Chap.  XIX. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

FROM   DEBKA   TABOR   TO    MAGDALA. 

"We  are  to  be  sent  to  Magdala  —  Theodore  clianges  his  plan  —  Another  out- 
burst of  royal  courtesy  —  The  Author  arraigned  again  —  We  are  confined 
and  guarded  in  the  Treasury — A  visit  from  Theodore  —  We  drink 
healths  all  round  —  The  King  believes  he  is  mad  —  The  titles  "Geta" 
and  "  Aito  "  —  Order  to  set  out  with  the  King  to  ]\Iagdala  —  Hailstones 
on  Mount  Guna  —  We  are  sent  forward  to  Magdala  under  a  guard  — 
Arrival  at  that  fortress  —  We  are  placed  in  fetters  —  The  Author's 
message  to  Theodore  on  the  occasion  —  The  pi-eliminary  location  of  the 
Captives  —  Kindness  of  the  Cliiefs  —  Aito  Samuel's  services. 

The  King  had  been  intending  for  some  time  to  go  towards 
]\ragdala,  to  punish  the  rebels  of  Lasta  and  the  adjacent  dis- 
tricts. On  the  28tli  he  sent  me  a  message  by  I'ngada  Wark 
and  Paul  (Samuel  having  been  in  disgrace  since  the  message 
I  sent  by  him  on  the  25th)  to  say,  that  he  intended  to  go  on 
a  war  expedition  in  the  course  of  three  or  four  days  ;  and 
that  as  he  did  not  want  to  weary  us  by  taking  us  about  with 
him  in  the  rains,  he  had  resolved  upon  sending  me  and  my 
party  to  Magdala,  there  to  spend  the  winter ;  and  he  wished 
to  know  if  I  had  any  objection  to  the  arrangement.  I  replied, 
that  his  Majesty  was  bettor  able  to  judge  of  tlie  salubrity  of 
the  different  places  in  Abyssinia  than  I,  and  Unit  I  was 
ready  to  go  wherever  lie  wislied  me  to  be  during  the  rainy 
season.  The  King  then  asked  whetlier  I  had  mules  enough 
to  carry  my  luggage  and  tliat  of  my  party,  or  whether  I 
required  him  to  transport  it  for  us.  I  said  tiiat  we  had  not 
mules  enough,  but  that  if  his  Majesty  would  allow  us  we  could 


186G.  July.  EOYAL  COURTESY.  151 

buy  more.  It  was  settled,  at  last,  that  he  was  to  have  it 
carried  for  us ;  and,  accordingly,  on  the  1st  of  July,  he  sent 
all  our  heavy  baggage  by  some  soldiers  who  were  leaving  for 
Magdala  A\'ith  Ras  I'ngada,  and  Samuel  was  sent  in  charge  of 
it.  After  the  luggage  had  been  carried  a  day's  journey 
towards  Magdala,  the  King  ordered  it  to  be  brought  back,  as 
he  had  changed  his  mind,  and  had  resolved  to  let  us  remain 
at  Gafifat  for  the  winter.  It  was  brought  back  to  Debra 
Tabor  on  the  3rd,  by  Aito  Samuel,  and  was  left  in  our  tents 
outside  the  royal  inclosm-e. 

About  noon  on  the  ord,  the  King,  as  he  was  wont,  sent  me 
a  message  to  say  that,  with  my  permission,  he  was  going 
down  to  Gaffat.  He  asked  my  interpreter  why  I  remained 
so  much  in  my  tent  and  so  seldom  went  out.  He  ordered 
him  to  tell  me  that,  if  I  wished  to  please  him,  I  must  go 
about  oftener,  either  on  foot  or  on  horseback,  whichever  I 
preferred,  and  that  I  must  send  to  him  for  anything  I  wanted. 
"  And  you,  Dasta,"  the  King  added  to  the  interpreter, "  mind, 
I  hold  you  responsible  if  I  should  hear  that  your  master  has 
been  in  want  of  anything,  and  you  fail  to  inform  me  of  it.  If 
he  requires  anything,  you  must  come  to  me,  even  at  mid- 
night." On  the  interpreter  asking  how  he  could  communi- 
cate with  his  Majesty  at  that  hour,  the  King  sent  for  a  page 
and  told  him  that  if  Dasta  went  to  him  at  night  with  any 
message  from  me  he  was  to  communicate  it.  The  page 
replied,  that  the  eunuchs  would  prevent  him  from  approaching 
the  place  wliere  the  King  was  sleeping.  On  this  demur,  the 
eunuchs  in  attendance  were  summoned,  and  orders  were  given 
to  tliem  that,  if  a  page  went  to  his  Majesty  with  a  message 
from  me,  lie  was  to  deliver  it  at  once ;  and  that  if  the  King 
was  asleep,  he  was  to  be  awakened ;  so  that  if  I  wanted  any- 
thing at  night,  my  message  would  have  had  to  go  through 


152  FllO^iI  DEBllA  TABOE  TO  MAGDALA.       Chap.  XIX. 

the  interpreter,  the  page,  and  the  eunuclis.  The  King  kept 
poor  Mr.  Zander  and  Kantiba  Hailo,  with  a  hirge  party  of 
followers,  waiting  for  nearly  half-an-hour  below  the  hill  of 
Debra  Tabor  to  settle  that  new  arrangement  of  his,  which  he 
knew  well  enough  was  never  to  be  carried  into  effect. 

The  King  returned  from  Gaffat  at  about  3  P.M.,  but,  instead 
of  the  usual  civil  message,  Samuel  came  running  to  say  that 
the  King  wanted  to  see  me,  and  that  I  must  take  the  gentle- 
men who  were  in  my  tent  with  me.  I  immediately  went, 
accompanied  by  Lieutenant  Prideaux,  Consul  Cameron  and 
Mr.  Stern.  I  wondered  what  could  have  taken  place  after 
the  polite  message  which  had  been  sent  to  me  only  two 
hours  before.  My  surprise  may  be  imagined  when  I  found 
Dr.  Blanc  standing  in  front  of  his  Majesty  like  a  criminal, 
and  when,  a  few  minutes  afterwards,  Mr.  Eosenthal  was  brought 
in  by  a  number  of  soldiers.  The  King  looked  as  if  he  had 
gone  mad,  and  the  first  thing  he  said  to  me  was,  that  I 
hated  him.  On  inquiring  M'hat  had  occurred  to  make  him 
say  so,  he  said  that  he  had  four  charges  against  me :  firsts 
that  I  hud  read  Mr.  Stern's  book — '  Wanderings  among  the 
Falashas;'  secondly,  that  he  had  given  Consul  Cameron  a 
letter  for  my  Queen,  and  that  he  had  returned  to  Abyssinia 
without  an  answer ;  thirdly,  that  I  had  tried  to  send  away 
the  jMagdala  captives  from  Abyssinia  without  taking  them  to 
him;  and,  fourthly,  that  the  Turks  had  possession  of  Jeru- 
salem, and  that  England  and  France  allowed  them  to  keep  it. 
He  demanded  his  patrimony,  on  the  ground  that  the  Holy 
City  had  formerly  belonged  to  Kings  David  and  Solomon,  his 
forefathers,  and  said,  "  I  want  Europe  to  restore  to  mc  the 
Holy  Land."  The  first  two  ccmiplaiiits  I  took  no  notice  of 
and  only  answered  the  third  and  fourth.  With  regard  to  the 
former,  I  denied  having  tried  to  talce  the  I^Tdgdala  prisoners 


18GG.   July.  A  BLACKHOLE.  153 

out  of  Abyssinia  without  a  proper  reconciliation,  his  jMajesty 
having  forgiven  them  on  several  occasions ;  that  when  they 
left  Korata  they  did  so  with  his  sanction,  and  that  he  sent 
one  of  his  courtiers,  Lij  Abitu,  to  escort  them.  Lij  Abitu 
was  called  again  on  this  occasion  to  give  evidence ;  and  when 
the  King  was  satisfied  that  everything  had  been  done  accord- 
ing to  rule,  he  dismissed  him.  With  reference  to  Jerusalem, 
I  said  that  the  European  Powers  were  not  given  to  interfere 
in  such  matters. 

He  then  said  to  me  abruptly,  "Are  you  not  aware  that 
India  and  half  the  world  belong  to  me?"  I  replied,  that  I 
had  not  found  it  so  stated  in  the  books  which  I  had  read. 
He  next  turned  and  discussed  the  point  with  3Ir.  Stern. 
(The  idea  that  India  and  half  the  world  belonged  to  Theo- 
dore originated  in  the  tradition  that  the  Emperors  of  Abys- 
sinia are  the  descendants  of  Alexander  the  Great,  as  well  as 
of  Solomon.  This  legend  has  already  been  noted  in  the 
foregoing  pages.) 

Aito  Samuel  looked  very  downcast  during  this  farce;  so 
the  King  spoke  to  him  sharply,  and  said,  "Why  are  you 
sulky  ?  Is  it  because  I  am  arguing  with  your  friend  ?  Sup- 
pose I  put  him  in  chains,  what  will  you  say  to  that?" 
Samuel  answered,  "  AVhat  is  that  to  me?  Mr.  Rassam  is 
your  jMajcsty's  guest,  not  mine." 

The  Afa-Negus  was  then  called,  and  the  King  asked  him 
whether  he  could  watch  us  better  in  a  tent  or  in  a  room.  As 
this  functionary  knew  his  master's  mind,  he  said  a  room 
would  be  preferable.  Thereupon  the  King  ordered  us  to  be 
taken  into  the  Treasury  and  guarded  very  strictly.  The 
room  was  so  dark  that  we  had  to  light  candles,  even  in  l)ro;i(l 
daylight,  to  enable  us  to  see  one  another.  My  party,  con- 
sisting of  Dr.  Blanc,  Lieutenant  Prideaux,  Consul  Cameron, 


154  FROM  DEBRA  TAEOll  TO  MAGDALA.      Cum'.  XIX. 

Messrs.  Stern  and  Kosenthal  and  myself,  were  placed  in  a 
small  circular  room  not  more  than  twelve  feet  in  diameter ; 
and  as  a  guard  of  fifteen  men  was  ordered  to  -watch  us  inside 
during  the  night,  we  should  have  been  in  a  sad  plight  had 
not  the  King  relented  in  the  course  of  the  evening  and 
ordered  the  guard  out  of  our  room.  Mr.  Kerans  was  brought 
in  afterwards,  but  Signer  Pietro  was  alloAved  to  remain  in 
liis  own  tent  outside.  Mr.  Macraire  had  already  entered 
the  King's  service  and  was  at  Gafiat  with  the  European 
artisans. 

Soon  after  dark,  the  King  sent  to  know  how  we  all  were, 
and  hoped  that  I  should  sleep  well.  I  replied  that  we  were 
very  much  obliged  to  his  Majesty  for  his  kind  inquiry,  and 
that  we  were  well ;  but  that  if  our  Government  or  myself 
had  known  how  the  Mission  would  have  been  treated,  we 
should  certainly  not  have  paid  him  a  visit.  "  To  speak  the 
truth,"  I  continued,  "  it  is  our  fault  for  not  having  believed 
what  wo  heard  before  leaving  Massowah ;  but  we  could  not 
credit  what  his  Majesty's  enemies  said  against  him.  They 
will  rejoice  at  what  has  taken  place,  and  I  have  no  doubt  they 
will  spread  the  report  all  over  the  world."  The  only  answer 
I  obtained  from  the  King  to  this  was,  "  Never  mind  your 
Government  and  my  enemies,  my  friend.  Your  masters 
have  already  decided  upon  their  treatment  of  me ;  and  my 
foes  would  spread  evil  reports  against  me,  even  if  I  were  to 
carry  you  on  my  head.  I  have  only  to  see  that  you  are 
happy,  and  that  your  heart  is  not  vexed."  I  replied  that  I 
had  done  my  best  to  maintain  friendship  between  my  Govern- 
ment and  his  Majesty,  but  that  henceforward  I  should  wash  my 
hands  of  all  responsibility,  and  his  Majesty  would  only  have 
himself  to  blame  for  the  wrath  of  my  Queen  and  her  Govern- 
ment.    To  this  the  King  sent  the  following  answer:    "God 


18GG.  July.  THEODORE  IS  JOLLY.  155 

be  my  witness,  my  brother  and  friend,  that  after  to-day 
I  shall  not  hold  you  responsible  for  the  future  action  of  your 
Government.  I  only  want  you  to  be  happy,  and  as  I  hear 
from  my  attendants  that  you  are  not  so,  I  must  come  and 
cheer  you  up  ;  I  only  await  your  permission  to  do  so."  I  sent 
and  begged  his  ^lajesty  not  to  trouble  himself  to  come  and 
see  us.  He  replied  that  he  could  not  go  to  bed  without 
coming  to  comfort  me.  "  How  could  I  go  to  sleep,"  he  said, 
"  knowing  that  you  are  unhappy,  my  friend  ?  I  will  not  listen 
to  you,  especially  after  I  have  refused  the  entreaty  of  the 
Itege,  who  said  that  I  ought  to  postpone  my  visit  to  you 
until  the  morning." 

Immediately  after  the  last  message,  the  King  made  his 
appearance  with  a  horn  of  arrack  (spirits  made  of  mead) 
slung  over  his  shoulder,  and  a  bundle  of  wax  candles  in  his 
right  hand  to  light  in  our  prison,  to  make  it  look  cheerful. 
One  of  his  servants  also  carried  a  jar  of  ttj  (mead)  behind 
him.  On  coming  in  and  seeing  a  part  of  the  guard  with  us, 
he  turned  them  out,  and  asked  how  they  dared  come  so  near 
us.  As  soon  as  he  sat  down,  he  poured  some  arrack  into  a 
tumbler  and  gave  it  to  me,  saying,  "  I  know  you  do  not 
usually  drink,  but  I  feel  sure  that  you  will  not  refuse  to  drink 
with  me  on  this  occasion,  to  make  me  feel  happy."  After 
we  had  drunk  to  each  other's  health,  he  ordered  the  arrack 
to  be  circulated  to  all  my  party,  and  he  himself  filled  the 
glasses  and  handed  them  over  to  my  comjianions.  Dr.  Blauc 
and  Lieutenant  I'ridoaux.  He  then  looked  towards  j\[r. 
Stern,  who  was  standing  with  Mr.  Rosenthal  against  the  wall, 
and  said  to  the  furnuT  '"How  arc  you,  Aito  Kokab? 
Why  are  you  standing  in  sueh  a  disconsolate  mood  and  do 
not  sit  down  ?  "  After  this,  his  Majesty  said  to  me  laugh- 
ingly, "Comfort  Mr.  Stern,  an<l  tell  him  not  to  moan."     He 


156  FROM  DEBRA  TABOR  TO  mAgDALA.      Chap.  XIX.. 

then  addressed  me  as  follows  : — "  Do  not  regard  my  foce,  but 
trust  to  my  heart,  because  I  really  love  yon.  I  wonld  not  say 
so  before  my  people  who  are  standing  by  if  I  did  not  mean 
it.  It  is  true  that  I  behaved  ill  to  you  this  afternoon,  but 
I  have  an  object  in  what  I  do.  I  was  obliged  to  put  on  a 
serious  face  on  account  of  the  bystanders,  but  I  never  meant 
to  be  angry  with  yon.  I  used  to  lioar  that  I  was  called  a 
madman  by  my  people  for  my  acts,  but  I  never  believed  it ; 
now,  however,  after  my  conduct  towards  you  this  afternoon, 
I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  I  really  am  so ;  but,"  he 
concluded,  "  as  Christians,  we  ought  always  to  be  ready  to 
forgive  each  other." 

After  this  display  of  royal  affection  the  King  left;  but 
before  going  he  gave  orders  that  none  of  the  guard  were 
to  be  allowed  to  enter  the  Treasury — all  must  remain  out- 
side. While  we  were  l)oth  standing  at  the  door  with  Aito 
Samuel  and  my  young  interpreter,  Dasta,  the  King  said  to 
me,  "  Mr.  Rassani,  henceforward  Dasta  shall  be  my  child,  and 
Samuel  yours;  good-bye."  After  this  I  never  spoke  to 
him  again  until  he  and  I  met  at  Magdahi,  on  the  29th 
March,  1868 — an  interval  of  nearly  one  year  and  nine 
months. 

The  day  Dr.  Blanc  and  Mr.  Kosenthal  were  arrested,  it 
was  reported  that  the  King  had  received  a  letter  from  Tigre, 
on  his  way  to  Gaffat;  that  its  contents  appeared  to  make 
liim  very  angry  ;  and  that  this  was  the  reason  lie  Iiad  acted  so 
unbecomingly  towards  us  all.  My  opinion  is,  tliat  the  arrest  of 
Dr.  Blanc  and  Mr.  Kosenthal  was  not  premeditated — that  the 
order  was  given  on  the  spur  of  the  moment.  Something  had 
evidently  disturl»od  the  King's  mind,  for  when  a  beggar  on 
Ihe  road  asked  him  for  alms,  and  said  that  formerly  the 
Juu-opean  "Getotsli"  Iiad  supported  him,  the  King  ordered 


180G.  July.  "G£TA"'  AND  "ATTO."  lo7 

liim  to  be  beaten  to  death  for  having  applied  the  word 
*'Getotsh"to  his  European  slaves.  He  had  always  objected 
to  this  title  being  given  to  any  one  but  himself,  saying  that 
Kings  only  ought  to  be  called  Lords.  His  Majesty  was  then 
at  the  height  of  his  fury,  and  seeing  Mr.  Kosenthal,  ■whom  he 
hated,  standing  by,  he  abused  him  and  had  him  arrested. 
Dr.  Blanc  being  present  came  in  for  his  share  of  the  royal 
displeasure,  which  vented  itself  also  on  a  number  of  the  Euro- 
pean artisans.  Having  gone  so  far,  he  thought  he  might  go 
a  little  further  by  having  them  conducted  to  Debra  Tabor,  to 
make  another  display  there. 

I  interrupt  the  narrative  here  to  explain  the  import  of 
the  word  "Geta"  (plural,  Getotsh),  and  also  of  "Aito," 
another  title  which  frequently  occurs  in  these  pages.  Geta  * 
means  master,  or  lord  ;  Aito  is  equivalent  to  our  mister,  or 
sir.  Formerly,  neither  was  applied  to  any  but  Abyssinian 
noblemen,  but  within  the  last  century  both  have  become 
common,  and  foreigners  as  well  as  respectable  natives,  such 
as  merchants  and  others,  have  adopted  them.  A  servant, 
ordinarily,  may  speak  of  his  master  as  the  Geta,  and  say 
that  the  Geta  had  told  him  to  do  this  or  that ;  but  when 
speaking  of  his  master  to  a  superior,  who  is  then  the  Geta, 
he  must  use  the  word  with  the  suflix  pronoun  of  the  third 
person,  Gctau.  As  the  King  considered  himself  the  Geta 
par  excellence,  he  could  not  brook  the  application  of  it  to  any 
other  in  his  presence.  Theodore,  however,  was  very  liberal 
with  the  title  "Aito,"  bestowing  it  on  all  civil  ofliccrs  and 
respectable  merchants,  as  also  on  aliens,  and  did  not  object 


*  A  learned  friend  of  mine  8Ugi;ests  whctlicr  "Geta"  may  not  be  derived 
from  the  Hebrew  (or  Semitic)  root,  nx3.  to  be  exalted,  majestic.  See  Kx. 
xi.  1,  21.  "Aito,"  he  thinks,  may  have  tlie  same  oxvi'm  as  tlic  Ciialdco 
I3y»  a  counsellor  or  minister  of  the  king.     Vid.  Ezra  vii.  14,  15. 


158  FROIM  DEBEA  TABOR  TO  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XIX. 

to  others  being  so  designated,  although,  strictly  speaking, 
only  princes  of  the  royal  blood,  and  those  on  Avhom  it  is 
conferred  by  the  Sovereign,  have  the  right  of  adopting  it.  It 
approaches  nearer  to  the  Turkish  "  Effendi "  than  any  other 
title  T  know  of.  When  the  King  was  concocting  the  letter 
to  her  Majesty,  in  April,  1866,  which  was  sent  by  Mr.  Flad, 
a  discussion  arose  between  him  and  his  courtiers  as  to  the 
title  he  should  give  me  when  mentioning  my  name.  He 
remarked  that  the  Queen  had  merely  called  me  "our 
servant,  Hormuzd  Rassam,"  and  submitted  whether  he  ought 
to  use  a  similar  phrase.  To  this  one  of  his  courtiers  replied, 
"  Your  Majesty  may  not  consistently  do  so,  inasmuch  as  the 
English  Queen  is  his  Mistress,  and  as  such  she  very  properly 
designates  him  simply  by  his  name,  as  her  servant."  "  Very 
well,"  rejoined  the  King,  "  I  will  give  him  the  highest  civil 
title  in  the  realm,  anil  call  him  *  Aito.' "  The  prefix  was 
accordingly  added  to  my  name,  and  the  amanuensis  went  on 
with  his  writing. 

On  the  4th,  the  King  ordered  that  we  should  be  allowed 
to  take  an  airing  on  the  hill,  where  we  had  been  imprisoned 
in  the  black  tent  a  few  days  before.  To  do  so,  we  should 
have  been  obliged  to  pass  the  King's  favourite  place  of  resort, 
both  in  going  and  returning,  and  as  his  Majesty  was  as  averse 
from  meeting  us  as  we  were  him,  he  directed  a  passage  to  be 
luade  for  us  through  the  outer  wall  of  the  Treasury.  A  fence 
was  also  to  be  erected  to  separate  us  from  his  establishment ; 
but  our  servants  were  told  that  they  might  remain  outside  it. 
The  fence  was  finished  when  we  were  desired,  on  the  morning 
of  the  5th,  to  prepare  to  set  out  with  the  King,  who  was  pro- 
ceeding towards  Magdala.  At  noon  his  Majesty  started,  and 
at  about  1  vm.  we  followed  him.  Dr.  Blanc,  Lieutenant 
Prideaux  and  I  were  allowed  to  ride  the  mules  presented  to 


1866.  JuLT.  EN  EOUTE  TO  MAGDALA.  15» 

us  by  the  King,  but  the  rest,  including  Consul  Cameron,  were 
told  to  provide  themselves  with  animals.  Mrs.  Kosenthal 
not  l>eing  well  at  the  time,  it  was  thought  advisable  to  leave 
her  behind  with  Mrs.  Flad,  at  Debra  Tabor,  as  we  were  not 
certain  then  where  the  King  intended  to  take  us. 

On  the  7th  July  we  travelled  with  his  Majesty  as  far  as 
Ibankab,  a  distance  of  about  thirty  miles  from  Debra  Tabor, 
and  nearly  fifty  from  31agdala.  All  the  time  we  were  with 
him  he  treated  us  with  great  consideration.  One  day  he 
sent  to  tell  me  that  he  hoped  I  did  not  look  upon  the  guard 
which  slept  by  our  tents  as  having  been  placed  there  to 
watch  us  :  its  duty,  he  said,  was  to  protect  the  royal  household, 
and  our  encampment  being  near  his,  the  guard  was  obliged 
to  be  close  to  us. 

Samuel's  services  as  Baldaraba  were  dispensed  with,  and 
my  young  interpreter,  Dasta,  was  ordered  by  the  King  to 
act  in  his  stead,  as  a  temporary  measure.  For  the  first  time 
after  Samuel's  disgrace,  the  King  sent  to  him,  on  the  8th 
of  July,  to  take  me  to  a  certain  spot,  and  show  me  the 
large  quantity  of  hailstones  that  had  fiillen  on  the  moun- 
tain of  Guna,  above  Ibankab.  When  he  heard  that  my 
companions,  Dr.  Blanc  and  Lieutenant  Prideaux,  and  I 
were  pleased  with  the  sight,  he  sent  to  tell  me  that,  if  we 
liked,  he  would  send  us  the  next  morning  up  to  the  high 
mountain,  to  see  the  hail  nearer.  On  om-  thanking  him 
for  his  kind  offer,  he  appointed  a  guard  to  escort  us  there 
and  back — to  protect  us,  as  ho  said,  against  robbers. 

Early  on  the  9th  he  sent  for  Samuel,  and  after  telling  him 
he  was  a  "  slave  of  the  English  "  and  loved  me  more  than  he 
loved  him  (the  King),  he  bade  him  get  ready  and  start  at  once 
to  keep  me  company  at  jMagdala.  Bitwaddad  Tadla  (the  Chief 
who  had  arrested  Consul  Cameron  and  his  party  on  the  loth 


IGO  FR0:M  DEBRA  tabor  to  MAgDALA.     Chap.  XIX. 

of  April,  after  tliey  had  left  Korata)  was  then  appointed  to  take 
me  and  my  party  to  Magdala,  and  to  proceed  thither  forthwith. 
We  were  told  to  take  very  few  things  with  us,  on  account  of 
the  difficulty  of  travelling,  and  that  the  rest  of  our  luggage 
■would  follow  us  shortly.  The  King  was  very  anxious  that  we 
should  reach  Magdala  before  the  rise  of  the  rivers  Chetta  and 
Bashilo,  which  lay  in  our  way,  as  he  wished  us  to  be  in  a 
"  safe  place "  during  the  winter  months.  We  each  took 
bedding  and  a  few  articles  of  clothing ;  but  after  the  first 
stage  we  found  that  I  was  the  only  one  allowed  to  carry  those 
necessaries.  For  nearly  a  week  my  fellow-captives  had 
nothing  to  sleep  upon  except  what  I  could  provide  them 
with ;  as  for  clothes,  we  had  to  put  up  with  what  we  wore. 
Our  guard  consisted  of  about  100  men,  most  of  whom  were 
either  killed  or  imprisoned  by  the  King  before  the  year  was 
over,  and  their  Chief,  Bitwaddad  Tadla,  was  kept  in  chains  at 
Magdala  until  he  was  released  by  Sir  Robert  Napier. 

The  Europeans  who  were  doomed  to  keep  me  company  in 
bondage  for  nearly  two  years  were  seven  in  number — five 
of  the  old  prisoners  and  two  new  ones.  The  former  were : 
Consul  Cameron,  and  Messrs.  Stern,  Rosenthal,  Kerans  and 
Pietro ;  the  latter,  my  companions,  Dr.  Blanc  and  Lieutenant 
Prideaux. 

We  reached  Magdala  in  the  afternoon  of  the  12th  of 
July,  1800,  and  after  the  ceremony  of  counting  us  had  been 
gone  through,  and  our  names  properly  registered,  we  were 
ushered  into  an  inclosure  near  the  royal  residence,  which 
belonged  to  the  chief  minister,  Pus  Ingada.  We  were  then 
shown  into  a  room  by  the  Commandant  of  Magdala,  Dajjaj 
Kidana  Maryam,  where  we  a\  ere  told  to  remain  until  further 
orders.  This  officer  had  been  appointed  by  the  King,  through 
Bitwaddad  Tadla,  to  act  as  my  Baldaraba.    The  Bitwaddad  also 


18GG.  July.  THE  CAPTIVES  FETTERED.  161 

told  me  that  the  orders  of  liis  master  were,  that  whatever  I 
required  would  be  attended  to  by  the  Commandant.  Next 
to  the  room,  or  hut,  referred  to,  there  was  another,  which  was 
also  made  over  to  us,  for  the  use  of  our  servants  and  Aito 
Samuel. 

On  our  arrival  at  the  fortress  I  found  that  Samuel's  position 
with  me  was  quite  anomalous :  the  King  had  neither  said 
that  he  was  to  be  treated  as  a  prisoner,  nor  that  he  was  to  act 
as  agent  between  him  and  me ;  but  I  was  told  confidentially 
that  he  was  sent  with  me  as  a  spy.  After  considering  the 
matter  carefully,  I  concluded  that  he  would  be  more  useful 
to  us  if  I  availed  myself  of  his  services  in  communicating 
with  the  local  authorities.  This  I  did  a  few  days  after,  by 
sending  friendly  messages  by  him  to  different  Chiefs,  which 
gained  him  and  me  their  confidence. 

On  the  16th  the  Chiefs  of  Magdala  came  to  us  and  said 
that  as  the  King  had  not  sent  definite  orders  about  our 
imprisonment,  they  were  obliged  to  be  on  the  safe  side,  and 
must  therefore  put  fetters  on  our  legs.  They  accordingly 
hammered  on  the  chains  which  they  had  brought  for  that 
purpose.  After  they  had  finished  with  my  fellow-captives 
they  began  on  me,  but  as  one  of  the  rings  broke  while 
it  was  being  riveted,  I  was  not  chained  till  next  day,  the 
17th.  The  Chiefs  tried  to  assure  me  that  the  chains  were 
not  a  sign  of  ill-will,  as  they  were  certain  that  their  master 
was  my  friend,  and  they  hoped  that  before  many  days 
had  elapsed  everything  would  be  right  again. 

When  Bitwaddad  Tadla — the  Chief  who  escorted  us  to 
Magdala — was  about  to  return  to  Debra  Tabor,  he  came  to  me 
for  a  message  to  the  King,  as  botli  ho  and  thcIMagdala  Chiefs 
judged  it  expedient  that  ho  should  not  go  back  witliout  one, 
and  tliat  a  pleasant  communication  from  me  might  induce  his 

VUL.  II.  M 


1C2  FEOM  DEBRA  TABOR  TO  MAGDALA.      Cuap.  XIX. 

Majesty  to  relent.  AVlicn  the  man  came  into  my  room  on  this 
errand,  I  felt  very  much  disposed  to  give  him  no  answer,  as 
some  of  my  fellow-captives  had  led  me  to  understand  that  he 
was  a  bad  man  at  heart,  and  held  all  Europeans  in  great 
aversion.  I  found  out  afterwards,  however,  that  he  really  in- 
tended to  do  me  a  service.  I  was  in  low  spu-its  at  the  time, 
and  not  in  the  least  disposed  to  concoct  a  hollow  message,  for 
I  began  to  think  that  our  lives  hung  ujDon  a  thread ;  so  I 
said  to  him,  "  Tell  the  King  that  my  fellow-prisoners  and  I 
have  reached  this  jail  in  safety,  and  that  when  this  act  of  his 
becomes  known,  it  will  doubtless  serve  to  increase  his  fame  ; 
especially  when  people  hear  that  a  great  Sovereign  has  im- 
prisoned a  man  merely  because  he  was  his  friend."  On  my  re- 
peating these  words  to  Samuel  he  became  ashy  pale,  and  said, 
"  I  will  certainly  not  translate  what  you  have  uttered,  but 
will  send  a  message  suitable  to  the  occasion."  He  then  turned 
towards  Bitwaddad  Tadla,  and  told  him  that  I  wished  him  to 
convey  my  best  compliments  to  the  King,  and  to  say  that,  by 
his  Majesty's  favour,  I  had  reached  Magdala  in  safety,  and 
hoped  ere  long  to  have  the  pleasm-e  of  seeing  him.  When 
the  Bituaddad  reached  the  King,  the  first  question  the  latter 
asked  was,  how  he  had  left  me,  and  what  I  had  said  on  finding 
myself  confined  to  Magdala.  His  reply  was,  that  I  felt  highly 
favoured  in  having  so  exalted  a  locality  allotted  to  me  during 
the  rainy  season,  and  one  so  near  his  Majesty's  Ilfing ;  that 
my  only  regret  was  being  so  far  from  the  royal  presence,  but 
that  the  thought  of  soon  meeting  the  King  again  was  a  source 
of  great  consolation  to  me.  Thereupon  his  Majesty  sighed 
und  merely  remarked,  "Poor  Rassam,  ho  is  still  friendly 
towards  mo,  and  when  I  go  to  IMagdala,  which  will  be  in  the 
course  of  a  few  days,  I  will  release  him  and  treat  him  better 
than  ever." 


a8GG.   July.      OUR  FIRST  QUARTERS  AT  MAGDALA.  103 

When  the  messenger,  Lih,  who  accompanied  Bitwaddad 
Tadia  from  Debra  Tabor  together  with  us,  returned  to  the 
King  after  seeing  us  cliained,  he  told  his  Majesty,  on  being 
questioned  on  the  subject,  that  I  had  not  manifested  any 
vexation,  but  had  simply  remarked  that  whatever  came  from 
the  King  was  acceptable  to  me,  from  a  gauntlet  to  a  fetter 
round  the  leg.  "Very  well,"  replied  his  Majesty,  "I  will 
soon  make  him  happy,  but  before  then  I  must  send  a  letter 
to  comfort  him;  and  remember,  Lih,  when  you  return  to 
Magdala  you  must  not  forget  to  take  a  letter  from  me  to  my 
.friend  Kassam." 

The  King  had  written  to  tlie  Chiefs  to  say  that  Eas 
I'ngada's  two  huts  should  be  occupied  by  my  fellow-captives 
and  their  servants,  and  that  another  hut  next  to  them,  belong- 
ing to  Fit-awrari  Gabrie,  should  be  appropriated  to  me,  and  that 
my  o\Nn  personal  servants  and  Aito  Samuel  should  be  pro- 
vided with  two  separate  rooms  near  me.  For  a  week,  however, 
my  seven  fellow-captives  and  I  had  to  live  day  and  night 
in  one  round  hut,  not  more  than  fifteen  feet  in  diameter; 
but  when  we  were  cliained  and  considered  safe,  the  Chiefs 
allowed  us  to  be  separated  as  follows:  I  had  the  room 
assigned  to  me  by  the  King  ;  Dr.  Blanc  and  Lieut.  Prideaux 
the  little  hut  which  had  been  provided  for  my  servant — after 
the  permission  of  the  Chiefs  was  obtained ;  and  IMessrs.  Kcrans 
and  rietro  occupied  a  part  of  the  room,  or  hut,  which  had 
l)een  turned  into  a  kitchen. 

AVhcn  the  messenger  was  sent  l)y  the  Chiefs  to  Debra 
Tabor  to  report  to  the  King  that  wo  were  safely  shaclded, 
they  directed  him  to  tell  his  IMajesty  what  they  had  said 
to  me  about  the  fetters,  in  the  hope  tliat  he  would  order  us 
to  be  relieved  of  them.  I  was  told  that  when  the  courier 
delivered  the  message,  the  King  said,   "  Do  those  asses  of 

M  2 


161  PROM  DEBRA  TABOR  TO  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XIX. 

Magdala  Chiefs  think  that  ^Ir.  Eassara  is  such  a  fool  as  to 
believe  that  any  person  could  put  him  in  chains  without  my 
special  order?  The  thing  is  now  done,  and  he  must  wait 
until  I  go  there  myself." 

When  we  left  the  King  at  Ibankab,  on  the  0th,  he  had 
intended  to  follow  in  four  or  five  days.  He  was  only  waiting 
for  the  concentration  of  his  troops,  which,  since  the  middle 
of  June,  had  been  disjiersed  in  different  parts  of  Bagaraeder, 
on  account  of  the  cholera.  He  subsequently  changed  his  mind 
and  went  back  to  Debra  Tabor.  I  was  told  that  on  two 
later  occasions  he  had  moved  in  our  direction,  but  for  some 
unknown  reason  he  returned  to  Debra  Tabor,  after  two  or 
three  days'  march. 

"When  we  were  sent  to  Magdala  the  King  had  ordered — 
so  I  was  told — that  I  should  be  allowed  to  have  all  my 
servants  with  me,  but  tliat  my  fellow-captives  should  only 
have  one  female  servant  each,  in  accordance  w'ith  the  dis- 
cipline of  the  fortress.  I  Avas  also  to  be  allowed  rations  from 
his  own  establishment ;  but,  as  for  the  rest,  he  did  not  care 
what  became  of  them.  The  Cliiefs,  who  were  very  exact  in 
obeying  every  command  from  their  master,  were  somewhat 
reluctant  to  include  my  companions  in  the  order  about  the 
rations  and  servants.  Samuel,  however,  made  their  con- 
sciences easy  at  once  by  assuring  them  that  we  three  had 
come  to  Abyssinia  on  the  same  erranrl,  as  friends  of  their 
King,  and  that  consequently  we  were  all  one,  and  that  when- 
ever the  King  spoke  of  me  he  meant  the  three  combined. 
The  rations,  whicli  consisted  of  a  few  loaves  of  bread  not 
enougli  for  five  persons,  I  declined ;  but  a  small  jar  of  tej\ 
generally  so  sour  as  to  be  undrinkable,  I  accepted  for 
some  time,  to  please  the  Chiefs.    When  honey  became  scarce^ 


•CiiAP.  XIX.  OUR  QUAETERS  ENLARGED.  165 

and  the  communication  between  the  royal  camp  and  Magdala 
was  interrupted,  the  t^  was  stopped. 

During  our  incarceration  at  Magdala  the  Chiefs  never 
failed  to  seud  me,  on  every  great  Abyssinian  feast,  one  or 
two  cows,  in  accordance  with  orders  from  their  master.  On 
many  occasions  when  they  were  badly  off  for  cattle  they  felt 
bound  to  present  me  with  the  usual  offering,  though  they 
had  none  to  spare  for  the  royal  establishment.  The  Chiefs 
became  more  friendly  every  day,  and  never  failed  to  render 
us  a  variety  of  services,  whenever  they  could  do  so  safely. 
They  soon  allowed  extra  servants  to  our  fellow-captives,  and 
before  many  months  had  passed  they  enlarged  our  iuclosure 
to  nearly  three  times  its  original  extent,  and  permitted  us  to 
build  within  it  as  many  rooms  for  our  servants  as  we  could. 
After  a  while,  they  permitted  Consul  Cameron  to  have  a 
hut  of  his  own,  and  ultimately  they  allowed  Mr.  Stern  to 
occupy  a  separate  apartment  day  and  night.  They  never 
interfered  with  the  ingress  or  egress  of  our  messeugers, 
except  on  a  few  occasions,  when  they  thought  it  advisable, 
for  tlieir  safety  and  ours,  to  show  that  they  were  on  the 
alert. 

Aito  Samuel  never  once  hesitated  to  serve  me,  even  at  the 
risk  i)i  his  life.  He  was  tliu  lirst  who  undertook  to  scud  our 
letters  to  the  coast,  by  one  of  his  own  servants,  with  the 
report  of  our  incarceration  at  ]\ragdala.  Being  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  Arabic  and  Amharic  he  was  on  all  occasions 
of  material  service  to  me.  As  he  was  still  styled  the  King's 
Laldaiabu,  Chiefs,  messengers  and  others  could  vi>it  him 
without  giving  rise  either  to  jealousy  or  fear.  Having  always 
kept  open  house  for  me  when  wo  were  provided  with  ratioHs 
from   the  King,  I  thought   it  advisable  to  allow  him  to  con- 


166  FROM  DEBRA  TABOR  TO  mAGDALA.      Chap.  XIX. 

tiniic  the  same  course  of  hospitality,  notwithstanding  our 
altered  circumstances.  His  frequent  entertainment  of  Abys- 
sinian parties,  on  my  behalf,  enabled  me  to  keep  up  former- 
intimacies  and  to  cultivate  new  acquaintances  among  the 
influential  natives,  whose  friendship  proved  of  essential  ser- 
vice to  us  during  our  imprisonment  at  Magdala. 


Chap.  XX.  THE  MAGDALA  COUNCIL.  1G7 


CHAPTER    XX. 

OUR  GUARDIANS  AT  MAGDALA. 

The  Mdgdala  Council  —  Ras  Kidana  Maryam,  the  Commandant  —  Eas 
Bisawwir  —  Bitwaddad  Damash  —  Bitwaddad  Hailo — Bitwaddad  "Wasi 
—  Bitwdddad  Bahri  —  Dajjaj  Gojje  —  Bitwaddad  Bakal  —  Bitwaddad 
Hailo,  of  Chalga  —  Bitw^idad  Dhafar  —  Our  Warders  :— Aba-Falck  — 
Basha  Bisdwwir  —  Yashalaka  Adam  —  Yashdlaka  Warke. 

Before  proceeding  with  the  narrative  of  our  captivity  at 
Mairdala,  I  must  introduce  the  reader  to  the  different 
Members  of  Council  \\ho  kept  watch  and  ward  over  us 
during  our  incarceration.  Formerly,  Magdala  had  only  a 
Commandant,  who  was  charged  with  the  civil  and  military 
administration  of  the  place,  but  when  the  King  removed 
the  political  prisoners  from  the  Sar  Amba,  in  Chalga,  to  that 
fortress,  he  appointed  nine  Chiefs  to  various  posts  there, 
who  were  to  constitute  a  Council — the  Commandant,  how- 
ever, retaining  summary  power,  subject  only  to  the  superior 
authority  of  the  Sovereign.  All  the  Chiefs  were  to  be  con- 
sulted on  ordinary  matters,  but  more  important  subject- 
were  to  be  referred  to  five  only,  who  were  privileged  to 
know  the  King's  secrets.  On  our  arrival  at  IMagdala,  all  the 
Members  of  Council,  including  the  Commandant,  held  the 
honorary  title  of  "  Dajazmatsh ;"  but  shortly  after  they  had 
become  our  jailors,  his  Majesty  raised  the  Commandant  to 
the  rank  of  "Eas,"  and  the  other  nine  Chiefs  to  that  of 
"  Bitwaddad." 

Has  Kidana  Maryam,  the  Commandant  and  President  of 


168  OUR  GUARDIANS  AT  MAGDALA.         Chap.  XX. 

the  Council,  was  an  hereditary  Chief  of  Bagameder,  and  in 
the  time  of  Eas  'Ali  he,  ^vith  the  other  leading  men  of  his 
family,  aided  the  Chiefs  of  Gojjam  against  the  Galla  ascend- 
ancy, which  Eas  'Ali  represented ;  but  when  Theodore 
appeared  in  the  field,  they  forsook  their  former  allies  and 
attached  themselves  to  him.  He  was  very  gentlemanly  in 
manners,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  humane  and  just 
man,  and  would  never  allow  an  act  of  cruelty  to  be  perpe- 
trated, unless  ordered  by  the  King.  Apathy  and  indecision 
were  his  greatest  faults,  and  he  was  never  known  to  settle  a 
case,  unless  backed  by  the  Bitwaddads  Bisawwir  or  Dam  ash, 
A\  ho  were  far  more  energetic.  Had  he  wished  to  rebel  against 
the  King,  he  might  have  done  so  easily,  as  he  was  beloved 
by  every  one  in  the  fortress,  and  held  the  command  of  five 
hundred  Lancers,  forming  one-third  of  the  garrison.  As  his 
Majesty  wished  to  destroy  his  native  province  of  Bagameder, 
and  was  afraid  to  leave  ]\Iagdala  in  his  hands  the  meanwhile, 
he  threw  him  into  chains,  on  the  pretext  that  he  had  heard 
of  his  having  held  communication  with  Menilek,  King  of 
Shoa.  The  jioor  man  ended  his  days  in  prison,  at  Debra 
Tabor,  and  when  on  the  point  of  death  he  called  all  his 
relations,  and  in  their  presence  appointed  me  his  executor. 
He  wrote  me  a  letter  just  before  he  expired,  assuring  me 
that  God  had  put  it  into  his  heart  that  I  should  be  saved. 
He  besought  me,  when  I  was  safe,  to  look  after  his  wife  and 
children.  This  poor  man  behaved  very  civilly  to  my  fellow- 
captives  and  myself  while  he  remained  in  charge,  and  never 
failed  to  do  us  an  act  of  kindness  whenever  it  lay  in  his 
power. 

BiTWADDAD  Bie^AWWiK,  tlic  noxt  in  order,  was  a  nephew  to 
Theodore,  and  commanddl  lialf  llie  Musketeers  of  the  gar- 
rison   consisting  of  500  men.     AVlien  Eas  Kidana  Maryam 


Chap.  XX.  BITWADDAD  BISAWWIR.  169 

was  removed,  the  King  made  Bisawwir  a  "  Eas,"  appointed 
him  Commandant  in  his  room,  and  placed  under  his  orders 
the  500  Lancers  of  his  predecessor;  hence,  as  the  nominal 
strength  of  the  garrison  was  reckoned  at  1,000  Lancers  and 
500  Musketeers,  one-half  the  entire  number  was  subject  to 
his  control.  Bisawwir  was  a  native  of  Infaraz,  lying  between 
Bagjimeder  and  Dambea,  and  his  father,  who  was  the 
CJbief  of  the  place,  had  married  Theodore's  aunt — another 
daughter  of  the  Eas  of  Ambara-Seint.  His  family  were  so 
wealthy  in  cattle  and  land  that  hundreds  of  poor  people 
resorted  to  them  for  alms.  The  district  where  they  resided 
was  reputed  for  rearing  the  finest  vines  in  Abyssinia,  and  its 
wine  was  sent  to  Gondar  and  other  places  for  sale.  He  was 
so  much  given  to  chanting  psalms  that  he  was  nicknamed 
*•  Dabtera,"  or  Clerk,  and  so  transported  with  the  services  of 
the  Church  that  he  danced  at  them,  in  public,  like  the  priests 
and  monks.  He  was  the  first  Chief  sent  to  Magdala  after  its 
capture  from  the  Gallas,  and  he  retained  command  of  the 
tr(jops  until  a  few  days  before  the  place  fell  into  our  hands, 
ilc  befriended  me  and  my  fellow-captives  from  our  first  arrival 
there  until  we  left  on  the  11th  of  April,  1868,  and  never  on 
any  occasion  refused  me  a  favour,  unless  he  judged  it  unsafe 
to  grant  it.  The  King  had  such  perfect  confidence  in  him 
that  he  made  him  overseer  to  his  female  establishment,  which 
<lelicate  ollice  he  discharged  faithfully,  never  failing  to  keep 
the  inmates  in  order,  yet  at  the  same  time  acceding  to  their 
wishes,  provided  they  were  not  extravagant.  In  contrast 
to  poor  Kidaua  Maryam,  Bisdwwir  was  very  easy  on  the  score 
of  responsibility.  On  one  occasion,  a  doorkeeper  of  ours — of 
whom  more  anon — seized  a  note  which  had  been  sent  to  our 
quarters,  for  ^\v.  Eosenthal,  from  one  of  tlie  native  prisoners. 
As  it  was  contrary  to  the  discipline  of  the  fortress  to  allow 


170  OUR  GUARDIANS  AT  MIGDALA.        Chap.  XX.. 

any  communication  between  the  prisoners,  the  meddling 
doorkeepers — to  spite  Mr.  Kosenthal,  I  believe — took  the 
note  and  its  bearer  before  the  Eas.  Kidana  Maryam,  who  held 
that  position  at  the  time,  was  quite  beN\ildered,  not  knowing 
how  to  dispose  of  the  case;  for,  on  the  one  hand,  he  was 
loth  to  do  us  any  injury,  and,  on  the  other,  he  was  afraid  to 
hush  it  up,  or  even  to  reprimand  the  tell-tale  for  having 
brought  so  trumpery  a  matter  to  his  notice.  In  this  dilemma 
he  called  in  the  assistance  of  Bisawwir,  and  asked  him  to 
dispose  of  the  case,  without  involving  him  in  trouble.  The 
Avary  councillor  remarked  that,  in  the  first  place,  he  must  see 
what  the  note  contained — which,  by  the  way,  the  Eas  had. 
been  too  timid  to  read,  fearing  that  it  might  reveal  treason.. 
On  perusing  the  note,  Bisawwir  summoned  the  doorkeepers, 
and  gave  them  a  severe  rebuke  for  having  made  so  much  fuss 
about  a  trumpery  piece  of  paj^er  which  had  come  from  a 
beggar.  "  Tell  me  the  truth,  you  blockheads,"  he  continued* 
"have  you  never  yourselves  tasted  the  money  of  the  Franks 
that  you  should  be  so  punctilious  in  the  matter  of  alms  ?' 
Take  this  paper  and  eat  it,  and  do  not  bother  us  any  more  about 
such  nonsense.  Does  not  our  Master  know  that  Aito  Kassam 
is  liberal,  and  that  those  who  are  in  want  beg  of  him  ?  "  On 
hearing  of  this  incident,  I  sent  for  the  mischief-makers  and 
asked  what  they  had  to  say  for  themselves.  They  swore 
solemnly  that  they  had  intended  no  harm,  knowing  that  what 
woidd  liurt  my  fellow-captives  would  hurt  me  also;  but  the 
note,  they  said,  had  been  brought  in  some  vegetables,  as  if 
it  were  to  be  smuggled  in,  and  that  as  one  of  our  Portuguese 
servants  had  snatched  the  vegetables  from  the  hand  of  the 
messengers,  the  note  fell  out  in  the  presence  of  a  number 
of  strangers  who  were  standing  near  the  door ;  consequently, 
they  were  obliged  to  notice  it,  and  to  let  it  be  known  0})enly 


CiiAP.  XX.  BITWADDAD  DAMASH.  171 

that  it  was  liarmless,  as  it  bad  proved  to  be.  "  How  cau  you 
charge  us  with  being  mischief-makers,"  they  added,  "  when 
you  know,  Sir,  that  we  ourselves  have  brought  you  a  number 
of  letters,  and  passed  your  messengers  in  and  out  on  many 
occasions?  For  the  sake  of  our  lives,  we  entreat  you  to 
tell  your  people  to  be  cautious;  for  if  this  Indian  had  not 
snatched  the  vegetables  from  the  Abyssinian,  the  note  would 
not  have  fallen  out ;  and  if  the  Abyssinian  had  brought  the 
note  to  us,  and  asked  us  to  deliver  it  to  you,  we  should  not 
have  hesitated  to  do  so,  since  you  are  a  friend  of  our  King, 
who  would  not  be  angry  with  us  for  such  an  act.  On  the 
other  hand,  what  would  he  say  if  we  allowed  his  enemies, 
the  priests  [Missionaries],  to  correspond  with  the  native 
prisoners?" 

The  third  Chief  in  rank  and  importance,  but  pre-eminent 
for  his  temerity,  was  Bitwaddad  DamAsh,  one  of  the  King's 
fathers-in-law,  and  a  native  of  the  same  province  as  Theo- 
dore, who  had  also  been  brought  up  with  him  almost  from 
childhood.  He  was  one  of  the  five  Privy  Councillors,  and 
commanded  the  other  half  of  the  Musketeers — 250  men — 
of  the  garrison.  It  was  also  his  duty  to  sleep  at  the  Treasu  ry , 
and  see  that  it  was  well  guarded  at  night.  This  man  ^\■as 
generally  disliked  both  by  Europeans  and  natives;  for  my 
own  part,  I  always  found  hiui  amicably  disposed,  and  he 
never  failed  to  support  me  in  the  Council,  whenever  I  asked 
for  anything  to  add  to  our  comfort.  I  had  been  given  to 
understand  that  liis  relationship  to  Theodore  gave  him  a  high 
standing  in  the  royal  favour,  and  that  his  Majesty  had  com- 
missioned him  to  report  to  him  all  that  my  fellow-captives 
and  I  did.  His  house  adjoined  ours,  and  none  of  our  messen- 
gers or  servants  could  come  in  or  go  out  without  passing 
his  door.     He  had  sent  his  son — a  lad  about  twelve  years 


172  OUR  GUARDIANS  AT  MAGDALA.        Chap.  XX. 

old — to  visit  me  on  our  first  arrival,  and  continued  the 
practice  almost  daily,  so  that  I  was  enabled,  through  him, 
to  keep  up  a  regular  communication  with  his  father,  and  by 
degrees  we  became  very  friendly,  although,  owing  to  nis  ill- 
ness, we  did  not  see  each  other  for  nearly  six  months  after 
I  reached  Magdala.  Hearing  that  we  were  badly  off  for 
money,  he  twdce  sent  us  cows  and  bread,  and  offered  to 
get  me  anything  from  the  Treasury,  if  I  needed  it.  On 
his  recovery,  he  came  to  call  upon  me,  and  as  he  knew  a 
little  Arabic  I  could  speak  to  him  without  the  interven- 
tion of  an  interpreter,  so  that,  in  course  of  time,  we  became 
fast  friends.  One  morning  he  took  a  solemn  oath  that  he 
would  stand  by  me  unto  death,  and  I  am  bound  to  testify 
that  he  kept  his  word,  and  never  once  betrayed  me.  He  was 
the  only  Chief  who,  for  a  w  hole  year,  had  the  courage  to  come 
and  see  me  alone,  without  being  attended  by  a  subordinate 
to  hear  what  passed  between  us ;  in  fact,  he  considered  it 
beyond  the  power  of  any  Abyssinian  to  injure  him.  He  told 
me,  on  one  occasion,  to  my  great  surprise,  that  ho  was  aware 
of  my  communications  with  the  coast,  and  he  actually 
gave  me  the  names  of  the  messengers  and  the  time  they 
had  started.  However,  lie  bade  me  not  fear,  since  he  had 
sworn  not  to  betray  my  secrets ;  nevertheless,  he  advised  me 
to  use  the  greatest  caution,  lest  the  letters  might  be  seized 
at  the  gate.  Thenceforward,  I  always  sent  him  a  private 
message  whenever  I  intended  to  dispatch  messengers  to  the 
<joast.  When  this  fact  came  to  Samuel's  knowledge,  about  a 
year  afterwards,  the  poor  man  nearly  ftiinted,  for  he  believed 
that  it  would  be  safer  to  trust  Satan  himself  than  Bitwaddad 
Damash;  and  when  I  divulged  to  him  another  secret — namely, 
that  I  had  intrusted  tliat  Chief  with  my  pai)ers — the  hair  of 
•Samuel's  head  nearly  stood  on  end  with  consternation.    None 


Chap.  XX.  BITWADDAD  DAMASH.  173^ 

of  the  Chiefs  at  Magdala  rendered  such  good  service,  through 
me,  to  my  fellow-ca])tives  as  Damash.  He  always  took  our 
part  before  the  Council,  whenever  anything  connected  with  us 
was  brought  under  discussion.  Twice  while  I  was  phiying  whist 
at  night  with  Bhinc  and  Prideaux,  he  came  near  our  fence  and 
called  out  to  us  to  be  on  our  guard,  as  a  number  of  lights  had 
been  seen  on  the  heights  at  Dawuut,  which  might  belong  to 
the  royal  camp — the  King  was  then  expected  at  Magdala — 
or  to  a  great  Eas  coming  on  important  business.  It  hap- 
pened to  be  the  latter  on  botli  occasions,  and  through  this 
timely  notice  we  were  able  to  dispose  of  all  papers  likely  to 
compromise  us,  in  case  their  seizure  had  been  ordered  by  his 
3[ajesty.  Moreover,  whenever  a  messenger  arrived  from  the 
King,  he  was  the  first  to  report  to  me  that  all  was  "  right." 
(Jn  my  expressing  a  wish  that  Blanc  and  Prideaux's  hut 
might  be  enlarged,  he  it  was  who  tokl  the  Council  that  there- 
could  be  no  harm  in  allowing  my  companions,  who  were  the 
'•  friends  of  the  King,"  to  increase  the  size  of  their  abode ;  and 
he  himself  undertook,  with  the  assistance  of  his  Musketeers, 
to  pull  down  the  old  building  and  to  erect  a  larger  in  its 
place.  When  I  wished  that  Consul  Cameron  and  Mr.  Stern 
might  have  separate  huts  to  live  and  sleep  in,  Damash 
and  Ras  Bisawwir  were  the  only  members  of  the  Council  who 
sanctioned  the  arrangement.  In  fact,  from  the  outset,  ho 
never  shrank  from  doing  us  a  good  turn,  sparing  us  through- 
out much  trouble  ;  and  it  was  probably  through  his  inter- 
vention that  the  life  of  Consul  Cameron's  messenger  was 
saved  when  he  was  seized  in  Dalanta,  in  IVIarch,  1868,  while 
tlio  King  was  on  his  way  to  Magdala.  His  IMajosty  had 
given  strict  orders  prohibiting  all  communication  between 
his  camp  and  the  latter  fortress,  and  any  one  caught  in  the 
act  of  disobeying  was  to  be  executed  on  the  sjiot.     Mr.  Flad 


174  OUR  GUARDIANS  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XX. 

had  also  written  and  warned  us  against  sending  any  one  to 
the  royal  camp ;  but  the  advice  was  unheeded :  a  man  was 
sent,  and  he  was  seized  at  the  outpost.  Luckily,  Bit^^addad 
Damash  was  in  command  of  the  outer  guard  on  the  occasion, 
and,  finding  that  the  messenger  belonged  to  our  j^arty,  he 
told  the  sentry  that  the  man  was  his  servant  and  was  not 
to  be  meddled  with.  Damash's  wife  and  son,  as  also  his 
brothers,  who  M-ere  royal  couriers,  called  upon  me  frequently, 
in  the  most  open  and  unreserved  manner — with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  lady  who,  according  to  Abyssinian  etiquette,  was 
debarred  from  making  visits  during  the  daytime.  Unfor- 
tunately, Damash  was  of  a  quarrelsome  disposition,  and 
(luring  most  of  our  stay  at  Magdala  he  was  either  in  hot 
water  with  his  wives — he  had  two — or  with  Samuel.  No 
sooner  had  I  settled  one  case  of  disagreement  between  them 
than  another  broke  out ;  but  tho  task  of  reconciling  the 
husband  with  his  consorts  was  easy  compared  with  that  of 
making  matters  up  between  Damash  and  Samuel.  Some- 
times they  would  not  sjieak  to  each  other  for  a  couple  of 
months,  and  then,  in  my  presence,  would  revile  one  another 
at  the  top  of  their  voices.  One  day  the  quarrel  between 
the  husband  and  one  of  his  two  wives  came  to  a  crisis, 
for  the  lady  left  him,  and  took  refuge  in  the  house  of  a 
man  whom  she  knew  he  hated.  This  step  on  her  part 
occasioned  no  little  scandal  on  the  mountain,  insomuch 
that  even  Samuel  begged  me  to  interfere,  especially  as  the 
lady  had  threatened  to  expose  all  lier  luisband's  proceedings 
to  the  King,  and  Samuel,  being  on  ratlicr  too  intimate  terms 
with  the  family,  feared  that  he  also  might  be  compromised. 
The  Commandant  and  his  colleagues  also  urged  me,  as  a 
friend  of  tho  parties,  to  reprimand  Damash  for  liis  bad 
behaviour  to  his  wife,  A\hom  he  had  neglected  and  ahnost 


-Chap.  XX.  BITWADDAD  HAILO.  175 

starved,  and,  if  possible,  to  induce  the  runagate  to  return 
home.  I  accordingly  appointed  a  petty  Chief,  accompanied 
by  one  of  my  interpreters,  to  wait  upon  the  lady  on  my 
behalf,  and  upon  my  undertaking  to  be  her  guardian  and  to 
keep  Damash  in  order,  she  returned  to  her  husband  and 
promised  to  bo  obedient  to  him  in  future.  Before  concluding 
this  sketch  I  must  mention  one  among  many  of  Damash's 
acts  of  kindly  consideration  for  us.  Knowing  that  my  fellow- 
captives  and  I  only  ate  wheateu  bread,  he  sowed  a  field  of 
corn  for  our  special  use,  and  had  the  produce  stored  in  his 
granary,  in  case  we  might  need  it  during  the  winter  of  1868. 
Fortunately,  we  did  not  require  it,  but  the  British  force  had 
the  benefit  of  it  when  they  took  jjosscssion  of  Magdala. 

The  fourth  member  of  the  Privy  Council  was  Bitwaddad 
Hailo,  a  man  of  good  fomily,  who,  to  use  a  fomiliar  phrase, 
had  more  sense  in  his  little  finger  than  all  the  other  Chiefs 
combined  had  in  their  brains.  He  was  brother  to  Lij 
Tasamma,  the  Chief  of  the  escort  appointed  by  the  King  to 
receive  the  Mission  at  Chalga,  wlien  we  reached  that  jJace 
from  Matamma,  and  the  eldest  son  of  "Wiiizero  Dcnko,  the 
lady  who  entertained  us  at  Wandigo.  On  our  arrival  at 
Magdala,  I  was  apprised  that  he  was  one  of  the  spies  selected 
by  the  King  to  watch  over  my  movements  and  those  of  the 
other  captives,  European  and  native.  I  accordingly  lost  no 
time  in  endeavouring  to  secure  his  interest.  That  was  an 
easy  task,  for  I  noticed  that  when  we  were  fettered,  he  not 
only  tried  to  select  the  lightest  fetters  Ibr  mo,  but  manifested 
much  emotion  wlien  they  were  being  riveted  on.  lie  had 
heard  that  I  was  on  the  most  friendly  terms  with  his  family, 
and  his  master's  treachery  towards  us  had  oxcited  his  intense 
disgust.  lie  and  Bitwiidda  1  Tadla,  the  Chief  who  escorted  us 
to  Mtigdala,  met  on  the  night  of  the  12th  of  July — the  day 


176  OUR  GUARDIANS  AT  MAG  DAL  A.         Chap.  XX. 

Ave  wore  brought  into  the  fortress — and  both  spoke  despoud- 
ingly  of  my  fate  and  that  of  my  fellow-captives.  Tadla 
declared  that  he  felt  so  utterly  degraded  by  the  duty  which 
had  been  allotted  to  him,  that  had  his  wife  and  children 
not  been  in  the  King's  power,  he  would  have  taken  us  to 
Wadala,  after  crossing  the  Bashilo,  and  there  set  us  free. 
He  told  Bitwaddad  Hailo  that  he  ouglit  to  use  his  best  efforts 
to  befriend  us,  inasmuch  as  I  deserved  every  good  man's 
sympathy.  When  Hailo  heard  that  we  were  badly  off  for 
money,  he  sent  and  requested  me  to  allow  him  to  present  me 
with  five  hundred  dollars,  knowing,  he  said,  that  as  a 
stranger  I  should  find  some  difficulty  in  obtaining  funds 
during  the  rainy  season.  Eas  Kidana  Maryam  also  sent  me 
a  similar  message ;  but  I  declined  both  offers,  with  my  best 
thanks,  stating  that  I  was  not  in  immediate  want.  In  order 
to  put  the  friendship  of  the  former  to  the  test,  I  asked  him 
to  assist  me  in  procuring  money  from  Matamma,  knowing 
that  he  might  easily  do  so  through  his  brothers,  who  were 
Chiefs  of  Chalga,  unless  fear  of  the  King's  displeasure  stood 
in  liis  way.  He  acceded  to  the  reqnest  at  once,  and  would 
not  even  allow  me  to  write  to  my  agent  at  Matamma  to 
recompense  the  messenger,  whom  he  sent  with  my  letter, 
for  his  trouble.  The  man  returned  in  due  time,  bringing 
the  funds  applied  for,  and  it  was  only  after  a  long  debate 
that  he  consented  to  my  presenting  him  with  a  few  dollars. 
The  imprisonment  of  his  bosom  friend,  Kas  Kidana  Maryam, 
the  old  Commandant,  increased  his  antipathy  to  the  King, 
and  from  that  time  forward  ho  began  to  concert  measures  to 
get  out  of  ]\[agdala,  and  to  assist  in  effecting  my  escape. 
For  more  than  a  year  he  was  jjrcpiircd  to  let  me  down  by  a 
liKhler,  with  one  attendant,  and  scud  nic  oith<>r  to  Slioa  or 
Lasta,  to  bo  conveyed  from  thence  to  the  coast.     On  my 


M:hap.  XX.  BITWADDAD  WAST.  177 

Tepresenting  to  him  tliat  I  could  not  possibly  avail  myself  of 
his  kind  offer,  leaving  my  fellow-captives  behind,  he  con- 
sulted with  the  parties  who  were  to  have  cooperated  in  the 
attempt,  and  they  agreed  to  include  Dr.  Blanc  and  Lieut. 
Prideaux,  but  not  a  man  more,  otherwise  detection  would 
be  inevitable,  and  all  would  fall  in  one  common  mas- 
sacre. As  I  gave  him  to  understand  that  it  was  utterly  out 
■of  the  question  for  me  to  take  advantage  of  his  kindness,  at 
the  risk  of  the  life  even  of  one  of  our  Indian  followers,  the 
subject  was  dropped.  When  the  King  came  to  3Iagdala,  in 
March,  18G8,  Bitwaddad  Plailo  was  in  such  dread  of  encoun- 
tering him,  that  he  escaped  by  a  ladder,  hung  over  a  pre- 
cipice. The  way  he  managed  was  this :  his  mother  had 
come  to  see  him  at  the  time,  and  was  then  at  Salamge  — 
the  plateau  below  Magdala — whither  he  sent  his  wife  and 
child  to  visit  her,  and  by  a  preconcerted  arrangement  the 
three  met  him  during  the  night,  just  as  he  effected  his 
descent  from  the  heights,  and  then  all  proceeded  together  to 
join  the  Gallas.  On  the  arrival  of  the  British  force,  he  took 
refuge  with  Sir  Robert  Napier,  and  according  to  the  latest 
reports  he  was  admiuistcring  the  government  of  his  native 
province,  Wandige,  and  the  adjoining  districts.  Bitwaddad 
Ilailo  used  his  utmost  endeavours  while  we  were  at  ^lagdala 
to  induce  me  to  marry,  offering,  on  gaining  my  consent,  to 
send  for  his  niece,  the  accomplished  belle  of  Wandige,  and 
to  present  her  to  me  as  a  bride.  3[y  excuse  was,  that  a  man 
in  fetters  could  hardly  think  of  offering  himself  as  a  bride- 
groom. It  was  hinted  to  me  at  the  time  that  the  suggestion 
originated  with  the  King,  who  would  have  been  delighted 
had  I  fallen  into  any  such  entanglement. 

BitwAddau  WAsi,  the  fifth  member  of  the  Trivy 
Council,  was  a  Kamaut,  and  a  native  of  Cbalga.     He  was  a 

VOL.  II.  N 


178  OTJR  GUARDIANS  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XX.. 

man  of  imblemisliecl  character,  and  so  devoted  to  the  King 
that  he  regarded  the  least  reflection  on  any  of  the  royal  acts 
as  akin  to  blasphemy.  He  was  always  forward  to  do  me  a 
kindness,  provided  that  it  in  no  way  interfered  with  his 
loyalty  to  Theodore ;  but  as  his  Majesty  always  designated 
me  as  his  "  friend  "  in  his  letters  to  the  Council,  and  directed 
that  all  its  members  should  visit  me  and  attend  to  my  wants, 
he  was  not  backward  to  stretch  a  point  now  and  then  to 
serve  me.  So  averse  was  he  from  receiving  presents  from 
any  of  the  prisoners,  that  before  sending  him  the  customary 
contribution  of  a  cow,  bread  and  mead,  towards  the  wake 
which  he  was  about  to  give  in  memory  of  his  mother,  whose 
death  had  just  been  reported  from  Chalga,  I  deemed  it 
prudent  to  ask  whether  the  offering  would  be  agreeable 
to  him.  His  message  in  reply  was,  that  he  could  receive 
nothing  fi'om  me  while  I  was  a  prisoner  and  he  my  warden, 
begging  me  at  the  same  time  not  to  send  him  anything  ;  if 
I  did,  he  would  be  compelled  to  return  it,  however  much  it 
might  pain  him  to  do  so.  When  the  mourning  was  over,  he 
came  to  apologize  for  having  declined  my  proffered  gift, 
praying  that  I  would  not  consider  the  refusal  as  indicative  of 
ill-feeling  on  his  part,  inasmuch  as  he  entertained  a  high 
regard  for  me.  Conscientious  scruples,  he  said,  forbade  his 
receiving  any  donation  from  a  prisoner;  "but,"  he  added, 
"  lest  you  may  still  misunderstand  me,  I  will  not  leave  your 
house  until  you  let  me  know  how  I  can  serve  you,  in  order 
that  I  may  have  an  opportunity  of  proving  the  sincerity  of 
my  friendship  to  my  son's  friend."  His  son,  Lij  Tasho,  one 
of  our-  Chalga  escort,  had  written  to  secure  his  father's 
good  ofTiccs  for  me  when  we  Avere  transferred  to  Magdala. 
I  accordingly  asked  him  to  procure  me  a  supply  of  cash  from 
our  agent  at  Matdmma,  A\hich  he  undertook  to  do  at  once,. 


CuAP.  XX.  BITWADDAD  BAIIRL  17i> 

but  before  the  messenger  whom  he  dispatched  could  return, 
the  whole'  country  between  the  Lake  and  3Iagdala  had  risen 
in  rebellion,  and  although  the  man  made  two  efforts  to  join 
us,  he  found  it  impracticable  to  do  so  safely,  with  a  large 
sum  of  money  in  his  possession.  One  day  in  Easter,  Samuel 
sent  him  a  bottle  of  arrack  and  an  European  shirt;  the 
Bitwaddad  returned  them  immediately,  and  wished  to  know 
why  I  had  acted  as  I  had  done,  after  the  explanation  which 
he  had  given  me  of  his  scruples  in  such  matters.  The 
articles  were  sent  into  my  room  an  ith  the  rude  message,  "  Did 
I  not  tell  you  that  you  were  a  prisoner  ?  "  As  Samuel  had 
taken  this  stop  without  my  knowledge,  I  reprimanded  him 
for  it,  and  insisted  on  his  going  forthwith  to  explain  to 
Bitwadda'l  Wasi  how  the  case  stood.  Samuel  went  to  the 
Council,  which  was  then  convened  to  discuss  the  payments 
due  to  the  soldiers,  and  complained  of  the  message  which  the 
Kamant  Bit\Naddad  had  sent  me.  Thereupon  the  members 
came  to  me  in  a  body,  begging  me  to  overlook  the  rudeness 
of  their  colleague,  who  was  then  sent  for  and  made  to 
apologize,  and  to  declare  that  I  was  not  a  prisoner,  but  the 
King's  "  friend."  We  were  on  the  best  terms  ever  after, 
until  we  parted  on  the  ca2)ture  of  Magdala. 

BitwAddad  Baiiri,  the  sixth  member  of  Council,  was 
a  native  of  Agowmeder.  His  sole  business  was  to  take 
charge  of  the  Treasuiy,  and  to  see  that  nothing  was  allowed  to 
leave  it  without  an  order  from  the  King.  He  was  an  upright 
man,  never  intermeddled  in  matters  which  did  not  concern  him, 
and  was  never  known  to  utter  an  unkind  word  to  any  one. 
He  was  particularly  gracious  to  me,  and  although  he  had 
presented  mo  with  cows  on  several  occasions,  he  absolutely 
refused  any  return  until  the  approach  of  the  King,  when  ho 
accepted  a  tilk  shirt  from  me  for  himself,  and  a  suitable  dress 

N  2 


180  OUR  GUARDIANS  AT  :\rACTDALA.  Chap.  XX. 

for  his  ^Aife.  Bitwaddad  Giiinti  Bisawwir,  auotlier  member 
of  the  Council,  was  associated  with  him  in  the  charge  over 
the  Treasury;  and  there  was  a  Deputy-Treasurer  besides, 
named  Bajirwand  Wald-Tukle,  a  native  of  Tigre. 

Dajjaj  Gojj£,  the  next  member,  was  a  native  of  Waggara. 
He  was  an  inoffensive  old  man,  much  addicted  to  mead,  and 
consequently  very  much  attached  to  those  who  treated  him 
to  the  favourite  beverage.  I  was  on  very  friendly  terms 
with  his  wife,  and,  although  we  never  met,  compliments 
passed  between  us  every  day  ;  but  as  she  resided  within  the 
precincts  of  the  Ilfing,  she  was  unable  to  pay  me  a  visit, 
because  those  who  are  privileged  to  hold  intercourse  with  the 
royal  concubines  are  not  allowed  to  associate  with  strangers. 
The  Dajjaj  commanded  500  Lancers  of  the  garrison,  and 
although  he  held  an  important  post  at  Magdala,  the  King, 
for  some  reason  or  other,  had  omitted  him  when  he  raised 
his  colleagues  to  the  rank  of  "  Bitwaddad." 

The  eighth  member  was  Bitwaddad  Bakal,  another  harm- 
less old  man,  whose  only  fault  was  excessive  devotion  to  his 
master.  He  was  one  of  the  guardians  of  the  Ufa^g,  charged 
with  seeing  that  the  eunuchs  attended  to  their  duties  and 
did  not  neglect  their  royal  mistresses.  He  was  very  intimate 
with  me,  and,  from  the  date  of  our  arrival  at  IMagdala  until 
our  release,  his  wife,  daughter  and  niece  were  among  my 
constant  visitors.  He  did  all  in  lii.s  power  to  oblige  me  in 
every  way,  and  w  henevcr  he  heard  that  wc  were  in  ^\  ant  of 
money,  he  presented  us  witli  a  cow.  He  disliked  the 
Bishop  exceedingly,  holding  that  as  a  subject  it  did  not 
become  him  to  abuse  the  "  Lord's  Anointed."  He  stuck  to 
Theodore  to  the  last,  and  when  I  entered  Magdala  with 
Sir  Robert  Napier,  after  the  capture  of  the  place,  I  saw 
him  in  the  agonies  of  death,  near  the  gate,  where  he  had 


CiiAP.  XX.  OUn  WARDERS.  ISl 

been  shot.  I  caused  his  body  to  be  made  over  to  hi>  family 
for  interment,  and  dei)l()red  the  poor  ohi  man's  fate  the  more 
for  having  sacriticed  his  life  in  the  cause  of  one  who  was 
unworthy  of  such  unswervinf:^  attachment. 

The  exclusive  duty  of  13itwaddad  Hailo,  a  native  of 
Chalga,  the  ninth  member  of  Council,  was  to  watch  over  the 
native  prisoners,  in  conjunction  with  Bitwaddads  AYasi  and 
the  other  Ilailo.  Though  timid  and  quiet,  he  succeeded  in 
maintaining  order  among  the  hundreds  of  unfortunate  bein^-s 
who  were  placed  under  his  charge  for  jiolitical  offences.  He 
died  in  1SG7,  durincj  an  epidemic  wliich  raged  among  the 
native  prisoners  for  several  months.  His  son,  Lij  Tasamma, 
was  appointed  by  the  King  to  succeed  him  as  warder,  but 
witliout  a  scat  at  the  Council. 

BiTwiDDAD  Gainti  Bisawwir  was  a  native  of  Gliiut  in 
Bagaraeder.  As  already  mentioned,  he  was  colleague  to 
Bit^^addad  Bahri  over  the  Treasury.  He  was  specially  re- 
sponsible for  the  cash  deposits,  and  not  a  dollar  could  be 
issued  without  his  sanction. 

BiTWADDAD  DiiAfak,  the  last  memuer  of  the  ^fagdala 
Council,  was  a  native  of  Chalga.  He  was  a  confirmed  tojier, 
and  when  the  mead,  or  tij,  got  into  his  head  he  was  fit 
for  nothing.  Ho  liad  ch;irge  of  the  native  prisoners  con- 
jointly with  Bitwaddads  Wa>i  and  Ilailo.  He  had  a  filthy 
habit  of  expectorating,  which  his  colleagues  endeavoured 
to  ristrain,  will  iH'Vcr  tlicy  visitfil  me  in  his  company.  If 
thi'ir  injun»ti(tns  were  unheeded,  they  generally  sent  liini 
111  line  under  an  escort. 

Having  described  the  Chiefs  of  Magdala,  I  must  now 
introiluco  our  official  door-keepers,  or  warders,  who  h'M 
a  nio.^t  important    position   with    regard    to   ourselves   dur- 


182  OUR  GUAEDIAXS  AT  mIGDALA.  Chap.  XX. 

iug  our  impri.sonment.  For  tlie  first  "week  of  our  captivity 
they  were  selected  from  the  guard,  which  used  to  be  changed 
every  twenty-four  hours ;  the  consequence  was  that  we  were 
subject  to  different  treatment  every  day,  some  of  the  men 
being  comparatively  lenient,  while  others  went  so  far  as  to 
jirohibit  our  Indian  servants  from  leaving  the  house,  and 
would  not  allow  others  to  enter.  This  interference  became 
so  intolerable  in  a  short  time  that  Eas  Kidana  Maryam,  in 
conjunction  with  the  other  members  of  the  Council,  appointed 
four  officers  to  keep  ward  over  us,  two  and  two  in  rotation. 
They  were  accordingly  duly  introduced  to  me,  and  placed 
under  Samuel,  who  was  to  receive  his  instructions  fi-om  me 
as  to  the  persons  to  be  allowed  to  enter  or  leave  our  premises. 
The  names  of  these  men  were  Aba-Falek,  Ba-^ha  Bisawwir, 
Yashalaka  Adam,  and  Yashalaka  Warke. 

Aba-Falek  was  cordially  hated  by  every  soul  on  the  moun- 
tain, and  he  considered  it  his  bounden  duty  to  reciprocate 
the  general  sentiment.  He  was  the  most  subtle  and  crafty 
Abyssinian  I  ever  met  with,  but  at  the  same  time  inviolable 
in  his  secrecy.  He  was  faithful  to  me  from  first  to  last,  and 
obeyed  aU  my  orders  with  alacrity.  My  fellow-captives  were 
the  objects  of  liis  intense  dislike,  as  were  also  all  the  Magdala 
Chiefs,  especially  Ivas  Kidana  Maryam,  against  whom  he  used 
to  send  stories  to  the  King,  and  was  known  to  declare  openly, 
on  several  occasions,  that  he  hoped  to  live  long  enough  to 
see  the  Commandant  disgraced.  He  was  between  sixty  and 
seventy  years  old,  but  as  robust  and  strong  as  a  man  of  thirty. 
One  day  he  had  a  quarrel  with  the  Chiefs  in  my  room,  and 
told  them  that  they  had  no  business  there  without  his  jier- 
mission ;  and  when  the  Eas  bade  him  hold  his  tongue  he 
abused  him  and  his  colleagues  most  grossly,  saying  that  he 
recognized  no  one's  authority  but  the  King's,  and,  after  the 


Chap.  XX.  ABA-FALEK.  183 

King'.s,  mine,  as  being  Lis  Majesty's  frien<l.  I  was  eventually 
obliged  to  interfere  and  send  him  out  of  the  room,  hut  he 
still  threatened  to  divulge  all  the  misdoings  of  the  Cliiefs  to 
the  King  as  soon  as  he  arrived.  Once  it  was  reported  to  me 
that  he  was  about  to  set  out  on  this  errand  on  the  approach 
of  Theodore  to  Magdala,  and  serious  mischief  would  have 
been  the  inevitable  result.  I  accordingly  sent  for  him,  and 
ex230stulated  with  him  on  the  wickedness  of  any  such  tale- 
bearing. His  reply  was,  that  as  everybody  hated  him,  he 
intended  to  requite  them  in  a  similar  manner ;  but  if  I  judged 
that  he  might  injure  me  by  so  doing,  he  would  rather  cut  his 
tongue  off  than  be  the  cause  of  any  mishap  to  me.  When  I 
was  threatened  by  the  King  on  Good  Friday,  the  9th  of  April^ 
1SG8,  that  his  friendship  for  me  should  be  at  an  end,  and 
that  the  blood  of  the  messenger  whom  I  employed  would  lie 
at  my  door  if  I  communicated  with  the  British,  Aba-Falek 
took  charge  of  a  note  from  me  to  the  investing  force,  and 
employed  one  of  his  female  servants,  who  disguised  herself, 
to  convey  it  through  the  royal  camp  to  its  destination.  She 
feigned  to  be  going  out  to  gather  wood,  but  was  seized  at  the 
outpost  and  kept  in  custody  till  the  following  day,  when  she 
was  released  on  the  plea  of  ignorance  of  the  royal  order  for- 
bidding any  one  to  leave  the  place.  Her  delay  gave  Aba- 
Falek  no  little  anxiety,  in  which  1  heartily  shared,  fearing 
that  she  might  bo  discovered,  in  which  case  she  would  cer- 
tainly have  lost  her  life,  especially  if  the  missive  with  ^^hicll 
ulio  had  been  intrusted  were  found  upon  her.  But  tlie 
Abys.sinians  arc  unquestionably  a  remarkable  people  for 
keeping  a  secret.  Although  this  i)oor  woman  had  many 
opportunities  to  destroy  the  note  after  her  seizure,  she  ncver- 
tlieless  hesitated  to  do  so,  lest  it  might  contain  something 
valuable  ^^hich  could  not  be  replaced. 


184  OLTv  GUARDIANS  AT  MAGDALA.  Cuap.  XX.. 

Aba-Falek's  comrade  on  guard  was  Basra  Bisawwir,  ^^llo 
was  always  stern  and  morose.  His  greatest  enemies  were 
Samuel  and  Damasli,  whom  he  could  never  allow  to  pass 
without  some  rude  speecli  or  gesture  of  defiance.  W-lienever 
these  treated  him  with  the  slightest  disrespect,  he  retorted 
by  telling  the  former  that  he  had  no  right  to  intrude  hi.^ 
presence  upon  me  so  frequently ;  the  latter  he  called  a  non- 
entity, who  was  barely  tolerated.  On  three  different  occasions 
he  entered  Samuel's  house  and  drove  out  from  thence  the 
royal  coui'iers,  who  were  sipping  mead  with  the  host  after  the 
fatigue  of  their  journey.  "  How  dare  you  come  here,"  he 
would  say,  "  to  enjoy  yourselves  in  the  house  of  the  prisoners, 
when  your  master  only  sent  you  to  deliver  his  compliments 
to  Mr.  Eassam?  As  for  this  man,  this  Samuel,  I  know 
nothing  about  him,  since  the  King  has  not  defined  his  posi- 
tion here ;  but  as  regards  myself,  I  have  been  appointed 
watchman  under  his  JMajesty's  sanction,  and  I  will  not  allow 
any  one  to  enter  without  my  permission.  So,  come;  bestir 
yourselves,  and  walk  out,  otherwise  I  shall  be  obliged  ta 
resort  to  force."  The  liumiliatcd  couriers  never  ventured  to 
resist  these  objurgations,  fearing  lest  the  malicious  warder 
might  charge  them  with  tippling,  and  suggest  that  ^^hile  in 
that  state  Samuel  wormed  from  them  some  of  the  secrets  of 
the  royal  camp.  Whenever,  therefore,  any  object  was  to  bo 
gained  by  detaining  the  couriers  a  little  longer,  I  generally 
sent  my  compliments  to  the  doorkeeper,  and  begged  him  to 
summon  them  to  me,  in  order  tliat  I  might  make  some  in- 
quiries of  them.  I  then  placed  them  in  a  small  by-room — 
Samuel's  official  residence — where  they  and  Samuel  might 
cliat  as  long  as  they  pleased.  Basha  Bi^aw  wir  was,  in  fact, 
Samuel's  Gorgon,  for  he  had  only  to  open  liis  moutli  and  tlio 
otherwise  fearless  liilldaraba  was  struck  dumb.     "When  the 


CiiAP.  XX.  ADAM  ^VXD  WxiEKl^.  185 

warders  were  appointed  to  watch  over  n:<,  I  thought  it  dcsir- 
al)le  to  secure  their  iroodwill  bv  ffivinp:  them  a  reirukr 
-uLiry;  but  for  three  whole  months  Basha  Bisdwwir  and 
his  comrade  absolutely  refused  to  take  a  single  dollar,  on 
the  grounil  that  being  a  prisoner  I  might  find  it  difficult 
some  day  to  procure  money.  After  they  once  began  to 
receive  a  monthly  stipend,  they  never  asked  me  for  an  addi- 
tional present ;  and  when  I  occasionally  gave  them  a  shirt  or 
a  new  dress  they  always  accepted  the  gift  with  gratitude. 
Moreover,  if  they  happened  to  hear  that  my  funds  were  low, 
they  declined  to  take  their  salary  when  it  was  due,  and 
l>egged  that  I  would  not  think  of  them  until  further  supplies 
reached  mc. 

The  third  doorkeeper,  YashAlaka  Adam,  had  attained, 
according  to  his  own  reckoning,  the  age  of  fourscore  years, 
lie  was  a  harmless  kind  of  man,  who  never  gave  himself  or 
others  any  trouble  so  long  as  his  stomach  was  well  filled 
with  hrundo  and  mead.  His  worst  propensity  was  begging  : 
if  he  received  five  dollars  in  the  morning,  he  would  come 
again  at  noon  and  tell  you  tliat  his  wife's  hair  required  a 
little  butter,  or  that  her  shirt  was  worn  out  and  slio  wantdl 
a  new  one.  He  hated  Aba-Falek  most  cordially,  and  never 
lost  an  (tpportunity  of  abusing  him — beliiud  his  back. 

YasiiAlaka  Wauk£,  the  comrade  on  watch  with  the 
formor,  was  really  a  good  man,  who  never  annoyed  any  one 
— European  or  native.  Warko  was  liked  by  all  on  the 
luoimtain  as  mucli  as  Aba-Fiilok  was  disliked.  AVlicn  lie 
was  on  guard,  no  one  knew  that  such  an  official  was  in  the 
house.  The  only  occasion  on  which  I  found  him  strict  in 
the  cxrcutiitii  of  liis  dutv  was  wluu  the  King  doscendrd  with 
all  his  troops  to  attack  our  advanced  guard,  lb-  was  him- 
self in  groat  dread  of  being  killed  either  by  iht;   Kinir  "i-  by 


l{^6  OUK  GUARDIANS  AT  mIgDALA.  Chap.  XX. 

our  troo2>-:.  I  am  bouiitl  to  say,  however,  that  the  four  warders 
behaved  with  the  greatest  fidelity  towards  me.  All  commu- 
nications from  the  native  jail  came  to  me  through  them, 
and  whenever  any  of  the  chief  political  prisoners  sent  mes- 
sengers to  me,  they  always  allowed  them  to  pass,  and,  in  fact, 
Avere  the  first  to  rcj)ort  their  arrival  to  me.  After  we  had 
been  acquainted  several  months,  they  even  admitted  the 
Bishop's  messengers,  though  if  this  had  come  to  the  King's 
knowledge  they  would  probably  have  forfeited  their  lives. 
They  never  interfered  with  our  messengers  or  servants, 
although  it  was  their  duty  to  sec  that  the  discipline  of  the 
fortress  was  in  no  way  infringed.  In  fact,  had  Aba-Falek 
and  Basha  Bisawwir  wished  to  annoy  us,  they  might  have 
done  so  in  a  thousand  ways ;  and  had  they  not  been  faithful 
to  their  promise  never  to  do  me  or  my  party  an  injury,  they 
might  have  placed  us  in  serious  danger  before  the  King's 
arrival.  After  these  two  men  had  been  A\it]i  us  for  some 
time,  the  Chiefs  wished  to  substitute  others  in  their  stead ; 
but  even  the  brave  Damash  hesitated  to  remove  them, 
fearing  to  excite  their  animosity.  Hence,  when  the  matter 
was  discussed  before  the  Council,  all  the  members  concurred 
that  the  best  course  would  be  to  leave  them  under  my 
management,  confident  that  I  should  be  able  to  keep  them 
from  doinir  mischief. 


Chap.  XXI.  OCR  DOMESTICS.  187 


CHATTEli    XXL 

LIFE   AT   MAGDALA. 

Our  domestics  —  A  coraplinicntary  letter  from  the  King  —  Pvclaxation  of 
prison  discipline  —  Samuel  and  a  Tigrfi  Chief  at  locfgerhcads  —  Duties 
of  the  petty  Chiefs  —  The  Guards  at  the  Gates  —  Meditated  escape  — 
Escape  impracticAble  —  The  MetroiX)litan,  Al><lna  Salima  —  His  character 
vindicated  —  Ilis  illness  and  death  —  His  differences  with  Theodore  — 
Concessions  as  to  quarters  —  Abyssinian  red-tajie  —  Tlie  Author's  abode 

—  Abortive  sanitary  eftorts — The  Captives'  quarters  —  Tiie  Cai>tives' 
menage  —  Entertainment  of  public  guests  —  Society  and  sympathy  — 
Native  lady  vi-sitors  —  Water  at   Magdala  —  Soil  and  climate  —  Birds 

—  Religious  inquiry  among  the  native  soldiery  —  Reform  movement  — 
Conversions  to  Christianity  from  Isliim  —  Christian  names  —  Our  own 
worsliip. 

Till-:  orders  which  the  King  liad  sent  when  we  were  taken 
to  Magdahi  were,  that  I  should  have  all  my  servants  with 
me,  but  that  my  fellow-captives  should  be  restricted  to  one 
female  servant  each,  in  accordance  with  tlic  rules  of  the 
fortress  in  such  cases.  Tlie  Chiefs  added,  that  a  mistress 
would  be  alLjwed  to  each,  if  the  captives  chose  to  avail 
thtmselves  of  that  boon.  This  statement  may  seem  as  in- 
credible as  it  is  shocking  to  many  of  my  readers;  neverthe- 
less, such  is  th(!  lamentable  state  of  social  morality  among 
the  Abyssinian  Christians  generally,  that  a  proposition  of  this 
nature  comes  from  tlum  as  a  matter  of  course,  unaccom- 
panied with  the  least  idea  of  its  degradation.  As  Samuel 
and  I  had  succeeded  in  convincing  the  Chiefs  that  Dr.  Blanc 
and  Lieutenant  Prideaux  were  associated  with  me  in  the 
same  friendly  mission  to  the  King — in  fact,  that  tlicy  ^\ero 


188  LIFE  AT  ^lAGDALA.  Chap.  XXT. 

to  be  considered  as  one  \\illi  myself — tliey  vrere  allowed  to 
have  as  many  servants  as  they  wished ;  but  when  I  pleaded 
for  the  same  privilege  in  belialf  of  Consul  Cameron,  they 
replied  that  they  could  not  make  any  difference  between 
him  and  the  other  old  captives,  who  were  reckoned  among 
the  King's  enemies,  and  that  it  was  only  by  special  favour 
on  the  part  of  his  Majesty  that  they  were  permitted  to  be 
located  with  us,  near  the  royal  Ilfing,  seeing  that  their  proper 
place  was  the  common  jail.  Eventually,  however,  after 
repeated  solicitations,  I  induced  Eas  Kid  ana  Maryam  to  allow 
the  Consul  the  services  of  a  lad,  \\\\o  was  to  be  nominally  my 
milk-boy. 

On  the  9th  of  August  the  King  sent  me  a  letter  containing 
nothing  but  compliments ;  nevertheless,  although  it  consisted 
of  no  more  than  three  lines,  it  created  a  great  sensation  on 
the  mountain.  "What  think  you?"  one  gossip  would  say  to 
another ;  "  the  King  has  written  to  Mr.  Eassam,  who  is  a 
prisoner!  Surely,  therefore,  his  Majesty  does  not  regard 
him  as  an  enemy,  but  must  really  love  him."  The  Chiefs, 
who  were  well-disposed  towards  me  from  the  outset,  com- 
municated the  foct  to  the  petty  Chiefs  of  the  garrison,  and  as 
the  former  had  also  received  instructions  from  the  King  to 
visit  me  frequently,  and  to  see  to  my  comfort,  inasmuch 
as  I  was  his  "  friend "  and  not  his  enemy,  they  caused  his 
^Majesty's  letter  to  me  to  be  read  in  open  court,  in  the 
Treasury,  before  the  assembled  officers  of  the  fortress.  Such 
a  thing,  in  fact,  was  unparalleled,  that  the  great  Theodore 
should  condescend  to  write  to  a  prisoner,  when  every  soldier 
of  the  garrison  knew  that  even  his  Holiness,  the  Abiina,  had 
never  received  a  line  from  him  since  his  imprisonment  at. 
IMagdala,  and  that  whenever  his  Majesty  wished  ;to  communi- 
cate with  him  he  did  so  through  the  Chiefs.     From  that  day 


Chap.  XXI.  rRISOX  DISCirLIXE.  189 

forward  the  latter  were  more  disposed  tlim  ever  to  serve  me, 
and,  at  my  solicitation,  to  extend  their  fiivour  to  my  fellow- 
captives;  but  all  my  efforts  to  convince  them  that  my 
fellow-captives  and  I  were  to  be  regarded  in  the  same  light — 
having  one  common  feeling  towards  the  King — signally  failed. 
Whenever  I  expressed  these  sentiments  to  Eas  Bisawwii-, 
Tlieodore's  nephew  and  the  foremost  in  the  Council  before 
he  was  appointed  Commandant,  he  used  to  smile,  wink  his 
eye,  and  look  at  me  as  much  as  to  say,  "  We  know  better." 
However,  as  his  Majesty  had  given  tliem  such  positive 
instructions  to  attend  to  all  my  wants,  they  thought  them- 
selves justified  in  stretching  a  point  to  please  me,  as  regards 
concessions  to  my  fellow-captives.  They  accordingly  allowed 
them  extra  servants,  and  by  making  friends  with  the  petty 
Cliiefs  who  kept  the  night-watch,  I  induced  them  to  relax 
the  prison  discipline,  which  requires  that  all  prisoners  shall 
retire  to  their  rooms  at  sunset,  there  to  be  strictly  guarded 
imtil  the  morning.  Eventually,  this  watch  became  a  mere 
sham,  for  those  of  my  fellow-captives  who  chose  to  employ 
or  amuse  themselves  till  very  late  at  night  were  seldom 
interfered  with.  Occasionally,  however,  some  of  tlio  petty 
Chiefs  who  were  at  variance  with  Samuel  used  to  turn  restive, 
and  insist  on  enforcing  the  prison  rules  by  making  all  my 
fellow-captives  sleep  together  in  one  room.  After  exhausting 
every  other  argument  in  vain,  Samuel  would  fall  back  u[)on 
"  the  King's  friend,"  and  say  to  the  refractory  Chiefs,  "  Very 
well ;  you  want  all  the  captives  to  sleep  in  one  room ;  so  be 
it.  I  must  first  send  and  tell  ^Ir.  Rassam  to  begin  to  move, 
and  then  I  will  summon  the  rest."  Thereui»on  his  toniientdrs 
doelaro  that  they  never  mentioned  my  name,  and  did  not 
iiili'iid  to  include  me  in  tli<'  iiiiiiiber.  Sainucl.  ijui<-kly  per- 
ceiving the  advttuUigc  which  ho  has  gained,  swears  "  by  llio 


190  LIFE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXT. 

death  of  the  King "  that  all  the  cajitivcs  must  be  watched 
collectively  or  not  at  all.  On  one  occasion,  the  alterca- 
tion between  Samuel  and  a  Tigrean  Chief,  on  this  same  sub- 
ject, attained  such  a  pitch  that  they  both  proceeded  to  tlio 
Council  by  night  to  argue  the  case  before  them.  Samuel, 
finding  that  he  could  not  stop  the  Chief's  impetuous  garrulity, 
called  out  to  his  confidential  servant,  and  said,  "  Go  and  tell 
Mr.  Eassam  to  prepare  to  sleep  in  Mr.  Stern's  room  for  the 
night,  in  company  with  the  other  captives ;  because  a  great 
Chief  has  come  forward  to  defy  the  King  by  ordering  him, 
the  King's  friend,  to  betake  himself  where  this  grand  man 
may  watch  him."  This  sarcastic  message  put  the  petty  Chief 
into  an  awful  rage,  which  he  vented  on  his  antagonist  by 
callino;  him  a  liar  and  a  villain — a  man  who  had  sold  himself 
to  the  FrmiclwUh  for  a  glass  of  mead  and  a  fijie  sMmma. 
The  fracas,  which  was  now  at  its  height,  might  have  resulted 
in  a  few  broken  heads  had  not  Bitwaddad  Damash,  Avho  lived 
next  door,  suddenly  made  his  appearance.  However,  the 
obstinate  Chief  would  not  be  silenced ;  and  as  he  swore  "  by 
the  death  of  the  King  "  that  he  would  not  be  satisfied  until 
he  knew  whether  he  or  Samuel  was  responsible  for  the  dis- 
cipline in  the  prison-house  of  the  Em-opeans,  the  contending 
parties  were  obliged  to  go  before  the  Commandant.  Ras 
Bi.sawwir,  who  was  never  at  a  loss  in  such  contingencies, 
silenced  the  Chief  at  once  by  telling  him  that  as  the  King 
had  appointed  me  Baldaraba  to  all  my  fellow-captives,  and 
had  specially  deputed  Samuel  to  assist  me,  the  night-watch 
was  merely  nominal ;  that  Samuel  and  I  only  were  respon- 
sible for  the  rest  of  the  captives ;  and  that  the  duty  of  the 
Chief  in  charge  of  the  night-guard  was  simply  to  see  that 
none  of  the  prisoners  left  their  rooms  at  night.  This  decision, 
as  may  be  imagined,  did  not  tend  to  soothe  the  feelings  of 


Chap.  XXI.  OUK  GUAPiDS.  191 

the  exasperated  Tigrean,  for  whenever  his  turn  came  to 
take  the  watch,  which  was  once  a  fortnight,  he  never  lost 
an  opportunity  of  annoying  Samuel,  either  by  prohibiting 
his  servants  to  leave  our  indosure  after  a  certain  hour,  or 
preventing  others  from  entering  it  to  join  their  masters. 
Ultimately,  however,  the  Magdala  Chiefs  brought  about  a 
reconciliation  betNveen  the  parties,  who'  afterwards  became 
so  intimate  that  they  used  to  call  each  other  "  brother." 

The  petty  Chiefs,  who  ranked  next  after  the  Members  of 
Council,  were  nominally  in  command  of  a  hundred  men. 
"  Basha  "  was  the  j^roper  title  of  a  captain  of  Musketeers,  and 
"  Yashalaka "  of  Lancers ;  but  when  the  King  raised  the 
members  of  Council  to  the  dignity  of  "  Bitwaddad,"  he  made 
all  the  Bashas  and  Yashalakas  "  Dajazmatsh."  The  duty  of 
the  latter  was  to  watch  personally  over  the  Ilfin(/,  our  quar- 
ters, the  Treasury,  and  the  Bishop ;  over  the  native  prison 
and  the  two  gates  of  Magdala  tliey  might  either  mount 
guard  themselves,  or  depute  their  lieutenants  with  a  certain 
number  of  men  to  each  post.  At  first,  the  order  was  that 
wo  were  to  be  guarded  every  night  by  fifty  men,  but  as  some 
of  the  captains  had  not  above  half  that  number  under  their 
command,  it  frequently  happened  that  we  were  left  with 
only  three  privates  and  their  captain.  Two  old  Chiefs  invari- 
ably went  to  sleep  as  soon  as  they  came,  and  wo  might  have 
walked  out  and  disported  ourselves  on  the  mountains  to  any 
extent,  for  all  they  cared.  Tliu  ililTiculty  with  us,  as  regards 
•  fTocting  our  escape,  was  not  how  to  get  beyond  the  inclosuro 
\\liich  surrounded  our  pri.<on-house,  but  how  to  reach  Sa- 
h'linge — the  plateau  below  ^lagdahi.  Indeed,  a  number  of 
the  guard  would  have  willingly  joined  us,  with  their  families, 
in  any  attempt  to  regain  our  liberty,  but  there  was  no  safe 
way  of  leaving  the   fortress.     The   only  exit   was   by  the 


192  LIFE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XX F. 

double  gates,  at  each  of  Avliieli  a  dozen  warders,  chosen  from 
different  and  conflicting  tribes,  were  posted  throughout  the 
day  and  night.  They  were  all  introduced  to  me,  and  we 
were  on  the  best  terms  up  to  the  last.  At  sunset,  the  gates 
were  closed  and  the  keys  sent  to  the  Commandant,  ^^llo  kept 
them  till  the  following  morning.  Fifty  men  mounted  guard 
over  each  gate  by  night,  and  in  case  of  alarm  the  Com- 
mandant was  bound  to  repair  to  the  Salamge  Gate,  double 
the  guard  over  the  native  prisoners,  and  summon  all  the 
garrison  to  assist  him.  Not  a  soul,  from  the  highest  Chief 
next  in  rank  to  the  Eas  do^^  n  to  the  common  soldier,  could 
leave  the  fortress  without  a  special  permit  from  the  Com- 
mandant— a  stringent  rule,  first  instituted  when  all  the 
political  prisoners  were  brought  to  Magdala,  in  18G4.  When- 
ever the  Commandant  granted  a  pass  to  any  one,  he  took  the 
precaution  of  retaining  his  wife  and  children  as  security ;  but 
Kas  Bisaw\\  ir,  an  easy-going  sort  of  man,  was  deceived  by  a 
good  many  who  obtained  his  permission  to  go  beyond  the 
fortress  and  never  returned,  having  managed  somehow  or 
other  either  to  send  their  wives  out  beforehand,  or  to  get 
them  to  follow. 

The  King  having  reiterated  his  instructions  to  the  Chiefs 
to  attend  to  all  my  wants,  they  appointed  one  Guangul,  a 
native  of  Tigie,  who  spoke  Arabic  well,  to  act  as  my  purveyor 
by  accompanying  our  servants  to  make  their  daily  purchases 
in  the  market.  As  this  man  was  also  spirit-broker  to  the 
royal  cellar,  he  superintended  our  distilleries,  and  pro  luced 
some  very  good  liquor  from  tcj.  A  female  distiller  from  the 
royal  establishment  was  also  allotted  to  Samuel.  Then, 
ajrain,  when  I  was  at  a  loss  for  an  efficient  native  writer,  the 
Chiefs  placed  the  services  of  Alaka  Zannab,  the  keeper  of 
the  royal  archives,  at  my  disposal.     This  man  was  an  excel- 


Chap.  XXI.  TIIOrcaiTS  OF  ESCAPE.  1<)3 

lent  .scribe  and  perfectly  trn-stwortliy,  so  that  I  never  hesitated 
to  confide  my  secrets  to  liini. 

After  we  were  cliained  at  Magdala,  our  prospects  appenri^d 
so  gloomy  that  I  judged  it  a  sacred  duty  to  do  all  in  my 
power  to  save  my  fellow-captives  and  myself  from  our  perilous 
po.sition.  I  accordingly  w^rote  to  the  Bishop  —  who  was 
then  a  prisoner  himself  in  the  same  fortress — through  a  con- 
fidential me.s.senger,  asking  whether  he  could  a.^^sist  us  in 
effecting  our  escape  with  the  co-operation  of  his  friends  in 
the  garri.son  or  b.^yond  it,  otVcring  at  the  same  time  to  pay 
any  sum  he  chose  to  name  for  our  rescue,  provided  he  could 
cruarantoo  our  nnfe  conveyance  to  the  coast.  His  answer  was 
that  ht*  could  not  trust  tln^  ^lagdala  people,  and  that  none  of 
his  friends  outside  the  Amba,  especially  among  the  chief 
rebels,  had  sufficient  pluck  to  make  the  attempt.  He  siil>- 
mitted  that  the  ^nly  way  he  could  assist  us  wiis  by  my  aiding 
him  to  escape  first,  and,  once  free,  he  would  summon  all  the 
Aby.><sinian  Christians  to  arms,  and  soon  make  an  end  of  our 
common  tormentor.  If  I  could  not  manage  to  get  him  nut 
of  the  fortress  by  any  other  means,  he  suggested  that  our 
doctor  might  supply  him  with  a  dye  to  colour  his  skin,  and 
so  disgiii.sed  he  might  be  able  to  smugizh^  himself  out  of  the 
gates  in  company  with  a  party  of  th(.'  natives.  As  there  were 
many  serious  objections  to  this  scheme,  I  gave  up  all  liope  of 
suceuur  frinii  that  ipiarter,  ;iii(l  tried  .<?everal  others  with  the 
sjime  result,  until  at  length  the  conviction  was  forced  uj»on 
me  that  f)ur  deliverance  could  oidy  be  eftected  by  an  invading 
army. 

The  late  AInlna  Salama  was  strongly  attaejied  to  th<» 
liritisli,  and  his  education  at  an  llnglish  school  at  Cairo  had 
s(.'rv»Ml  to  imbue  hini  with  liberal  views,  and  to  di\est  him  of 
many  of  tho-^e  euutracted  and   superstitious  notions  which  are 

vol..  II.  u 


194  LIFE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXI. 

the  bane  to  all  progress  in  tlie  West  as  well  as  in  the  East. 
He  uniformly  befriended  all  British  subjects,  whether  consuls 
or  missionaries,  travellers  or  adventurers,  I  am  persuaded 
that  there  is  nothing  he  would  not  have  done,  had  he  pos- 
sessed the  power,  to  save  our  lives,  without  putting  Great 
Britain  to  the  trouble  and  expense  attendant  upon  a  war. 
To  me  personally  he  was  extremely  kind,  and  from  the  time 
of  our  imprisonment  at  Magdala  until  the  day  of  his  death, 
in  October,  18G7,  we  kept  up  a  regular  correspondence.  He 
never  grudged  giving  an  English  captive  a  dollar,  either 
before  or  after  my  arrival  in  Abyssinia,  and  he  would  readily 
have  shared  his  last  penny  with  such  an  one,  if  he  knew  him 
to  be  in  want.  His  character  has  been  shamefully  maligned 
by  individuals  who  really  knew  nothing  about  him,  who, 
nevertheless,  have  given  currency  to  slanders  which  are 
utterly  without  foundation.  He  has  been  reproached  with 
being  a  merchant,  a  broker,  and  a  banker ;  but  when  the 
circumstances  whereon  those  charges  rest  are  inquired  into, 
it  will  be  seen  that  they  involved  no  discredit  either  to  him 
personally  or  to  his  sacred  office.  The  Abiina,  in  addition  to 
his  special  duties  as  Metropolitan,  is  the  guardian  or  trustee 
of  a  large  number  of  monasteries,  churches  and  schools,  and 
as  the  tithes  to  these  and  all  similar  institutions  in  the 
country  are  paid  in  kind,  the  only  way  in  which  the  grain, 
wax,  ivory  and  gold  can  be  dis[)Osed  of  is  by  barter,  money 
being  very  scarce  in  Abyssinia.  Hence,  if  the  grain  collected 
in  Tigre  is  required  toward.-;  a  contribution  in  Chalga,  it  must 
be  exchanged  for  other  articles  marketable  in  that  locality, 
and  the  Bishop  issues  instructions  to  his  agents  accordingly ; 
or,  supposing  Massowah  to  offer  a  better  market,  the  trans- 
action is  ordered  to  be  carried  on  there.  Abiina  Salama 
generally  fed  all  the  poor  in  the  districts  through  which  he 


Chap.  XX[.  THE  AliUNA  SALAMA.  195 

travelled  on  his  visitation-tours,  and  saw  to  the  repair  of  the 
churches,  as  far  as  the  means  at  liis  disposal  would  allow.  It 
is  quite  true  that  he  lent  money  to  a  number  of  distressed 
Europeans,  but  it  is  equally  true  that  he  never  charged 
interest  on  such  loans;  moreover,  some  of  those  wliom  lie 
had  befriended  in  that  way  finally  left  the  country  without 
repaying:  him,  and  never  sent  any  remittance  afterwards,  in 
liquidation  of  their  pecuniary  obligation  to  him.  While  we 
were  at  3Iagdala,  the  late  prelate  supplied  many  a  needy 
prisoner  witli  money,  and  clothed  a  number  of  widows  and 
orphans.  Towards  the  last,  however,  he  became  so  poor 
himself — the  King  having  deprived  him  of  all  his  resources — 
that  he  was  obliged  to  apply  to  me  for  the  cash  which  he 
had  asked  me  to  remit  to  Aden  on  his  account.  At  the 
outset  he  wiis  strongly  prejudiced  against  Samuel,  regarding 
him  as  a  "  dangerous  man,"  whom  it  would  be  sheer  madness 
to  trust ;  but.  on  further  acquaintance  with  him,  he  began  to 
suspect  that  he  had  done  the  man  an  injustice  by  listening 
to  the  slanders  of  those  who  were  envious  of  his  position  and 
influence.  Eventually,  the  two  b.ciime  bosom  friends; 
during  his  illness  the  Bishop  always  sent  for  Samuel  to  keep 
him  company,  and  when  the  unfortunate  prelate  brrathcd 
his  last,  Samuel  was  sitting  by  his  side. 

lieforo  his  death,  the  Abuna  begged  to  see  Dr.  Blanc, 
hoping  that  thr  skill  ol'  an  Mnglisli  nirdical  man  niiglit 
benefit  him.  The  Commandant  niul  all  tlic  members  of  the 
Council  af'cordingly  came  to  me  in  a  body  to  ask  whether 
I  would  allow  the  Doctor  to  visit  the  Father  of  thrir  Church. 
IMy  belief  is  that  they  woidd  have  been  glad  had  I  refused, 
and  they  perhaps  thought  that  1  >lii)iil<l  do  so  on  tjie  seore  of 
the  distance — the  AbAna's  house  was  about  four  hundred  yards 
from  ours  —  wliieh   Blaiie  would   lia\e  to  traverse,  in  rliains. 

O  2 


196  LIFE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXL 

However,  as  my  companion  expressed  his  readiness  to  under- 
take the  task,  I  told  the  Chiefs  tliat  he  would  walk  over  and 
see  the  patient.  Thereupon  they  retired  beyond  our  inclosure, 
and  after  discussing  the  grave  responsibility  of  permitting  a 
meeting  between  the  Bishop  and  any  of  our  party,  contrary  to 
the  express  orders  of  the  King,  they  returned  to  say  that  they 
must  decline  acceding  to  the  solicitations  of  their  ]Metropo- 
litan ;  they  agreed,  however,  to  allow  the  royal  native  practi- 
tioner to  consult  Dr.  Blanc  about  his  disease,  and  to  act  upon 
Ills  advice.  After  this,  the  poor  man  began  to  sink  gradually, 
and  died  on  the  25th  of  October  of  general  debility,  brought 
on  by  vexation  and  anxiety.  He  appointed  me  his  executor 
before  he  expired,  and  I  promised  to  do  my  best  in  that 
capacity,  provided  the  duty  involved  no  reference  whatever  to 
the  King ;  but  as  the  latter  had  already  appropriated  all  the 
poor  man's  jjroperty,  my  office  as  executor  was  little  more 
than  nominal. 

While  we  were  at  Magdala  together,  the  Abuna  wished 
very  much  to  see  me,  and  some  of  our  night-guards  offered 
to  bring  him  to  me  by  stealth ;  but  I  declined  the  proposal 
as  often  as  it  was  made,  judging  that  it  would  bo  indiscreet  to 
imperil  onr  common  safety  for  the  sake  of  a  short  interview, 
however  gratifying  the  meeting  might  have  been  to  both 
parties.  The  King,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  would  have  gone 
almost  mad  with  rage  had  it  come  to  his  knowledge  that  we 
had  ever  met.  With  respect  to  the  ]3ishop's  quarrel  with 
Theodore,  all  that  can  be  fairly  urged  against  the  former  is, 
that  he  stood  up  in  defence  of  what  he  conceived  to  be  the 
rights  of  the  Church  ;  and  that,  as  the  spiritual  head  over  all 
tlie  Abyssinians,  the  Sovereign  included,  he  deemed  it  his 
l»onnd(^n  duty  to  n^monstrato  with  his  JMaJesty,  whenever  he 
knew  him  to  bo  guill y  of  treachery  or  crucltv.    On  the  King's 


Chap.  XXI.      THK  AUTHOll'S  (.IIALNS  LIGHTENED.  197 

approach  to  3Iagcliila,  I  sent  and  begged  him  to  say  nothing 
which  niiglit  irritate  his  Majesty's  peevish  temper,  and  to  do 
all  in  his  j)0\ver  to  conciliate  him.  Plis  reply  was,  "  My  son, 
I  am  ready  to  do  all  that  you  may  require  of  me  in  this 
matter;  I  will  even  carry  a  stone  on  my  neck,  and,  bearing 
that  token  of  humiliation,  will  kneel  and  kiss  the  ground 
before  the  Kinfj:.  But  it  will  be  of  no  use :  the  man  is  cfoiuir 
from  bad  to  worse,  and  is  beyond  recovery." 

My  friendship  with  the  ^lagdahi  authorities  increased  from 
day  to  day,  until  there  was  nothing  that  they  would  not  have 
done  for  my  comfort  and  that  of  my  fellow-captives,  provided 
they  could  do  it  with  immunity.  Ras  Kidana  ]\raryam  spon- 
taueou.sly  undertook  to  make  an  alteration  in  my  chains,  by 
substituting  a  ring  in  the  centre  of  its  length,  instead  of  one 
of  the  links,  thinking  that  thereby  I  should  be  able  to  walk 
more  easily.  I  objected  to  the  proposal,  on  the  ground  that 
if  carried  out  it  might  displea.so  the  King.  The  Kas,  who  was 
then  in  my  room  with  all  the  other  members  of  Council,  imme- 
diately rejdied  :  "  3[r.  Eassam,  if  we  thought  that  the  change 
suggested  wouM  ollind  his  jMojcsty,  you  may  rest  assured  we 
should  not  have  dared  to  make  it ;  therefore,  you  must  let 
us  follow  our  own  bent  in  this  matter."  When  the  new 
rings  were  nuide,  I  found  that  they  were  twice  as  heavy 
as  the  old  links,  which  I  c(jnscquently  begged  to  be 
allowed  to  retain.  They  were  all"  ruards  nia^le  lighter 
however,  and  weirdie"!  just  hall"  a  ]i(»un<l  hss  than  the  ori- 
ginal links,  and  as  they  also  increaseil  the  length  vi'  the 
chain  four  inches,  I  wjis  able  to  take  a  longer  stridi'  in  walk- 
ing. I  then  begged  that  a  similar  <hange  might  be  efi'ected 
in  l>i.  I>hincand  Lieutenant  Prideaux's  fetters,  hoping  that 
eventually  the  remainder  (tf  our  fellow -cajjtives  might  share 
in   the   l.iMMi.     At  lir.>t,  the  Chiefs  promised   to  do  all   they 


198  LIB^E  AT  MAGDALA.  Chai-.  XXL 

could  to  accede  to  the  request,  but  after  meeting  in  council 
three  times  to  discuss  the  matter,  they  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  by  granting  the  same  concession  to  my  companions  they 
might  incur  the  King's  displeasure,  with  the  additional 
risk  that  his  ]\Iajesty  might  order  their  chains  to  be  made 
more  unbearable  than  they  were  before.  It  was  discovered 
afterwards  that  the  Chiefs  had  not  acted  \\holly  on  their  own 
responsibility  in  this  instance,  the  King  having  sent  them 
ex[)re.ss  instructions  to  render  my  imprisonment  as  light  as 
possible  in  every  respect.  It  was  owing  to  a  similar  order 
that  I  was  allowed  to  have  a  separate  room,  and  was  not  to 
be  guarded  at  night,  like  my  fellow-captives,  who  were  all 
condemned  to  sleep  in  one  apartment,  and  to  be  strictly 
watched.  Fortunately,  the  Chiefs  were  well-disposed  from 
the  outset,  and  did  what  they  could  to  alleviate  the  restric- 
tions imposed  upon  my  fellow-captives.  They  felt  that 
they  might  stretch  a  point  in  favour  of  Dr.  J>lanc  and 
Lieutenant  Prideaux,  who  were  my  associates  in  the  Mis- 
sion, while  I  was  regarded  as  the  King's  "friend;"  but 
with  respect  to  the  other  captives,  who  had  formerly  been 
lodged  in  the  common  jail,  and  were  generally  called  the 
"  enemies  of  Theodore,"  they  felt  bound  to  keep  up  a  certain 
show  of  enforcing  the  prison  discipline  of  the  fortress.  AYith 
the  exception  of  a  few  months,  therefore,  before  the  end  of 
our  captivity,  when  the  Chiefs  became  somewhat  more  ven- 
turesome, and  allowed  me  to  build  a  separate  apartment  for 
Consul  Cauuiron  and  another  for  3[r.  Stern,  wliich  they  were 
pcniiitt<(l  to  occupy  without  a  watch  being  set  over  them, 
tliose  two  gentlemen,  together  with  Mr.  Rosenthal,  were 
obliged  to  live  in  one  room  day  and  night,  under  a  guard. 
Prior  to  that,  the  Chiefs  had  given  their  consent  to  my  erect- 
ing a  couple  of  huts  for  Mr.  Kerans   and    Signer    Pietro ; 


Chap.  XXI.  ABYSSINIAN  OFFICIALISM.  199 

but  tliese  they  were  only  allowed  to  inhabit  during  the  ilay, 
and  were  compelled  to  sleep  in  the  kitcheu,  where  they  were 
watched  by  a  guard.  To  my  repeated  solicitations  that  this 
restriction  might  be  removed,  I  received  one  and  the  same 
answer — that  it  was  impossible.  Eventually,  Mr.  Kosenthal 
also  was  allowed  to  live  with  his  wife  in  a  separate  hut,  with- 
out being  watched  during  the  night ;  but  when  the  King 
came  to  Magdala,  he  ordered  us  all,  without  any  exception,  to 
be  guarded  in  our  rooms  at  night-time.  The  order  was  soon 
rescinded  as  regards  myself  and  the  members  of  the  Mission ; 
but  thereafter  Messrs.  Stem,  Rosenthal  and  Pietro  hud  to 
sleep  in  one  room,  with  a  guard.  Consul  Cameron  and  Mr. 
Kerans  would  also  have  been  obliged  to  share  it  with  them 
hail  nut  the  Cliiet's,  on  my  representation  that  the  Consul  was 
unwell  and  required  some  one  to  be  near  him,  iiUowod  them 
to  occupy  their  own  huts,  whicii  v/ere  to  be  watched  on  the 
outside  only  during  the  night. 

No  officials  in  the  world  can  surpass  the  Abyssinians  in 
red-tapism  and  [lunctilious  adherence  to  routine.  Shortly 
after  our  incarceration  I  instructed  Saiuuel  to  assist  my 
fellow-captives  generally  in  all  their  requirements,  and 
authorized  him  to  use  my  name  whenever  ho  had  to  refer 
to  the  Chiefs  on  their  behalf.  Nevertheless,  on  every  such 
occasion,  they  insisted  on  his  stating  positively  whether  he 
was  sent  by  me,  alleging  that  on  no  other  ground  couM 
they  justify  their  compliance  with  his  requests,  in  tlie  event 
of  question  by  the  King.  One  day  Samuel  fell  into  dire 
disgrace  for  asking  their  sanction  to  build  an  extra  hut, 
without  having  previously  received  express  directions  from 
mo  to  that  effect.  !My  apology  in  hi-  defence — that  I  had 
empowere  I  him  to  ask  for  what  was  necessary — was  of  no 
avail  ;    thenceforward,    th(^    (.'hiefs    n^fused    to  listen  to  his 


200  LIFE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXI. 

applications,   unless  lie  was  attended  by  one  of  my  inter- 
preters. 

Having  already  related  how  our  respective  quarters  were 
allotted,  I  shall  proceed  to  describe  what  mine  was  when 
first  made  over  to  me.  It  was  a  round  hut — more  like  a 
barn  than  a  dwelling — twelve  feet  in  diameter,  constructed 
of  branches  of  trees,  with  a  straw  roofing,  and  was  still 
being  used  as  a  kitchen  by  two  native  families  on  our 
arrival  at  Magdala.  As  the  fire-places  were  in  the  centre 
of  the  room,  and  there  was  no  other  vent  for  the  smoke 
but  through  the  crevices  of  the  walls,  the  whole  interior 
was  begrimed  with  soot.  The  floor  had  never  been  levelled, 
and  was  furrowed  here  and  there  to  make  stands  for  water- 
jars.  In  fact,  every  part  of  the  place  was  wretched  and  filthy 
in  the  extreme.  One  of  my  first  cares  was  to  make  my 
prison-house  tidy.  Then,  in  order  to  get  rid  of  the  dust 
and  soot  which  fell  from  the  thatch  whenever  there  was  a 
strong  breeze,  I  caused  the  old  roof  to  be  replaced  by  a 
new  one,  in  which  work  the  Abyssinian  soldiers,  who  were 
always  ready  to  assist  the  humblest  prisoners,  lent  me  a 
helping  hand.  Eventually,  I  had  the  whole  structure  pulled 
down,  and  a  better  room  erected  on  the  site,  which  I  con- 
tinued to  occupy  until  the  arrival  of  the  British  force. 
There  was  one  great  inconvenience,  however,  beyond  effectual 
remedy.  The  ground  where  our  general  quarters  were 
located  was  so  low  and  soft,  that  when  the  rains  began  the 
water  oozed  through  the  floor  in  all  directions,  despite  all 
my  efforts  to  divert  it  by  having  trenches  dug  round  all  the 
huts,  and  the  inclosure  well  drained.  The  floor  of  my  room, 
in  particular,  \\m  always  as  yielding  as  mud,  although  I 
took  the  precaution  of  having  it  laid  with  rubble;  and  the 
water  which  collected  in  the  trenches  made  to  convey  it  to 


Cmai'.  XXI.  SANITARY  A'l'l'EMrTS.  201 

the  inuiu  drain  occasionally  flowed  day  and  night,  as  if 
issuing  from  a  spring. 

I  was  not  successful,  however,  in  my  eftbrts  to  keep 
the  general  inclosure  clean,  which  was  invariably  so  filtliy 
that  the  Chiefs  frequently  complained  to  me  of  the  state 
in  which  it  was  allowed  to  remain.  At  first,  I  imder- 
took  tlie  office  of  sanitary  inspector  myself,  but  was  obliged 
to  relinquish  it  on  Samuel's  representation  that  it  would 
lower  nie  in  the  estimation  of  the  natives.  I  then  ap- 
pointed the  interpreters  to  see  that  the  public  walks  were 
swept,  and  kept  clear  of  all  nuisances.  But  the  opposi- 
tion which  they  encountered  neutralized  all  their  efforts. 
Next,  I  trieil  the  doorkeeper,  who  were  charged  to  insist 
that  all  rubbish  should  be  carried  to  the  edge  of  the  plateau 
and  thrown  over  the  precipice;  but  the  arrangement  gave 
rise  to  so  many  .squabbles  that  I  finally  commissioned  Aito 
Samuel  to  try  his  hand  at  the  duty.  He  was  eminently 
successful  at  the  outset,  by  dint  of  an  indiscriminate  use  of 
the  whip,  but  on  my  strictly  forbidding  any  such  treatment 
of  a  female  he  resigned  the  task,  saying,  "  How  can  I  effect 
what  you  wish,  when  you  will  not  allow  me,  after  our 
own  custom,  to  flog  the  women,  who  are  as  obstinate  as 
mules,  to  nuike  them  do  their  work  properly  ? "  I  never 
allowed  a  domestic  of  mine  to  have  a  hut  within  the  inelo.sure 
of  my  house,  or  any  Abyssinian  male  or  female  servants  to 
Htuy  there.  ^Vhellever  the  latter  were  employed  on  any 
special  work  <luring  the  day,  I  insi.sted  on  their  (putting  the 
premises  at  night.  !My  Indian  servants  slept  in  the  kitchen, 
as  it  was  unadvisable  that  they  should  sleep  beyoud  iho 
inclosure,  where  tiny  might  have  g(tt  into  .some  alVray  uith 
the  luitives. 

The  aiimxed  plan,  in  i  <»njujii'tioii  with  the  subjoined  refer- 


DESCRIPTION  OF  TLAX. 


Darlcest  Ground.  Formerly  Ras  I'ngSdil's  residence.  Tlils  was  tlic  first  locality  allotted  to 
the  captives.  Jt  then  comprised  huts  A  and  15  only.  The  surrounding  fence  was  removed  when 
llie  Uijltlcr  yround  was  iittachi  d  ;  as  was  also  the  fence  round  C,  D,  K 

Lighter  (irouyid.  IJi-longed  to  Kit-awrari  Gabrie.  AUoltod  by  Theodore  to  Mr.  Rassam  and 
his  servants,  and  Alto  .Samuel.  The  double  outUue  of  tlie  three  huts,  C,  1),  E,  shows  the  original 
size  and  subsequent  enlargement. 

Lightest  Ground.  Additional  space  eventually  granti  il  by  the  .MagdaUi  Chiefs  for  tlic  accom- 
modation of  the  captives. 


Chap.  XXI.  QL'ARTEKS  OF  THE  CAPTIVES.  203 

ences,  shows  the  location  of  the  captives,  and  the  different 
changes  which  were  made  in  their  respective  quarters  from 
time  to  time,  from  our  first  arrival  at  Magdala  until  our 
liberation. 

As  regards  furniture,  the  members  of  the  Mission  had, 
luckily,  lost  nothing  necessary  to  comfort.  We  had  our  own 
bedsteads,  bedding,  chairs  and  tables,  and  the  King  had 
provided  us  with  carpets ;  but  the  old  captives,  who  had 
been  bereft  of  everj'thing,  were  in  a  far  less  enviable  plight 
in  that  respect.  Even  they,  however,  had  it  in  tlieir  power 
to  make  themselves  comfortable.  As  to  food,  all  fared  alike  : 
all  were  well  supplied  with  what  the  country  afforded,  and 
enjoyed  a  privilege  above  the  natives  of  the  place  generally, 
for  on  several  occasions,  w  lun  certain  articles  were  scarce  in  the 
market,  the  Chiefs  directed  that  we  should  share  what  was 
procurable  with  the  purveyors  for  the  royal  household.  We 
made  our  own  bread,  always  used  table-cloths,  and  some- 
tinjes  naj)kins,  and  never  sat  down  to  dinner,  barring  the  first 
few   days   alter   our  arrival,   without    beginning  with    soup, 

DISTRIBUTION  OF  HUTS. 


A.  Kitdicii.  J.      Consul  Cnmcrnn. 

B.  Ur<'U|iit'<l  l)y  nil  the  rnptivrs  for  K.    Mr.  Ktrnns. 

n  w.fk  ;  tliin  hy  .^I.-ssr.s.  Cuint-  l      Sifji.or  I'i.tro.     Ih-n-  Tliooilore'a 

ron,  Stern  mid  IJosentlml :  then  rcinuius  w.ro  cl.iM>Mt(<l  until  iii- 

l.y  tho  lnlt.r  alonr.     Fnially  l.y  t.-rred  on  Hth  April.  18(^8. 

Me.sxrs. Stai'Tcr, IJniiulfis.Scliill-  ,,     .,         ,  ,,              ,               , 

,,    ,,            1   At                ..,1    .  M.    Consul  Cnnicron !)  .-<rvnnta. 
<  r,  l^.•^^ll(•r  and  Macriiire,  wliiu 

Mr.  Ho.sentiial  removed  to  D.  N.    Mcw.srs.    SU-m    and     Ho^onllmr.s 

C.  Mr.  luiM.snni. 

_     ,,         ■    1  .1    4  1      w-      ..1     ti  0.\  Dr.  Blanc  ami  Lieut.  t'ridtau.KS 

D.  Ocoupud  nrst  by  Niniuel;  then  >                . 

by  tl.e  Int.Tpr^tors  ;  lantly   by  ^- '     "crvanis. 

Mr.  iin.l  Mm.  Kosnitlial.  ^Q-     Ouard-riKmi. 

E.  Dr.  IJlnncand  Li.ut.  I'litlcaux.  |R.    Kntranco  of  tho  first  locality. 

P.    HnmuerH  oflldal  room.  S.     Kntranco  of  tlio  enlnrg. d  indo- 

8uro. 


0,  Snniiit  I'h  Iljing,  or  Female  K«tab- 

li^thnicnt. 
H.    Samuors  rt>c(pti<)n-room. 

1.  Mr.  StiTii.  I    Uio  i-oftfjt  of  till!  hut.s, 


'"'•''""■"*■  Tho  blaok  dot.s  in  A.  <;.  H.  njiro- 

H.    Samuors  rt>C(pti()n-room.  wnt  tho  wtKKlon    pillar.M    hupimrting 


204  LIFE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXI. 

which  was  occasionally  followed  by  fish ;  then  two  or  four 
entrhs,  then  a  joint,  then  a  pudding  or  tart,  winding  up.  with 
anchovy-toast,  or  cream-cheese  —  the  latter  made  by  our 
Indian  servants.  In  lact,  a  millionnaire  could  not  have 
lived  better  than  we  did,  under  similar  circumstances.  My 
two  associates  in  the  Mission,  Consul  Cameron,  Mr.  Stern  and 
I  boarded  together  till  the  beginning  of  1867,  when  Mr. 
Cameron  and  Dr.  Blanc  preferred  messing  each  in  his  own 
hut.  Lieut.  Prideaux,  Mr.  Stern  and  I  shared  the  same 
table  until  we  w-ere  liberated.  As  to  pecuniary  and  other 
means  of  living,  we  were  much  on  a  par,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  those  whom  I  had  to  support  on  the  public  account, 
as  distressed  Euro]3eans.  Whenever  funds  reached  me  from 
the  coast,  or  by  any  other  route,  the  amount  was  divided 
according  to  the  requirements  of  each. 

Not  one  of  the  captives  can  justly  complain  that  his  im- 
prisonment, during  my  time,  was  aggravated  by  privations. 
It  is  true  that  we  were  fettered,  to  our  no  small  discomfort ; 
but  our  worst  trials  consisted  in  mental  anxiety,  protracted 
for  nearly  two  years ;  in  the  ever-present  consciousness  that 
our  lives  hung  upon  a  thread ;  that  a  mere  caprice  on  the 
part  of  the  ruthless  despot  who  hold  us  in  his  grasp  might 
lead  him  to  order  us  to  be  mutilated,  or  to  be  Imrled  headlong 
from  that  fatal  precipice,  where  hundreds  as  innocent  as  we 
were  had  met  an  untimely  end.  These  fears  w-ere  shared 
alike  by  all,  and  mine,  I  need  hardly  say,  were  intensified  by 
a  weight  of  responsibility  which  at  times  quite  overpowered 
me. 

The  task  of  entertaining  public  guests,  whose  interest  it 
was  desirable  to  secure  for  the  common  benefit  of  all  the 
captives,  was  undertaken  by  Samuel,  to  whom  I  had  intrusted 
it  since  our  first  arrival  at  tlie  Court  of  Theodore.     Being  a 


Chap.  XXT.  ENTERTAINMENT  OF  GUESTS.  «JOG 

native  of  tho  country,  and  holding  a  recognised  position  with 
the  King,  Samuel  was  the  fittest  person  available  to  discharge 
the  important  functions  which  such  hospitality  involved  in 
our  case.  My  personal  assistance  in  that  respect  was  chiefly 
limited  to  receiving  visitors,  in  w  hich  occupation  I  was  often 
engaged  for  six  hours  at  a  stretch,  and  few  can  conceive  how 
irksome  tho  duty  was.  As  a  rule,  I  offered  every  guest  a 
cup  of  coflfee,  and  one  or  two  small  glasses  of  arrack — when  I 
had  a  supply  of  the  latter  on  hand;  but  tij  1  never  allowed 
to  be  brought  into  my  room  until  towards  the  end  of  18G7, 
when  I  was  advised  to  give  it  to  my  Abyssinian  visitors,  in 
order  to  cultivate  a  closer  intimacy  with  them.  The  first 
time  I  permitted  it  to  bo  introduced  was  when  an  attack  on 
Magdala  was  tln-eatened  by  several  rebel  Chiefs,  at  wliich 
juncture  the  local  authorities  used  to  assemble  in  my  house 
to  discuss  the  matter  among  themselves,  and  to  settle  certiiin 
disputes  which  Iiad  arisen  between  some  of  the  inferior  Chiefs. 
It  was  a  time  when  policy  demanded  that  I  should  humour 
them  as  niu<li  as  possible  ;  for  our  prospects  then,  for  good 
or  for  evil,  depended  in  a  great  measure  on  tlie  part  they 
might  take  for  or  against  us.  Tin's  course  was  fully  appre- 
ciated by  my  associates  in  the  Mission,  for  on  one  occasion 
when  our  funds  were  very  low,  I  consulte  1  thom  about 
stopping  the  allowance  to  Samuel  to  provide  ti'j  for  j)ublic 
guests,  and  we  unanimously  agreed  tliat  it  would  bt^  most 
unwise  to  make  the  retrenchment.  I'ainfnl  as  was  my 
captivity  in  Mugclala,  it  would  have  been  intolerable  but  for 
the  society  of  genial  companions.  Dr.  J>lanc  and  j\[r. 
Prideaux  were  always  ut  h.md  iind  nudy  to  cooperate 
towards  tlie  common  welfare  of  our  little  community,  espe- 
cially in  times  of  diniculty  and  danger.  The  Ilev.  Messrs. 
Stern  and  Rosenthal,  as  well  as  nfhcr  of  inv  fcllow-capf ives, 


206  LIFE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXI. 

were  never  backward  to  contribute  to  the  same  end.  Mr. 
"Waldmeier,  also,  one  of  the  most  favoured  of  the  King's 
European  artisans,  did  us  many  a  goorl  turn.  On  our  depar- 
ture from  Debra  Tabor  for  Magdahi,  Theodore  sent  to  inform 
me  that  if  we  wished  to  leave  anything  behind,  My.  Wald- 
meier would  take  charge  of  it,  and  that  he  had  further 
directed  that  gentleman  to  act  as  my  agent,  after  we  reached 
the  fortress.  I  accordingly  availed  myself  of  the  King's 
offer,  and  Mr.  Waldmeier  frequently  obtained  money  for 
us  from  his  friends  at  Gaffat,  against  bills  drawn  on  Europe, 
procured  for  us  other  necessary  supplies,  aided  our  messen- 
gers, and  did  all  in  his  power  to  serve  us  until  he  and  his 
fellow-artisans  fell  under  the  royal  displeasure,  in  the  begin- 
ning of  1867.  On  one  occasion  when  the  King  heard  that 
Mr.  Waldmeier  was  sending  me  five  hundred  dollars— it  was 
at  a  time  when  the  roads  to  the  fortress  were  unsafe — his 
Majesty  took  the  money  and  sent  me  an  order  for  the  amount 
on  the  Magdala  Treasury.  I  have  much  pleasure  in  bearing 
my  grateful  testimony  also  to  Mr.  llad's  unwearied  exertions 
in  our  behalf,  and  especially  for  having  kept  me  informed, 
even  at  the  risk  of  his  life,  of  the  King's  movements — in- 
telligence which  often  pointed  the  clue  what  measures 
should  be  taken  for  the  common  safety.  Isolated  as  we 
were  from  all  other  sources  of  aid  from  without,  such  exordial 
sympathy  was  like  a  silver  lining  to  the  dark  cloud  which 
perpetually  hung  over  our  prison-house  at  IMagdala. 

My  evening  visitors  were  for  the  most  part  ladies,  the 
wives  either  of  the  local  magnates,  or  of  the  attainted 
political  Chiefs,  who  came  to  me  from  tlie  native  prison  with 
news  of  their  husbands.  They  \\ere  not  over  clean,  so  that 
it  was  no  great  jdeasure  to  sit  near  thciii;  but  their  sweet 
voices — Abyssinian  ladies  of  rank  are  remarkable  for  soft- 


Chap.  XXI.  LADY-VISITORS.  207 

ness  of  speech — and  kindly  sympathy  alleviated  my  other- 
wise wearisome  existence.  They  never  entered  the  room 
without  glancing  at  my  fetters,  and  breathing  a  sigh  of 
condolence ;  whilst  the  wives  of  the  political  prisoners 
encouraged  mo  to  bear  my  lot  with  fortitude,  and  not  to 
forget  the  mercy  of  God,  who  had  implanted  an  extraor- 
dinary affection  for  me  in  the  breast  of  their  Sovereign— a 
man  bereft  of  every  other  trace  of  humanity.  "  Except  that 
you  are  fettered,"  they  would  say,  "  your  imprisonment,  and 
that  of  your  brother  captives,  is  bliss  compared  with  what 
our  husbands  have  to  endure;  for  if,  in  addition  to  vonr 
fetters,  you  were  encumbered  as  they  are  with  hand-chains 
fastened  to  your  feet,  life  would  be  intolerable  to  you.  Ask 
your  brothers  who  were  incarcerated  in  the  native  prison 
before  you  came,  and  they  will  tell  you  the  difference  between 
their  circumstances  now  and  what  they  were  then."  A 
]>hotogra]ihic  album  which  I  iiad  with  me  was  a  source  of 
great  interest  to  these  lady-visitors.  They  often  sent  for  it 
on  their  return  home,  in  order  to  show  it  to  their  friends,  and 
it  was  sometimes  retained  for  a  fortnight  together.  I  alwavs 
lent  it  on  condition  that  the  portraits  were  not  to  be  touched, 
t'ud  that  those  who  undertook  to  exhibit  them  sliould  previously 
wash  their  hands.  These  injunctions  must  have  been  obeyed 
most  scrupuhnisly  ;  for  although  the  book  was  externally  the 
worse  for  wear,  not  one  of  the  portraits  was  soiled.  While 
at  Magdahi  1  received  the  carte  of  a  lady-t'ricnd  of  mine  in 
England,  and  as  soon  as  the  fact  became  known  the  new 
"pi<-ture"  was  in  great  request  on  all  sides.  Concluding 
that  it  was  a  portrait  cither  of  my  wife  or  my  betrothed, 
these  simple,  good-hearted  souls  shed  many  a  tear  over  it, 
and  kissing  it  would  say,  "Oh,  did  you  not  weep  when  you 
lieard    that    Mi\    Kossum    was    in  chains?      ^lav    the    Lord 


208  LIFE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXT. 

comfort  yon ! "  Even  the  Chiefs  were  so  ftnid  of  looking  at 
this  portrait  that,  to  be  rid  of  their  importunity,  I  eventually 
fixed  it  to  a  pillar  in  my  room. 

A  plentiful  downpour  in  the  monsooij  suffices  to  provide 
the  garrison  of  Magdala  with  water  the  whole  year  round  ; 
but  as  very  little  rain  fell  dnrinir  the  last  two  years  of  our 
captivity,  the  inhabitants  generally  suffered  from  drought. 
A  hollow  near  the  common  jail,  which  used  to  be  well 
replenished  at  the  rainy  season,  and  which  served  to  supply 
the  royal  household  throughout  the  summer  with  sufficient 
water  for  culinary  purposes,  as  well  as  for  making  mead  and 
beer,  Mas  nearly  dry  towards  the  end  of  1867.  Water  is 
more  abundant  in  the  adjoining  plateau  of  Salamge,  where 
there  are  two  perennial  streamlets,  whenever  the  monsoon 
rains  fall  copiously.  These  also  ceased  to  flow  about  the 
same  time,  and  the  wells  had  to  bo  deepened  before  a  supply 
could  be  obtained  from  them.  The  wells  connected  with  the 
Mission  stabling,  which  was  situated  below  a  cliff"  about 
twenty  feet  high,  were  considered  the  best  in  Salamge. 
The  stables  were  eventually  appropriated  by  the  King,  and 
converted  into  a  jail,  and  this  locality  was  the  scene  of  that 
general  slaughter  of  the  native  prisoners  which  took  place  on 
tiie  nth  of  April,  18(58,  by  order  of  the  inhuman  UKmareh. 
Most  of  the  victims,  on  being  thrown  over  the  ledge  of  rock, 
fell  first  into  our  wells,  from  whence  they  were  barbarously 
dragged  by  the  soldiers,  and  then  hurled  down  a  much 
steeper  precipice. 

The  soil  and  climate  of  Magdala  are  favourable  to  vegeta- 
tion ;  but  the  great  diawback  is  scarcity  of  water  for  irri- 
gation during  the  hot  season.  Soon  after  our  arrival  there, 
1  (»l)tained  a  l'(;\v  lonialo  shools  from  an  Egyptian  in  the 
King's  service,  and  |»lante(l  them  in  front  of  my  hut.      In  the 


Chap.  XXI.  SOIL  AN1>  CLIMATE.  21)9 

course  of  a  month  they  grew  up  like  a  vino ;  in  a  few  weeks 
more  tliey  formed  an  arbour  large  enough  to  shelter  half-a- 
dozen  persons,  and,  eventually,  the  luxuriant  tendrils  covered 
the  entire  frontage  of  the  room.  The  most  extraordinary 
feature  was,  tliat  tliey  bore  fruit  all  the  year  round,  wliicli 
enabled  us  to  indulge  in  the  luxury  of  tomato  soup  and 
cutlets.  Subsequently,  I  sowed  a  quantity  of  the  seed,  and 
distributed  the  plants  among  the  natives  of  the  place.  These 
thrived  so  well  that  just  before  the  invading  British  force 
reached  Magdala,  tomatoes  were  so  abundant  that  we  did  not 
know  how  to  dispose  of  them.  One  of  the  jilants  measured 
eighteen  feet  and  a  half  in  length. 

Green  peas  sprung  up  in  front  of  my  house  eight  ft^et  five 
inches  higli.  Potatoes  also  throve  well ;  the  beet  and  long 
radish  were  rather  hard  ;  the  turnip-radish  grew  too  fast,  and 
became  spongy  a  fortnight  after  the  seed  was  sown.  Almost 
all  herbs  flourished,  as  also  several  kinds  of  lettuce  ;  French 
beans  succeeded  better  than  any  other  vegetable.  As  I  fullv 
expected,  when  we  were  sent  to  ]\Iagdala,  that  we  should 
remain  there  some  time,  I  wrote  to  Colonel  Merewetlu-r  at 
Aden  for  a  supjjly  of  seeds,  smiling  to  myself  as  I  did  so  at 
the  idea  wliich  the  request  might  convey — that  I  int(nided  to 
make  the  {)lace  my  abode  for  an  indelinitc  period.  However, 
I  was  not  deterred  by  any  such  rcfitction, knowing  that  if  we 
did  not  use  the  seeds  ourselves,  we  might  have  thcni  behind 
us  for  the  benefit  of  the  country.  The  seeds  came  to  hand 
in  due  course,  and  were  sown  ;  and  not  only  did  we  eat  of  the 
pnMluce,  but  obtained  fresh  seeds  from  them,  which  we 
should  have  sown  in  turn,  and  again  have  partaken  of  the 
i'ruit.  had  not  the  scarcity  of  water  discouraged  the  atfcinpt. 

One  of  my  greatest  sources  of  amusement,  and  one  which 
aflorded  me  real  jdcasure  during  our  cajitivity,  wa-^  to  kee[» 

VOL.  II.  r 


210  LIFE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XX  f. 

open  liouso  for  the  beautiful  little  birds  to  be  found  at  Mag- 
dala.  A  few  casual  visitors  at  the  outset,  venturing  up  to 
tlie  door  in  quest  of  crumbs,  were  induced  by  a  scattering  of 
Uf  grain  to  repeat  the  call,  bringing  companions  with  them 
of  several  other  species.  The  entertainment  provided  for 
tlieui  was  so  much  appreciated,  that  in  less  than  a  month 
there  were  from  fifty  to  sixty  of  these  pretty  creatures,  of 
various  hues  and  colours,  warbling  in  my  arbour  all  day  long. 
They  generally  came  to  feed  in  batches,  and  as  one  party  left 
it  was  succeeded  by  another,  beginning  at  sunrise  and  ending 
at  sunset,  wlicn  all  sped  away  to  their  respective  roosts. 
How  I  envied  their  freedom !  The  ungrateful  little  things 
deserted  me  at  harvest  time,  when  they  found  abundant  pro- 
vision elsewhere ;  but,  as  water  at  Magdala  became  scarce, 
they  recommenced  their  calls,  evidently  in  search  of  it.  I 
accordingly  had  a  trough  made  for  them,  and  in  less  than  a 
week  the  drinking  far  outnumbered  my  eatiug  guests,  and 
among  the  former  were  several  new  sjjecies  that  fed  on 
flies  and  insects,  none  of  which  had  visited  me  before.  They 
seemed  to  enjoy  bathing  even  more  than  drinking,  for  on  a 
hot  day  there  was  quite  a  scuffle  among  tlioni  \\hich  should 
have  the  first  dip.  The  Abyssinians,  who  have  a  strong 
prejudice  against  washing  themselves,  used  to  be  highly 
amused  at  the  scene,  and  I  generally  took  the  opportunity  of 
suggesting  that  the  example  was  one  which  they  might 
imitate  with  advantage.  Among  tlic  birds  Avere  two  hand- 
some species  which  changed  their  })lumage  at  different  seasons 
of  the  year,  the  feathers  assuming  a  variety  of  the  most  lovely 
hues  during  the  transition — I  counted  as  many  as  eiglit  just 
as  the  change  began.  Another  of  my  visitors,  not  larger 
than  a  goldfinch,  was  arrayed  in  red.  'i'hese  used  to  come  In 
dozens,  and  after  narrowly  watching  their  habits  for  some 


Chap.  XXI.  BIRDS.  211 

time,  I  noticed  a  peculiar  instinct  in  them  which  greatly- 
amused  me.  Wiien  a  male  loses  his  mate  and  is  on  the  look- 
out for  another,  he  seizes  a  wisp  of  straw,  or  a  twig,  and  hops 
about  with  it  in  his  beak  among  the  fraternity,  as  an  indica- 
tion that  he  is  a  widower  in  want  of  a  consort.  On  one  occa- 
sion, there  was  evidently  a  widow  present  who  was  similarly- 
situated.  The  fact  was  soon  apprehended  by  the  widower, 
who  proceeded  forthwith  to  woo  her,  which  he  did  by  simply 
dropping  the  twig  at  her  side.  Her  consent  was  unmistake- 
able,  for  she  immediately  joined  him  and  both  sped  away  on 
their  honeymoon.  As  my  occupations  generally  were  duly 
reported  to  the  King,  my  amusements  also  did  not  fail  to 
reach  his  ears,  and  he  seemed  highly  interested  in  my 
feathered  visitors;  for,  whenever  the  couriers  were  charged 
to  convey  my  respects  to  him,  the  first  question  he  asked,  if 
he  chanced  to  be  in  a  good  humour,  was,  "  How  are  Rassam's 
children  ?  " — meaniug  my  pet  birds. 

When  I  became  tolerably  well  acquainted  with  the  dif- 
ferent classes  of  people  at  Mugdala,  I  was  surprised  to  find 
tliat  a  great  number  of  the  more  intelligent  soldiers  of  the 
garrison  were  well  versed  in  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  knowing 
many  passages  by  heart,  and  understanding  their  true  import. 
They  had  accordingly  abandoned  the  8U})orstitious  doctrines 
and  ceremonies  of  their  own  church,  and  adhered  simply  to 
what  they  called  the  "  Creed  of  the  Bible,"  or,  in  other 
words,  Protestantism.  These  results  were  due  to  the  mis- 
sionary efforts  of  the  Kev.  Mr.  Stern,  in  1.SG5,  when  he  was 
fir.>t  sent  as  a  prisoner  to  ]\Iagdala.  It  appears  that  during 
iiis  incarceration  he  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  imparting 
Scripture  truth  to  such  of  the  guard  as  were  willing  to  listen 
to  him.  The  subjects  of  his  discourses,  and  the  texts  of  Iloly 
Writ  which  he  adduced  by  way  of  confirmation,  were  after- 

r  2 


•212  LIFE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXI. 

wards  discussed  by  his  hearers  at  their  own  homes,  and  even- 
tually they  arranged  to  meet  together  once  a  week,  in  a 
private  house,  to  peruse  the  Scriptures,  referring  to  Mr.  Stem 
to  explain  any  difficulty  whieli  arose  in  their  minds  in  the 
course  of  these  readings.  Their  champion  in  the  fortress 
was  Ba=?ha  Neguse,  a  devout  Christian,  and,  by  all  accounts,  a 
man  wlio  led  a  most  exemjilary  life.  He  was  shot  acci- 
dentally at  the  storming  of  Magdala  on  the  13th  of  April, 
1868,  as  has  been  already  stated. 

The  private  meetings  above  described  had  been  discon- 
tinued before  my  arrival  at  the  Amba,  but  the  movement 
was  kept  up  by  Basha  Neguse  and  several  of  his  zealous 
colleagues,  who  used  to  go  publicly  from  house  to  house 
preaching  the  Gospel  to  those  who  were  disposed  to  re- 
ceive it.  The  priests  did  all  in  their  power,  by  threats  of 
excommunication  and  other  ecclesiastical  penalties,  to  arrest 
the  good  work,  but  as  none  lieeded  their  menaces,  they 
eventually  appealed  to  Eas  Bisawwir,  the  Commandant,  to 
prohibit  the  promulgation  of  the  doctrines  of  the  Francliotsh 
in  the  fortress.  The  only  reply  tbey  received  from  the  bluff 
Chief  was,  that  as  soon  as  it  came  to  liis  knowledge  that 
the  parties  complained  of  taught  anything  contrary  to  the 
Word  of  God,  he  would  certainly  put  a  stop  to  their  pro- 
ceedings ;  in  the  mean  time,  however,  he  advised  the  priests 
to  try  and  imitate  the  piety  of  Basha  Neguse,  for  whom  he 
had  a  gicat  regard.  Of  course,  a  considerable  number  of 
the  petty  Chiefs  and  soldiers  who  attended  the  lectures  of 
their  devout  countrymen  did  not  wholly  abjure  the  false 
tenets  in  which  they  had  been  brought  up ;  nevertheless, 
many  of  them  so  far  profited  by  the  truths  inculcated  that 
they  endeavoured  to  lead  a  more  moial  life,  and,  as  a  first 
step  in  that  direction,  married  their  wives  according  to  the 


Chap.  XXI.  PROSELYTES  FROM  ISLAM.  213 

solemn  rites  of  tlie  Church,  In  consequence  of  this  reform, 
the  ]\ragdala  garrison,  made  up  of  men  from  all  parts  of 
the  country,  comprised  twice  the  number  of  duly  wedded 
couples  that  were  to  be  found  in  any  of  the  most  populous 
towns  of  Abyssinia.  I  give  this  statement  on  the  best  native 
authority. 

During  our  stay  at  Magdala,  no  less  than  eight  of  the 
Mussulman  servants  of  the  Mission  embraced  Christianity. 
Of  these,  the  only  conscientious  convert  was  'Omar  'Ali ;  a 
love  affair,  or  a  desire  to  be  reckoned  among  the  members 
of  the  dominant  community,  were  the  chief  motives  which 
induced  the  others  to  abjure  Islam.  Their  consequent  duties 
and  privileges  as  proselytes  to  the  Abyssinian  Church  may  be 
summed  up  as  follows: — The  hair  of  their  heads  was  shaved, 
and  a  priest  besprinkled  them  with  a  few  drops  of  water; 
besides  which,  they  were  allowed  to  wear  the  "  Mateb  " — a 
cord  made  of  blue  silk,  worn  round  the  neck  by  Abyssinian 
Christians,  to  distinguish  them  from  their  non-Christian 
countrymen.  They  were  never  to  address  prayers  to  God  in 
Arabic,  or  to  praise  Him  in  that  language  ;  and  they  were 
expressly  forbidden  to  partake  of  meat  slaughtered  by 
]\Ioharamedans.  Of  course,  their  conversion  necessitated  a 
change  of  name  :  'Omar  was  turned  into  Guargis — George  ; 
]\Ioliammed  into  Gabra-Yasus — the  Man  of  Jesus ;  'Ali 
into  Wald-Salasse — the  Child  of  the  Trinity;  'Amir  into 
Wald-Maryam — the  Child  of  Mary ;  and  so  forth.  As  the 
Abyssiniuns,  however,  never  call  a  man  simply  George,  or 
I'cter,  or  John,  without  the  prefix  *'Wald"  or  "Gabra," 
Samuel's  insistancc  that  'Omar-'Ali  should  be  baptized 
"(iuargis,"  and  not  "  Wald-Guargis,"  gave  rise  to  consider- 
able discussion.  The  Chiefs  accordingly  met  together  in  my 
house  to  consult  the  Bible,  in  order  to  discover  whether  it  was 


214  LIFE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXI. 

not  a  sin  to  call  an  ordinary  man  by  tlio  same  name  as  a  saint, 
vliifh,  in  tlieir  opinion,  uas  equivalent  to  placing  saint  and 
sinner  on  a  par.  Samuel,  however,  carried  his  point  by  con- 
tending tliat  the  inference  would  be  justified  if  it  were  pro- 
posed to  give  'Omar  'Ali  the  name  of  "  Saint  George  " — al- 
though it  w^as  quite  possible,  he  argued,  that  the  convert 
might  hereafter  attain  to  that  dignity.  Most  of  the  prose- 
lytes having  expressed  a  \\isli  to  receive  Christian  instruc- 
tion, the  Eev.  Mr.  Stern  appointed  certain  days  in  the  week 
to  catechize  them. 

Divine  Service,  according  to  the  ritual  of  the  Emrlisli 
Church,  was  celebrated  in  my  room  every  Sunday  during  our 
captivity  at  Magdala,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stern,  one  or  two 
Sundays  only  excepted,  when  that  gentleman  was  too  ill  to 
officiate.  The  Abyssinians  always  behaved  with  decorum, 
and  never  interrupted  us  while  we  were  at  prayers.  On 
more  than  one  occasion,  royal  couriers  arrived  with  messages 
from  the  King,  while  we  were  so  engaged,  but  they  waited 
at  Samuel's  house  until  the  conclusion  of  the  service  before 
seeking  to  communicate  with  me. 

Those  who  do  not  wish  to  bieak  the  continuity  of  the 
narrative  may  reserve  perusing  the  succeeding  chapter  until 
they  reach  the  conclusion  of  this  volume. 


Chap.  XXII.  ABYSSINIAN  MARRIAGES.  215 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

MARRIAGE   AND    ETIQUETTE. 

Abyssinian  marriacjcs  —  Marriage  according  to  the  rites  of  tbe  National 
Cliurch  —  How  dissolved — Infidelity  of  the  husbands  —  Continence  of 
wives  married  sacramentally  —  Tlieodorc's  canonical  marriage  with  the 
daughter  of  Ras 'All  —  Obliges  Mr.  Boll  to  follow  his  example  —  His 
marriage  with  the  daughter  of  Dajjfij  Oobe  —  He  gets  tired  of  her  — 
Marries  Itamanyo,  the  wife  of  a  Mussulman  Galla  —  Itamanyo's  con- 
version and  devotion  —  Secondary  marriages  —  Tliird-degree  marriages 
—  Native  etiquette  —  "  Girding  "  —  The  ^hdmma  described  —  Various 
styles  of  wearing  the  same  —  Modes  of  Address  —  Etiquette  in  presenta- 
tion—  In  drinking  —  Covering  the  head,  an  insult  —  Privilege  of  priests, 
monks,  and  nuns. 

In  the  foregoing  narrative,  occasional  mention  lias  been 
made  of  first,  second,  and  third  degree  marriages — a  phraseo- 
logy Avhich  I  have  no  doubt  many  of  my  readers  have  been 
at  a  loss  fully  to  comprehend.  The  Abyssinians  are  a 
peculiar  people  in  many  respects,  and,  witli  regard  to 
marriage,  I  believe  their  customs  to  be  unitiue,  and  withal 
80  closely  interwoven  with  their  social  and  domestic  lite  as 
not  to  be  readily  understood  by  a  foreigner.  The  same 
remark  applies  to  tlie  conventional  formalities  which  prevail 
among  them,  and  to  which  the  highest  importance  is  at- 
taciied  by  every  class  of  the  community.  As  much  of  the 
subjoineel  information  on  these  two  subjects  was  acquired 
during  my  prolonged  captivity,  1  insert  it  here  as  a  sequel  to 
uiir  '  Life  at  jMdgdala.' 

The    most   binding  marriage    with    the  Abyssinians   con- 


216  MAP.RIAGE  AND  ETIQUETTE.  Crap.  XXTI. 

sists  cf  an  interchange  of  vows  between  the  bridegroom 
and  bride,  confirmed  by  their  jointly  partaking  of  the  holy 
Eucharist;  in  fact,  the  union  in  this  case  is  solemnized 
much  in  the  same  way  as  in  other  Christian  Churches. 
Here,  liowever,  as  elsewhere,  certain  breaches  of  their 
mutual  vows  by  cither  party  dissolves  the  tie  and  ren- 
ders the  transgressor  legally  obnoxious  to  punishment ;  but 
as  Abyssinian  law  in  sadi  matters  has  been  disreiiarded 
for  centuries,  and  IMight  has  taken  the  place  of  Eight,  it 
follows  that  an  offending  husband  generally  escapes  with 
impunity;  so  also  does  the  guilty  wife,  if  she  happens  to 
belong  to  the  family  of  a  powerful  Chief.  Hence,  an  un- 
principled husband,  when  tired  of  his  wife,  finds  no  diffi- 
culty whatever  in  getting  rid  of  her ;  and  such  repudiation 
is  undoubtedly  very  common.  Many  cases  of  the  kind  fell 
under  my  own  cognizance,  and,  in  nearly  all,  the  husbands 
were  leading  incontinent  lives ;  on  the  other  hand,  I  never 
heard  of  a  single  instance  of  a  wife  who  had  been  sacra- 
mentally  married  proving  unfaithful  to  her  husband,  even 
after  his  repudiation  of  her.  Most  women  so  situated  re- 
main single,  and  many  become  nuns.  In  consequence  of 
this  deplorable  state  of  things,  Abyssinian  females  generally 
entertain  a  great  distrust  of  the  ojiposite  sex,  and  not  one 
in  twenty  would  willingly  contract  the  more  binding  marriage. 
A  case  in  point  happened  while  I  was  at  Magdala.  The 
husband  was  in  such  dread  of  losing  his  partner,  knowing 
that  as  he  had  been  united  to  her  by  the  secondary  marriage 
only — to  be  described  anon — she  might  leave  him  any  day, 
that  her  refusal  to  accompany  him  to  the  altar,  there  to 
partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper  with  him,  in  token  of  their 
more  indissoluble  union,  nearly  drove  him  mail.  The 
matter  was  eventually  referred  to  the  Abuna,  my  interven- 


Chap.  XXIT.  THEODORE'S  MARRIAGES.  '217 

tion  beinff  also  soufrht,  and  after  considerable  trouble  we 
overcame  the  obstinacy  of  tlie  lady,  and  induced  her  to  con- 
sent to  be  sacramentally  joined  to  her  love-sick  lord,  in  the 
holy  estate  of  matrimony. 

The  late  King  Tlieodore — who  was  devout,  moral  and 
humane,  by  fits  and  starts  from  boyhood  to  the  end  of  his 
career — took  it  into  his  head,  after  he  was  crowned,  to  lead 
a  virtuous  life,  and  to  imitate  the  Christians  in  the  East 
and  West  by  uniting  himself  to  one  wife.  He  accordingly 
espoused  Tobet,  the  daughter  of  Ras  'All,  and  ratified  the 
marriage  by  partaking  with  her  of  the  holy  Eucharist.  On 
tliat  occasion,  moreover,  he  announced  to  the  royal  troops 
that  they  could  not  better  manifest  their  regard  for  him  than 
bv  following  his  example  in  this  respect ;  but  as  the  Abys- 
sinians  are  rathm-  stubborn  in  sucli  matters,  he  found  very 
few  proselytes  among  his  own  subjects.  It  is  a  curious  fact, 
tluit  the  only  person  he  actually  compelled  to  do  as  he  had 
done  was  the  late  Mr.  Bell ;  and,  what  is  more  extraordinary 
still,  he  obliged  that  gentleman  to  marry,  not  the  wife  who 
had  already  borne  him  four  children,  but  another  woman. 

On  the  death  of  Tobet,  Theodore  judged  it  iiolitic  to 
ally  himself  to  the  faujily  of  L)ajjaj  Oobe — the  second 
greatest  Chief  in  Abyssinia  whom  he  had  overthrown — by 
marrying  his  daughter  Teru-AVark,  according  to  the  solemn 
rites  of  the  Church,  The  Dajjaj,  then  a  prisoner  in  the  camp 
of  his  successful  rival,  was  almost  frantic  with  joy  on  hearing 
that  the  great  Theodore  had  espoused  the  young  Princess — 
she  was  only  twelve  years  old  at  the  time — very  naturally 
inferring  that  such  a  union  would  restore  him  to  his  native 
province  of  Semen,  and  lead  to  his  being  re-invested  with  the 
regency  over  'i'igie  and  the  nortln'rn  districts.  He  was  set  at 
larg'-  for  a  short  period,  but  when  Theodore  had  gained  his 


218  MARRIAGE  AND  ETIQUETTE.  Chap.  XXII. 

object,  be  made  tbe  poor  old  man  a  closer  prisoner  than 
before,  and  althougli  he  repeatedly  promised  to  liberate  his 
sons — now  tbe  King's  brotbers-in-law — be  detained  tbem  in 
captivity  at  Magdala,  wbere  tbey  were  almost  starved,  nor 
were  tbey  released  until  tbat  fortress  fell  into  tbe  bands  of 
tbe  Britisb. 

After  a  year,  during  wbicb  be  Mas  constant  to  bis  new 
Queen,  Tbeodoro  became  dissatisfied  witb  ber  cbarms  and 
temper,  and  reverted  to  bis  former  j»ractice  of  making  any 
woman  bis  wife  to  wbom  be  took  a  fancy.  He  allowed  no 
religious  scruples  or  any  otber  considerations  wbatever  to 
interfere  witli  tbe  gratification  of  bis  passions  in  that  parti- 
cular. It  signified  little  to  bim  wbetber  tbe  bride  elect  was 
married  or  single.  If  the  busband  objected,  be  could  easily 
be  intimidated  into  compliance  ;  if  not,  there  were  summary 
modes  of  chastising  tbose  who  dared  to  stand  in  the  way  of 
the  "  Lord's  Anointed."  Still,  I  never  beard  of  the  late  King 
having  taken  a  Christian  woman  to  wife  during  tbe  lifetime 
of  ber  busband ;  but  be  observed  no  such  moderation  towards 
Mussulmans.  Itamanyo,  who  was  bis  favourite  Itege,  or 
Empress,  while  I  was  in  Abyssinia,  was  tlio  wile  of  a  'Mo- 
hammedan of  the  Yadjow  Gallas.  From  the  accounts  which 
reached  bim  of  ber  beauty,  be  ordered  ber  to  be  brouglit 
to  his  Court,  and  prevailed  on  her  to  embrace  Christianity, 
while  tbe  hapless  liusband  was  glad  to  eifect  bis  escape  in 
order  to  avoid  the  alternative  of  losing  his  life  or  alguiiug 
his  creed.  Itamanyo  eventually  became  very  assiduous 
in  the  performance  of  her  religious  duties,  and  spent  much 
time  in  reciting  prayers.  The  Abyssinians,  like  the  Roman 
Catholics,  use  rosaries  in  their  devotions,  and,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  the  Queen  adojjted  tbe  same  practice.  Tin's  was 
scarcely  a  novelty  to  her,  since  Mohammedans  generally  use 


Chap.  XXII.  SECOND-KATE  MARRIAGES.  219 

a  similar  though  much  longer  chaplet,  but  without  any 
symbol  attached,  called  a  3IusbaJiah,  each  bead  serving  the 
devotee  as  a  tally  in  his  enumeration  of  the  names  and 
attributes  of  God.  Being  unable  to  find  a  suitable  rosary, 
Itamanyo  applied  to  me,  through  Samuel,  to  assist  her  in 
procuring  one.  I  accordingly  directed  a  native  craftsman 
to  make  a  string  of  silver  beads,  with  a  large  cross  of  the  same 
metal  appended,  and  had  it  presented  to  her.  According  to 
Abyssinian  canon  law,  no  man  can  contract  a  second  sacra- 
mental marriage  during  the  lifetime  of  a  former  w  ifo,  whether 
she  be  divorced  from  him  or  not.  But  for  this  prohibition — 
his  wife  Teiu-Wark  being  still  alive — there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  Theodore  would  have  ratified  his  union  witli  Itamanyo 
by  wedding  her  according  to  the  ritual  of  the  Church. 

In  what,  for  want  of  a  more  appropriate  designation,  I 
call  the  "Secondary"  or  "Second-rate  jMarriage"  among 
the  Abyssinians,  the  contracting  parties  simply  swear,  in  the 
])resenco  of  two  witnesses,  that  they  will  live  together  as 
husband  and  wife.  This  bond  may  be  dissolved  at  any  time 
by  mutual  consent ;  in  that  case,  the  wife  is  entitled  to  retain 
whatever  property  she  possessed  before  wedlock,  as  also  any 
presents  which  she  may  have  received  from  her  husband 
(luring  coverture,  unless  a  stipulation  to  tlie  contrary  was 
agreed  to  by  both  sides,  on  their  union.  Most  Abyssinian 
marriages  arc  of  this  sort,  and  the  generality  of  the  respect- 
able classes  so  wedded  live  together  as  husband  and  wife 
until  separated  by  death,  few  only  among  them  reverting  to 
the  subordinate  or  third-defjree  marriaire. 

Tliis  last  is  little  better  than  concubinage.  The  contract- 
ing parties  merely  engage  to  cohabit  during  pleasure,  and 
while  so  living  are  regarded  as  hu.sband  and  wile.  The 
children  of  such  unions,  however,  have  an   equal  right  of 


220  MAREIAGE  AND  ETIQUETl^E.  Chap.  XXIT. 

inheritance  with  the  offspring  of  first-  and  second-rate  mar- 
riages. The  national  Church,  indeed,  recognizes  only  tlie 
first  as  valid  ;  but  the  laity  as  a  rule  set  all  ecclesiastical  law 
in  such  matters  at  defiance.  Hence,  a  wealthy  Abyssinian 
Christian,  wlio  is  debarred  by  the  two  higlier  degrees  of 
wedlock  from  having  more  than  one  wife,  may  nevertheless 
have  as  many  third-rate  wives  as  ho  pleases,  and  cohabit 
with  them  simultaneously.  In  the  course  of  my  inquiries 
into  these  matrimonial  customs,  and  the  laws  affecting 
inheritances  among  this  peculiar  people,  I  applied  to  tlie 
Abuna  to  aid  me  in  the  research.  His  reply  was,  "  My  son, 
you  have  asked  me  questions  Avhicli  I  am  unable  to  answer. 
This  only  I  can  tell  you;  Abyssinian  marriages,  with  few 
exceptions,  are  so  abominably  revolting  that  the  issue  are 
all  bastards." 

With  respect  to  etiquette — the  remaining  subject  to  be 
treated  of  in  this  short  chapter — the  Abyssinians  are  most 
punctilious.  In  fact,  their  adherence  to  conventional  for- 
malities is  extreme,  and  may  be  regarded  as  the  offspring 
of  that  admixture  of  barbarism  and  civilization  which 
characterizes  tlieir  social,  religious,  and  political  economy. 
It  is  confined  to  no  class,  and  pervades  all  tlie  relations  of 
private  and  public  life.  The  style  in  whicli  a  superior 
shoTild  address  an  inferior,  and  vice  versa,  is  with  them  a 
point  of  the  highest  importance;  so  much  so,  that  the 
meanest  peasant  will  stand  upon  his  dignity  in  that  parti- 
cular. In  rank,  tlio  King  of  course  occupies  the  liigliest 
place;  next  in  order  is  the  Abuna,  or  Metropolitan;  but 
both  claim  to  be  addressed  in  the  third  person  plural,  whicli 
is  the  highest  fin-mula.  When  speaking  to  each  other,  how- 
ever, the  Sovereign  assumes  the  subordinate  position  of  "son" 
towards  the  Prelate  *'  father."     The  latter  also  addresses  the 


Chap.  XXII.  "  GIRDING."  221 

former  in  the  second  person  singular;  whereas  the  King  is 
bound  to  address  the  head  of  the  Church  as  "  they."  Further, 
according  to  tlie  letter  of  the  ceremonial  law,  the  Sovereign 
should  gird  himself  in  the  presence  of  tlie  Abuna — a  token 
of  deference  which  the  latter  is  not  expected  to  imitate. 
Whether  this  arises  from  the  fact  that  the  Metropolitans, 
being  always  Copts  from  Egypt,  never  adopt  the  Abys- 
sinian costume  and  consequently  do  not  wear  the  loose  native 
outer  robe,  I  am  unable  to  say  with  certainty.  When  the 
King  and  the  Abuna  enter  the  same  room,  tlie  former  may 
not  be  seated  before  the  latter.  Nevertheless,  in  all  such 
observances,  Theodore  followed  his  own  inclinations,  and 
treated  the  Bishop  accordingly.  If  in  a  good  humour,  he 
even  condescended  to  kneel  and  kiss  the  Prelate's  feet, 
in  recognition  of  his  "sonship"  to  the  spiritual  "father"  of 
Ids  people ;  but  if  his  temper  happened  to  be  rudHed  at  the 
time,  he  would  exclaim,  "Who  is  his  father?  If  he  is  a 
]ji-hop,  he  is  a  Turk  notwitlistanding;  whereas  I  am  the 
olTspring  of  David  and  Solomon,  and,  withal,  his  Sovereign." 
Before  proceeding  further  with  this  subject,  I  must  explain 
what  is  meant  by  "  girding,"  It  refere  to  the  different  modes 
in  which  the  native  outer  robe  is  worn,  and  involves  niceties  of 
etiquette  far  surpassing  any  connected  with  the  ordinary 
salutations  in  vogue,  either  in  the  East  or  West.  The  robe, 
which  is  called  a  "  Shamma,"  is  common  to  all  classes — 
the  texture  of  course  differing  according  to  the  means  of  the 
wearer.  It  is  a  long  sheet  of  cotton  clotli,  (Inul)led,  of  native 
manufacture,  with  a  broad  rod  stripe  crossing  tlie  width 
at  one  end  a  short  distance  from  the  extremity.  The  size 
varies:  one  in  my  possession  measures  30x2  yards.  Thrown 
over  the  back,  keeping  the  red  stripe  on  the  right  side 
wliilc    the    utiier   end    is   first    brought    over    the  left,   then 


222  MARRIAGE  AND  ETIQUETTP].  Chap.  XXII. 

thrown  over  tlie  right  shoulder,  under  the  striped  end,  which 
Is  next  cast  over  tlie  left  shoulder,  so  as  to  exhibit  the 
coloured  stripe  falling  perpendicularly  down  that  side,  from 
the  shoulder  to  the  loot — such  is  the  highest  style  of  wearing 
this  vestment,  and  one  so  clad,  who  is  not  obliged  to  re- 
arrange it  in  deference  to  another  person,  is  regarded  as 
the  superior  of  all  present  on  the  occasion.  If,  in  addition 
to  these  lappings  and  over-lappings,  the  wearer  can  manage  to 
muffle  his  chin,  mouth  and  nose  in  the  folds,  he  thereby  adds 
to  his  consequence.  Wearing  the  Shdmma  as  above,  but 
with  the  red  stripes  downwards,  like  the  hem  of  a  sldrt,  is 
also  reckoned  as  dignified  as  the  style  just  described.  When 
two  persons  of  equal  rank  meet,  they  move  the  corner  of  the 
robe  from  off  the  left  shoulder  with  the  concealed  hand,  and 
then  replace  it  as  it  was  before.  This,  however,  is  not  called 
"  girding,"  bat  "  dressing."  When  one  so  clad  meets  a 
superior,  to  whom  he  is  bound  to  pay  homage  —  Avhether 
in  passing  him,  giving  him  a  message,  or  taking  leave  of 
tiiin — he  must  move  the  red  stripe  from  off  his  left  shoulder 
and  arrange  the  folds  so  as  to  exhibit  it  stretching  in  a 
horizontal  line  from  shoulder  to  shoulder.  This  is  reckoned 
the  highest  degree  of  "  girding." 

The  next  in  order,  which  is  styled  "girding  at  ease," 
because  it  simply  indicates  respect  w'ithout  obsequiousness 
or  humiliation,  consists  in  withdrawing  the  right  arm  and 
shoulder  from  under  the  robe.  Theodore  conferred  upon  all 
his  European  employ(5s  and  artisans  the  privilege  of  appear- 
in^  before  him  so  girt;  and  on  three  different  occasions,  when 
his  Majesty  wished  to  make  himself  particidarly  gracious,  he 
received  me  with  his  right  arm  uncovered — a  condescen- 
sion which  he  had  never  before  manifested  to  any  foreign 
official.      Servants   waiting   on   their   masters,   while    on   a 


Chap.  XXir.  "GIRDING."  223 

journey  or  at  a  grand  feast,  when  strict  ceremony  is  dis- 
j)ens('d  with,  or  petty  Chiefs  in  attendance  upon  their  leader 
— otlier  than  the  Sovereign — may  also  adopt  this  style. 

Winding  lialf  the  robe  round  the  waist,  tying  it  in  front, 
and  thin  tlirowing  the  other  end  over  the  right  and  left 
shoulders,  so  as  to  cover  the  body,  and  yet  show  the  gird- 
ing, is  tlic  third  mode  of  wearing  the  sMmma,  and  denotes 
inferiority. 

The  lowest  style  is  accomplished  by  taking  the  robe  from 
the  shoulders,  winding  it  round  the  waist,  tying  it  in  a  knot  in 
front,  and  then  tucking  the  ends  within  the  girding.  Every 
subject  in  the  country,  from  the  heir-apparent  to  the  throne 
down  to  the  lowest  i)easant,  is  bound  to  ai)pear  before  the  h»ove- 
reiffn  "  jrirded  "  in  this  manner.  Moreover,  throuffhout  the 
JriiLith  and  breadth  of  the  land,  whenever  a  royal  letter  is  read, 
or  a  royal  message  publicly  proclaimed,  all  present  must  listen 
to  the  annoimcement  standing,  with  the  shdmma  worn  as  just 
describcil.  ilofore  1  was  consigned  to  Magdala,  no  Abyssinian 
from  a  lias  downwards  could  appear  before  me  otherwise 
than  in  the  same  guise.  My  repeated  attempts  to  induce 
visitors  and  others  to  dispense  with  the  ceremony  were 
always  met  with  the  objection,  that  it  might  cost  the  defaulter 
his  life  to  disregard  the  Sovereign's  order  in  that  respect. 
On  our  way  to  Magdala,  as  prisoners,  whenever  I  addressed 
J>itwudchid  Ta<lla,  the  Chief  of  the  guard,  he  threw  the  robe 
ofl'  tho  left  shoulder  and  exposed  his  right  arm  ;  but,  on 
reaching  the  fortress,  all  the  members  of  tho  Council,  with 
the  exception  of  Dama-h,  used  to  appear  before  me  muffled 
u|)  to  the  nose,  regarding  themselves  as  my  warders.  After 
it  wliih-,  however,  they  took  to  moving  the  end  ol'  tin-  uluumna, 
bowing  at  tho  same  time;  all  the  inferior  Chiefs  adopted  the 
lowest  style,  and  Damush,  who  vie<l  with  his  master  in  his 


224  MARRIAGE  AND  ETIQUETTE.  Chap.  XXII. 

civility  toN\ards  me,  always  bared  his  right  arm.  When 
Theodore  reached  A'roge,  on  the  20th  of  March,  1868,  he 
asked  the  ^lagdala  Chiefs  wliether  it  was  true  that  they  had 
muffled  themselves  in  my  presence.  Fearing  to  tell  the 
truth,  Damash  replied  for  his  colleagues  that  they  had  all 
used  the  third  style  in  their  intercourse  with  me ;  whereupon 
his  Majesty  abused  them  roundly  for  not  having  paid  me 
greater  respect  than  he  did,  since  even  he  had  always  re- 
ceived me  with  his  riglit  arm  bared.  Poor  Damasb,  being  in 
bad  odour  at  the  time,  came  in  for  the  largest  share  of  the 
royal  vituperation,  whereas  he  was  the  only  member  of  the 
Council  who  had  treated  me  with  the  higher  tokens  of  defer- 
ence. On  dismissing  them,  Theodore  bade  them  go  forthwith 
and  inquire,  as  from  him,  how  his  "friend,  Mr.  Rassam," 
fared;  adding,  "I  shall  find  out  how  you  visit  him  in 
future." 

Next  in  importance  to  girding  the  shdmma  comes  the 
mode  of  address  between  equals,  and  between  superiors  and 
inferiors.  In  the  former  case,  it  is  optional  with  the  parties 
to  address  one  another  in  the  second  or  tliird  person  singular  ; 
but  the  latter  is  considered  more  polite,  even  amongst  do- 
mestic servants  and  peasants.  In  such  cases,  however,  a  man 
venerable  from  age  will  address  his  juniors  in  the  second 
person  ;  whereas  they,  out  of  respect  for  his  years,  address 
him  in  the  third.  It  is  discretionary  with  a  superior  to 
address  a  subordinate  in  either  way,  but  the  latter  must 
always  subjoin  the  third  to  the  second  personal  pronoun, 
singular  or  plural,  in  addressing  superiors.  Theodore  em- 
ployed the  honorary  style  towards  four  persons  ouly,  namely, 
the  Metropolitan,  the  puppet-Emperor,  Dajjaj  Birro,  and  Aito 
Odisso — the  latter  the  old  Chief  of  Dawunt,  whow  as  burnt 
alive  by  the  rebels  in  the  month  of  July,  1807.     The  ]\Ietro- 


CiiAi'.  XXII.  MODES  OF  ADDRESS.  225 

poll  tan,  as  head  of  the  Church,  addresses  all  indiscrimiiiutely, 
not  excepting  the  Sovereign,  in  the  singular  uuinher.  The 
corresponding  etiquette  among  ladies  is  not  so  clearly  de- 
fined, and,  exclusive  of  those  Lelonging  to  the  highest  cla.-s 
such  as  the  wives  of  Eases  and  independent  Chiefs,  seems  to 
be  regulated  by  the  age  as  well  as  the  rank  of  the  parties. 
Of  course,  a  domestic  servant  always  addresses  his  mistress 
in  the  third  person,  even  if  she  happen  to  be  a  negres.-; ; 
whereas  she  uses  the  second  person  to^\ards  him,  although 
he  may  chance  to  be  descended  from  a  good  family.  The 
hoary  head  among  females,  however,  enjoys  the  same  privi- 
leges as  it  does  among  the  other  sex,  in  this  respect.  I  was 
tuM  that  holding  the  position  which  I  did  in  the  country, 
the  Ttege  was  the  only  personage  whom  I  ought  to  address 
in  the  honorary  style.  The  first  time  I  was  made  aware  of 
this  was  on  hearing  Samuel  ask  Eas  Kidana  Maryam,  un  my 
behalf,  how  his  wile  was.  The  members  of  the  Council, 
Damash  excepted,  always  addressed  me  as  an  ecpial — in  the 
third  per.<on  singular,  and,  had  I  been  able  to  speak  Andiaric, 
i  should  have  been  expected  to  reciprocate  the  (.'ourtesy. 

An  infciior,  in  jtrc^cnting  anything  to  a  superior,  sliould 
always  convey  it  with  liotii  hands,  standing  the  whih-,  or 
rising  a  little  from  his  seat;  a  superior,  however,  is  bound 
by  no  rules  in  this  respect.  At  my  first  meeting  with  the 
King,  after  my  inipri>;onnient.  he  had  a  cu[>  lllled  with  mead, 
of  which,  agreeably  with  the  j»revailing  custom,  he  first 
drank  a  little  himself,  then  rose  slightly  from  liis  sitting 
posture  and  presented  it  to  me  with  both  hands — a  conde- 
scension on  h\<  ]);irt  whicli  I  never  exjiected  from  the  hauglity 
3Ionarch. 

An  interior  may  not  drink  out  of  the  same  cuj)  wliiih  his 
snj)erior  has  used,  or  of  the  vessel   iVom  wliich  he  is  about  to 

VOL.  II.  Q 


22G  MARRIAGE  AND  ETIQUETTE.  Chai-.  XXIL 

drink  ;  but  as  the  superior  always  expects  that  any  beverage 
brought  to  liim  should  be  first  tasted  by  the  domestic  pre- 
senting it,  on  receiving  the  cup  he  pours  a  little  into  the 
hands  of  the  latter,  and  after  he  has  quaffed  it  the  master  of 
the  house  disposes  of  the  remainder.  According  to  the  eti- 
quette which  obtains  among  the  higher  classes,  a  fly  or  any 
other  insect  falling  into  the  mead  or  beer  renders  the  liquor 
undrinkable,  and  the  cup  has  to  be  replenished. 

Envelojiing  the  head  in  one's  robe,  even  by  a  superior 
in  the  presence  of  an  inferior,  is  considered  a  gross  insult. 
This  was  the  charge  brought  by  the  King  against  M.  Bardel 
at  the  trial  on  the  15th  of  March,  186G.  Ladies  who  are 
obliged  to  go  abroad  during  the  day,  either  walking  or 
riding — when,  in  accordance  with  conventional  usage,  they 
generally  cover  their  heads — are  expected,  out  of  courtesy, 
to  uncover  on  meeting  a  superior  whom  they  recognize ;  this, 
however,  is  not  obligatory.  A  person  who  has  shaved  his 
head  may  cover  it  with  a  kerchief  or  cap,  which  he  may  wear 
in  the  presence  even  of  royalty,  without  a  breach  of  etiquette. 
All  priests  are  privileged  to  wear  turbans,  and  monks  and 
nuns  skull-caps.  In  travelling,  the  late  King  Theodore 
allowed  considerable  latitude  in  all  these  conventionalities, 
and  he  went  so  far  as  to  annoimce  that  he  did  not  wish 
ladies,  on  passing  him,  to  uncover  their  heads. 


ISCC.  Sept.  THEODORE'S  COURTESY.  227 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

REBELLION  AROUND   MAGDALA. 

Thco  lore's  continued  courtesy  —  He  sacks  Gondar  —  He  receives  her 
Majesty's  letter  sent  by  Mr.  Flad  —  Sends  it  to  the  Author  requesting 
Lini  to  write  for  the  En^lisli  artisans  to  be  forwarded  on  from  Massowali 

—  His  letter  to  that  effect  —  The  Author's  re})ly  —  Theodore  rei)eats 
his  rcijuest —  The  peasantry  between  Debra  Tabor  and  Ma;^dala  become 
disaffected  —  The  Commandant  of  Magdala  sent  in  chains  to  Debra 
Tubor — Tlic  district  of  Baganieder  relx;ls  —  Intercourse  between  Mag- 
dala and  the  royal  camp  cut  off — Rumours  of  Theodore's  having  fled  to 
Kwara  —  His  bloodthirstiness  at  this  time  —  Horrible  atrocity  per- 
petrated by  a  band  of  rebels  —  The  outrage  avenged  —  Theodoi'e  learns 
a  new  lesson  in  cruelty  —  Honesty  and  fidelity  of  Abyssinian  servants 
illustrated  —  Native  agents  beyond  the  fortress  protect  the  messengers 
of  the  Mission  —  How  regular  intercourse  was  kept  up  between  the 
Mission  and  the  coast  —  Scheme  organised  for  rapid  intercommunication 
between  Slagilala  and  Massowah  —  Kindness  makes  friends  —  The 
devotion  of  ^Ir.  Stem's  native  servants  —  Where  is  Theodore?  —  Rival 
candidates  for  the  j^ssession  of  Magdala  —  Overtures  from  Ahmed,  the 
Imam  of  the  Wcllo-Gallas  —  Menilek  the  king  of  Shoa's  futile  display 

—  l"he  Wakshum  Gobaze  and  his  army  retire  on  the  approach  of  Theodore 

—  The  Wak.slium's  friendliness  towards  the  British  Expeditionary  force. 

In  reply  to  tlic  lung's  Icttor  which  reached  nic  on  the  9th 
of  August,  after  our  imprisonment  at  ^riigfhila,  I  sent  him 
a  few  lines  containing  niy  personal  compliments,  but  I  also 
commissioned  the  couriers  to  convey  similar  salutations  to 
his  ftLijesty  from  my  f<Hi)w-captives.  This  I  did  as  a  feeler; 
besides,  I  wished  him  to  understand  that  we  all  entertained 
the  same  sentiments  towards  him — in  fact,  that  our  interests 
v.cre  idenlieal.  On  the  ir)th  of  the  month  following,  ]  ro- 
ctived   the  subjoined  polite  note  from  him,  wherein  I  was 

y  2 


228  EEBELLION  ABOUND  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXHI. 

glad  to  find  that,  for  the  first  time  since  my  arrival  in  the 
country,  he  deigned  to  notice  the  old  captives : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  Lih's  party  left  in  a  liiiriy,  and  I  could  not  answer  you  by 
them.  Uow  have  you  and  your  brothers  [Dr.  Blanc  and  ]\Ir. 
Prideaux]  spent  the  rainy  season?  By  the  power  of  God,  be  of 
good  cheer  ;  I  am  coming  to  you  shortly,  and  we  will  meet. 

"  Since  we  separated,  a  large  gun  has  been  cast  for  me  ;  when 
it  is  finished  I  shall  let  you  know. 

"  By  the  power  of  God,  I  shall  not  forsake  yoti ;  so,  be  of  good 
cheer.  Ask  Mr.  Cameron,  Mr,  Stern,  and  their  parties,  how  tbey 
have  passed  the  rainy  season." 

(Without  date.) 

To  the  foregoing  1  replied  as  follows,  the  day  after  its 
receipt : — 

"Mdgdala,  16th  Septemher,  18G6. 
"  Most  Gracious  SovKRKiGJf, 

"  I  have  had  the  honour  of  receiving  your  courteous  letter  by 
your  servants,  l)asta  and  Kasa,  and  I  Avas  glad  to  learn  therefrom 
that  your  Majesty  was  in  perfect  health. 

"  Thank  God,  both  my  companions  and  I  have  spent  the  rain}' 
season  in  good  health,  and  I  trust  that  your  Majesty  has  passed  it 
auspiciously.  I  am  not  a  little  rejoiced  to  find  from  your  letter 
that  you  will  soon  join  us  here.  I  pray  our  Heavenly  Father  to 
show  us  the  light  of  j'our  countenance  ere  long  in  health  and 
prosperity. 

"  I  have  also  been  greatly  pleased  to  hear  of  your  success  in 
casting  a  large  gun,  and  1  trust  that  your  next  attempt  may 
prove  even  more  satisfactory  to  you. 

"  Dr.  Blanc,  Mr.  Prideaux,  Mr.  Cameron  and  his  party,  and 
Mr.  Stern  and  his  party,  beg  to  send  your  Maji^sty  their  respect- 
ful compliments," 

ord  Oct. — Eeceived  the  stores  to-day  wliich  liad  been  sent 
on  for  us  from  Matammn,  and  which  the  King  forwarded  in 
charge  of  Ras  I'ngada ;  in  fact,  it  was  through  his  Majesty's 
intervention  that  the  supplies  had  been  transmitted  from  the 


18CU.  Nov.  THEODORE'S  COURTESY.  '229 

above-named  place.  The  circumstances  of  the  case  \\ere 
these : — Hearing  a  few  days  before  we  left  Zage  that  I  was 
sending  to  [Matamma  for  European  stores,  the  King  imme- 
diately sent  to  ask  me  why  I  had  not  applied  to  him  for 
assistance  in  the  matter.  He  accordingly  directed  a  petty 
Chalga  Chief  to  accompany  my  messenger  to  Matamma,  who 
was  also  instructed  to  apply  to  Slieikh  Juma'ah  to  provide  the 
requisite  number  of  camels  to  convey  the  effects  as  far 
as  Wahne,  to  be  transported  from  thence  to  the  royal 
camp  by  the  subject  peasantry.  Before  they  reached  the 
King,  we  had  been  sent  to  IMagdala,  and  the  rains  liaving 
in  the  mean  time  fairly  set  in,  and  the  rivers  become  unford- 
able,  his  Majesty  had  caused  the  loads  to  be  deposited  in  the 
Treasury  imtil  the  opening  of  the  fair  season.  The  accom- 
panying messenger  had  also  a  packet  of  letters  and  some 
newspapers.  These  ho  managed  to  keep  concealed  fur  two 
months,  and  delivered  them  to  us  safely,  together  with  a  sum 
of  uKjury  w  hieh  he  had  obtained  for  our  use. 

During  the  months  of  October  and  November  friendly 
letters  and  bland  messages  passed  between  the  King  and 
myself.  He  had  so  often  announced  his  advent,  that  we  ncnv 
began  to  regard  such  intimations  in  the  same  light  as 
the  hollow  compliments  witli  whitli  lie  occasionally  honoured 
us. 

Hearing,  towards  the  end  of  November,  that  certain  stores 
had  been  forwarded  for  us  from  ]\Iassowah  to  jMatamma,  and 
knowing  that  it  would  bo  impossiblo  to  smuggle  them 
through  tlio  intervoning  districts,  I  tlioiight  it  best  to  seek 
the  King's  permission  to  send  for  them.  Jieiiig  also  anxious 
to  learn  the  fate  of  one  of  my  messengers,  wliom  I  had  de- 
spatched to  Massowali  IVdm  Zage  in  l^Iay,  and  who  was 
rej[)ortc(l    to    have    li.  rn   jiluiidered    and    imprisone'd  I'V   the 


230  REBELLION  AROUND  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXIIT. 

rebels  near  Gondar,  I  referred  that  subject  also  to  bis  Majesty 

in  the  following  letter,  which  I  sent  to  him,  together  \\ith 

the  men  who  \^■ere  deputed  to  the  several  duties  to  be  carried 

out : — 

"3%f?oZrt,  Novembei'  29,  1866. 
"  Most  Gracious  Soverkigx, 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  your  Majesty  that  1  am  neces- 
sitated to  write  to  Matamma  for  stores,  as  those  provisions  you 
kindly  sent  me  some  time  ago  are  neaily  finished. 

"I  am  sending  for  this  purpose  Garankuil,  Avith  a  few  mules, 
and  I  beg  that  your  Majesty  will  give  him  permission  \o  go, 
and  will  extend  to  him  your  protection  thither  and  back. 

"  I  have  heaid  with  regret  that  Dabtera  Dasta,  whom  I  had 
sent  to  Massowah  a  few  months  back,  for  the  purpose  of  bring- 
ing for  your  Majesty  some  books  for  showing  the  mode  of  casting 
gims  and  shot,  and  for  teaching  artillery-practice,  and  other 
things,  has  been  seized  and  imprisoned  by  the  rebels  while 
passing  through  ^^'aggaru. 

"  As  I  am  anxious  to  know  the  facts  of  the  case,  I  am  sending 
one  of  my  servants  to  the  house  of  Dasta,  at  Gondar,  to  inquire 
about  him,  and  the  things  he  brought  with  him ;  and  I  trust 
that  your  Majesty  will  grant  him  leave  to  proceed  on  his  duty. 

"  I  hope  3'our  Majesty  will  pardon  me  for  the  liberty  I  am 
taking  in  sending  Ilailo  to  convey  to  you  this  letter,  and  in 
troubling  j'ou  with  the  above  matters,  as  I  have  no  one  in  this 
country,  except  your  Majesty,  on  whom  I  can  rely  for  assistance. 

"  My  companions,  Dr.  Blanc  and  jMr.  Trideaux,  also  Mr.  Cameron 
and  his  party,  and  Mr.  Stern  and  his  party,  beg  to  send  their 
respectful  compliments  to  your  IMajesty. 

"  Hoping  that  this  letter  will  find  you  in  perfect  health  and 
prosperity,  I  remain,"  &c. 

Wlien  my  messengers  reached  Debra  Tabor,  the  King  had 
already  left  for  Gondar,  whither  he  luul  gone  to  chastise  a 
rebel  who  had  usurped  the  Government  there  for  some  time. 
He  made  a  sudden  attack  on  the  place,  hoping  to  surprise 
the  insurgents,  but  they  had  received  intimation  of  his 
approach,  and  evacuated  the  place  a  i'ew  minutes  only  before 


1866.   Nov.  DESTRUCTION  OF  GOXDAII.  231 

the  royal  troops  surrounded  it.  Their  escape  so  exasperated 
the  foiled  Monarch  that  he  ordered  the  capital  to  be  utterly 
destroyed,  not  excepting  the  churches,  Xo  resistance  was 
oflfered :  even  the  priests,  who  allowed  themselves  to  be 
made  prisoners,  professed  to  be  satisfied  ^\ith  the  King's 
llinisy  promise  that  he  would  build  better  churches  for  them. 
Under  ordinary  circumstances,  the  native  clergy  would  have 
preached  a  crusade  against  a  Sovereign  who  had  been  guilty 
of  such  an  outrage  upon  their  religion,  and  have  had  him 
killed  or  deposed  ;  but  the  miglity  Theodore  had  effectually 
broken  the  haughtiest  spirits  in  the  country,  and  none  dared 
to  utter  a  word  nr  move  a  finger  even  in  deprecation  of  liis 
violence. 

On  his  return  to  Debra  Tabor,  he  received  my  messengers 
well,  and  told  them  that  he  had  laid  Gondar  in  ruins  because 
its  inhabitants  had  betrayed  my  courier  to  the  rebels.  As  to 
tlio  stores,  it  was  his  duty,  he  said,  to  see  that  all  my  wants 
were  provided  for ;  consequently,  only  one  of  my  people  was 
to  proceed  to  Matamma  with  the  instructions  to  my  agent ; 
the  remainder  were  to  return  to  me,  and  the  mules  also, 
ind  lie  would  undertake  to  have  the  stores  forwarded  from 
.Matamma  to  Magdala  by  his  own  subjects. 

liefore  my  messengers  left  1  )ebra  Tabor  the  King  received 
I  communication  from  Mr.  Flad,  who  had  reached  Massowali 
from  England,  transmitting  to  him  the  following  copy  of  lier 
Miijesty's  lett(.'r,  of  wliich  he  was  the  bearer: — 

*•  Victoria,  by  tho  grace  of  God,  «tc.,  to  Theodore,  King  of 
Abyssinia,  sciidoth  greeting. 

"  Helying  on  the  aKhiiriiiicos  contained  in  your  ^Majesty's  letter 
of  tho  29tli  of  January,  which  duly  reached  us,  we  were  in  daily 
expectation  of  tho  arrival  in  England  of  our  servant  Kas.sam, 
together  with  our  servant  C'umoion,  and  the  other  Europeans,  so 
'ong  detained  in  your  country,  but  whom   your   Majesty  had 


232  PtEBELLIOX  AROUND  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXIII. 

announced  that  you  had  sent  with  our  servant  Eassam.  "When 
Fhid  arrived  bringing  your  Majesty's  further  letter  of  the  17th 
of  April,  in  which,  while  repeating  that  you  had  released  and 
made  over  to  our  servant  Eassam,  our  servant  Cameron,  and  the 
other  Europeans,  in  order  that  they  might  leave  the  country, 
you  stated  that  you  had  kept  our  servant  Eassam  for  the  sake 
of  consulting  together  ujion  the  extension  of  the  friendship 
between  us.  We  will  not  disguise  fi-om  your  Majesty  that  we 
found  it  difficult  to  reconcile  your  assurances  with  the  obstacles 
which  were  still  opposed  to  the  departure  of  our  servants  and 
the  other  Europeans  from  your  country ;  but  we  were  willing  to 
accept  the  desire  expressed  by  you  for  the  extension  of  friendship 
between  us,  and  we  accordingly  admitted  Flad  to  our  presence, 
and  having  heard  from  him  your  Majesty's  wishes,  we  gave 
directions  for  the  transmission  to  your  Majesty  by  the  hands  of 
Flad  of  such  articles  as  we  understood  from  Flad  your  Majesty 
desired  to  obtain,  and  we  also  gave  our  sanction  to  the  eu- 
gngement  in  your  Majesty's  service  of  skilled  workmen,  such  as 
3'ou  desired  to  employ  in  Abyssinia.  These  arrangements  were 
made,  and  Flad  was  on  the  point  of  leaving  England  to  rejoin 
j'our  Majesty,  when  intelligence  reached  us  that  you  had  with- 
drawn from  our  servant  Eassam  the  favour  which  you  had 
hitherto  shown  him,  and  had  consigned  him,  together  with  our 
servant  Cameron  and  the  other  Europeans,  to  prison.  "W'e  have 
received  no  explanations  from  join-  Majesty  of  the  grounds  of  a 
proceeding  so  inconsistent  with  the  assurances  and  professions 
formerly  made  by  your  Majesty,  and  we  have,  therefore,  lost  no 
time  in  allowing  Flad  to  depart,  and  have  given  to  him  this 
letter  for  your  Majesty,  not  allowing  ourselves  to  doubt  that 
immediately  on  its  receipt  you  will  redeem  your  promises,  and 
give  effect  to  your  professions,  by  dismistiiiig  our  servant  Eassam, 
with  our  sei-vant  Cameron  and  the  other  Europeans,  in  con- 
formity with  the  statement  made  in  your  letter  of  the  29th  of 
January. 

"  Your  IMajesty  must  be  aware  that  it  is  the  saci-cd  duty  of 
Sovereigns  scrupulously  to  fulfil  engagements  into  which  they 
may  have  entered ;  and  that  the  peisons  of  Ambassadors,  such  as 
our  sei-vant  Eassam,  and  those  by  whom  they  are  accompanied, 
arc,  among  all  nations  assuming  to  be  civilized,  invariably  held 
sacred.     We  have,  therefore,  the  more  difficulty  in  accounting  for 


18GG.  Dec.   THE  QUEEN'S  LETTER  TO  THEODORE.      233 

yuiir  Majesty's  hesitation,  and  we  invite  your  Majcst}-  to  prove  to 
the  world  that  you  lightly  understand  your  position  among 
Sovereigns,  and  do  not  desire  to  neglect  the  international  duties 
which  it  is  incumbent  on  all  Sovereigns  to  fulBl.  Your  Majesty 
may  be  assured  that  wo  shall  be  disposed  to  attribute  to  misap- 
prehension on  your  part,  rather  than  ill-will  towards  us,  tlie 
delay  that  has  occurred  in  the  return  of  Eassam,  and  those 
whom  you  had  engaged  to  send  with  him ;  but  in  the  uncor- 
tiiinty  which  we  cannot  but  feel  as  to  your  Majesty's  intentions, 
Ave  cannot  allow  Flad  to  be  the  bearer  of  those  tokens  of  good- 
will which  we  purposed  that  he  should  convey  to  your  Majest}'. 
But,  in  full  confidence  that  the  cloud  which  has  darkened  the 
friend>hip  of  our  lelations  will  pass  away  on  the  return  of  Flad, 
and  desiring  that  you  should  as  soon  as  possible  thereafter  re- 
ceive the  articles  which  we  had  proposed  to  send  to  your  Majesty 
in  token  of  our  friendship,  we  have  given  orders  that  those 
articles  should  be  forthwith  sent  to  Massowah,  to  be  delivered, 
for  conveyance  to  your  Majesty's  Court,  to  the  officers  whom  you 
may  depute  to  conduct  our  servant  Eassam,  and  our  servant 
Cameron,  and  the  other  Europeans,  so  far  on  their  way  to  our 
presence.     And  so  we  bid  you  heartily  farewell. 

"Given  at  our  Court  at  Balmoral,  the  4th  day  of  October,  in 
the  year  of  oui*  Lord,  18G6,  and  in  the  thirtieth  year  of  our 
reign. 

"  Your  good  Friend, 

(The  largo  Signet.)  (Signed)  "VICTOEIA  E." 

(Not  countersigned.) 

Superscribed — 
"To  Our  rjood  Friend  I'hcodorc, 
King  of  Abyssinia." 

Tt  wa.s  roportod  that  tho  King"  was  not  displeased  with  tliis 
communication  ;  but  lie  a])poars  to  have  tried,  at  the  same 
time,  to  put  a  more  favourable  construction  upon  it  than  its 
tenor  really  warranted.  Ilitwcvrr,  he  forwarded  the  copy  to 
mo  by  my  owu  messenger,  inclosed  iu  the  following  letter 
from  himself: — 


'2Si  REBELLION  AROUND  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXIII. 

"  In  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost — one  God. 

"  From  the  King  of  hings,  Theodorus.  May  this  reach  Mr. 
ITormiizd  Eassam.  How  have  you  passed  the  time  ?  I,  by  the 
power  of  God,  am  well.  Ask  Dr.  Blanc,  Mr.  Prideaux,  Mr. 
Cameron  and  his  parly,  and  Mr.  Stern  and  his  party,  from  me, 
how  they  have  passed  their  time. 

"  Your  servant,  whom  you  wished  me  to  forward  to  Matamma,  I 
have  sent  for  you.  I  have  ordered  your  things  to  be  brought  to 
Wahne,  by  camels,  and  from  thence  I  have  ordered  my  people 
to  bring  them  hither,  by  the  power  of  God. 

"  Mr.  Flad  has  returned  to  Massowah,  and  transmitted  to  me 
the  inclosed  letter.  Peruse  it,  and  wait  till  I  arrive,  as  I  am 
coming  to  you,  by  the  power  of  God.  I  will  consult  with  you 
as  to  the  answer  I  shall  send." 

(Without  date.) — Eeceived  December  28,  1866. 

The  receipt  of  her  Majesty's  firm  yet  conciliatory  letter  by 
the  King,  and  the  announcement  of  his  intention  to  consult 
me  personally  on  the  subject,  led  me  to  hope  that  I  might  be 
able  to  persuade  him  to  convey  us  to  Tigre,  there  to  nego- 
tiate for  our  release.  The  pleasing  delusion  was  of  short 
duration,  for,  a  few  days  after,  I  received  the  following  letter 
from  his  Majesty,  through  Eas  I'ngada,  wherein  he  notifies 
his  determination  to  retain  me  and  my  fellow-captives  at 
Magdala  until  he  had  secured  his  object,  requiring  me  at 
the  same  time  to  write  and  request  her  Majesty's  Government 
to  send  up  the  artisans : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  Mr.  Flad  has  written  to  me  again,  and  I  send  you  herewith 
the  letter  which  he  has  enclosed. 

"Now,  in  order  to  prove  the  good  relationship  between  me 
and  yourself,  let  it  be  shown  by  your  writing  and  getting  the 
skilful  artisans  and  Mr.  Flad  to  come,  via  Matdmma.  This  will 
be  the  sign  of  our  fiiendship.  When  you  hate  my  enemies  and 
love  my  friends,  and  I  shall  piove  wanting  in  my  friendship 
towards  you,  leave  me  to  God  [as  my  judge].     Even  Solomon, 


1867.   Jav.  TUEODORE'S  FRESU  DEMAND.  235 

tho  son  of  David,  the  great  King,  God's  created  being  and  s^a^■e, 
when  he  wished  to  build  the  Temple  in  Jerusalem,  was  per- 
plexed [about  finding  skilful  artisans].  Falling  at  the  feet  of 
King  Tliram  of  Tyre,  he  begged  him  for  carpenters  and  skilful 
artisans,  who  asbisfed  in  building  the  Temple.  And  now,  when 
I  used  to  fall  girded  at  the  feet  of  the  great  Queen,  her  nobles, 
peoples,  and  hosts,  I  found  ^Ir.  Stern  and  his  party  abused  mo 
and  lowered  me.  Also,  when  I  sent  a  friendly  letter  to  the 
great  Queen  of  the  English,  the  Defender  of  the  Faith,  the 
succour  of  the  needy,  tho  friend  of  God,  tho  favourite  of  God — 
Victoria,  Mr.  Cameron  refused  me  an  answer.  Also  yi>u,  Mr. 
Kassara,  said  that  you  were  coming  from  the  Queen,  and  came 
to  me.  Consenting  to  this,  I  received  you  in  a  friendly  manner, 
and  treated  yuu  to  tho  best  of  my  ability.  When  I  read  the 
letter  which  you  brought  me,  which  asked  mo  to  release  and 
pardon  all  the  Europeans  whom  I  had  hated  and  imprisoned,  I 
consented,  and  sent  and  had  them  released  at  once,  by  the  power 
of  our  Creator,  before  I  passed  the  night.  Before  they  came  to 
mo  I  gave  them  over  to  you,  in  oider  that  the  Queen  and  her 
Government  might  be  pleased.  Ihit  you,  before  you  asked  them 
as  to  the  crime  Avhich  they  had  committed,  and  which  caused 
their  impnsonmcnt,  and  without  finding  whether  I  was  Avrong, 
in  order  that  I  might  compensate  them,  or,  if  they  were  guilty,  in 
order  that  I  might  obtain  a  favour  from  the  Queen — before  you 
brought  them  to  me,  you  sent  them  away. 

"  I  had  also  heard  that  tho  English  and  tho  Turks  had  entered 
into  an  alliance.     I  kept  my  vexation  fo  niy.'-olf  and  said  nothing. 

"Now  Mr.  Flad  has  sent  mo  a  most  friendly  and  pleasing 
letter.  As  Sulonion  fell  at  tho  feet  of  Ilirani,  so  I,  under  C!od, 
fill  at  the  feet  of  tho  Queen,  and  her  Government,  and  her  friends. 
I  wish  you  to  get  them  [tho  skilful  artisans]  via  Matdmma,  in 
ord«;r  that  they  may  teach  mo  wisdom,  and  show  mo  clever  arts. 
^Vhen  this  is  done,  I  shall  make  you  glad,  and  send  you  away,  by 
the  power  of  G(jd. 

"Written  in  the  year  of  St.  T.uke,  on  Saturday  the  28th  day 
of  tho  month  Tahsuss"  [answering  to  January  T),  18(37j. 

Received  Januaiy  8,  18G7. 

To  hiivc  refused  the  Kinj^'s  request  in  this  case  would  liavo 
jJaccd  all  our  lives  in  jeopardy;  even  Mr.  Waldinoier  wrote 


236  REBELLION  AROUND  MAGDALA.      Ciiap.  XXIII. 

to  me  on  behalf  of  his  Majesty's  European  artisans,  begging 
mc  to  accede  to  the  demand  for  their  sakcs  as  well  as  our 
own.  Moreover,  I  Ivnow  full  well  tliat  I  should  be  able  to 
communicate  twice  or  thrice  with  the  coast  before  the  letter 
which  was  to  be  sent  throu2;h  the  King  could  reach  its 
destination. 

My  reply  was  as  follows : — 

"  Mihjdala,  January  7,  1867. 
"Most  Gracious  Sovereign, 

"  I  have  had  the  honour  of  receiving  your  Majesty's  two 
letters :  the  first  bj;-  my  servant,  Ilailo,  and  the  second  by  Eas 
I'ngada,  together  with  a  copy  of  my  Queen's  letter  to  you, 
which  was  forwarded  to  your  Majesty  from  Massowah  by  Mr. 
Flad. 

"  Agreeably  to  your  Majesty's  desire,  I  have  written  to  my 
Government  about  Avhat  you  have  communicated,  and  I  hope 
that  your  request  will  be  complied  with.  I  send  Mohammed 
Sa'id,  one  of  my  servants,  with  the  letter,  which  I  have  given  to 
him,  open,  in  order  that  your  M'.jcsty  may  have  it  read,  if  you 
please.  Allow  me  to  return  you  my  best  thanks  for  your 
Majesty's  kindness  in  having  sent  to  Matamma  for  the  stores  I 
required,  and  I  trust  that  our  Heavenly  Father  v.'ill  reward  3'ou 
for  your  acts  of  friendship.  Dr.  Blanc,  J\Ir.  Prideaux,  Mr. 
Cameron  and  his  party,  Mr.  Stern  and  his  party,  desire  to 
present  their  respectful  compliments  to  your  Majesty." 

I  had  just  dispatched  the  foregoing,  when  another  special 
courier  arrived,  bringing  the  subjoined  extraordinary  epistle 
from  his  Majesty,  enclosing  a  note  to  my  address  from  Colonel 
Merewether : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  j\Ir.  Flad  has  sent  [wi-ittcn]  to  me  as  follows  : — '  I  had  formerly 
sent  to  you  Mr.  Kassam  in  the  aifairs  of  Cameron  and  his  part}', 
and  we  heard  that  you  had  received  him  -with  favour  and  with 
friendship.  Wo  had  also  consented  to  all  the  things  you  re- 
quired, and  had  given  them  over  to  Mr.  Flad,  but  after  that 
we  heard  that  your  friendship  towards  him  had  changed;  but 


18G7.   Jan-.      CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  THEODORE.  237 

we  hope  that  the  friendship  existing  between  iis  and  yourself 
will  not  be  changed.' 

"  That  is  what  was  sent  to  me,  and  I  am  going  to  reply  as 
follows : — '  Formerly  England  and  Ethiopia  were  on  terms  of 
friendship,  and  I  also,  having  knowledge  of  this,  used  to  love  j'on 
ox(  <■' dingly.  But  [since  then]  having  heard  that  the}-  [the 
Endi>h]  have  r-alumniated  me  to  the  Turk.';,  who  hate  me,  I  said 
to  myself,  Can  this  be  tine ?  and  I  felt  some  misgiving  in  my 
heart.  However,  I  tnist  there  is  no  enmity  between  Ethiopia 
and  the  Engli>h,  but  that  there  is  friendship.  "We  do  not  esteem 
those  who  calumniate  and  hate  the  English ;  so  you,  for  our 
sake,  should  not  esteem  those  who  calumniate  and  hate  the 
people  of  Ethiopia.  jMr.  lias.sam  and  his  party,  whom  you  sent 
to  me,  I  Lave  placed  in  my  house,  in  my  capical  at  Mdgdala,  and 
1  will  treat  them  well,  until  I  obtain  a  token  of  your  fiiendship.' 

"  I  shall  write  the  above  to  Mr.  Flad,  and  I  wish  you  also,  for 
the  sake  of  obtaining  for  me  their  [the  English]  friendship  and 
lovo,  to  write  at  the  same  time  to  the  proper  authorities,  and 
send  the  letter  to  mo,  by  the  power  of  God.  It  is  necessary 
that  yoTi  should  send  a  man  immediately  to  me,  in  order  that 
he  m.ty  bring  Mr.  Flad  to  me  quickly." 

(Without  date.) — Ifeceived  January  7,  18G7. 

Hero  was  a  batch  of  complaints,  reproaches  and  solicita- 
tions, all  put  together,  in  order  to  induce  me  to  write  for  the 
tran.^mission  of  the  artisans  from  Masisowah.  As  I  liad  anti- 
cipated, the  letter  wliich  I  a<ldressed  to  Lord  Stanley  on  the 
subject,  and  which  liad  been  forwarded,  open,  througli  the 
King,  did  not  readi  London  till  four  months  afterwards,  by 
which  time  tlie  artisans  liad  left  I\[assowah,  on  their  way 
back  to  England;  and,  in  the  mean  time,  lier  ]\Iajesty'8 
(ioveriiment  had  been  appri.scd  by  me  of  all  that  had  talan 
jdace.  However,  I  replied  to  the  foregoing  letter,  on  the 
^Miiir  (lay,  as  follows: — 

^^  MatjiMa,  January  8,  1807. 

•  Mosr  (JlUCIOUS  SOVKUKION, 

*'  1  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  Majesty's 
letter  of  the  28tli  Tuhsuss,  which  reached  mo  this  morning. 


238  EEBELLION  AROUND  MAGDALA.       Chap.  XXIIL 

"  I  return  yon  my  best  thanks  for  tlio  letter  you  kindly  in 
closed  me  from  Massowali.     It  is  from  Colonel  Merewetlicr,  the 
Kesident  at  Aden,  who  it  appears  has  been  intrusted  -with  the 
management  of  what  my  Queen  wrote  to  you  about. 

"  He  writes  to  sa}'  that  he  is  anxiously  awaiting  your  Majesty's 
reply  to  Mr.  Flad's  communication. 

"  I  have  already  written  regarding  Mr.  Flad  and  the  articles 
which  my  Queen  had  ordered  for  j'our  IMajesty,  as  a  token  of  her 
friendship,  and  that  they  are  to  be  sent  at  once  to  Matiimma. 

"  I  must  take  this  opportunity  of  reiterating  to  your  Majesty 
my  assurances  that  up  to  this  time  I  have  always  deemed  it 
my  sacred  duty,  though  in  chains,  to  do  everything  towards 
cementing  the  friendship  between  Ethiopia  and  England. 

"  It  is  no  little  consolation  to  me  to  find,  from  my  Queen's 
letter  to  your  Majesty,  how  anxious  she  is  to  continue  her 
friendship  with  you. 

"I  pray  our  Heavenly  Father  to  grant  that  the  friendship 
which  I  have  been  anxious  to  cultivate  between  my  Queen  and 
5'our  Majesty  will  be  fully  established  to  the  satisfaction  of  all. 

"  Dr.  Blanc,  Mr.  Prideaux,  Mr.  Cameron  and  his  part}',  also 
Mr.  Stem  and  his  party,  beg  to  send  their  respectful  compliments 
to  your  Majesty." 

From  the  date  of  the  above  until  the  midJle  of  IMarcli  I 
received  only  complimentary  messages  from  the  King,  but 
on  the  19th  of  that  month  he  sent  me  the  subjoined  note, 
together  with  the  stores  which  had  been  brought  for  us  from 
Matamma,  by  his  orders  : — 

(After  compliments  to  all.) 

"  Your  servants  have  brought  your  things  from  Matiimma,  As 
I  found  them  too  bulk)-,  I  divided  them  into  light  packages  in 
the  presence  of  Mr.  AValdmeier  and  his  party.  I  noAv  send  them 
to  you  in  small  parcels,  because  I  want  you  to  receive  them 
speedily. 

"Dated  Gth  of  the  month  Magabit,  a.d.  1850."— (2nd  March, 
18G7.) 

Eas  I'ngala  came  in  charge,  and  the  packages  were 
brought  on  the  shoulders  of  the  royal  troops,  as  most  of  the 


18G7.  Maucii.      disaffection  OF  THE  PEASANTRY.  23^ 

peasantry  between  Debra  Tabor  and  IMagdala  had  become 
disaffected  since  the  King  had  commenced  imprisoning  tlio 
Chiefs  of  Bagaiiieder.  Ras  Kidana  3Iaryam,  the  Comman- 
dant of  Magdala,  had  been  put  in  irons  on  the  ostensible 
cliarge  of  having  been  in  correspondence  with  IMenilek,  King 
of  Shoa ;  the  real  fact  was,  that  Theodore  feared  he  might 
rebel  on  hearing  that  his  district,  Bagame.ler,  was  being  de- 
vastated by  his  ungrateful  master.  He  was  conveyed  to  Debra 
Tabor  to-day  by  Ras  I'ngaila,  together  with  "Wakshum  Tafare, 
cousin  to  the  Wakslium  Gobaze,  and  two  other  great  Chiefs  of 
the  King's  creation.  It  was  apprehended  that  his  Majesty 
intended  to  put  these  men  out  of  the  way;  such,  however, 
was  not  the  case.  He  had  merely  subjected  them  to  the 
torture  for  a  few  days,  in  order  to  extort  money  from  them, 
and  they  were  sent  back  to  Magdala  when  Theodore  himself 
approached  that  fortress  in  the  beginning  of  the  following 
year. 

I  sent  the  subjoined  letter  to  his  Majesty  by  Ras  I'ngada, 
thanking  him  for  tlic  trouble  he  had  taken  about  our  stores, 
and  requesting  his  permission  to  send  him  some  of  the 
wearing  apparel  which  I  had  received : — 

"Magdala,  20lJi  March,  18G7. 
"Most  Gracious  Soveueigx, 

"  I  have  had  the  honour  of  receiving  your  Majesty's  welcome 
letter  by  lias  I'nguda,  dated  the  (Uh  of  JMagiibit,  and  I  wa.s  glad 
to  learn  thcrefiom  that  you  were  in  perfect  health. 

"I  >ieg  to  infoi-m  your  Majesty  that  tlie  things  you  so  kindly 
forwarded  to  mo  liavo  reached  safely.  Allow  mo  to  rctuiTi  yon 
my  grateful  thanks  for  your  kindness  in  having  had  thorn 
brought  from  Matamma,  and  for  the  trouble  you  have  taken  in 
transmitting  them  hither. 

"  1  take  this  opportunity  of  informing  jour  I^fajesty  that  when, 
on  a  former  occasion,  T  asked  j-our  permission  to  obtain  a  snpj)]y 
of  eatublcH  and  drinkables  from  Matamma,  I  was  not  aware 
that  anything  had  arrived  thoro  for  me,  from  Massowah ;    but 


240  REBELLION  AROUND  MAGDALA.       Chap.  XXIIL 

it  appears  that  a  few  days  Lefore  my  letter  reached  that  place, 
some  Avearing  apparel  had  arrived  for  me  and  my  companions, 
•vvliich  -svas  accordingly  forwarded  to  me,  together  with  what  I 
had  written  for.  Part  of  the  former  consists  of  a  supply  of 
calico  and  shirts,  and  as  we  have  already  more  than  we  require 
of  those  articles,  I  trust  your  Majesty  will  allow  me  to  send 
you  ten  pieces  of  calico  and  thirty  shirts,  for  the  use  of  your 
servants.  I  hesitate  to  send  them  by  Ilailo,  the  bearer  of  this 
letter,  before  obtaining  your  sanction,  which  I  hope  you  will  be 
pleased  to  accord. 

"Dr.  Blanc,  Mr.  Prideaux,  Mr.  Cameron  and  his  party,  and 
Mr.  Stern  and  his  party,  beg  to  send  your  Majesty  their  ret^pect- 
ful  compliments.  Thank  God,  we  are  all  well,  and  I  trust  this 
letter  will  find  you  in  the  enjoyment  of  perfect  health." 

"When  I  wrote  for  the  above-named  articles  in  May,  1866, 
I  bad  intended  some  of  the  shirts  and  calico  for  the  King, 
and  as  they  had  reached  me  through  him,  and  he  himself 
had  actually  seen  them  when  they  were  re-packed,  I  could 
hardly  do  otherwise  than  malce  him  the  offer  which  I  did. 
Being  a  prisoner,  however,  I  deemed  it  expedient  to  ask  his 
con.>ent  before  sending  the  present.  His  reply,  which  came 
to  hand  on  the  15tli  of  April,  was  characteristic : — 

(After  compliments  to  all.) 

"  I  have  received  your  communication,  and  thank  you  for  it. 
It  is  not  convenient  for  the  present  that  I  should  receive  any- 
thing from  j-ou  ;  but,  by  the  power  of  God,  whatever  you  require 
I  will  give  you.  I  am  much  obliged  to  you  [for  the  proffered 
gift];  let  your  servants  wear  the  articles  for  me.  Oh!  ni}-  be- 
loved, send  to  me  for  Avhatcvcr  you  need,  and  I  will  supply  it. 
Don't  fear. 

"  What  I  requiio  from  my  friend,  the  Queen,  and  from  you, 
my  brother,  is  your  friendship.  >;ot  that  I  can  say  that  I  am 
rich,  and  am  in  no  want  of  worldly  goods ;  but,  by  the  power  of 
God,  I  am  anxious  that  you  should  open  my  eyes,  for  I  am  a 
blind  donkey." 

(Ji)]y  once  after  this,  subsequent  to  Mr.  Flad's  return  from 


Chap.  XXIII.  THEODORE  IN  STRAITS.  241 

England,  was  I  able  to  correspond  directly  with  tlie  King 
through  ray  own  messengers,  as  the  whole  of  liagameiler  had 
risen  in  rebellion  and  efTleetually  cut  off  all  communiration 
with  Magdala.  Dalanta  and  Dawunt,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
fortress,  remained  faithful  to  the  royal  cause  till  July,  wlien 
they  were  driven,  under  compulsion,  to  join  the  Gallas  for  a 
time.  For  seven  weeks,  Theodore  was  unable  to  hold  any 
intercourse  with  jMagdala,  except  through  secret  messengers 
obtained  from  among  the  native  prisoners  and  peasants.  For 
tlu'ee  months,  even  these  emissaries  failed  to  accomplish 
their  errands,  and  matters  had  come  to  such  a  deadlock  that 
all  kinds  of  conjectures  were  afloat  as  to  what  the  upshot 
would  be.  The  rumour  that  the  King  had  been  driven  to 
such  straits  that  he  was  obliged  to  take  refuge  in  his  native 
district,  K\Aara,  filled  all  the  captives  with  joy,  ami  at  one 
time  there  was  not  one  amongst  us  who  would  not  have 
wagered  a  hundred  to  one  that  we  should  never  see  his  face 
again ;  nevertheless,  we  were  once  more  doomed  to  disap- 
pjiiitment.  Were  I  to  record  a  tithe  of  the  exaggerated 
and  unfounded  reports  which  obtained  temporary  currency 
at  that  period,  this  narrative  would  cover  many  additional 
pages.  There  can  be  little  doubt,  however,  that  the  pro- 
ceedings of  Theodore,  during  the  greater  part  of  18(j7,  were 
characterized  by  a  savage  brutality  quite  diabolical.  His 
thirst  for  blood  luid  attained  such  a  pitch,  that  ho  is  said 
to  have  ordered  one  hundred  thousand  head  of  cattle  to  bo 
shot  dead,  between  sunrise  and  sunset,  on  hearing  that  his 
soldiers,  who  had  already  plundered  more  cows  than  they 
knew  what  to  do  with,  were  selling  them  to  the  rebels  for 
one  dollar  uacli.  It  appears,  also,  that  ho  had  learnt  from 
the  rebels  a  more  summary  way  of  disposing  of  his  captured 
enemies,  namely,  by  committing  them  to  the  flames.  A 
VOL.  II.  B 


212  REBELLION  AROUND  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXIIL 

petty  insurgent  of  Davvunt,  near  Magdala,  is  stated  to  have 
been  the  first  to  perpetrate  this  horrible  outrage,  before  that 
district  revolted.  The  district  was  presided  over  by  a  Chief, 
named  Aito  Odisso,  who  was  reputed  to  be  upwards  of  a 
hundred  years  of  age,  and  yet  walked  and  rode  with  the 
energy  of  a  man  of  fifty.  1  saw  this  venerable  patriarch 
as  we  passed  through  Dawunt,  on  our  way  to  Magdala,  in 
July,  1866.  He  certainly  did  not  look  more  than  seventy 
years  old,  and  yet  the  people  assured  me  that  he  was  a  Chief 
of  Dawunt  in  the  time  of  Eas  Guksa,  the  grandfather  of 
Eas  'Ali,  that  is,  about  eighty  years  ago.  This  man  was 
so  devoted  to  Theodore,  that  he  maintained  the  loyalty  of 
the  district  to  the  royal  cause  when  the  whole  country 
around  was  convulsed  Avith  anarchy,  and  on  two  occasions 
he  repulsed  the  rebels  who  appeared  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
bourhood, and  utterly  routed  them.  One  rebel,  how^ever, 
with  a  party  of  about  eighty  followers,  determined  to  get 
rid  of  the  old  Chief  and  his  family.  They  accordingly 
concerted  together  to  set  his  house  on  fire  by  night,  and 
to  massacre  any  of  the  inmates  who  attempted  to  run  from 
the  flames.  The  devilish  scheme  was  carried  out  to  the 
letter.  Aito  Odisso,  who  was  the  first  to  awake,  rushed 
out  of  the  burning  house,  and  was  speedily  dispatched  by 
the  ruffians,  who  were  on  the  look-out  for  him.  Eight  or 
ten  members  of  his  family  were  either  burnt  alive  or  speared ; 
the  remainder,  including  his  son  and  heir,  managed  to  effect 
their  escape  under  cover  of  the  darkness.  The  marauders 
then  collected  all  tlic  booty  they  could  from  the  village, 
including  horses,  mules  and  cattle,  and  by  sunrise  the  fol- 
lowing morning  reached  that  part  of  the  Bashilo  river  which 
divides  Dalanta  from  Dawunt,  where,  fancying  themselves 
safe  from  surprise,  they  halted  to  have  a  feast  on  hrundo. 


Chap.  XX III.  AITO  ODISSO.  243 

Meanwhile,  the  son  of  the  slaughtered  Chief  was  busy  at 
work,  and  swore  that  he  would  not  bury  his  father  before 
he  had  avenged  him.  The  conflagration  of  the  houses,  and 
the  resoundings  of  the  war-cry  during  the  night,  brought 
all  the  Dawunt  wan-iors  to  the  spot,  who,  on  seeing  the 
mangled  corpse  of  their  Chief,  took  an  oath  that  they  would 
not  return  home  until  they  had  wreaked  their  vengeance 
on  his  murderers.  About  five  hundred  mustered  to  go  in 
pursuit,  and  the  scouts  sent  in  advance  to  reconnoitre  re- 
turning ^\itll  the  intelligence  that  the  band  had  halted  near 
the  Bashilo,  the  young  Chief  divided  his  followers  into  two 
parties,  one  of  which  was  placed  so  as  to  cut  off  the  re- 
treat of  the  enemy,  while  the  other  attacked  them.  The 
rebel  Chief  fought  bravely,  and,  refusing  to  surrender  himself 
iilive,  was  almost  hacked  to  pieces  by  the  assailants ;  where- 
upon his  adherents,  finding  themselves  surrounded  on  all 
sides,  laid  down  tlieir  arms.  The  corpse  of  their  leader  was 
then  transported  to  the  old  Chiefs  village  in  Dawunt,  where 
it  was  left  to  rot  in  the  fields,  and  about  eighty  of  the  cap- 
tured prisoners  were  sent  to  the  King  at  Debra  Tabor.  So 
severely  did  Theodore  feel  the  loss  of  Aito  Odisso,  that 
he  is  reported  to  have  wept  when  he  heard  of  his  death,  and 
kept  himself  secluded  for  a  whole  day.  Even  during  the 
old  man's  lifetime,  the  King  never  exacted  any  taxes  from 
I  ho  people  of  Dawimt ;  the  only  burden  imposed  upon 
ihem  was  the  duty  of  supplying  the  garrison  at  Magdala 
with  a  tenth  of  the  grain  raised  in  the  district.  Moreover, 
ho  always  addressed  the  houry-headed  Chief  in  tlu!  third 
person,  as  if  speaking  to  a  superior.  The  rebel  prisonei*3 
underwent  a  fair  trial,  and  all  pleaded  guilty ;  whcretipon 
the  King  adjudged  tli.m  to  a  death  similar  to  that  \Nhich 
they  had  devised  for  his  dear  and  faithful  friend.   They  were 

u  2 


244  EEBELLION  AEOUND  MAGDALA.       Chap.  XXHI.. 

accordingly  placed  in  a  large  hut,  on  tlie  outside  of  which 
heaps  of  grass  were  piled  by  the  executioners,  who  then  set 
the  whole  on  fire.  Such  was  Theodore's  first  essay  in  this 
species  of  cruelty,  and,  finding  that  it  was  an  expeditious  way 
of  dispatching  those  whom  he  styled  "  rebels,"  he  thence- 
forward frequently  adopted  it.  By  all  accounts,  some  hun- 
dreds of  men,  Avomen  and  children  were  subsequently  burnt 
alive  by  his  orders. 

An  incident  occurred  on  the  murder  of  the  old  Chief  of 
Dawunt  which  is  worthy  of  being  recorded,  as  illustrative 
of  the  honesty  and  fidelity  of  Abyssinian  servants.  When  I 
was  sent  a  prisoner  to  Magdala,  the  King  instructed  that 
Chief  to  act  as  my  agent,  and  to  assist  me  generally  in  my 
requirements.  He  also  directed,  that  in  case  I  wished  to 
send  mules  belonging  to  the  Mission  to  graze  in  Dawunt,  he 
was  to  supply  them  with  forage,  and  also  to  provide  quarters 
for  the  muleteers  and  for  any  servants  or  messengers  of  mine 
who  passed  through  his  district.  On  the  afternoon  preceding 
the  night  of  the  outrage,  one  of  my  trusty  messengers,  named 
Golja,  reached  the  Chieftain's  house  from  Gaffut,  with  two 
companions,  carrying  no  less  a  sum  than  1,700  doUars — 
nearly  400Z. — for  my  fellow-captives  and  myself,  which  had 
been  obtained  from  the  King's  European  artisans  against 
orders  drawn  on  Europe.  They  Mere  located,  during  the 
night  of  the  attack,  in  a  small  hut  just  beyond  the  Chief's 
inclosurc.  Lucidly,  Golja  happened  to  be  awake  when  the 
first  onset  was  made  on  the  premises.  Suspecting  foul  phiy, 
he  roused  his  companions  and  hurried  them  out  of  the  hut, 
bearing  the  money,  and  the  tliree  concealed  themselves  in  a 
clump  of  bushes,  away  from  the  vilLage,  until  the  morning. 
When  everything  was  quiet,  they  pursued  their  journey,  and 
arrived  at  the  fortress  without  the  loss  of  a  dollar. 


Chap.  XXII F.  MESSENGERS  AND  GUIDES.  215 

During  the  interval  that  the  roads  between  Debra  Tabor 
and  ]\ragdala  were  closed  by  the  rebels,  I  occasionally  em- 
ployed the  King's  private  messengers  to  bring  letters  and 
money  from  our  friends  at  Gafifat.  Though  twice  attacked 
by  marauding  parties,  they  never  lost  any  of  the  parcels 
confided  to  tliem ;  in  fact,  the  readiness  of  these  royal 
couriers  to  serve  me,  and  their  fidelity  to  the  trusts  they 
undertook,  are  beyond  all  praise.  Aito  Samuel  also  had  two 
servants,  named  respectively  Obishet  and  Dabaj,  whose 
devotion  to  tlieir  master  induced  them  to  risk  their  lives  on 
our  behalf.  Any  communication  from  a  party  who  feared  to 
make  it  through  a  third  person  generally  reached  me 
through  Ubi-het,  with  unerring  punctuality  and  truthfulness. 
As  I  never  allowed  the  letters  which  we  dispatched  to  the 
coast,  or  those  sent  up  to  us  from  Massowah,  to  be  taken  from 
!Magdala  or  to  be  brought  there  by  the  messengei'S  charged 
with  their  conveyance,  it  was  the  joint  duty  of  Obishet  and 
my  interpreter,  Dasta,  to  carry  them  about  their  persons 
until  they  found  a  safe  opportunity  of  delivering  them  to 
the  parties  selected  to  transmit  them.  Dabaj,  on  tlio  otlier 
luind,  was  the  principal  medium  of  carrying  on  our  com- 
munications with  the  royal  camp  during  these  critical  times, 
and  although  well  known  to  the  King's  courtiers,  and  even 
to  Theodore,  ho  never  hesitated  to  undertake  my  errands  to 
Debra  lubor  or  elsewhere.  If  seized,  he  was  instructed  io 
say  that  he  had  been  sent  by  me  to  procure  funds — the  only 
j)lea  which  was  likely  to  save  his  life.  Once,  when  not 
another  soul  would  venture  betw(Mjn  ^Idgdala  ami  Debra 
Tultor,  owing  to  a  stringent  order  that  no  stranger  was  to  bo 
allowed  either  to  enter  or  leave  the  eanip,  lit;  volunteered 
to  visit  Mr.  Flad  llw  re,  in  onhr  to  t)btain  a  supply  of  money 
for  us,  of  which  we  were  in  the  greatest  need.     He  travelled 


2i6  REBELLION  AROUND  MAGDALA.       Chap.  XXIIT. 

with  one  of  the  King's  private  messengers,  and  after  getting 
the  money — about  two  hundred  dollars — he  consigned  half  of 
it  to  his  companion,  and  both  set  out  on  the  return  journey 
together.  On  reaching  the  district  of  Gaint,  in  Bagameder, 
they  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  rebels,  who  seized  Dubaj, 
while  the  royal  courier  managed  to  escape.  The  latter 
brought  us  the  sum  which  he  carried,  just  as  we  had  ex- 
pended our  last  few  dollars ;  the  former  was  first  bound  by 
the  marauders,  and  tlien  lightened  of  his  burden,  with  the 
exception  of  a  sum  of  forty  dollars,  ^hich  he  had  carefully 
secreted  in  his  trousers.  Two  of  the  forty  dollars  he  gave 
to  one  of  the  servants  in  the  house  where  he  had  been 
confined,  to  connive  at  his  escape,  and  he  eventually  reached 
us  in  safety  with  the  balance  by  travelling  only  during  the 
night. 

On  finding  that  we  were  close  prisoners  at  Magdala,  I 
appointed  agents  at  different  places  between  the  coast  and 
the  fortress,  and  also  between  the  Amba  and  the  King's 
camp  at  Debra  Tabor,  to  protect  my  messengers  and  render 
them  every  assistance  in  their  power.  I  found,  also,  that 
guides  were  necessary  to  insure  the  safety  of  the  letters 
when  they  arrived  near  Magdala,  and  I  accordingly  employed 
a  number  of  men  on  that  service.  These  guides  carried  the 
letters  when  I  did  not  think  it  safe  to  trust  the  messengers 
directly,  lest  they  should  be  detected.  The  latter  acquitted 
themselves  from  beginning  to  end  most  honourably,  and 
only  on  a  few  rare  occasions  did  they  lose  any  of  the  money 
confided  to  them. 

Of  all  the  assistance,  however,  which  I  received  from  the 
Abyssinians,  none  proved  so  valuable  as  the  co-operation  of 
the  Chiefs  of  Dalanta.  I'rkina,  one  of  their  number,  never 
failed  me  in  a  single  instance  from  the  time  I  first  employed 


Chap.  XXIII.  ABYSSINIAN  FIDELITY.  217 

him  until  wc  finally  left  Magdala.  During  that  interval, 
Dalanta  changed  its  governor  no  less  than  six  times,  having 
been  ruled  alternately  by  the  King,  the  Wakshura  Gobaze,  and 
the  Gallas.  I'rkina  and  his  two  brothers  harboured  my  mes- 
sengers and  afforded  them  protection,  whenever  it  was  needed. 
"Without  them  I  could  not  have  sent  our  mails  regularly  to 
the  coast,  nor  could  we  have  received,  as  we  did,  supplies  of 
money  from  without,  when  the  whole  country  was  in  a  state 
of  anarchy.  Many  a  time  did  I'rkina  retire  to  sleep  in  the 
most  lonely  spots,  fearing  lest  the  letters  which  he  carried 
might  be  seized,  in  the  event  of  his  betrayal  either  to 
Theodore  or  to  the  Imam  of  the  CJallas.  On  one  occasion, 
when  five  batches  of  messengers  arrived  together  on  the 
borders  of  Dalanta  from  the  coast,  with  several  sums,  amount- 
ing in  all  to  2,000  dollars,  a  large  party  of  rebels  concerted 
to  attack  and  plunder  them.  On  hearing  this,  I'rkina 
mustered  all  the  ligliting-men  from  among  his  relations — 
seventy  in  number — and  proceeded  with  them  to  the  rendez- 
vous, took  charge  of  the  money,  and  brought  it  intact  to 
Magdahi. 

lieforc  the  King  reached  the  fortress  I  managed  to  main- 
tain a  regular  bi-moiithly  communication  with  jMassowah. 
So  trustworthy  had  1  found  the  Abyssinians,  that  when  news 
reached  us  of  tlie  landing  of  the  British  troops,  I  commenced 
organizing  intermediate  stations  between  ^lagdala  and 
Sakota,  to  serve  as  a  more  expeditious  lino  of  conveying 
intelligence  between  ourselves  and  the  invading  force. 
According  to  my  calculations  at  the  time,  a  letter  might 
have  been  transmitted  from  I^Fagdala  t(»  tln'  coa-t,  aiul  vice 
versa,  in  twelve  days.  1  Imd  ev<n  aiipoiiilc*!  the  respective 
Ktiif  ion-masters — men  who  could  read  and  write — and  com- 
missioned a  silversmith  at  Maijrdala  to  make  dilTerenl    <"al>- 


248  EEBELLIOX  AROUND  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXIII. 

for  each,  with  which  the  letters  passing  through  their  hands 
were  to  be  stamped.  Four  men  were  allotted  to  each 
station,  who  were  to  travel  in  couples,  forty  miles,  once  a 
fortnight.  I  had  nominated  the  couriers,  and  the  seals  were 
being  prepared,  when  the  King's  approach  was  announced, 
and  the  people  of  Wadala— the  district  where  the  two  first 
stations  were  to  have  been  established — suddenly  left  their 
homes  and  fled  towards  Lasta.  This  unforeseen  occurrence 
of  course  upset  my  scheme,  but  I  mention  these  incidents 
to  show  the  trustworthiness  of  the  Abyssinians  generally, 
and  their  fidelity  towards  their  employers  and  those  who 
treat  them  with  proper  consideration.  Nothing,  indeed, 
that  either  my  fellow-captives  or  myself  experienced  at  their 
hands  would  warrant  us  in  speaking  otherwise  of  them.  If 
a  few  isolated  cases  to  the  contrary  are  enough  to  brand  a 
whole  people  with  dishonesty,  faithlessness  and  ingratitude, 
then,  forsooth,  no  nation  is  free  from  the  stigma.  It  is 
perfectly  true  that  I  did  fall  in  with  disreputable  individuals 
in  Abyssinia,  especially  among  the  common  soldiers,  who 
regarded  me  as  an  inferior  being,  because  I  neither  More  a 
sTidmma  nor  buttered  my  hair ;  but  such  characters  were 
comparatively  few,  and  many  of  them  were  afterwards  ^^on 
over  by  kindness  to  serve  me  with  almost  abject  devotion. 
It  should  be  remembered,  moreover,  that  ours  was  a  most 
anomalous  position  at  Magdala ;  we  were,  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  "  prisoners,"  and  the  soldiery  regarded  us  as  such. 
It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  therefore,  that  we  did  not  re- 
ceive from  them  those  out\Aard  tokens  of  deference  which, 
under  other  circumstances,  might  have  been  expected.  An 
European  guard  is  not  l)()und,  and  I  believe  not  allowed,  to 
salute  its  prisoners,  whatever  Ihcir  i-imk  may  be;  corre- 
.sponding  discipline  prevails  in  the  Abyssinian  army,  and  it 


1867.  ABYSSINIAN  FIDELITY.  219 

would  be  as  unreasonable  to  inveigh  against  it  in  tlic  one 
case  as  in  the  other. 

I  offer  no  apology  for  adducing  another  eminent  example 
of  the  fidelity  of  the  Abyssinians  towards  their  employers. 
When  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stern  was  brutally  beaten,  and  two  of 
his  native  attendants  were  flogged  to  death  by  the  King's 
orders,  simply  because  they  were  in  that  gentleman's  service, 
not  one  of  his  remaining  followers  deserted  him  ;  on  the 
contrary,  they  stood  by  liini  to  the  last,  though  they  were 
imprisoned,  tortured,  and  had  a  yoke  hung  round  their  necks 
by  the  cruel  tyrant  who  had  shed  the  blood  of  their  innocent 
comrades.  3Ioreover,  even  wlien  some  among  his  o\\n  country- 
men shunned  the  disgraced  Missionary,  his  Abyssinian  friends 
still  clung  to  liini,  despite  the  risk  whicli  they  incurred  by 
their  sympathy,  ^ly  most  ardent  wish  is  that  the  poor 
Abyssinians  could  be  provided  witli  better  rulers  and  a  more 
stable  and  equitable  government,  for  I  am  persuaded  that 
in  the  coui*se  of  a  few  years,  under  an  enlightened  adminis- 
tration, tlicy  would  make  rapid  advances,  as  well  in  morals 
as  in  civilization  generally.  They  are  without  any  caste 
prejudices,  they  are  observant  and  shrewd,  fond  of  learning, 
and  by  no  means  deficient  in  intellectual  ability ;  indeed,  I 
um  disposed  to  rank  their  natural  powers  in  the  latter 
respect  as  equal  to  those  of  most  ICuropeaii  races.  A  large 
portion  of  the  educated  and  enlightened  members  of  the 
community  were  sadly  disappointed  on  finding  that  Eng- 
land's sole  object  in  invading  the  country  was  the  liberation 
of  the  captives,  and  that  the  British  force  would  retire 
without  taking  any  steps  to  intro<luce  law  and  nrder  among 
them.  "  W'e  were  born  in  bondage  and  must  die  slaves," 
was  their  desponding  remark.  The  day  after  ^lagdala  was 
captured,   I  was  asked   whether  it  was  true  that   we  wire 


'250  REBELLION  AROUND  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXIIL 

going  to  abandon  the  wretched  people,  without  leaving  a 
competent  governor  behind  to  rule  over  them,  and  to  lead 
them  in  the  steps  of  other  Christian  nations.  On  my  reply- 
ing in  the  afBrmative,  telling  them  at  the  same  time  that  they 
must  learn  to  govern  themselves,  they  rejoined,  "  You  mean 
that  we  must  cut  each  other's  throats." 

For  a  long  time  we  were  absolutely  ignorant  of  the  where- 
abouts of  the  King,  or  when  he  intended  visiting  IMagdala. 
(The  march  from  Debra  Tabor  thither  eventually  occupied 
him  six  entire  months.)  During  this  interval,  both  the 
Wakshum  Gobaze  and  Menilek,  King  of  Sboa,  were  most 
anxious  to  obtain  possession  of  the  fortress,  and  with  that 
view  tried  to  ingratiate  themselves  Avith  the  Abuna,  pro- 
mising him  immunity  and  honour  when  the  power  of  Theo- 
dore fell  into  their  hands.  I  was  repeatedly  asked  to  use 
my  influence  with  the  Chiefs  to  surrender  the  place  to  one 
or  other  of  the  contending  parties,  when  the  royal  cause  was 
thought  to  be  desiderate.  Ahmed,  the  son  of  Mastyat,  the 
youthful  Imam  of  the  Wello-G alias,  also  sent  me  a  singular 
letter,  while  I  was  still  in  chains,  asking  me  to  make  over 
Magdala  to  him,  promising  faithfully  to  send  me  down, 
with  all  my  fellow-captives,  to  the  coast  in  safety.  It  did  not 
seem  to  have  occurred  to  Mastyat,  the  Imam's  mother — it  was 
she  \A  ho  dictated  the  letter — that  if  I  had  possessed  the  power 
of  giving  up  Magdala  to  them,  I  should  have  got  out  of  it 
myself.  He  wrote  an  equally  absurd  letter  to  the  Bishop, 
telling  him  that  if  he  assisted  him  in  securing  Magdala,  he, 
the  Imam,  would  protect  his  "idols,"  that  is  to  say,  the  pic- 
tures and  crosses  used  in  the  Abyssinian  cliurches.  Mastyat, 
who  was  acting  as  Eegent  for  her  son  during  his  minority,  often 
threatened  to  starve  the  Magdala  garrison  by  stopping  its 
supplies,  which  she  could  easily  have  done,  if  the  Gallas  had 


1867.  COMPETITORS  FOR  MAG  DAL  A.  251 

only  supported  her  in  the  design ;  but  they  preferred  their 
oym  detestable  way  of  revenge — lying  in  ambush  behind  trees 
and  roeks,  whence  they  issued  forth  to  kill  helpless  boys, 
women  and  hioffensive  priests.  I  believe  that  on  the  defen- 
sive tlie  Gallas  fight  well,  but  they  are  contemptible  as 
assailants,  except  in  harassing  a  hostile  army  by  hanging 
on  its  outsldrts  and  cutting  off  stragglers. 

Menilek  and  the  "Wakshum  Gobazo  did  approach  at  last, 
but  they  took  care  to  keep  at  a  good  distance,  thereby  making 
themselves  the  objects  of  ridicule  to  the  Magdala  garrison, 
who  despised  their  cowardice.  Menilek  came  first  on  tlie 
30th  of  November,  and  pitched  his  camp  on  the  plateau 
opposite  ]\[agdala,  not  less  than  five  miles  off.  It  was  said 
that  ho  had  at  least  30,000  fighting  men  with  liiin.  One 
afternoon  he  approached  about  500  feet  nearer,  with  about 
2,000  Musketeei-s  and  some  artillery;  but  after  making  a 
little  display  of  his  fire-arms,  he  returned  to  his  tent,  and 
nothing  more  was  seen  of  him.  He  remained  there  three 
days,  and  we  hourly  expected  that  he  would  approach  and 
invest  the  place ;  but  he  seemed  to  have  feared  an  encounter 
with  the  fierce  defenders  of  the  fortress,  and  instead  of 
coming  towards  us,  when  he  moved  on  the  2nd  of  Deeombor, 
18fJ7,  ho  returned  to  Shoa,  on  the  plea  that  the  provisions 
for  hi-i  troops  were  exhausted.  The  fact  was,  ho  had  then 
heard  of  tlie  approach  of  Theodor(>,  and  thought  it  better 
to  decamp  in  time.  Menilek  was  much  liked,  and  would 
have  found  many  friends  among  the  garrison,  if  he  hud  been 
bold  enough  to  conimenee  operations. 

Aft<n-  Menilek's  departure,  the  Wakshum  Goba/e  appeared 
in  the  Held,  but  did  n(»t  come  as  near  to  ]\lagdala  as  the 
King  of  Shou.  The  movement  was  made  just  as  we  heanl 
that  Tli'MKlore  was  approarhing,  and  he  halted  about  thirty 


252  REBELLION  AEOUND  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXIII. 

miles    off,    witli    an    army   computed  at    30,000    fighting 
men. 

Although  the  Wakshum  Gobaze  did  not  behave  bravely 
on  that  occasion,  he  was  one  of  our  first  and  best  friends 
in  Abyssinia,  and  never  failed  to  serve  us  to  the  best  of 
his  ability.     Soon  after  we  were  sent  to  IMagdala  he  gave 
orders,  at   the   Bishop's   recommendation,  that   his   officers 
on  the  road  between  ]\Iugdala  and   the  coast  should  assist 
our  messengers,  and  protect  them  in  case  of  clanger.     This 
co-operation  continued  until  the  arrival  of  the  British  army 
at  the  fortress.     On  one  occasion,  I  sent  to  tell  him  that  I 
had  a  large  packet  of  documents  which  I  was  anxious  to 
send  safely  to  Massowah,  and  asked  if  he  could  help  me 
in  the  matter.     He  immediately  sent  a  priest  to  me,  who 
took  charge  of  the  packet  and  conveyed  it  to  its  destination. 
When  I  heard  of  the  landing  of  our  troops,  I  sent  to  inform 
him  of  the  fact,  and  asked  him  to  assist  in  providing  them 
with  carriage  and  provisions.     He  accordingly  caused  to  be 
proclaimed  through  his  districts,  by  beat  of  drum,  that  all 
his  subjects  were  to  supply  the  British  army  with  whatever 
they  required,  and  that  they  were  not  to  fear,  as  the  troops 
were  Christians,  and  would  pay  the  full  price  for  everything. 
He  said  he  was  sorry  that  he  could  not  wait  to  receive  the 
army  himself,  as  he  had  engaged  to  go  and  settle  the  govern- 
ments of  Biigameder  and  the  other  districts  round  the  Lake 
of  Dambea,  and  could  not  delay  any  longer,  on  account  of  the 
rainy  season,  which  was  then  fast  approaching. 

Since  our  seizure  at  Zage,  on  the  13th  of  April,  1866, 
when  we  judged  it  jjrudent  to  destroy  all  our  papers,  I 
abstained  from  keeping  a  regular  journal,  lest  by  some 
mishap  it  might  fall  into  Theodore's  hands.  Hence,  many 
portions  of  the  foregoing  pages  are  compiled  from  ofScial  dis- 


1807.  MATERIALS  FOR  THIS  WORK.  253 

patches,  from  private  letters  which  had  been  sent  to  friends 
in  England,  casual  notes,  and  from  memory — a  faculty 
which  comparative  seclusion  from  the  work-a-day  world, 
pending  a  two  years'  captivity,  has  a  marvellous  power  in 
refreshing  and  rendering  more  retentive.  However,  when 
at  the  end  of  18G7  nothing  was  heard  of  the  King,  and 
nobody  believed  that  he  would  ever  be  able  to  reach  our 
prison-house,  I  re-commenced  a  diary  from  November  of 
that  year,  and  dispatched  the  memoranda  by  the  messengers 
who  were  sent  from  time  to  time  to  the  coast.  But  as  it 
would  tire  the  patience  of  the  reader  to  peruse  a  mere 
record  of  repeated  visits  from  different  Chiefs,  and  of  the 
local  occurrences  at  Magdala,  I  sliall  skip  over  such  trifling 
matters — important  as  they  were  to  us  on  the  spot — and 
talce  up  the  narrative  of  events  connected  with  the  Mission 
from  the  time  that  the  communication  between  Magdala 
and  the  royal  camp  was  reopened,  and  the  King  resumed 
corresponding  with  mc. 


254  THEODORE  REACHES  MAGDALA.       Chap.  XXIV. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


THEODOKE  REACHES  MAGDALA. 

Theodore  hears  of  the  landing  of  the  British  troops  —  Sir  Robert  Napier's 
Proclamation  —  Death  of  Hailo,  a  messenger  —  Submission  of  the 
Dalanta  people  —  The  road  open  to  Magdala  —  Death  and  burial  of 
Theodore's  sister  —  Transport  of  artillery  —  The  Author  sends  dispatches 
to  the  British  camp — Abyssinian  mourning  for  the  dead  —  Native  and 
five  European  prisoners  forwarded  to  Magdala  —  Theodore's  polite  mes- 
sages and  speeches — Sir  Robert  Napier's  ultimatum  —  Theodore  in 
prospect  of  the  impending  invasion  —  He  reaches  the  Dalanta  plateau  — 
Breaks  faith  with  the  Dalanta  people  —  The  Amharas  —  Messengers 
aiTive  from  the  British  camp — The  Author  released  from  his  chains  — 
Letter  and  jiresent  from  Theodore  —  Commmiications  to  and  from  the 
British  Camp  —  Theodore  reaches  the  plateau  of  Salamge. 

On  the  2nd  of  December,  1867,  tlie  King  heard  of  the  hmd- 
ing  of  the  British  troops,  and  about  the  20th  of  the  same 
month  an  Amharic  copy  of  Sir  Eobcrt  Napier's  Proclamation 
reached  him  from  Tigre.  It  was  reported  at  the  time  that 
the  announced  invasion  made  him  furious,  and  that  his 
European  artisans  narrowly  escaped  being  put  into  chains  in 
consequence.  Such,  however,  was  not  the  case,  for  I  was 
assured  on  tlie  best  authority  that  the  Proclamation  only 
elicited  a  smile  from  the  inscrutable  Monarch.  Nevertheless, 
he  would  not  allow  the  document  to  be  seen  by  any  of  his 
own  people ;  not  even  by  Alaka  I'ngada,  his  chief  scribe. 
It  was  placed  with  other  papers  in  tlic  tin  box  which  I  had 
given  him.  His  Majesty  was  then  in  Wadala,  near  the  Chetta 
river.    The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Proclamation : — 


18G8.  .Tax.         SIR  R.  NAPIER'S  PROCLAMATION.  255 

"To  TiiK  Governors,  tiie  Chiefs,  the  Eeligious  Orders,   and 
THE  People  of  Abyssinia. 

"  26/7*  October,  18G7. 
"  It  is  known  to  you  that  Tbeodorus  King  of  Abyssinia  detains 
in  captivity  the  British  Consul   Cameron,   the  British   Envoy 
Uassam,  and  many  others,  in  violation  of  the  laws  of  all  civilized 
nations, 

"  All  friendly  persuasion  having  failed  to  obtain  their  release, 
my  Sovereign  has  commanded  me  to  lead  an  army  to  liberate 
them. 

"  All  who  befriend  the  prisoners  or  assist  in  their  liberation 
shall  be  well  rewarded,  but  those  who  may  injure  them  shall  be 
severely  punished. 

"  When  the  time  shall  arrive  for  the  march  of  a  British  army 
through  your  country,  bear  in  mind,  people  of  Abyssinia,  that 
the  Queen  of  England  has  no  unfriendly  feeling  towards  you,  and 
no  design  against  your  country  or  your  liberty. 

"Your  religious  establishments,  your  persons,  and  property 
i-hall  be  carefully  protected. 

"All  supplies  rerpiired  for  my  soldiers  shall  be  paid  for;  no 
peaceable  inhabitants  shall  be  molested. 

*'  The  sole  object  for  which  the  Biitish  force  has  been  sent  to 
Abyssinia  is  the  liberation  of  Her  Majesty's  sei-vants  and  others 
ullju^-tly  detained  as  captives,  and  as  soon  as  that  object  is  effected 
it  will  bo  withdrawn. 

•'There  is  no  intention  to  occupy  permanently  any  portion  of 
the  Abyssinian  territory,  or  to  interfere  with  the  Government 
of  the  countiy. 

"  11.  NAriEU,  Lieutenant-General, 

"  Commander-in-Chief,  Bomhay  Arnuj." 

Xst  January,  1SG8. — News  reached  I\ragdala  tliat  tho 
AVakshum  Gobaze  had  announced  his  intention  of  attacking 
Theodore  as  soon  as  the  latter  descended  into  the  valloy  of 
the  Cbcita.  He  had  nominated  two  Dajazmatslics,  witli  about 
ten  thousand  men,  to  procotd  to  Dalanfa  in  order  to  prevent 
his  ^lajesty's  progress  to  ]\Iugdala.     Tn  llio  afternoon,  tho 


256  THEODORE  REACHES  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXIY. 

Commandant  and  other  Chiefs  came  to  condole  with  me  on 
the  loss  of  Hailo,  the  faithful  messenger  whom  I  had  employed 
to  carry  my  messages  to  the  King,  his  Majesty  having  sent 
to  inform  me  that  the  poor  man  had  died  in  Zabit,  after  a 
lingering  illness.  I  had  dispatched  liini  with  a  compli- 
mentary letter  to  Theodore  as  far  back  as  May,  but  as 
the  roads  had  been  closed  since  then,  he  was  obliged  to 
remain  in  the  royal  camp,  and  eventually  came  on  with  his 
Majesty.  In  the  evening  the  Eas's  wife  and  other  ladies 
visited  me  on  the  same  errand.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that 
the  Abyssinians  generally  are  very  kind  to  servants,  treating 
them  as  members  of  the  family,  especially  on  their  marriage 
or  death.  AYhen  native  ladies  go  to  condole  with  any  one, 
they  usually  wear  their  dirtiest  clothes ;  hence,  my  fair 
visitors  on  this  occasion  were,  externally,  far  from  prepos- 
sessing. 

2nd. — Private  couriers  arrived  this  evening,  bringing  me  a 
polite  message  from  the  King.  They  reported  that  his 
Majesty  had  reached  Beitahor,  on  the  top  of  the  northern 
side  of  the  Chetta  valley. 

^rd. — News  reached  us  that  the  people  of  Dalanta  had  sub- 
mitted to  the  King.  The  Wakshum  Gobaze  having  failed  to 
protect  them,  they  judged  it  prudent  to  take  advantage  of  the 
royal  amnesty  which  Theodore  had  held  out  to  them.  I  re- 
ceived another  polite  message  from  his  Majesty  this  after- 
noon. 

Ath. — The  road  being  now  open  between  the  royal  camp 
and  IMagdala,  tlic  King  was  able,  for  the  first  time  after  a 
long  interval,  to  ro-commencc  employing  his  regular  couriers. 
His  Majesty  had  been  so  long  without  proper  food  that  he 
sent  to  request  his  favourite  wife,  Itamanyo,  to  prepare  some 
good  dishes  and  dispatch  them  to  the  camj),  in  order  that  he 


18C8.  Jan.  TRANSPORT  OF  A  MORTAR.  257 

might  enjoy  himself  at  the  Abyssinian  Christmas.  The 
couriers  came  to  me  shortly  after  with  the  following  mossa<^e 
from  their  master : — "  How  are  you  ?  How  are  you,  my 
friend  ?  Thank  God,  I  am  well.  I  have  now  reached  Beita- 
hor,  and  hope  to  be  with  you  soon.  The  nearer  I  approach 
towards  you  the  happier  I  feel,  kuowing  that  the  pleasure  of 
meeting  you  is  at  baud.  I  sent  you  to  Magdala  to  be  in  my 
house,  with  the  Queen  Consort  and  my  son,  and  I  hope  they 
have  been  kind  to  you  and  attended  to  your  wants.  Your 
servant,  Mohammed  Sa'id,  has  reached  Chalga,  with  stores 
for  you,  and  he  is  now  with  my  people  there.  I  have  also 
received  everything  that  was  sent  for  from  the  coast.  I  liave 
had  a  large  mortar  cast,  which  has  detained  me  on  the  road  ; 
but  when  I  reach  ^lagdala,  and  you  see  and  admire  it,  I  shall 
forget  all  the  trouble  which  it  has  given  me.  Ask  your 
brothers  [fello^^ -captives]  how  thoy  are,  from  me.  I  am 
obliged  to  dispatch  the  messengers  in  haste,  otherwise  I  would 
have  written  to  you."  On  the  streugtli  of  this  very  courteous 
message  the  Magdala  Chiefs  advised  me  to  write  a  congratu- 
latory letter  to  his  Majesty.  I  accordingly  addressed  him  as 
follows : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  I  have  liad  the  honour  of  receiving  your  Majesty's  kind 
message  by  Yashdlaka  Lih,  and  I  was  delighted  to  hear  of  your 
safe  arrival  at  r»eitah6r. 

"  I  was  also  not  a  little  pleased  to  learn  that  your  Majesty  was 
in  perfect  hcaltli. 

"  May  the  liord  give  your  Majesty  hcaltli  and  prosperity,  and 
show  us  the  light  of  your  countenance  soon ;  and  may  you  enjoy 
a  happy  Cliristmas. 

"  Ih.  Blanc  and  Mr.  Pridcaux,  I\Ir.  Cameron  and  liis  jiart}', 
and  Mr.  Stem  and  his  party,  send  your  Majesty  their  respectful 
comjiliments." 

VOL.  II.  8 


258  THEODORE  REACHES  MAGDALA.      Chap,  XXIY. 

The  articles  referred  to  by  the  King  were  some  books  and 
fusees  which  I  had  ordered  for  him  from  Aden,  as  far  back  as 
May,  18G6.  Mohammed  Sa'id  was  the  messenger  whom  he 
had  asked  me  to  dispatch  with  the  letter  he  had  requested 
me  to  write,  iu  January  of  the  following  year,  to  get  the 
artisans  sent  up  from  the  coast.  He  was  fully  aware  that 
the  man  had  returned  Nvithout  an  answer,  and  yet  he  forbore 
manifesting  any  displeasure  towards  me,  or  finding  fault  with 
the  Government  on  that  account. 

In  the  afternoon  the  remains  of  the  King's  sister,  to  whom 
he  had  been  very  much  attached,  were  brought  from  the 
royal  camp  to  be  interred  in  the  church.  She  liad  died  on 
the  road  to.  Magdala,  and  had  been  placed  in  a  coffin.  To 
prevent  the  effluvia  arising  from  decomposition — whenever  it 
is  desired  to  transport  a  body  to  a  distance — the  Abyssinians 
wrap  the  corpse  in  several  folds  of  cerement,  much  in  the 
same  way  as  seems  to  have  been  practised  by  the  ancient 
Egyptians,  and  after  exposing  it  to  the  sun  for  some  time 
remove  it  into  the  shade.  By  this  process  the  waxed  cloths 
adhere  closely  together  and  form  an  impervious  shroud.  The 
Magdala  priests  received  the  remains  of  the  Princess  in  full 
canonicals,  with  chants  and  the  beating  of  drums,  and  outdid 
themselves  on  the  occasion,  knowing  the  proximity  of  the 
King,  and  being  anxious  to  make  a  great  show  of  their  loyalty, 
in  order  to  win  his  approbation. 

QtU. — Keceived  another  polite  message  from  Theodore. 
Orders  came  to-day  directing  that  half  the  Magdala  garrison 
should  bo  sent  to  assist  in  transporting  the  licavy  baggage, 
and  in  moving  the  guns  and_mortars  througli  the  Chetta 
valley.  Dam  ash  was  to  go  in  command  of  the  detachment. 
This  being  the  Abyssinian  Christmas  I  gave  an  entertain- 
ment to  the  royal  couriers,  a  number  of  the  Magdala  Chiefs, 


1868.   Jan.  THEODOEE'S  MOTIVE.  259 

and  several  courtiers  who  had  come  from  the  King's  camp  on 
different  errands,  and  treated  them  with  hrundo  and  tej  to 
their  hearts'  content. 

1th. — Bitwaddad  Damash  and  all  the  other  officers  ^ho 
were  going  to  the  royal  camp  came  to  take  leave  of  me, 
offering  to  convey  anything  from  me  to  the  European  arti- 
sans, or  to  bring  anything  back  for  me  on  their  return.  As 
the  near  approach  of  the  King  and  the  submission  of  Dalanta 
rendered  it  dangerous  to  dispatch  letters  to  the  coast,  I  sent 
messengers  to  accompany  the  detachment  as  far  as  Dalanta, 
from  whence  they  might  proceed  onward  to  the  British  camp 
without  risk  of  being  seized. 

11^^. — ]\Iy  agents  in  Dalanta — who,  in  common  with  the 
generality  of  the  people  of  that  district,  had  accepted  the 
royal  amnesty — called  to  assure  me  of  their  constant  readi- 
ness to  serve  me  faithfully  as  long  as  I  remained  in  the 
country. 

\2th. — Another  message  from  the  King  this  morning.  As 
we  were  at  prayers  when  the  couriers  arrived,  they  waited 
until  our  service  was  over.  His  Majesty  apologized  for  hav- 
ing detained  'Omar  'Ali,  my  interpreter,  but  said  that  he  did 
not  wish  to  send  him  back  without  an  answer.  The  follow- 
ing day  'Omar  'Ali  returned  with  the  subjoined  note  : — 

(After  compliments.) 

"  B}'  tho  power  of  God,  I  am  coming  to  you.  Oh,  my  friend, 
do  not  think  that  I  bear  any  hatred  towards  you.  Be  of  good 
cheer.  I  have  placed  yon  in  your  present  position  in  order  that 
I  may  have  intercourse  wilh  the  people  of  your  countiy.  The 
friendship  which  I  have  always  entertained  for  you  has  not 
diminished.  When  God  vouchsafes  us  a  meeting,  •\vo  will  talk 
together  from  tho  heart.  God  knows  that  I  really  have  no 
hatred  towards  you." 

'Omar  'Ali  reported  that  tho  I^g  had  received  him  very 

s  2 


2G0  THEODORE  EEACHES  MAGDALA.       Chap.  XXIV. 

well,  and  both  lie  and  tho  Europeans  ^vlio  were  with  the  royal 
camp  stated  that  his  IMajesty  had  publicly  spoken  of  me  in 
flattering  terms.  Theodore  at  this  time  was  engaged  from 
sunrise  to  sunset  in  widening  and  leyelling  tlic  roads  down 
the  valley  for  the  passage  of  his  huge  waggons. 

11  th. — Heard  that  his  Majesty  liad  reached  the  bottom  of 
the  Chetta  valley,  with  all  his  heavy  baggage,  guns,  &c. ;  that 
upwards  of  two  hundred  prisoners  had  been  made  over  to 
Damash,  to  be  conveyed  to  3Iagdala ;  also  Mrs.  Rosenthal,, 
who  had  received  the  King's  permission  to  join  her  husband. 
Dispatched  a  post  to-day  to  the  British  camp  with  the  latest 
intelligence. 

IWi. — This  being  the  Feast  of  tlie  Epiphany  with  the 
Abyssinians,  the  priests  and  warriors  of  Magdala  made  no. 
little  uproar  in  conveying  the  sacred  Tdhot  from  the  springs 
near  which  it  had  been  deposited  the  previous  night,  and 
where  it  was  newly  aifused  with  water  prior  to  its  re-com- 
mittal to  the  Holy  of  Holies  within  the  church.  A  description 
of  this  ceremony  has  already  been  given  in  Vol.  I.  pp.  225-7. 

22nd. — The  King  sent  me  word  regretting  his  long  deten- 
tion. He  found  road-making  a  harder  task  than  he  had 
anticipated. 

2?ird. — Samuel's  wife  having  heard  of  the  death  of  her 
father  and  mother  in  the  royal  camp,  through  fatigue  and 
anxiety,  there  was  great  wailing  in  his  house  this  morning. 
As  usual,  a  feast  followed  the  lamentation  for  the  departed, 
all  the  friends  of  the  family,  and  those  who  wished  to  mani- 
fest their  sympathy  on  the  occasion,  contributing  the  custo- 
mary viands. 

On  the  death  of  a  near  relative,  the  Abyssinians  either 
shave  their  heads  or  crop  tli<ir  liair  short;  many  of  them 
also  try  to  disfigure  themselves  by  scratching  their  cheeks 


■  1868.  Jan.  NATIVE  OBSEQUIES.  261 

and  temples  till  the  blood  runs.  Samuel,  however,  who  dis- 
liked all  such  barbarous  customs,  would  not  allow  his  wife  to 
cut  oflf  her  hair,  and  was  obliged  to  jAace  women  over  her  to 
see  that  his  injunctions  were  obeyed.  Feeling  aggrieved  at 
this  prohibition  to  observe  the  usages  of  her  country,  the 
lady  refused  to  allow  her  hair  to  be  buttered.  All  other 
resources  to  induce  her  to  comply  with  her  husband's  wishes 
in  that  respect  having  failed,  my  intervention  was  sought, 
and  after  considerable  effort  I  induced  the  mourner  to  submit 
to  the  usual  buttering.  Theodore  hated  all  these  obsequies, 
which  he  reganled  as  pagan,  and  on  his  accession  to  the 
throne  he  forbade  them,  and  decreed  that  any  one,  male  or 
female,  who  disfigured  his  or  her  face,  in  token  of  sorrow  for 
the  departed,  should  be  amenable  to  punishment.  lie  also 
prohibited  all  loud  wailing  for  the  dead  in  the  royal  camp. 

]Meuilek,  King  of  Shoa,  sent  me  some  money  to-day  and  a 
note,  informing  me  that  the  English  Queen  had  written  him 
a  letter  recognizing  him  as  King  of  Abyssinia.  It  was  for- 
tunate that  this  communication  did  not  fall  into  Theodore's 
hands. 

2V}th. — The  Magdala  detachment  returned  this  afternoon 
with  180  native  and  five  European  prisoners.  The  latter  were 
those  who  had  tried  to  eflect  their  escape  from  Debru  Tabor 
when  M.  Bardel  betrayed  their  design  to  the  Iving,  namely, 
Messrs.  Staiger,  Brandeis,  Schiller,  Essller  and  Macraire. 
Mrs.  Rosenthal  and  her  infant  came  also  with  the  escort. 
Among  the  native  prisonei-s  were  Wakshum  Tafare  and  the 
other  Chiefs  who  were  taken  with  him  by  lias  I'ngadu  when 
lias  Kiddua  i\Iuryam  was  removed  to  iJebra  Tabor  ;  Kiintiba 
Ilailo,  the  ex-3[ayor  of  Gondar;  Has  Wald-j\Iaryam,  and  lias 
Gabri6,  the  Chiefs  who  bad  guarded  tlie  members  of  tlie 
Mission  on  our  disgrace  at  Zagc ;  the  Master  of  llie  llor>e; 


262  THEODORE  REACHES  MAGDALA.       Chap.  XXIV. 

Balambaras  Tasdinma ;  Bitwaddad  Tadla,  who  had  brouglit 
us  as  prisoners  to  Magdala  ;  T'issoo  Hailo,  the  merchant  who 
was  afraid  to  accompany  me  on  board  the  steamer  at  Mas- 
sowah  at  the  end  of  18G-1  (see  VoL  I.  p.  36),  and'  a  large 
number  of  courtiers  who  had  incurred  the  royal  displeasure 
for  trivial  offences. 

After  the  native  prisoners  were  safely  lodged  in  the  com- 
mon jail,  together  with  about  four  hundred  inmates  who  had 
been  confined  there  previously,  Dajjaj  Dasta,  one  of  the  petty 
Chiefs  of  Magdala,  who  was  then  in  great  favour  with  the 
King,  accompanied  by  several  other  Chiefs,  brought  the 
European  captives,  each  chained  to  an  Abyssinian  soldier, 
and  made  them  over  to  me,  in  accordance  with  the  King's 
orders.  His  Majesty,  he  said,  had  directed  him  to  repeat  th& 
following  message  to  me  : — "  How  are  you  ?  How  have  you 
passed  the  time  ?  I  send  five  of  your  coimtrymen  whom  I 
wish  you  to  receive  and  keep  with  the  other  Europeans  who 
are  with  you.  Be  of  good  cheer,  my  son ;  I  shall  soon  be 
with  you."  It  appears  that  when  the  native  prisoners  were 
consigned  to  the  Magdala  Chiefs  at  the  royal  camp,  the  latter 
inquired  where  the  five  Europeans  were  to  be  lodged.  After 
considering  a  little,  his  Majesty  asked  the  Chiefs  whether 
they  thought  I  should  feel  hurt  if  they  were  located  with  the 
native  prisoners  in  the  common  jail.  On  their  replying  in 
the  affirmative,  he  directed  them  to  be  made  over  to  me, 
with  the  foregoing  message.  With  regard  to  Mrs.  Rosenthal, 
he  said,  "  Take  her  and  deliver  her  over  to  her  brother,  and 
say  from  me,  '  I  send  your  sister,  as  you  desired.' "  The  poor 
lady  was  detained  at  the  gate  of  the  fortress  nearly  two 
hours,  and  \sas  not  admitted  until  the  Chief  had  terminated 
his  task  of  delivering  over,  categorically,  all  the  native 
prisoners  to  the  local  authorities,  agreeably  with  a  list  which 


1868.  Jan.         imprisonment  OF  NATIVE  CHIEFS.  263 

had  been  drawn  up  at  the  royal  caroj).  The  exigencies  of 
Abyssinian  red-tape  demanded  not  only  that  the  prisoners 
shoidd  be  made  over  numerically,  but  the  Jail  Wardens 
must  have  each  individual  identified,  lest  a  common  convict 
should  be  substituted  for  an  attainted  political  offender  of 
rank.  So  apprehensive  was  Theodore  of  losing  Wakshmn 
Tafare,  that  he  sent  him  to  Magdala  with  his  hands  shackled 
to  his  feet,  and  twenty  trusty  men,  selected  by  the  King 
himself,  were  appointed  to  keep  watch  over  him  day  and 
night  until  he  reached  his  destination.  All  the  formalities 
over,  seven  guns  were  fired  to  announce  that  the  i)risoners 
were  safely  lodged  within  the  impregnable  fortress.  The 
King,  knowing  the  time  when  they  might  be  expected  to 
arrive,  sat  on  a  hill  awaiting  the  expected  signal.  On  see- 
ing the  smoke  of  the  gims  he  breathed  freely,  and  exclaimed 
"  Thank  God  ! "  As  there  were  some  thousands  Amliara  as 
well  as  Galla  rebels  in  arms  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  as  he 
could  only  spare  an  escort  of  five  hundred  men  to  guard  the 
captive  Chiefs,  he  was  in  dread  lest  their  rescue  should  be 
attempted.  Tn  this  apprehension  he  seems  to  have  over- 
looked the  itict,  that  the  smoke  of  his  camp-fires  was  enough 
to  scare  the  cowardly  rabble  from  his  path. 

News  reached  us  to-day  that  the  British  force  was  being 
concentrated  at  Senafe. 

21th. — Received  a  budget  of  letters  from  the  coast ;  also 
some  newspapers.  A  short  paragraph  in  one  of  the  journals 
stated  that  "  Calcraft  had  been  engaged  by  her  j\rajcsty's 
Government  to  accompany  the  Abyssinian  Expedition  " — a 
pleasant  announcement  to  Theodore  liad  tlio  paper  fallen 
into  bis  hands  and  been  rendered  into  Andiaric  for  him  by  a 
malevolent  translator.  The  day  following,  all  the  offit'crs  of 
tlio  rf'tnruing  detachment  came  to  take  leave  of  me. 


261  THEODORE  REACHES  MAG  DAL  A.       Chap.  XXIY. 

30th. — Dispatched  other  messengers  to  the  British  camp. 
I  have  now  three  guides  and  several  agents  between  Mag- 
dala  and  the  Takkaze  river,  to  insure  the  safe  transmission 
of  letters  out  of  the  reach  of  the  King. 

1st  February. — Theodore  has  been  publicly  talking  about 
me  and  some  of  the  other  captives.  Mr.  Flad's  version  of 
the  royal  speech  was  as  follows  : — "  IMi'.  Rassam  was  my  best 
friend  before  I  sent  him  to  Magdala,  and  although  I  put  him 
in  chains  he  is  still  my  friend,  and  for  that  reason  I  esteem 
and  love  him,  and  shall  do  him  good  as  long  as  I  live,  though 
those  who  are  above  him  in  England  laugh  at  me,  and  deride 
my  poverty ;  but  Messrs.  Stern,  Cameron  and  Eosenthal  I 
cannot  esteem  more  than  my  own  Abyssinians."  His  remark 
about  our  Government  having  ridiculed  him  referred  to  a 
passage  in  one  of  Mr.  Rosenthal's  letters  ^\hich  has  been 
explained  in  Vol.  I.  p.  301. 

Zrd. — After  I  had  retired  for  the  night,  I  was  aroused  by 
Aito  Samuel,  who  came  to  inform  me  that  couriers  had  ar- 
rived from  the  King  w  ith  a  message  which  they  were  ordered 
to  deliver  to  me  without  delay.  The  message  ran  thus : — 
"(How  are  you?  I  must  apologize  for  not  having  -written 
when  I  sent  you  the  five  EuroiJcans.  I  have  been  hard  at 
work  of  late  making  a  good  road  for  the  gun-carriages.  I 
hope  it  will  not  be  long  before  I  ascend  Dalanta,  when 
I  trust  to  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you — a  joy  which 
has  been  long  deferred.  Ask  your  brothers  how  they  are,"  &c. 
We  were  induced  to  infer  from  the  tenor  of  this  communi- 
cation, that  as  soon  as  the  King  reached  the  Dalanta 
plateau  he  would  send  for  us  and  keej)  us  there.  It  was 
no  small  satistaction  to  us  that  lie  never  carried  out  that 
project,  if  he  had  ever  intended  it. 

'^th. — Almost  every  alternate  clay  since  the  3rd,  compli- 


1868.  Feb.  BIR  ROBERT  NAPIER'S  ULTIMATUM.  265 

mentary  messages  have  come  to  me  from  his  Majesty.  Ou 
the  l.'jth  there  was  a  tremendous  hailstorm,  Nvhich  partly 
destroyed  the  beautiful  arbour  in  front  of  my  hut.  The 
day  following  a  quaint  message  reached  me  from  Theodore, 
which  I  must  give  in  full : — "  How  are  you  ?  How  are  you, 
my  friend?  Thank  God,  I  am  well;  but  the  people  of  your 
country  have  made  fools  both  of  you  and  me.  In  a  few  days 
I  shall  be  up  with  my  guns  in  Dalanta,  when  I  shall  com- 
municate to  you  what  I  know."  Tliis  was  quite  a  riddle  to 
us,  and  the  messengers  were  equally  at  a  loss  to  know  what 
the  King  meant. 

Thtj  W'ukshum  Gobaze  forwarded  me  a  copy  of  his  Excel- 
lency Sir  Robert  Napier's  ultimatum,  addressed  to  the 
K'iiig.  lie  had  opened  and  read  it,  and  on  ascertaining  its 
j)urp()rt  liad  exclaimed,  "Alas!  for  the  poor  Francliotali. 
•Should  this  lall  into  the  hands  of  Kasa  [the  name  which  the 
rebels  always  gave  to  Theodore],  he  will  certainly  kill  them 
all."  He  accordingly  directed  the  messenger  to  bring  the 
j»aj)er  to  me,  in  order  that  I  iniglit  decide  whether  it  was 
to  be  forwarded  to  its  destination  or  destroyed.  To  insure 
its  reaching  me  first,  he  instructed  his  agents  to  see  that 
the  bearer  came  to  me  before  going  elsewhere.  When  it 
reached  me,  I  submitted  it  to  several  of  the  intelligent 
natives  who  were  in  my  confidence,  and  they  unanimously 
agrofd  that  tl)e  worst  consequences  might  be  apprehended 
if  the  document  found  its  way  to  the  King.  I  also  referred 
the  nuitter  to  those  of  ray  fcllow-eaptives  whose  opinion  I 
felt  bound  to  consult  in  such  a  case,  and  as  tlieir  views  con- 
curred witli  my  own  I  decided  to  arrest  the  dangerous  missive. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  ultimatum  : — 

"  I  Jim  (•oramanded  by  lier  Majesty  the  Queen  of  England  to 
demand  that  the  pribouei-a  whom  your  Majesty  luts  wrongfully 


266  THEODORE  REACHES  MxVGDALA.       Chap.  XXIV 

detained  in  captivity  shall  be  immediately  released  and  sent  in 
safety  to  Ihe  British  Camp.  Should  your  ^Majesty  fail  to  comply 
•with  this  demand,  I  am  further  commanded  to  enter  your  Majesty's 
country  at  the  head  of  an  army  to  enforce  it,  and  nothing  will 
arrest  my  progress  until  the  object  shall  have  been  accomplished. 

"  My  Sovereign  has  no  desire  to  deprive  you  of  any  part  of 
your  dominions,  nor  to  subvert  your  authority,  although  it  is 
obvious  that  such  would  in  all  probability  be  the  result  of 
hostilities. 

"  Your  Majesty  might  avoid  this  danger  by  the  immediate 
surrender  of  the  prisoners. 

"But  should  they  not  be  delivered  safely  into  my  hands, 
should  they  suffer  a  continuance  of  ill  treatment,  or  should  anj- 
injury  befall  them,  your  Majesty  will  be  held  personally  respon- 
sible, and  no  hope  of  future  condonation  need  be  entertained." 

Ibth. — Eeceived  a  letter  from  Mr.  Flad  to-day,  wherein  he 
informed  me  that  the  King  had  broached  the  subject  of  the 
impending  invasion  to  his  European  artisans.  The  feeling 
which  pervaded  Theodore's  mind,  in  anticipation  of  that 
event,  is  so  clearly  indicated  by  his  utterances  on  the  oc- 
casion, that  I  shall  give  them  in  Mr.  Flad's  own  words  : — 

^'  Boyal  Camp,  Dalanta,  11th  February,  1868. 

"  You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  his  Majesty  informed  Mr. 
Waldraeier,  on  Friday  last,  that  he  had  received  news  from  the 
coast  that  the  English  had  disembarked  at  Zoolah  ;  and  on  Satur- 
day morning  he  called  me  aside  and  told  me,  '  The  people  of 
whom  you  brought  me  a  letter,  and  of  whom  you  said  that 
they  will  come,  have  arrived,  and  disembarked  at  Zoolah,  and 
they  are  coming  up  by  the  salt  plain.  Why  did  the}-  not  choose 
a  better  road?  The  road  by  the  salt  plain  is  very  Tinhealthy.* 
I  said,  that  as  they  bring  their  troops  from  India,  they  could 
not  take  a  better  road  than  this.  From  the  sea-coast  they 
would,  in  three  or  four  days,  reach  the  alps  of  Agamay ;  and 
that  with  little  difficulties,  as  already,  at  the  time  of  King 
Fasil,  the  rortuguese  had  made  a  way  up,  and  the  salt  plain 
they  would  leave  to  their  left.  He  then  said,  '  Wo  are  making 
roads,  and  what  will  it  be  to  them  but  playing  to  make  roads 


18G8.  Feb.  DALANTA  ATTAINED.  267 

everywhere  ?  Well,'  he  said,  '  it  seems  to  mo  to  be  the  wtU 
of  God  that  they  come.  If  He  who  is  above  does  not  kill  me, 
none  will  kill  me  ;  and  if  He  says,  yon  must  die,  no  one  can 
save  me.  Iiemember  the  history  of  Hezekiah  and  Sennacherib.' 
His  Majesty  did  not  say  more,  but  this  he  said  most  solemnly. 
To-day  he  said  to  Messis.  AValdmcier,  Saalmuller  and  Bender, 
'  T  long  for  the  day  on  which  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  to  see 
a  disciplined  European  army.  I  am  like  Simeon  who  would 
rejoice,  having  the  Saviour  in  his  arms ;  but  he  was  old  and 
died,  and  I  am  old  too,  but  I  hope  God  will  spare  mo  to  see 
them.  I  am  no  more  proud  of  my  soldiers.  A\'e  are  nothing 
in  comparison  to  a  disciplined  army,  where  thousands  of  men 
act  on  the  command  of  one  man.' 

"  On  Friday  he  said  to  ^Ir.  ^^'aldmeicr,  '  "We  liave  a  pro- 
phecy that  the  time  will  come  when  an  European  King  will  meet 
with  an  Abyssinian  King  in  this  country;  and  the  Europeans 
will  then  take  their  mouthful  and  speak  the  tnith  before  the 
people  of  this  country;  and  after  this  time  a  great  King  will 
reign  in  Abyssinia,  as  great  as  none  will  have  been  before  him. 
This  time  has  come.'  Ho  said,  'but  I  don't  know  whether  I 
shall  be  that  great  King,  or  some  one  else.'  From  all  he  now 
and  then  says,  the  Europeans  here  maho  their  conclusions,  that  he 
is  glad  that  they  are  coming,  and  that  ho  thinks  only  of  a  re- 
conciliation, and  that  nothing  is  to  bo  feared  for  any  Europeans 
in  his  hands." 

In  the  afternoon,  messengers  arrived  from  the  royal  camp 
to  announce  the  King's  arrival  on  the  Dalauta  plateau,  with 
all  his  guns  and  mortars.  They  brought  me  a  most  polite 
message  from  his  ^[ajesty,  and  I  was  cUlightod  to  find  that 
lio  had  not  sent  for  us.  A  salute  was  fired  from  the  fortress 
on  the  receipt  of  the  foregoing  intelligence.  If  Theodore's 
circumstances  and  prospects  hardly  warranted  such  a  fcu- 
Je-Juii'^  the  feat  of  having  transported  liuge  pieces  of  artillery 
through  the  deep  and  difTicnlt  valley  of  the  Chetta,  witii 
tliousands  of  rebels  liovering  around  him,  certainly  did. 

Ujth. —  Unlike  all  other  Churches,  the  Al)yssinians  begin 


'268  THEODORE  REACHES  ^lAGDALA.      Chap.  XXIV. 

their  Lent  on  Monday ;  consequently,  those  who  up  to  yester- 
day (Simday)  feasted  on  raw  beef  and  mead,  or  beer,  look 
rather  downcast  this  morning.  Messengers,  escorted  by  my 
Dalanta  agents  as  far  as  the  fortress,  reached  me  from  the 
coast  to-day,  with  money. 

11th. — Dispatched  letters  to  the  British  camp  tliis  morn- 
ing, under  the  protection  of  the  same  escort.  Three  hours 
after  they  had  started,  the  astounding  news  reached  Mag- 
dala  that  the  King  had  broken  faith  with  the  Dalanta  people, 
wlio,  since  accepting  his  amnesty,  had  done  all  in  their 
power  to  assist  him.  Not  only  had  they  helped  in  trans- 
porting the  guns  and  heavy  baggage  through  the  Chetta 
valley,  but  tliey  had  fed  the  royal  army  from  the  beginning 
of  January.  I  deplored  this  fresh  outrage,  especially  on 
.account  of  my  agents,  I'rkina  and  his  cousins,  who  had  left 
their  families  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  ungrateful  King, 
to  accompany  the  messengers  bringing  the  money.  The 
intelligence  reached  them  just  as  they  were  entering  Dalanta ; 
nevertheless,  they  sent  to  tell  me,  by  a  special  courier,  that 
the  letters  were  safe,  and  that  I  was  to  be  in  no  anxiety 
about  them.  "  Although  our  property  has  been  plundered, 
and  our  families  probably  slain" — so  said  they  to  the  mes- 
sengers who  were  going  down  to  the  coast — "  we  may  not 
neglect  Mr.  Rassam's  business  by  sending  you  back  to  Mag- 
dala  with  the  letters.  God's  will  be  done!  but  we  shall  be 
faithful  to  our  benefactor." 

ISi/t. — The  road  between  ]\rag(lala  and  the  royal  camp  is 
entirely  closed  by  the  peasants  of  J  )alanta  and  Dawuut,  who 
have  taken  up  a  position  in  the  Uashilo,  and  sworn  to  kill 
any  one  attempting  to  convey  coniniunications  between  the 
King  and  the  Magdala  garrison.  On  the  morning  of  the  20th, 
the  messengers  whom  T  had  dispatched  to  collect  what  infer- 


1808.   Fef,.  submission  OF  DALAXTA.  269 

mation  they  could  respecting  tlic  proceedings  at  the  royal 
camp,  and  the  fate  of  my  agents'  families,  returned  to  report 
that  the  Dalanta  people  had  fought  bravely,  and  killed  a 
number  of  the  royal  troops,  when  attacked  by  the  latter ;  but 
that  his  Majesty  had  seized  a  number  of  helpless  women  and 
children,  among  whom  were  several  of  I'rlcina's  relatives.  I 
was  glad  to  learn,  three  days  after,  that  these  captives  had 
been  released  by  Theodore. 

The  circumstances  connected  ^vitll  this  contest  were  as 
follows : — the  Wakslmm  Gobaze  -having  fiiiled  to  render  the 
Dalanta  people  any  assistance,  the  only  alternative  they  had 
was  to  submit.  All  the  Chiefs  accordingly  went  to  Theodore 
in  a  body  and  asked  forgiveness.  They  were  received  most 
courteously,  and  the  King  called  them  his  beloved  children, 
and  said,  "  IIow  can  I  blame  you  for  submitting  to  the  rebels, 
when  I  rendered  you  no  protection  ?  Can  I  forget  the 
assistance  you  have  always  rendered  to  my  JMagdala  garri- 
son ?  Would  they  not  have  starved,  if  you  had  not  provided 
them  with  food?  Come  nearer  to  me,  all  of  you,  my  children 
and  friends,  as  I  cannot  see  too  much  of  you.  I  shall  treat 
you  all  well  for  your  good  conduct  to-day,  that  the  world 
may  Iniow  how  well  you  have  deserved  my  gratitude."  The 
Dawiint  people  subsequently  followed  their  example. 

After  these  people  had  submitted,  tin-  King  ^\as  able  to 
communicate  freely  with  3Iugdala.  lie  made  them  transport 
all  his  heavy  baggage,  and  by  their  assistance  managed  to 
send  all  his  prisoners  to  the  fortress,  and  to  go  on  with 
his  road-making  and  moving  the  guns.  At  the  same  time 
they  had  to  ferd  his  nhiio-t  faniish('<l  army;  to  giiiid  and 
bake  as  well  as  to  provide  tlio  grain  !  On  reaching  the 
plateau  of  Dalanta,  he  asked  the  Chiefs  why  they  had  not 
submitt'd   i:ii-1i<-i-,  rmd  <«ti   llirij-  jin-;\\*'ring  that  they  Mere 


270  THEODORE  REACHES  MAGDALA.       Chap.  XXIV. 

prevented  by  the  Gallas  and  the  "Walcshum  Gobaze,  he  told 
them  they  were  as  bad  as  the  others,  and  ordered  them  to  be 
phmdered.  They  offered  no  resistance  to  this  outrage ;  but, 
knowing  that  Theodore  was  not  to  be  trusted,  they  had  taken 
the  precaution  of  keeping  most  of  their  cattle  out  of  his 
reach,  and  had  always  remained  on  their  guard.  Conse- 
quently, when  the  King  further  ordered  them  to  be  attacked, 
they  all  fought  bravely,  and,  in  conjunction  with  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Dawunt,  killed  a  great  number  of  his  soldiers  and 
seized  their  mules  and  arms.  As  the  two  clans  mustered 
about  10,000  men,  they  might  have  put  an  end  to  Theodore's 
reign  at  this  time  ;  but  they  had  not  the  courage  to  assume 
the  offensive,  and  were  without  a  commander  to  lead  them 
on.  Had  his  Majesty  kept  faith  with  these  people,  the  dis- 
tricts of  Wadala  and  Yadjow  would  have  submitted  before 
many  days  were  over.  Indeed,  it  was  reported  that  a  depu- 
tation from  the  latter  was  coming  to  him  with  proposals  to 
that  effect ;  but  on  hearing  of  the  King's  treachery,  they  re- 
turned to  their  country  more  quickly  than  they  had  left  it. 

For  some  time  after,  nothing  was  heard  of  the  King,  as  all 
the  roads  were  closed  around  him  by  tlie  Gallas,  as  well  as 
by  the  Amharas.  Had  not  his  tents  been  visible  from  jMag- 
dala,  we  should  have  inferred  that  he  had  either  gone  back 
to  Debra  Tabor,  or  had  been  utterly  routed,  as  a  messenger 
might  easily  have  come  from  his  camp  in  less  tlian  five 
hours;  yet  a  fortnight  elapsed  and  no  news  from  him 
reached  us.  Tlie  Magdala  Chiefs,  however,  were  watching 
his  movements,  and  reported  to  me  daily  tliat  he  was  ap- 
proaching nearer  and  nearer. 

I  take  this  opportunity  of  remarking  that  tlie  term 
"Amhara,"  as  now  used  l)y  tlie  Abyssinians,  in  an  ethno- 
logical sense,  designates  the  inhabitants  of  tlic  country  lying 


1SG8.   MAncii.  POSTS  TO  THE  BRITISH  CAiir.  271 

west  of  the  Tukkaze,  and  also  soutli  of  that  river,  as  far  as  the 
province  of  Gojjjam.  Socially  the  word  indicates  a  native 
Christian,  in  coutra-distiuction  to  Jews,  Mussulmans  and 
Kamants.  It  is  also  frequently  applied  to  Christians  gener- 
ally ;  for  on  several  occasions  I  overheard  Abyssinians,  in 
speaking  of  us  amongst  themselves,  describe  us  as  "  Amharas," 
when  they  wished  to  distinguish  us  from  "  Turks." 

2nd  March. — ]\Iessengers  arrived  from  the  coast  with  money, 
escorted  to  within  three  miles  of  the  fortress  by  the  Dalanta 
agents,  from  whence  they  were  brought  on  by  Galla  guides. 
The  day  following,  I  dispatched  a  post  to  the  British  camp, 
through  the  same  medium.  The  roads  are  so  unsafe  now 
that  I  have  to  employ  no  less  than  six  agents  and  guides  to 
transmit  the  letters,  from  one  place  to  another,  as  far  as  the 
Takkaze.  The  letters  are  not  consigned  to  the  messengers 
until  they  are  beyond  danger.  When  travelling  through  a 
district  where  there  is  a  chance  of  their  being  seized  by 
the  Kings  adherents,  they  carry  a  note  from  me  addressed 
either  to  Colonel  Merewether  or  M.  Munzinger,  containing  a 
request  for  money,  and  are  instructed,  in  case  of  arrest,  to 
say  that  tliey  are  my  servants,  proceeding  to  the  coast  for 
supplies.  Very  frequently,  I  forbear  giving  the  messengers 
any  letters,  lest  they  should  be  seized.  In  such  cases,  I  give 
the  men  an  impression  of  my  signet-ring  in  sealing-wax,  as  a 
token  both  to  the  King's  people  and  to  the  rebels  that  they 
are  employed  in  my  service. 

\ih. — Couriers  arrived  tu-day  from  the  royal  camp  for  the 
lirst  time  since  the  17th  of  February.  They  brought  me  a 
message  from  his  Majesty,  bidding  me  keep  up  my  spirits, 
as  we  should  soon  meet ;  they  also  reported  that  the  King 
had  efiVcted  the  descent  of  the  Bashilo.  The  couriers  were 
four  hours  on  the  road. 


272  THEODORE  KEACHES  MAGDALA.       Chap.  XXIV. 

i^th. — Messengers  arrived  this  afternoon  from  the  British 
camp,  Tlie  Commandant  and  other  Chiefs  of  the  garrison 
read  Sir  Eobert  Napier's  nltinjatum  again,  and  approved  of 
my  having  detained  it.  All  that  I  could  say  in  reply  to  their 
repeated  questions  as  to  the  probable  upshot  of  the  existing 
complications  ^vas,  that  I  hoped  they  would  be  adjusted 
amicably. 

Courier  after  courier  arrived  with  polite  messages  from 
the  King  on  the  7th  and  8th.  One  of  these  was : — "  I  am  so 
near  you  now,  that  I  must  not  ask  you,  how  have  you  passed 
the  time  ?  but  must  bid  you  '  Good  morning.' "  (This  remark 
illustrates  the  prevailing  usage  among  the  Abyssinians,  who 
have  an  appropriate  salutation  for  a  number  of  sections  into 
which  they  divide  the  day.)  Mrs.  Flad  received  the  King's 
permission  to  leave  the  camp  and  reside  at  IMagdala.  His 
Majesty's  instructions  were,  that  she  should  have  a  house 
near  our  inclosure,  and  be  allowed  to  visit  me.  Mrs.  Rosen- 
thal also  might  communicate  with  her. 

On  the  9th  I  dispatched  messengers  to  tlie  British  camp, 
but  they  returned  the  following  morning,  not  having  found 
the  Dalanta  agents  at  the  rendezvous ;  the  latter  had  been 
driven  away  by  the  Gallas,  owing  to  the  recent  breach  be- 
tween them  and  the  Dalanta  jieople.  However,  on  the  15th 
I'rkina  managed  to  let  me  know  that  he  had  sent  guides  to 
take  the  messengers  through  the  disturbed  districts  to  their 
destination.  The  British  force  was  now  reported  as  having 
approached  the  Takkazc. 

In  addition  to  a  comjjlimcntary  note  from  the  King,  I 
received  a  few  lines  to-day  from  Mr.  Flad,  telling  me  that 
liis  j\Iajesty  had  given  out  that,  in  the  event  of  our  people 
treating  him  well,  everything  would  be  satisfactorily  ar- 
ranged ;  otherwise,  a  "  blood-bath  "  would  be  the  consequence.. 


18C8.   March.  THE  AUTHOR  UNFETTERED.  273 

On  the  16tli  I  sent  Theodore  a  complimentary  letter, 
through  Dasta,  congratulating  him  on  the  feat  which  he  had 
achieved  in  bringing  his  heavy  guns  tlirough  the  difficult 
valleys.  On  the  18th  I  received  a  note  from  M.  Muuzinger, 
who  was  then  at  Koso-Amba — about  two  days'  journey  for 
a  good  messenger  when  the  roads  are  safe — informing  me 
that  he  had  been  dispatched  in  front  by  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  to  reconnoitre  the  route,  and  also  to  communicate 
with  me.  In  the  afternoon,  Dasta  returned  from  the  royal 
camp,  and  informed  me  that  his  Majesty  had  sent  Mr.  Flad, 
Alaka  I'ngada  and  Yashalaka  Lih,  with  an  order  directing 
that  I  should  be  released  from  my  chains.  Accordingly, 
shortly  after,  these  officei-s  appeared,  accompanied  by  the 
niembei*3  of  the  Council  and  the  officers  commanding  the 
trooj)s,  uU  dressed  in  their  fine  silk  shirts  and  looking  much 
pleased.  They  evidently  thought  that  matters  were  about 
to  be  brought  to  a  favourable  termination. 

The  first  thing  the  royal  Commissioners  did  was  to  place 
iu  my  hands  a  letter  from  the  King.  This,  agreeably  with 
native  usage  in  like  cases,  I  opened,  and  then  caused  it  to  be 
read  in  public.     It  was  as  follows:  — 

(Mter  compliments.) 

"  Oh,  my  friend,  I  have  no  qnancl  with  yon,  nor  have  I  any 
rancour  towards  you.  Formerly,  wlien  I  sent  you  to  Mtigdala, 
I  told  my  people  to  watch  you  only,  but  they  sent  me  an 
answer  that,  out  of  precaution,  tlicy  had  i)ut  you  in  chains;  but 
now  wlicn  I,  yoiir  friend,  am  hrouglit  by  (Jod  near  you,  your 
chains  shall  be  opened  ;  but  until  1  see  the  object  of  your  masters 
[Governmenl,]  wo  will  watch  you,  but  without  chains. 

"Mr.  Flad  brought  you  Ktores  and  money  from  your  country, 
which  ho  made  over  to  mo.  My  country  was  then  in  rebellion, 
anil  1  had  no  bearers  to  convey  them  to  you  ;  they  have  tliercforo 
been  wasted.  You  will  receive  from  Mr.  Flad,  Alaka  rnj^adii 
and   Vatjhiilaka    Lib    the    kuiu   of   2,000  dollars    in   lieu  of   the 

vol..  II.  T 


274  TDEODOEK  RExVCHES  MAGDALA.     Chap.  XXIV. 

things  jovL  liavo  lost;  also  100  sheep  and  50  cows,  wliich  I  hopo 
you  will  accept. 

"  If,  by  the  power  of  Gotl,  I  reach  you  safely,  and  see  you  face 
to  face,  I  will  consult  with  you.     Be  of  good  cheer." 

Some  of  the  Chiefs  assisted  in  striking  off  my  fetters,  whilst 
others  placed  their  fingers  between  the  flesh  and  iron  to  pre- 
vent my  ankles  from  being  hurt.  I  was  greatly  disappointed 
to  find  that  my  fellow-captives,  especially  the  members  of  the 
Mission,  ^^  ere  not  included  in  the  dispensation,  and  on  first 
hearing  the  contents  of  the  letter  I  had  resolved  to  decline 
the  royal  favour.  Luckily,  I  was  better  advised,  and  ac- 
cepted the  boon  with  simulated  pleasure;  otherwise,  as  I 
was  assured  on  all  hands,  matters  would  have  been  brought 
to  a  dangerous  crisis,  either  by  our  being  all  consigned  to 
the  common  jail,  or  sent  for  by  the  King,  who  would  not  have 
failed  to  make  us  feel  his  displeasure. 

19th. — I  wrote  the  following  reply  to  the  King,  asking 
him  at  the  same  time  to  relieve  my  companions  of  their 
chains : — 

"  I  have  had  the  honoTir  of  receiving  your  Majesty's  kind  letter 
by  Mr,  Flad,  Alitka  I'ngiida  and  Yashdlaka  Lih,  and  was  glad 
to  learn  therefrom  that  your  Majesty  was  in  the  enjoyment  of 
perfect  health. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  for  your  Majesty's  kind  consideration  in 
having  released  mo  from  my  chains.  May  the  Lord  reward  you 
for  all  your  acts  of  kindness. 

"  Your  Majesty  has  alwaj^s  tried  to  befriend  mo  sinco  my 
arrival  in  your  countiy ;  and  I  trust  it  will  not  be  long  before 
you  perfect  my  joy  by  granting  a  similar  boon  to  my  com- 
panions. 

"I  return  you  my  best  thanks  for  having  sent  me  by  Mr.  Flad, 
Aliika.  I'ngadiX  and  Yaslialaka  Lih,  two  thousand  dollars ;  alsa 
one  hundred  sheep  and  fifty  cows,  which  I  have  received  with 
pleasure." 


18G8.   ;Marcu.  judicial  INVOCATIONS.  275 

The  cows  were  miserably  loan ;  the  flesh  of  those  which 
Ave  had  slaughtered  was  uneatable,  and  finding  that  they 
were  not  valued  even  as  a  gift  by  those  to  whom  I  thought 
of  offering  them,  I  sent  the  remainder  to  pasture  near  the 
Basliilo  river,  under  the  charge  of  one  of  my  Galla  agents 
A\ho  resided  in  that  locality.  They  \\ere  carried  off  a  few 
days  after  by  the  royal  troops,  together  with  other  herds  of 
cows,  when  the  King,  as  will  be  noticed  in  the  sequel, 
ordered  the  plunder  of  all  the  peasants  between  the  Bashilo 
and  ^fagdala.  Of  the  sheep,  twenty  had  died  on  the  road  ; 
tlie  rest,  which  were  in  a  most  wretched  condition,  having 
been  without  food  for  three  days,  I  disposed  of  as  presents  ta 
different  parties,  who,  I  believe,  only  killed  them  for  the 
sake  of  the  skins,  which,  when  tanned,  the  Abyssinians  use 
to  sit  upon. 

In  the  afternoon  the  royal  couriers  brought  a  message 
from  the  King,  congratulating  me  on  my  being  relieved  of 
my  fetters.  If  not  fatalists,  men  in  authority  among  the 
Abyssinians  practically  reject  the  doctrine  of  free-will  in  their 
official  capacity.  It  is  a  common  custom  with  them,  on  com- 
mitting an  individual  to  prison,  to  conclude  the  judicial  sen- 
tence with  the  prayer,  "And  may  CJod  set  you  free!"  On 
releasing  the  cul[»rit,  the  same  magistrate  will  piously  say  to 
him,  "The  Lord  hath  delivered  you." 

In  the  course  of  the  day  I  forwarded  the  latest  intelligence 
to  the  British  camp,  througli  M.  IVIun/inger ;  and  the  day 
following  I  received  a  communication  from  Colonel  IMore- 
WL'thor,  reporting  his  arrival  at  Antalo  and  the  progi-ess  of 
tlio  invading  force.  I  also  received  an  answer  from  the 
King,  inquiring  how  I  had  passed  the  nip:ht,  and  exjiress- 
ing  a  hope  that  God  would  "bring  us  together  propitiously." 
but  without  any  allusion  whatever  to  the  request  which    T 

T  2 


276  THEODOKE  EEACHES  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXIV. 

had  made  that  my  companions  should  be  freed  from  their 
fetters. 

21st. — Dispatched  Dasta,  my  interpreter,  with  an  answer 
to  the  King,  and  received  intimation  from  Mr.  Flad  that  his 
Majesty  had  promised  to  unshackle  my  companions  when  he 
met  me.  Dasta  returned,  accompanied  by  two  royal  com-iers, 
with  the  following  message  from  Theodore,  who  was  too 
busily  engaged  in  blasting  rocks  to  write : — "  A  good  day  to 
you,  my  friend.  I  am  now  so  near  that  I  can  see  the  top  of 
your  house  plainly ;  and  if  you  come  out  and  look  down  you 
will  see  my  tent.     Our  meeting  is  at  hand." 

Eeceived  two  communications  from  M.  Munzinger  to-day. 
He  is  now  in  Dalanta,  only  a  few  hours' journey  from  Magdala. 

22nd.  —  Bitwaddad  Hailo,  one  of  the  members  of  the 
Magdala  Council,  made  his  escape  last  night  by  means  of  a 
ladder.  He  dreaded  meeting  the  King,  as  his  cousin  Balam- 
baras  Gabra-Madhane  'Alam,  Governor  of  Wandige  men- 
tioned at  pp.  74  and  90,  had  rebelled,  and  it  was  extremely 
probable  that  as  the  principal  was  beyond  his  reach,  Theodore 
would  visit  his  defection  on  the  Bitwaddad.  Dispatched 
messengers  to  the  British  camp. 

The  King  forwarded  all  his  valuables  to-day,  including  a 
bar  of  gold  fourteen  inches  long  and  four  inches  square, 
to  be  deposited  in  the  Treasury ;  he  also  sent  me  his  compli- 
ments, which  I  reciprocated. 

23rd. — The  advanced  guard  of  the  royal  army,  commanded 
by  Fit-awrari  Gabrie,  encamped  on  the  Salamge  plateau  this 
afternoon.  The  remainder  of  the  Kino-'s  effects  were  lodired 
in  the  Treasury  to-day.  An  interchange  of  courteous  mes- 
sages between  his  Majesty  and  myself. 

24.th. — Received  an  intimation  from  Theodore  that  he  had 


18G8.  March.  THE  KING  AT  SALAMGfi.  277 

reached  the  foot  of  Saldsse,  with  all  his  guns  and  mortars. 
He  was  engaged  in  repairing  the  road  leading  from  tlie 
base  of  Fala  to  the  saddle  which  joins  that  mountain  to 
Salasse.     (Vide  Plan  of  the  Amba  Magdala.) 

2Dtk. — This  morning  his  Majesty  unshackled  three  Rases — 
I'ngada,  the  Prime  3Iinister  ;  Tagga,  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  ;  and  Barrako,  a  courtier ;  also  Moritz  Hall,  the  Pole. 
The  poor  fellows  had  been  dragged  in  chains  from  Debra 
Tabor — the  two  former  hand  to  hand ;  the  latter  with  the 
right  hand  attached  by  a  chain  to  their  fetters.  In  the  even- 
ing Mr.  Flad  came  to  me  with  a  complimentary  message  from 
the  King,  accompanied  by  Bitwaddad  I'amash  and  three 
Dajazmatshes.  They  were  all  wet  through  to  the  skin  with 
the  heavy  rain.  His  jMajesty  announced  to  me,  through 
them,  that  he  should  sleep  at  Salamge  that  night.  All  the 
members  of  the  Magdala  Council,  including  Ras  Bisawwir, 
were  summoned  to  the  royal  presence  this  evening,  and  were 
graciously  received  by  the  King.  The  de  jure  Queen  Teru- 
Wark,  and  her  son  Dajjaj  'Alamayo,  as  well  as  the  favourite 
<|ueen,  Itamanyo,  were  also  ordered  down  to  Salamge  this 
evening,  but  before  they  started  the  King  sent  to  say  that  ho 
would  not  sec  Teru-Wark,  who  was  consequently  obliged  to 
remain  behiml. 

2»JM. — Received  a  message  from  the  King  this  morning, 
aj)prising  me  that  as  there  was  now  oidy  a  "span"  between 
us,  our  meeting  would  soon  take  place.  A  silk  tent  and 
carpets  were  ordered  down  to  Sala:nge,  and  it  was  generally 
supiiosed  that  his  ^[ajesty  intended  to  send  for  me  during  the 
day  ;  however,  if  such  had  been  Ids  intention,  he  subsequently 
ohaiigrd  his  mind.  Poor  Samuel  is  sadly  dejected,  owing  to 
tlie  KiuL'  liiivini;  taken  no  notice  (jf  him.     lOvcrv  one  else  in 


278  THEODORE  REACHES  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXIV. 

Magdala,  whether  chiefs,  coui-tiers,  priests,  or  servants,  has 
been  allowed  to  pay  his  respects  to  the  Sovereign,  while  the 
disgraced  Baldaraba  has  received  a  hint  to  stay  away.  A 
note  with  some  money  reached  me  this  afternoon  from  M. 
Munzinger. 

During  the  day  Theodore  dismantled  Magdala  of  all  its 
artillery,  ammunition,  and  other  warlike  stores,  and  had  them 
conveyed  to  Salamge.  This  proceeding  was  evidently  de- 
signed to  indicate  that,  if  called  upon  to  fight,  he  intended  to 
meet  the  enemy  in  the  open  field. 


1868.  Mabch.        THEODORE  ENTERS  MAGDALA.  279 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


THEODORE   AT   MAGDALA. 

Theodore  enters  Magdala  —  Tries  two  Priests  for  defamation  and  three 
Chiefs  for  treason  —  He  returns  to  Saliinige  —  His  messac^e  to  the  Author 
about  the  advance  of  the  British  troops  —  Changes  the  llagdahx  garrison 

—  The  European  Captives  placed  under  strict  watch  —  Bitwdddad 
Ilasani,  as  a  soldier  and  a  man  —  Old  acquaintances  among  our  new 
guard  —  Magdala  garrison  reinforced  —  Wc  burn  our  pa^^ers  —  Theo- 
dore's second  visit  to  the  fortress  —  Receives  the  Author  in  state  —  His 
altered  appearance  —  His  condescension  on  the  occasion  —  Is  undecided 
whether  he  will  fight  the  British  or  not  —  Requests  the  Author  to  see 
him  buried,  in  the  event  of  his  death  —  His  miscellaneous  conversation 

—  Unshackles  Dr.  Blanc  and  Lieutenant  Prideaux,  and  receives  them 
graciously  —  The  King  "  in  labour  "  —  Introduces  Prince  'Alamayo  to 
the  Author  —  Abuses  his  Chiefs  at  Salamge  —  Asks  them  if  they  are 
prepared  to  fight  the  British  — Damash's  reply  —  A  sally  from  Magdala 
against  the  Gallas,  an  episode  —  Origin  of  the  expedition  —  Theodore's 
channed  riflo  —  A  night  attack  —  The  Amhiiras  are  successful  —  Arc 
I)ursued  by  the  Gallas  on  their  return  march  —  Rout  of  the  Amharas  — 
Letters  from  the  British  force  at  Ashangi  —  The  Mission  invited  to 
insjKJct  the  great  mortar,  "  Sevastopol  "  —  Theodore's  queries  on  Euro- 
ix;an  warfare — Recounts  his  troubles  —  Complains  again  of  Consul 
Cameron  and  Mr.  Stem  —  Contrasts  his  soldiers  with  the  British  troops 

—  All  the  European  Captives  are  unshackled  —  The  Author's  proiK)sal 
to  report  his  Mjijesty's  recent  civility  to  Sir  Robert  Xapier  declined  — 
Theodore  is  anxious  for  news  from  tlie  British  camp  —  Esjiies  some  of 
our  troojs  descending  into  the  Bashilo  valley. 

2~th. — Theodore  ent<?rcd  the  fortress  this  mominjx,  find 
on  passing  through  the  gate  sent  me  a  message,  that  he  hoped 
to  see  me  soon.  After  performing  In's  devotions  in  the  church, 
he  proceeded  to  the  open  space  in  front  of  our  prison-liouse, 
wlioro  a  tcniporaiy  throne  had  been  erected  for  liiui,  and  the 
ground  around  covered  witli  carpets.      There  was  quite  a 


280  THEODORE  AT  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXV, 

panic  among  the  inhabitants,  as  no  one  knew  what  these  pre- 
parations portended,  and  the  King's  most  cherished  friend 
felt  that  his  life  trembled  in  the  balance.  On  taking  his 
seat,  Theodore  first  sent  for  Samuel,  a  summons  which  created 
no  little  alarm  among  our  small  community.  Tliis  was  dis- 
pelled, however,  a  few  minutes  after  by  the  announcement 
that  the  disgraced  oflBcial  had  been  well  received  by  his  royal 
master,  and  that  my  interpreters,  who  were  standing  outside 
our  inclosure  to  do  obeisance  to  the  King  as  he  passed^ 
had  been  gi-aciously  noticed  by  his  Majesty  and  asked  how  I 
fared.  The  next  case  brought  forward  was  that  of  two 
priests,  who  had  publicly  called  the  King  a  "  Frank "  to  his 
face  for  having  foiled — so  they  had  heard — to  keep  the 
Lenten  fast,  and  for  having  granted  a  similar  dispensation  to 
those  of  his  soldiers  who  preferred  meat  and  butter  to  dry 
bread.  When  arraigned  before  him,  his  Majesty  denounced 
the  culprits  as  "  fools  "  and  "  asses  "  for  their  meddling,  and 
then  ordered  them  to  be  unfettered  and  forthwith  banished 
from  Magdala.  "  If  I  find  you  in  my  camp  again,"  was  the 
judge's  valedictory,  "  I  will  have  you  fiogged."  The  wretched 
priests  received  the  sentence  with  doAvncast  looks  and  without 
uttering  a  word ;  inwardly  in  ecstasy,  however,  at  having  got 
off  so  easily,  as  every  one  in  the  place  had  expected  that  they 
would  have  been  condemned  to  be  hurled  over  the  fatal 
precipice.  How  we  all  envied  their  summary  banishment, 
and  wished  that  a  similar  fate  awaited  ourselves,  even  with 
the  superadded  disgrace  of  being  kicked  out  of  the  loathsome 
place ! 

The  case  of  the  priests  disposed  of,  the  whole  garrison  was 
then  summoned  to  attend  the  trial  of  three  of  its  Chiefs  for 
high  treason,  namely,  Ras  Bisawwir,  the  Commandant,  who' 
was  cousin  to  the  King,  and  Bitwaddad  Damash — both  mem- 


1868.  March.  A.  TRIAL  FOR  TREASON.  2S1 

bers  of  the  Council — and  one  of  the  petty  military  Chiefs, 
who  were  severally  accused  of  having  invited  Menilek  of 
Shoa,  "the  Usurper,"  to  come  and  invest  Magdala  with  his 
army.  A  great  number  of  witnesses  were  called  to  give 
evidence,  but  as  the  King  himself  acted  as  judge  and  jury  as 
well  as  prosecutor  in  the  case,  a  conviction  was  inevitable. 
Damash  seemed  utterly  cowed  in  the  presence  of  his  royal 
master;  but  the  Ras  and  the  military  Chief  indignantly 
repelled  the  false  allegations,  and  undertook  to  prove,  if  his 
Majesty  m  ould  grant  them  time,  that  some  of  the  witnesses 
had  themselves  been  guilty  of  holding  treasonable  communi- 
cations with  iMenilek.  This,  however,  did  not  suit  Theodore's 
object ;  so,  after  listening  to  the  charges  and  counter-charges 
against  the  fidelity  of  his  Magdala  '•children,"  and  taking 
into  his  royal  consideration  tlie  fact  that  one  of  their  great 
Chiefs  had  lately  decamped  with  the  connivance  of  others 
who  still  formed  jmrt  of  the  garrison,  his  Majesty  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  he  could  no  longer  trust  them  with  the  defence 
of  the  fortress,  and  accordingly  ordered  them  to  prepare  to 
go  down  to  Salamge,  from  whence  fresh  troops  were  to  be 
sent  to  replace  them. 

The  charge  alleged  against  the  Commandant  was  utterly 
without  foundation ;  his  loyalty  to  Theodore  was  unimpeach- 
able. Had  he  really  \\ish('(l  to  sunviuler  ^lagdala  to  Meni- 
lek, or  to  any  other  rebel  Chief,  during  the  royal  absence, 
no  one  would  have  dared  to  oppose  him.  The  fact  is,  his 
jMujesty,  for  reasons  best  known  to  himself,  wanted  to  send  a 
fresh  garrison  to  the  fortress  ;  but  as  it  was  not  in  his  nature 
to  act  straightforwardly,  he  trumped  up  this  case  against  the 
two  Chiefs,  who  had  been  foremost  in  encouraging  the  troops 
to  resistance,  when  IMenilek  aj[)pcared  before  Magdala.  The 
announced  change  of  the  garrison  caused  me  no  little  concern. 


282  TIIEODOriE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXV. 

not  only  on  account  of  the  loss  of  many  old  and  faithful 
friends  wliich  it  would  involve,  but  because  I  apprehended 
that  it  was  the  forerunner  of  still  more  serious  consequeuces, 
especially  as  I  had  received  private  intimation  that  we  were 
to  be  watched  day  and  night  by  a  large  guard,  some  of  whom 
Avere  notorious  for  their  antipathy  to  foreigners. 

The  Court  closed  at  ten  o'clock,  and  Theodore  returned  to 
Salamge  without  fulfilling  his  promise  of  visiting  me.  On 
passing  our  inclosure  he  sent  me  the  following  message  by 
Aito  Samuel  and  my  interpreters :  "  I  hope  you  will  excuse 
me  for  not  having  come  to  see  you,  as  I  intended.  I  have 
liad  some  disputes  among  my  IMagdala  people  to  settle,  and 
am  now  rather  excited;  I  trust,  however,  to  meet  you 
shortly.  Your  brothers  [British  troops]  are  coming  to  liberate 
you.  I  am  prepared  to  meet  them,  by  the  power  of  God." 
His  Majesty  fully  expected  a  reply  to  this  communica- 
tion by  Aito  Samuel  and  my  interpreter,  for,  on  leaving  the 
fortress  on  his  return  to  Salamge,  he  gave  orders  that  the 
former  should  be  allowed  to  pass,  in  the  event  of  his  being 
sent  down  witli  a  message  from  mo.  The  interpreter,  as 
well  as  our  Indian  servants  generally,  had  always  been 
allowed  that  privilege  from  the  time  of  our  confinement  in 
Magdala;  but  Samuel  was  treated  as  a  iirisoner  on  parole. 
The  answer  which  I  sent  was  to  the  following  effect :  that  I 
hoj)ed  to  see  his  Majesty  ere  long ;  \\  ith  regard  to  the  British 
troops,  I  remarked  that  as  I  had  come  to  Abyssinia  on  a 
friendly  mission,  my  sincere  hope  ^\•as  that  I  should  leave 
the  country  in  peace.  To  this  Theodore  replied  in  these 
"words,  through  the  messengers :  "  As  far  as  I  am  concerned, 
I  am  desirous  of  nothing  but  peace;  and  I  pray  God  that 
your  brothers  are  coming  with  a  good  intention."  I  judged  it 
prudent  to  take  no  notice  of  the  delicate  topic  thus  broached. 


1868.  March.  THE  NEW  COMMANDANT.  283 

especially  on  fiuding,  shortly  after  tlie  delivery  of  the 
message,  that  we  were  surrounded  by  a  host  of  new  jailors 
who  liad  been  sent  to  guard  us  most  strictly,  and  who  eyed 
us  witli  evident  animosity.  As  soon  as  the  King  reached 
Salamge,  he  dispatched  a  thousand  men  to  the  fortress  under 
the  command  of  Bitwaddad  Hasani,  a  native  of  IMeteha, 
and  one  of  those  lucky  men  who  had  never  incurred  the 
royal  displeasure.  His  orders  were,  to  take  charge  of  the 
Treasury  and  all  its  appurtenances,  and  then  to  see  that  all 
the  native  and  European  prisoners  were  made  over  to  him, 
after  due  identification.  Wlien  the  Abyssinian  captives  had 
boon  thus  consigned  to  their  keeping,  all  the  new  officials  came 
to  our  quarters,  accompanied  by  the  old  Chiefs,  to  go  through 
a  similar  form.  We  were  all  summoned  to  be  counted,  but  just 
as  I  was  leaving  my  room  I  was  told  to  remain  where  I  was,  as, 
not  being  tlien  in  chains,  the  King  had  not  given  any  instruc- 
tions about  my  enumeration  with  the  rest,  and  that  when  the 
new  Commandant  had  finished  his  task  outside  he  would  look 
in  nj)on  me.  That,  however,  he  declined  to  do,  on  the  plea 
that  his  master  had  not  ordered  him  to  count  me,  and  that 
on  no  other  ground  could  he  venture  to  approach  me  without 
the  King's  special  permission.  Although  I  received  many 
visits  subsequently  from  this  Cliief,  by  Theodore's  orders,  he 
uniformly  refused  to  be  seated  in  my  room,  and  only  once 
ventured  to  enter  it,  alleging  as  a  reason  that  evil-disposed 
people  miglit  be  led  to  say  of  him,  as  they  ht\d  of  others,  that 
lie  had  sold  himself  to  me.  lie  swore  that,  for  the  same 
reason,  he  would  not  oven  take  a  cup  of  cofTc^e  with  me ; 
nevertheless,  ho  pledged  his  word  to  befriend  jnc  and  to  assist 
me  in  obtaining  anything  I  stood  in  noeil  of;  '"but,"  ho 
add(;d,  "if  ordered  by  the  King  to  do  a  certain  duty,  no 
matter  what  it  may  be,  I  shall  discharge  it  faithfully,  as  I 


284:  THEODOKE  AT  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXV. 

am  bound  to  do,  without  the  least  regard  to  private  friend- 
ship." The  austere  Chief  was  quite  correct  in  his  apprecia- 
tion of  the  Magdala  people,  for  there  were  some  even  among 
the  Europeans  who  doubted  whether  a  native  was  capable  of 
a  generous  action,  except  at  the  price  of  a  gratuity  or  bribe. 
On  the  other  hand,  I  can  vouch  for  many  a  good  turn  done 
me  by  Abyssiniaus  who  absolutely  refused  any  remuneration 
for  their  services.  Moreover,  there  was  not  a  courtier,  royal 
messenger,  or  Chief,  who  would  not  have  befriended  me  as 
far  as  lay  in  his  power,  and  whose  conjoined  friendship,  if 
only  available  on  purchase — seeing  that  many  of  them  were 
in  possession  of  our  secrets — would  have  necessitated  an  out- 
lay of  at  least  half  a  million  of  dollars,  and  even  then  I 
should  still  have  been  as  much  in  their  power  as  ever. 

After  Bitwaddad  Hasani  left  me,  I  found  to  my  great 
delight  that  three  of  the  new  guards  placed  in  charge  of 
us  were  old  acquaintances  of  mine,  who  still  remembered 
the  night  of  the  3rd  of  July,  1866,  when  they  were  appointed 
to  a  similar  duty  during  our  confinement  in  the  Treasury 
at  Debra  Tabor.  On  being  introduced  to  me  this  evening, 
they  reminded  me  how  they  had  been  turned  out  into  the 
wet  and  cold  by  the  King,  who  paid  me  a  visit  tliere,  and 
how  after  his  Majesty's  departure  I  had  called  them  in  and 
directed  Samuel  to  provide  them  with  refreshments. 

28th. — This  morning  Theodore  countermanded  the  re- 
moval of  the  old  Magdala  troops  to  Salamge ;  the  new  garri- 
son was  to  reinforce  the  place,  but  all  the  former  Chiefs, 
with  the  exception  of  r>it\\addad  Wasi,  were  to  be  deprived 
of  their  commands.  At  about  10  P.M.  Bitwaddad  Hasani 
came  within  our  iuclosure,  bringing  orders  from  the  King 
that  all  my  fellow-captives  were  to  sleep  in  one  room,  and  to 
be  strictly  guarded,  and  tliat  I  also  should  be  watched  in  my 


1868.  March.        WE  ARE  STRICTLY  GUARDED.  285 

hut  during  the  night.  Luckily,  Mrs.  Eosenthal  was  not  in- 
chided  in  the  arbitrary  order.  It  was  clear  that  our  fortunes 
were  entering  a  new  phase,  and  that  still  greater  trials 
awaited  us.  The  King  sent  me  no  message  to-day,  so  that 
altogether  our  prospects  Avere  very  gloomy.  As  one  hut  was 
not  large  enough  to  contain  the  twelve  captives,  they  were 
located  in  the  hut  of  my  companions,  and  in  that  of  Messrs. 
Stern  and  Rosenthal.  Two  of  my  old  acquaintances  were 
appointed  to  watch  me,  and  as  Samuel  had  been  ordered 
to  keep  me  company,  he  also  considered  himself  in  the  light 
of  a  prisoner.  My  watchmen  gave  me  no  trouble  ;  they  were 
exceptionally  clean  in  their  dress,  and  never  used  butter  on 
their  heads,  which  they  kept  close  shaved  ;  and  as  Samuel 
generally  washed  his  hair  with  hot  A\ater  and  soap,  I  was 
spared  the  usual  disagreeable  odour  arising  from  the  per- 
sons of  the  natives.  The  men  ensconced  themselves  near 
the  door,  as  far  from  my  bedstead  as  possible,  and  fell  asleep 
as  soon  as  I  re-occupied  it.  There  were  at  least  one  hundred 
soldiers  on  guard  over  us  during  the  night,  and  not  one 
of  our  servants  was  allowed  to  stir  from  his  place.  By  way 
of  consolation,  Bitwaddad  Hasani  sent  to  tell  me,  before  his 
return  to  the  royal  camp,  that  I  was  not  to  attribute  the 
stringent  measures  which  he  had  taken  to  the  King ;  they 
had  emanated  entirely  from  himself,  as  the  party  respon- 
sible for  our  safe  custody.  The  message  was  kindly  meant, 
but  I  was  fully  aware  at  the  time  that  he  would  as  soon 
have  cast  himself  over  the  Magdala  precipices  as  place  a 
guard  within  my  room  without  special  orders  from  his  master. 
The  fact  is,  the  friendly  disposition  of  the  Chiefs  generally 
led  them  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  prevent  an  open  rupture 
between  mo  and  the  King,  while  there  was  still  a  chance 
of  matters  beiujr  broujirht  to  a  favourable  termination. 


286  THEODORE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXV. 

29i7i. — By  the  advice  of  the  old  Chiefs  and  Aito  Samuel, 

1  sent  a  message  to  the  King,  informing  him  that  I  had 
slept  well  and  hoped  he  had  spent  a  comfortable  night. 
To  this  I  received  a  prompt  reply,  assuring  me  that,  owing  to 
my  good  wishes,  his  Majesty  was  in  excellent  spirits.    At  about 

2  P.M.  it  was  announced  that  Theodore  was  coming  to  the 
fortress,  and  as  the  people  generally  expected  anything  but  a 
propitious  visit  from  their  Sovereign,  especially  after  their 
experience  of  his  proceedings  on  the  last  occasion,  we  were 
anxious  to  rid  ourselves  of  all  documents  likely  to  compro- 
mise us  in  any  way,  to  prevent  their  possible  seizure  by  his 
Majesty's  orders.  Accordingly,  each  began  secreting  what 
papers  he  could  in  the  thatch  of  the  roof,  burning  those 
which  could  not  well  be  disposed  of  in  that  manner.  At 
this  time  I  had  some  most  dangerous  letters  in  my  posses- 
sion, and  that  same  afternoon  a  messenger  had  arrived  with 
a  missive  from  Menilek,  King  of  Shoa,  inclosing  Lord 
Stanley's  dispatch  to  him  of  the  19th  of  August,  1867, 
which  he  wished  me  to  translate.  I  had  also  a  letter  from 
the  Wakshum  Gobaze,  referrmg  to  different  subjects  con- 
nected with  the  march  of  the  British  troops;  and  another 
from  Imam  Ahmed,  the  Chief  of  the  Wello-Gallas,  request- 
ing me  to  surrender  the  fortress  to  him,  and  promising,  in  the 
event  of  my  acceding  to  the  proposal,  to  conduct  me  to  the 
coast  with  honour  and  safety !  I  tried  at  first  to  conceal  all 
these  papers  in  the  roof  of  my  hut,  but  my  Abyssinian  friends 
advised  me  not  to  trust  to  such  an  expedient,  assuring  me 
that  if  Theodore  intended  to  institute  a  search,  the  roof 
would  not  stand  in  his  way.  I  accordingly  committed  the 
whole  to  the  flames,  together  with  the  English  document. 

At  3  P.M.  his  Majesty  entered  the  fortress,  and  on  passing 
our  liouse  he  sent  Mr.  Flad  to  say  that  he  had  come  up  on 


1868.  Maech.      another  OF  THEODORE'S  MOTIVES.  287 

'business,  and  if  possible  he  would  call  upon  me.  I  said  in 
reply  that  I  should  be  happy  to  meet  him.  Mr.  Flad  re- 
turned immediately  after  with  the  following  answer : — 

"  I  am  going  to  visit  the  church  of  my  country.  I  have 
been  called  '  Frank '  by  some  of  my  priests.  I  am  not  ashamed 
of  the  name,  because  both  you  and  I  believe  in  one  Trinity, 
which  is  the  foundation  of  the  Christian  faith.  Had  I  been 
accused  of  being  a  ^Mohammedan,  or  of  any  other  sect  of  un- 
believers, I  should  have  acted  differently  towards  those  bad 
priests.  I  would  rather  lose  my  head  than  hold  any  other  faith 
save  that  in  Christ.     Prepare  yourself  to  meet  me." 

Soon  after  Mr.  Flad,  Mr.  ]\Iayer  was  sent  with  the  sub- 
joined message : — 

"  The  reason  I  have  ill-treated  you  was  because  I  wanted 
the  people  of  your  country  to  come  to  me.  I  am  glad  they 
are  coming.  Whether  they  beat  me  or  I  beat  them,  I 
shall  always  bo  your  friend.  I  wish  to  have  an  interview  with 
you  on  the  plain  outside  your  house,  and  I  want  you  to 
appear  before  me  in  the  same  dress  in  which  you  used  formerly 
to  come  to  me.     I  will  send  for  you  when  I  am  ready." 

I  lost  no  time  in  putting  on  my  uniform,  and  was  barely 
dressed  when  Bitwaddad  Hasani  appeared  with  a  summons 
for  me  to  repair  to  the  King's  presence.  ]\Icssrs.  Flad  and 
Mayer,  and  Aito  Samuel,  accompanied  me  to  the  royal 
pavilion.  Thoro  were  as  many  as  five  hunch'ed  officers  in 
attendance,  all  anxiously  waiting  to  witness  my  reception  by 
their  Sovereign — who  it  appears  had  been  in  a  bad  humour 
throughout  the  day,  and  just  before  my  arrival  had  worked 
himself  into  a  towering  rage  by  recalling  to  mind  tlie  late 
Metropolitan  and  some  of  my  fellow-captives,  swearing  in  liis 
fury  that  lie  would  pierce  the  latter  through  and  through 
with  the  lance  which  he  held  in  his  hand  ;  and  then,  suiting 
the  action  to  the  word,  aimed  at  a  new  carpet  and  drove  the 


288  THEODOEE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXV. 

weapon  into  it.  Under  these  circumstances,  tlie  bystanders 
augured  anything  but  a  favourable  reception  being  accorded 
to  me  ;  but  on  my  arrival  his  ]\Iajesty  immediately  changed 
his  demeanour,  and  appeared  quite  gay.  The  same  tent  in 
which  he  had  received  the  Mission  on  our  first  interview  with 
him  in  Damot,  at  the  end  of  January,  1866,  was  pitched  in 
front  of  our  prison-house  for  the  occasion,  and  about  2,000 
square  yards  of  ground  in  the  immediate  vicinity  were  covered 
with  carpets.  When  I  left  our  inclosure,  the  King  Avas 
inside  the  tent,  together  \vith  all  his  European  artisans,  but 
on  my  approach  he  walked  towards  the  tent  door  to  welcome 
me.  I  was  glad  to  notice  a  smile  on  his  countenance,  and 
as  I  deemed  it  prudent  to  put  the  best  face  upon  our  misfor- 
tunes, I  endeavoured  to  look  as  pleased  as  if  I  had  never  been 
l)ut  into  chains  by  the  despot,  and  were  not  even  then  his 
prisoner.  He  received  me  most  courteously,  with  his  shcimma 
thrown  loosely  over  his  shouldei-s,  extending  his  right  arm  to 
shake  me  by  the  hand,  remarking  that,  on  that  day,  "  we 
must  all  be  English." 

As  soon  as  we  had  sat  down,  I  on  his  Majesty's  right  hand 
and  the  European  artisans  on  his  left,  in  a  circle  round 
the  tent,  the  King  told  me  that  the  reason  he  had  dis- 
pensed with  his  throne  on  that  occasion  was,  that  he  wished 
to  sit  on  the  same  level  with  me,  his  friend,  and  the  represen- 
tative of  the  Queen  of  England.  He  then  looked  pointedly  at 
me,  and  said,  "Why,  ]\Ir.  Eassam,  I  heard  that  you  had  become 
quite  gray ;  but  I  do  not  see  one  gray  hair  on  your  head. 
Look  at  me,  and  see  how  gray  I  have  become  since  we  parted." 
I  was  certainly  surprised  to  see  what  a  great  change 
had  ttdccn  plac(!  in  tlic  colour  of  his  hair,  and  also  in  his 
countenance,  since  my  last  interview  with  him  at  Debra 
Tidjor,  at  the  end  of  June,  1806.   There  were  only  a  few  gray 


18G8.   March.         INTERVIEW  WITH  THE  KING.  289 

hairs  visible  then ;  now  the  gray  largely  predomiuatcd,  and 
he  looked  altogether  ten  years  older.  To  give  the  subject  a 
jocular  turn,  I  replied,  "  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  your 
Majesty  has  grown  gray,  considering  that  you  have  been 
enjoying  the  happiness  of  wedded  life,  whereas  I  am  still 
unencumbered  with  the  trouble  and  care  of  a  wife."  The 
banter  contained  in  this  reply  drew  a  smile  from  the  King, 
and  placing  his  hands  over  his  face  he  remarked, "  There  you 
hit  me  hard,  my  friend  Rassam."  Tej  was  then  brought, 
and  served  in  the  tumblers  which  I  had  presented  to  him. 
The  first  glass  filled  was  handed  to  him  ;  after  tasting  it, 
in  accordance  with  Abyssinian  usage,  he  rose  a  little  and 
handed  it  to  me,  saying,  "In  our  country  drinking  tej  to- 
gether is  a  sign  of  friendship."  His  politeness  on  that 
occasion  was  extreme,  and  he  was  all  smiles,  except  when 
alluding  to  the  Bishop,  Consul  Cameron  and  the  Ifev.  Mr. 
Stern.  I  endeavoured  to  soothe  him  when  he  broached  these 
topics,  and  succeeded  in  cooling  him  down.  He  referred 
several  times  to  the  impending  war,  sometimes  saying  that 
ho  would  fight  even  at  the  risk  of  being  beaten  ;  and,  then, 
that  it  would  be  absurd  in  him  to  think  of  encountering 
a  disciplined  army.  In  either  case,  he  said,  I  should  re- 
main his  friend.  "  One  day,"  he  added,  "  you  may  see  me 
(lead ;  and  wiiilc;  you  stand  by  my  corpse,  it  may  be  that 
you  will  curse  me  for  my  bad  conduct  towards  you.  You 
may  say  then,  *  This  wicked  man  ought  not  to  bo  buried ; 
let  his  remains  rot  above  ground ; '  but  I  trust  to  your 
generosity."  I  again  expressed  a  hope  that,  as  I  had  come 
to  his  country  as  a  friend,  I  should  leave  him  in  peace;  and 
with  reference  to  what  he  had  said  about  his  dealh,  I 
be^rKcd  that  ho  would  not  mention  such  a  calamitv. 

I  may  record  here,  as  another  proof  of  Theodere's  excos- 
VOL.  II.  u 


290  THEODORE  AT  MAG  DAL  A.  Chap.  XXV. 

sive  condescension  on  this  occasion,  that  before  the  European 
artisans  sat  down  he  requested  me  to  alloAV  them  to  be 
seated.  In  spite  of  my  remonstrance  that  it  was  his  IMajesty's 
prerogative  and  not  mine  to  give  such  directions,  he  in- 
sisted on  my  doing  so,  and  then  joined  me  in  according 
the  necessary  permission. 

The  King  then  alluded  to  a  report  which  had  reached  him 
of  the  English  having  invented  a  variety  of  improved  guns 
and  other  fire-arms,  and  that  such  muskets  as  his  own 
soldiers  carried  were  out  of  date,  and  regarded  as  "  rubbish  " 
by  the  British  Army.  "  However,"  he  added,  "■  as  your 
troops  are  coming  to  take  you  away,  I  must  watch  over 
you,  for  I  cannot  let  you  leave  me.  It  is  true  that  I 
have  put  you  in  fetters,  after  the  barbarous  usage  of  my 
country — which  I  admit  to  be  a  bad  custom ;  but  have  you 
seen  a  hand-chain  ?  That,  I  assure  you,  is  still  worse  to 
bear."  He  then  went  on  to  say  that  his  only  reason  for 
detaining  me  was  that  he  wanted  my  countrymen  to  come 
and  "  open  his  eyes."  After  this,  he  suddenly  asked  me  who 
were  the  sons  of  Abraham.  I  replied,  Isaac  and  Jacob. 
'•  AVho  were  their  sons?"  was  the  rejoinder.  Guessing  what 
the  royal  catechist  was  driving  at,  I  skipped  over  all  inter- 
mediate genealogy,  and  said,  '•  David  and  Solomon."  "  And 
who  was  their  son  ? "  was  the  next  question ;  to  which  I 
made  answer,  "From  what  I  have  heard,  your  Majesty  is 
their  offspring."  Thereupon  he  laughed,  and  remarked  that 
he  wished  for  nothing  more,  and  that  if  his  enemies  and 
those  who  abused  him  would  only  acknowledge  him  as  such, 
he  was  ready  to  forgive  them  all.  His  IMajesty  then  intro- 
duced me  to  my  old  acquaintance,  Afa-Negus  Bahri,  who  was 
one  of  my  guards  the  previous  night,  telling  me  that  he  had 
served  under  Ea^  'Ali,  and  knew  Plowden ;  "  and,  being  a  very 


18GS.  March.  THE  KING  IS  MERRY.  291 

old  man,"  Theodore  went  on  to  say,  '•  lie  will  be  able  to  tell  you 
that  the  former  Emperors  of  Abyssinia  and  the  independent 
Chiefs  very  rarely  saw  a  European — some  of  them,  indeed, 
never  saw  one  in  the  whole  course  of  their  lives,  whereas  I 
like  them  so  much  that  I  keep  a  number  of  them  about  me  " — 
pointing  to  the  six  artisans,  including  31.  Bardel,  who  were 
sitting  in  the  tent.  I  replied  that  in  former  times  Abyssinia 
was  only  read  of  in  books,  but  that  his  Majesty's  name  had 
become  so  notorious  that  even  children  knew  who  Theodore 
was.  He  then  gravely  asked,  "  Why  ?  "  "  Because,"  said  I, 
"  your  Majesty  has  put  me  in  chains."  Xo  sooner  had  I 
uttered  this  speech  than  he  burst  out  laughing,  and,  looking 
towards  the  European  artisans,  exclaimed,  "  Hear  what 
Eassam  says !  Hear  what  Eassam  says !  "  One  of  them, 
named  Zander,  remarked,  "  ^Ir.  Eassam  has  forgotten  to 
mention  America  also."  I  rejoined,  "If  his  ]\Iajesty  will  allow 
me,  I  will  add  the  other  two  quarters  of  the  globe  as  mcU." 
Thereat  the  King  was  so  convulsed  with  laughter  that  all 
he  could  say  was,  "  Oh,  my  friend,  Eassam  !  my  friend !  " 
After  a  wliile,  he  proceeded  to  observe  that  two  persons  had 
accompanied  me  for  whom  he  had  neither  love  nor  hatred  ; 
but  inasmuch  as  they  had  come  to  Abyssinia  with  me  he 
would  unfetter  them  for  my  sake,  provided  I  stood  security 
for  them.  I  replied,  that  as  they  were  my  companions  he 
would  gratify  me  greatly  by  unchaining  them,  and  that  I 
would  hold  myself  responsible  for  whatever  Dr.  Blanc  and 
Lieutenant  Prideaux  might  do.  On  his  requesting  me  to 
send  and  have  them  unshackled,  I  begged  Mr.  Flad  and 
Aito  Samuel  to  go  on  the  errand.  Tliey  accordingly  went, 
accompanied  by  Bitwuddad  Ilasani,  and  allcr  removing  their 
fetters  returned  with  the  two  oflicers,  agreeably  with  the 
King's  orders.     His  Majesty  received  them  well,  and  assured 

u  2 


292  THEODORE  AT  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXV. 

tliem  they  had  nothing  to  fear,  -whatever  tiie  upshot  of  the 
war  might  be.  "  You  three  be  of  good  cheer,"  he  continued, 
"  because  you  are  my  chiklren,  and  came  to  me  when  you 
knew  of  my  having  imprisoned  3Ir.  Cameron,  and  had  heard 
of  his  doings."  Then,  turning  to  me,  he  likened  himself  to  a 
woman  with  child,  wlio  might  either  bring  forth  a  son  or  a 
daughter,  or  might  die  of  miscarriage,  and  said  that  he 
looked  to  me  to  assist  him  in  giving  birth  to  a  son  ;  to  which 
he  added,  that  a  person  might  die  either  in  youth,  or  old 
age,  or  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  expressed  a  hope  that  the 
last  would  not  be  his  lot. 

Referring  next  to  his  European  employes,  Theodoras 
remarked  that  they  were  compelled  to  make  the  cannons 
and  mortars  which  he  liad  brought  to  Magdala,  adding-, 
"  They  were  as  much  obliged  to  cast  them  as  you  were  to 
remain  in  Abyssinia ;  indeed,  I  forced  them  to  perform  the 
task."  Then,  turning  to  Mr.  Waldmeier,  he  stated  that  that 
esteemed  servant  of  his  had  lost  no  opportunity  of  speaking 
to  him  in  my  favour,  and  that  the  only  time  he  had  been 
angry  with  him  was  when  he  had  ventured  to  recommend 
that  he,  the  King,  should  assume  a  friendly  attitude  towards 
the  invading  British  force.  (We  had  heard  of  this  fact  when 
it  occurred,  and  that  Mr.  Waldmeier  had  narrowly  escaped  a 
beating  for  having  presumed  to  offer  such  advice.)  In  the 
course  of  the  interview  Theodore,  regarding  me  with  a  dis- 
consolate look,  said  in  a  subdued  tone,  "  I  hope,  Mr.  Kassam, 
that  wlicn  your  peo})le  [tlie  liritish  troops]  arrive,  they  will 
not  despise  me  because  I  am  black ;  God  has  given  us  all  the 
same  faculties  and  heart."  Then,  remembering  what  he  had 
said  to  me  at  Zage,  on  the  25th  of  March,  18G6,  about  the 
guardianship  of  his  sons,  he  inquired  whether  Dajjaj  'Alamayo 
luid  been  introduced  to  me.    On  my  replying  in  the  negative,. 


18CS,  Mauch.  prince  'ALAilAYO.  293 

he  said  to  the  lad,  ''  'Alaiuayo,  why  do  you  not  go  to  your 
father,  Rassam  ? "  AVhereupon  the  boy  approached  and 
hissed  the  pillow  on  which  I  was  leaning.  After  some  further 
friendly  conversation  my  companions  and  I  were  dismissed, 
his  ]\[iijesty  directing  the  young  Prince  and  the  European 
artisans  to  escort  us  back  to  our  prison-house.  Before  his 
return  to  Salamge  he  ordered  that  no  guards  were  to  sleep 
either  in  my  room  or  in  that  of  my  companions ;  the  remainder 
of  tlic  'captives  were  to  be  watched  as  before.  As  Consul 
Cameron  was  unwell,  the  Chiefs,  at  the  intercession  of  Samuel, 
allowed  him  to  sleep  in  his  own  apartment,  with  ]Mr.  Kerans 
to  attend  upon  him ;  but  ^Messrs.  Stern,  Rosenthal  and  Pietro 
\sere  obliged  to  sleep  in  one  room,  under  a  guard,  until  we 
were  released.  Wo  were  told  afterw  ards  that  the  reason  the 
King  had  caused  us  to  be  so  strictly  guarded  the  preceding 
night  was  owing  to  certain  evil-disposed  persons  having 
reported  that  some  of  my  party  had  been  overheard  boasting 
of  the  approach  of  the  Pritish  troops,  and  that  his  Majesty 
had  conserpiently  come  up  that  afternoon  with  no  friendly 
feelings  towards  the  captives.  Luckily,  something  hajDpened 
to  please  him  after  ho  entered  the  fortress,  which  led  him 
to  treat  me  with  unusual  affability. 

On  reaching  Salaingu,  however,  he  had  another  access  of 
ill-humour.  Seating  himself  on  a  rock  in  front  of  the  royal 
tent,  ho  summoned  all  the  old  ]\[agdala  Chiefs  before  him, 
and  began  abusing  them  indiscriminately.  The  burden  of  his 
objurgation  was  that  they  were  "asses,"  and  did  not  untler- 
staud  uui ;  that  they  had  allowed  me  to  do  as  I  pleased  on 
the  mountain,  without  any  check ;  that  they  had  repeatedly 
sent  to  tell  him  that  I  was  his  friend,  whereas  I  was  in  daily 
correspondence  w  ith  my  Government,  urging  them  to  dispatch 
an  army  to  chastise  him.     *'  You  asses  antl  slaves,"  he  went 


29J:  THEODORE  AT  MaGDALA.  Cuap.  XXY. 

Oil  to  say,  "  Mr.  Kassam  has  made  fools  of  you  and  of  me 
likewise  by  his  professions  of  friendship  for  me.  Did  either 
you  or  your  forefathers  ever  hear  of  a  friend  sending  for 
troops  to  slaughter  his  friend's  valiant  men,  ravish  their 
wives,  and  reduce  his  people  to  bondage?  Nevertheless, 
such  a  friend  is  Mr.  Eassam,  who,  by  playing  upon  your 
imagination,  has  managed  to  ingratiate  himself  into  your 
favour.  And  yet  the  fiiult  is  mine,  for  I  behaved  unjustly 
towards  him ;  he  came  to  me  as  a  friend,  and  I  treated  him 
as  an  enemy.  Tell  me,  however,  if  you  are  prepared  to  fight 
Eassam's  brothers,  who  are  coming  against  you  with  guns 
that  dazzle  the  sight,  and  muskets  that  shoot  and  stab  simul- 
taneously ?  We  must  keep  Eassam  with  us  at  all  risks,  and 
watch  him  with  every  eye,  until  I  see  what  is  about  to 
happen."  The  disconcerted  Chiefs  were  at  a  loss  what  to 
say  to  this  diatribe :  they  hesitated  to  abuse  me,  fearing  that 
Theodore  might  then  turn  against  them  and  take  my  part ; 
they  accordingly  restricted  themselves  to  assuring  their  liege 
lord  that  nothing  would  daunt  them  from  carrying  havoc 

into  the  ranks  of  the  "  white  b d  asses,  who  had  dared  to 

leave  their  own  country  to  invade  the  dominions  of  the 
mighty  King  of  kings."  Poor  Damash,  who  was  imprudent 
enough  to  open  his  mouth  on  the  occasion,  received  a  severe 
rebuff  from  Theodore  for  having  ventured  to  brag  against 
the  "sons  of  the  English,"  whereas,  as  his  Majesty  con- 
temptuously reminded  him,  he  was  not  a  match  even  for  the 
cowardly  Gallas,  wlio  liad  despoiled  him  of  his  arms  and 
horses.  This  sneer  levelled  against  the  unfortunate  Chief 
was  in  allusion  to  a  sally  made  by  a  detachment  of  the 
IMagdala  garrison  upon  the  Woroliaimano,  a  sub-tribe  of  the 
AVello-Gallas,  on  the  morning  of  the  Gth  of  Sejitcmber,  18G7. 
As  the  affair  occurred  during  our  caj^tivity,  and  was  attended 


1807.   Sept.  THE  KIXG'S  CHARMED  RIFLE.  295 

•with  a  variety  of  circumstances  illustrative  of  the  mutual 
relations  subsisting  between  the  Amharas  and  their  Galla 
neighbours,  a  succinct  account  of  its  origin  and  results  may 
not  be  uninteresting  to  the  reader. 

Two  days  previous  to  the  date  above-mentioned  Eas 
Bi.-awwir,  the  good-natured  Commandant,  under  the  pretext 
that  they  wanted  to  weed  their  adjacent  corn-fields,  had 
permitted  a  young  Afa-Negus,  named  Masliisha,  and  Bajir- 
wand  Kaufu,  an  officer  attached  to  the  Treasury,  to  go 
beyond  the  gates  of  the  fortress.  It  was  soon  discovered, 
however,  that  both  had  deserted  to  one  of  the  Galla  villages 
on  the  south-east  of  3Iagdala,  and  that  Bajirwand  had  robbed 
the  Treasury  of  a  pair  of  pistols  and  a  ride,  which  he  made 
oflf  with,  the  former  secreted  in  a  bag  of  chick-peas,  which 
he  told  the  guards  at  the  gates  he  was  going  to  sow,  and  the 
latter  ostensibly  as  his  own.  The  rifle  belonged  to  the  King, 
and  was  highly  prized  by  him.  It  had  been  his  companion 
from  boyhood,  and  he  alleged  that  he  had  borne  it  in  all  his 
battles.  lie  looked  upon  it  as  a  talisman,  and  for  greater 
security  had  sent  it  to  ]\Iagdala  at  the  end  of  186G,  believing 
— so  it  is  said — that  its  possession  would  secure  him  greater 
renown  than  any  of  his  predecessors.  He  entertained  a 
similar  notion  with  regard  to  ]\Iagdala  itself,  and  the  super- 
stition was  shared  by  a  number  of  his  Chiefs,  that  even  if 
despoiled  of  all  his  otlier  territories,  yet  if  he  succeeded  in 
retaining  that  Amba  he  would  eventually  go  forth  from 
thence,  and  reconquer  his  lost  dominions,  and  subdue  half 
the  world  besides.  ^ly  firm  belief  is,  that  this  persuasion 
induced  Theodore  to  repair  to  ^lagdala  on  hearing  of  tlie 
approach  of  the  British  force.  As  far  as  our  interests  were 
concerned,  his  credulity  in  this  respect  contributed  in  no 
small  degree  to  the  favourable  termination  of  all  our  Abys- 


290  THEODORE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXV. 

sinian  difficulties  ;  for  if,  instead  of  spending  three  months  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  that  fortress,  he  had  carried  us  off  to 
some  distant  stronghold — his  native  Kwara,  for  instance — 
the  war  would  have  been  indefinitely  prolonged,  and  not 
one  of  the  captives  would  have  been  rescued  alive. 

"When  the  3Iagdala  Chiefs  found  that  the  charmed  rifle 
had  been  taken  away,  and  that  there  was  a  chance  of  its 
being  conveyed  to  King  Menilek,  in  case  the  deserters 
succeeded  in  reaching  Shoa,  they  decided  to  pursue  the 
runagates  to  their  hiding-place,  which  had  been  revealed 
to  them  by  some  Galla  spies.  This  step,  however,  was  in 
direct  violation  of  the  King's  orders,  who  had  forbidden  the 
garrison  to  leave  the  fortress  on  any  warlike  expedition, 
and  restricted  their  duties  to  protecting  his  family  and 
guarding  his  throne  and  crown,  which  were  deposited  in  the 
Treasury ;  or,  in  plainer  terms,  they  were  to  act  on  the 
defensive  only.  Of  the  two  evils  likely  to  incur  the  royal 
displeasure — the  loss  of  the  rifle  and  an  interdicted  raid — 
they  chose  the  most  hazardous ;  for  had  the  G  alias  been 
apprised  of  their  approach,  in  the  course  of  a  couple  of  hours 
they  might  have  mustered  a  body  of  live  thousand  horse, 
who  would  have  effectually  cut  oif  their  retreat,  and  slaugh- 
tered and  mutilated  them  wholesale,  ere  they  retraced  their 
steps  over  the  fifteen  miles  of  Wellu-CJalla  plateau  ^^hieh 
separated  them  from  3Iagdahi.*     Luclcily  for  the  assailants. 


*  The  Gallas  generally  arc  notorious  for  mntilalii)g  all  male  prisoners, 
taken  in  war,  in  a  most  horrible  manner.  The  same  barbarous  custom 
prevailed  among  the  professedly  Christian  people  of  Shoa  in  the  time  of 
Sahela  ScldssG,  but  was  abolished  by  Theodore  wlieu  he  conquered  that 
country.  In  the  present  instance,  the  special  grievance  of  the  Amharas 
was  enhanced  by  a  desire  to  jjunisli  the  Worohaimano,  for  having  killed 
many  helpless  women  and  children  who  had  gone  beyond  the  gates  of 
Mdgdala  to  collect  wuud  and  grass.  These  outrages  occurred  during  the 
period  of  our  cajitivity. 


1867.   Sept.  A  RAID  ON  THE  GALLAS.  297 

their  enemies,  who  had  ceased  keeping  watch  since  the  King 
left  the  neighbourhood  at  the  end  of  1865,  were  fast  asleep; 
ior  who,  thought  they,  among  the  Amharas  would  dare  to 
cross  the  deep  chasm  which  lay  between  them  and  Magdahx 
but  the  dreaded  Theodore  ? 

The  expeditionary  force,  ^\hich  was  headed  by  Bitwaddad 
Wasi,  consisted  of  150  Musketeers  and  250  Lancers,  the 
former  commanded  by  Bitwaddad  Damash,  and  the  latter  by 
Dajjaj  Gojj6.  They  left  Magdala  at  sunset,  and  before 
joining  his  detachment  Damash  called  to  take  leave  of  me, 
and  begged  that  in  the  event  of  his  death  I  would  look  after 
his  family.  The  wretched  man  evidently  believed  that  ho 
was  going  ou  a  forlorn  hope.  They  reached  the  village 
about  midnight,  and  halted  in  a  hollow  till  daybreak.  It 
had  been  originally  intended  to  surround  the  place  at  once, 
but  just  as  they  began  to  move  some  one  reported  that  he 
heard  a  noi>:e ;  of  course,  every  one  thought  the  same  when 
the  words  of  command  "  Listen  !  "  "  Silence ! "  were  given. 
A  council  of  \\ar  was  then  held  by  the  three  members  of 
C'ouucil  and  tlie  petty  Chiefs  who  were  to  load  the  assault, 
and  it  was  unanimously  decided  that  operations  should  com- 
mence forthwith.  When  within  two  hundred  yards  of  the 
first  hut,  however,  a  squabble  arose  among  the  soldiers 
which  of  them  should  luvcst  the  Nillagc,  ami  whicli  should 
engage  in  the  attack — all  bring  ('(pially  anxious  to  lake  the 
latter  duty,  which  allbrded  a  bettor  prospect  of  plunder. 
Mtaiiuhilo,  Afa-Xogus  Mashisha  and  his  companion,  Avho 
had  passed  the  niglitwith  the  local  (Jalla  Chief  in  a  snudl 
hut  at  the  other  end  of  the  village,  situated  in  a  wooded 
ravine,  overhearing  the  wrangling  among  the  soldiers,  ami 
suspecting  that  something  was  in  the  wind,  hurried  out  into 
the  cover,  where  thoy  awaited  their  hobt,  who  had  mounted  a 


298  THEODOEE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXY. 

horse  and  started  off  at  full  gallop  towards  another  large 
Galla  village,  about  three  miles  distant,  to  give  the  alarm. 
The  Magdala  Chiefs,  on  the  other  hand,  finding  all  their 
efforts  to  maintain  discipline  unavailing,  ordered  the  entire 
party  to  push  on  together.  As  the  Galla  Chiefs  house  was 
thought  to  contain  the  most  desirable  prizes,  including  the 
Chief  himself,  the  two  deserters,  and  the  most  valuable  booty, 
a  combined  rush  was  made  in  that  direction.  After  seizing 
and  securing  two  of  the  Chief's  cousins,  his  brother,  wife  and 
sister,  together  with  three  children,  who  were  all  fast  asleep 
at  the  time,  a  general  search  was  made  for  plunder  and  the 
two  runaway  officials.  One  hut  where  the  Chief's  horses 
were  kept  was  attacked  by  a  Christianized  Galla,  and  two 
men  showing  fight  in  defence  of  their  master's  property  were 
speared  down  by  the  assailant.  Three  others  were  killed  in 
the  village  while  attempting  to  escape ;  the  remainder,  to 
the  number  of  thirty-one  souls,  including  women  and  chil- 
dren, who  had  not  managed  to  get  out  of  the  way  before  day- 
light, were  captured.  It  was  then  resolved  by  the  Council 
to  dispatch  the  prisoners  in  advance,  together  with  all  the 
cattle,  horses  and  mules  that  had  been  seized,  in  charge  of 
Dajjaj  Gojje's  Lancers,  while  Bitwaddad  Damash  and  his 
Musketeers  were  to  bring  up  the  rear,  to  ward  off  pursuit. 
The  Magdala  warriors  were  in  the  highest  spirits,  congratu- 
lating themselves  ujion  having  taught  the  Gallas  a  lesson 
which  they  were  not  likely  soon  to  forget ;  but  their  exulta- 
tion was  premature.  They  continued  their  homeward  journey 
for  three  hours  without  noticing  any  movement  on  the  part 
of  the  enemy,  when  suddenly  Galla  horsemen  were  espied 
galloping  towards  them  from  every  direction.  At  this  junc- 
ture, Damash,  who  was  about  two  miles  behind  the  Lancers, 
judging  that  the  Gallas  would  first  attempt  to  rescue  the 


1867.   Sept.  THE  AMIIARAS  DEFEATED.  299 

captives  and  the  plunder — never  dreaming  that  they  would 
venture  to  attack  a  party  armed  with  mnskcts — ordered  liis 
men  to  push  on  and  overtake  their  comrades.  In  less  than 
half  an  hour  about  twenty  horsemen  approached,  headed  by 
th(3  Chief  of  the  village,  who  was  heard  calling  out  to  his 
followers  to  attack  the  Christian  "  Kafirs "  and  seize  their 
muskets.  In  the  mean  time  the  assailants  were  receiving 
fresh  additions  to  their  numbers,  the  Gallas  for  twenty  miles 
round  having  been  apprised  that  something  was  amiss  by  the 
light  of  three  burning  houses  whicli  the  jMagdala  detachment 
had  fired  before  they  left  the  village.  On  recognizing  the 
Galla  Chief,  the  Musketeers  bawled  out,  "Shoot  him  down!" 
whereupon  a  native  of  Kwara  aimed  at  him  and  shot  him 
dead.  A  couple  of  horses,  also,  were  killed  by  the  fire  of  the 
2)arty,  and  five  horsemen  were  wounded,  tNvo  of  whom  died 
shortly  after.  The  lifeless  body  of  the  Chief  was  immediately 
picked  up  and  borne  away  on  horseback  by  his  men,  to  the 
great  relief  of  Damash,  who  was  glad  to  see  his  deadly 
enemies  retreat.  This  incident  checked  the  Gallas  for  a 
time,  and  enabled  the  wary  Gojje  and  Bitwaddad  Wasi  to 
descend  into  the  valley  with  the  j^risoners  and  booty,  where 
they  were  safe  from  jiursuit.  Meanwhile  the  Gallas  had 
re-assembled  in  force,  and  poor  Dam  ash,  who  could  not  boast 
of  being  a  good  soldier,  much  less  a  leader,  lost  his  wits. 
He  was  then  about  a  mile  from  the  difficult  pass  leading- 
down  to  the  valley  which  surrounds  Magdala,  and  instead  of 
[)lacing  his  men  whore  they  might  easily  have  protected  the 
rear  of  the  Lancers  and  kept  the  Gallas  at  bay  at  the  same 
time,  he  ordered  them  to  "  run."  Thereupon,  as  might  have 
been  expected,  a  regular  panic  ensued  among  the  soldiers ; 
all  trie<l  to  bo  the  first  to  escape  through  the  nan-ow  pass, 
which  admitted  only  a  few  abreast,  and  in  that  state  of  utter 


300  THEODORE  AT  MAGDALA.      Chap.  XXV. 

disorganization — many  of  tbeni  actually  falling  clown  from 
sheer  fright — they  were  pounced  upon  by  about  two  hundred 
of  the  Galla  horsemen,  who  dismounted  and  rushed  upon  the 
terrified  Amharas  with  spears,  swords  and  stones.  Among 
the  assailants  on  the  occasion  was  one  of  Damash's  own  men, 
who  used  to  thatch  the  roofs  of  our  huts,  and  a\  ho  had  deserted 
to  the  Worohaimano  a  few  days  before.  On  recognizing  his 
old  commanding  officer,  who  was  rather  infirm  owing  to  long 
illness,  and  was  consequently  left  iu  the  lurch,  the  fellow 
bawled  out  to  his  new  associates,  "  There  is  that  villain, 
Damash ;  let  us  seize  him  alive ! "  At  the  mention  of  his 
name,  which  was  hated  at  Magdala  and  throughout  the  neigh- 
bourhood, a  party  of  Gallas  fell  upon  him  and  deprived  him 
<jf  his  arms.  They  then  endeavoured  to  secure  him  as  a 
hostage,  in  order  to  exchange  him  against  their  captured 
countrymen,  whose  release  was  now  hopeless,  as  they  had 
already  been  conveyed  into  the  valley.  Damash  would  in- 
evitably have  been  borne  away  had  not  Easha  Kasha,  a 
countryman  of  his  and  one  of  his  jjctty  officers,  bawled  out 
to  his  men,  "  Shall  we  not  be  called  cowards  if  we  see  our 
Chief  carried  off  before  our  eyes,  without  attempting  to 
rescue  liim  ?  Shame  upon  us !  Let  us  go  and  deliver  him  out 
of  the  hands  of  the  Muslim  slaves."  He  accordingly  returned 
with  twenty  Musketeers,  and  a  well-aimed  discharge  from  the 
party  killed  one  and  wounded  three  of  the  Gallas  who  were 
engaged  iu  binding  their  prisimer.  Damash  was  now  free  to 
run,  and  taking  to  his  heels  tumbled  down  the  valley,  heed- 
less of  all  impediments,  and  regardless  of  the  risk  to  life  and 
limb,  intent  only  on  getting  beyond  the  reach  of  his  deadly 
enemies.  Fortunately,  he  did  not  try  to  cscajDe  by  the  pass ; 
had  he  done  so,  lie  mui^t  have  fallen  once  more  into  the 
hands  of  the  Gallas,  who  regarded  him  as  a  great  prize.    The 


18C8.   JIarch.  stone  SHOT.  301 

deserters,  Afa-Negiis  Mashisha  and  his  companion,  now  ap- 
peared on  the  scene  armed  to  the  teeth,  the  latter  carrying  the 
King's  rifle,  which  he  discharged  with  deadly  effect  upon  the 
fugitives.  One  of  his  victims  was  the  brave  Basha  Ka^ha, 
who  received  a  shot  through  the  leg,  just  above  the  knee. 
By  seven  o'clock  about  five  hundred  Gallas  were  assembled 
on  the  edge  of  the  precipice,  all  engaged  in  throwing  sj)ears 
and  sticks  and  hurling  stones  on  the  retreating  Amharas, 
who  were  scrambling  do\ATi  the  rough  valley  as  best  they 
could.  Had  their  assailants  possessed  the  pluck  to  follow 
the  runagates,  not  one  of  the  latter  would  have  escaped,  for 
they  were  utterly  panic-stricken,  and  most  of  them  had 
thrown  away  their  arms  in  the  stampede. 

This  disaster  cast  a  gloom  over  jMagdala,  and  nearly  drove 
the  crest-fallen  Commandant  out  of  his  senses.  Damasli,  who 
had  received  a  scratch  on  one  of  his  legs  in  leaping  over  the 
2)recipice,  feigned  to  be  badly  wounded,  and  got  himself  con- 
veyed into  the  fortress  on  the  back  of  a  mule,  supported  by 
a  couple  of  men  on  each  side,  and  looking  more  dead  than 
alive.  He  was  obliged  to  keep  up  the  deception,  and  was 
consequently  confined  to  his  couch  for  more  than  a  month. 
A  case  of  fractured  skull,  and  anotlnr  of  a  petty  Chief,  one 
of  whoso  legs  was  nearly  severed — both  wounds  inflicted  by 
the  stones  thrown  by  the  Gallas — were  brought  to  Dr.  Blanc, 
but  they  were  beyond  medical  treatment,  and  the  two  men 
died  a  few  days  after. 

^Oth. — Sent  our  compliments  to  the  King  early  this  luo.n- 
iiig,  and  shortly  after  I  received  a  message  from  his  ^lajesty, 
asking  mr.  to  send  down  to  Salamge  five  of  my  fellow-captives 
— namely,  ^lessrs.  Staiger,  Brandeis,  Schiller,  Essler  and 
^lacraire  —  to  assist  in  making  stone  shot  for  the  large 
mortar.     ^My  reply  was,  that  I  had  no  objection  to  the  pro- 


302  THEODOPiE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXV. 

posal,  if  tlio  individuals  themselves  agreed  to  it.  On  their 
consent  being  obtained,  hand-chains  were  substituted  for 
their  fetters,  and  they  were  conducted  down  to  Salamge. 
The  couriers  who  brought  nie  this  message  Mere  charged 
with  another,  to  the  effect  that  his  Majesty  was  desirous  of 
befriending  all  the  captives  for  my  sahe,  and  hoped  shortly 
to  release  them  from  their  chains.  This  intimation  led  me 
to  apj)rehend  that  he  intended  asking  the  rest  of  my  fellow- 
captives,  except  my  fellow-officials,  to  work  for  him ;  but  the 
subject  was  not  mooted  again. 

I  received  letters  this  afternoon  from  Colonel  Merewether 
and  M.  3Iunzinger,  which  apprised  us,  to  oui'  great  delight, 
that  the  British  force  had  reached  Ashangi. 

Mr.  Flad  called  on  me  in  the  morning,  and  told  me  that 
the  King  had  inquired  of  him  how  I  felt  after  our  interview 
the  day  before.  On  learning  that  I  was  hapj)y,  his  Majesty 
went  on  to  say,  "  I  thought  of  him  all  last  night,  and  I  had 
sweet  dreams  in  consequence.  I  v.  ish  I  lived  next  to  him,  as 
you  do,  for  I  should  then  be  able  to  see  liim ;  but  for  the 
present  I  am  too  busy." 

Slst. — In  the  afternoon  Mr.  AYaldmeier  came  to  me  from 
the  King  with  a  request  that  I  Avould  become  security  for 
the  five  Europeans  who  joined  him  yesterday,  otherwise  he 
would  be  obliged  to  keep  them  in  chains.  I  stated  in  reply 
that  it  was  quite  out  of  the  question  for  mo  to  assume  such 
a  responsibility  on  behalf  of  persons  over  whom  I  had  uo 
control ;  that  the  individuals  referred  to  were  living  at 
Saliimgu  and  working  there  for  his  Majesty,  whereas  I  was 
shut  up  in  Mugdala,  and  knew  nothing  of  what  took  place  in 
the  royal  camp.  Theodore  subsequently  sent  word  to  say 
that  he  was  quite  satisfied  with  my  answci',  and  had  foreseen 
that  I  knew  better  than  to  undertake  the  projiosed  surety- 


1868.  April.  THE  MORTAR  "  SEVASTOPOL."  303 

ship.  The  artisans,  liowever,  were  eventually  released  from 
their  fetters,  having  found  some  of  their  fellow-employes  at 
Salamge  to  stand  security  for  them. 

Ist  April. — Sent  compliments  to  Theodore  this  morning, 
and  dispatched  letters  to  the  British  camp  during  the  day. 

2nd. — The  members  of  the  Mission  received  an  invitation 
from  the  King  early  this  morning  to  Avitness  the  bringing  up 
of  the  mortar  to  tlie  plateau  by  the  new  road  which  his 
^Majesty  had  made  below  the  southern  slope  of  Salamge.  We 
accordingly  equipped  ourselves  in  uniform,  and  went  down, 
accompanied  by  the  old  and  new  Commandants  and  Aito 
Samuel — tlie  latter  by  special  licence,  without  which  he  could 
not  have  ventured  to  join  us.  We  found  Theodore  super- 
intending the  operation.  He  welcomed  us  most  graciously,  and 
bade  us  be  seated  behind  him,  on  the  edge  of  a  precipice  over- 
looking the  soldiers,  who  were  busy  dragging  the  different 
mortars  and  guns  which  were  cast  at  Debra  Tabor  last  year  up 
the  incline.  As  soon  as  the  large  mortar,  which  the  King  had 
named  "  Sevastopol,"  reached  the  bend  in  the  road  below  us, 
his  ^lajesty  asked  me  to  look  at  it  and  tell  him  what  I 
thouglit  of  it.  I  replied  that  it  was  a  splendid  piece  of  artillery, 
adding  that  I  hoped  it  would  not  be  long  ere  the  British  army 
would  b(^  viewing  it  witli  the  same  amicable  feelings  that  then 
animated  me.  The  King  smiled,  and  said,  "I  hope  so  too."  I 
thouglit  tliis  a  good  opportunity  to  ask  him  to  "gladden  my 
heart"  by  releasing  the  remaining  five  captives — namely, 
Messrs.  Cameron,  Stem,  Roscntlial,  Kerans  and  Pietro — of 
their  chains.  Samuel  hesitated  at  tirst,  through  fear,  to 
translate  my  request,  but  on  his  ]\[ajesty's  asking  what  I  had 
said,  the  request  was  repeated  by  me,  and  inter])reted  to 
him.  He  replied,  "  I'sh-shi "  (very  well);  and  Ibrthwith 
ordered  an  officer  to  go  and  strike  off  their  chains  at  once. 


30i  THEODORE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXY. 

The  monster  mortar,  borne  on  a  strong  waggon,  bad  to  bo 
dragged  by  main  force  above  a  liundred  feet  np  an  acclivity 
at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees.  The  weight  of  it,  I  was 
told,  was  at  least  seventy  tons,  and  as  many  as  five  lumdred 
men  were  engaged  in  moving  it,  encouraged  and  assisted  by 
all  the  Chiefs  of  note,  wlio  ever  and  anon  placed  stones  under 
the  wheels  to  prevent  tbem  from  turning  backwards.  Occa- 
sionally, one  or  more  of  the  strips  of  cow-hide  which  bound 
mortar  and  carriage  together  snapped  asunder,  threatening- 
the  momentary  precipitation  of  the  huge  mass  into  the 
valley  below,  at  the  imminent  peril  of  those  vho  might 
happen  to  be  in  its  way.  When  the  "  Sevastopol "  reached 
level  ground,  the  King  asked  us  to  mount  the  waggon  and 
inspect  it.  It  was  unquestionably  a  wonderful  piece  of 
ordnance  for  its  size,  and  more  wonderful  still  as  the  work- 
manship of  his  Majesty's  European  artisans,  who  had  pre- 
viously had  no  experience  of  casting  cannon.  As  I  knew 
that  Theodore  expected  me  to  say  something  on  the  occasion, 
I  sent  to  tell  him — he  was  then  superintending  the  trans- 
port of  other  mortars  and  guns  up  the  ascent — that  since 
the  time  of  the  great  King  Menilek  no  one  in  Abyssinia  had 
ever  accomplished  such  a  feat.  He  then  invited  me  to  sit 
by  his  side  again,  on  the  edge  of  the  precipice,  and  began 
questioning  me  about  European  warfare  :  how  peace  was  con- 
cluded between  two  contending  parties ;  liow  the  words  of 
command  were  given  in  our  army ;  what  was  the  range 
of  our  soldiers'  rifles ;  what  number  of  British  troops  had 
been  sent  against  him,  an  I  how  thoy  manoeuvred.  After  I 
had  reidied  to  all  his  queries,  with  the  exception  of  such  as 
were  purely  military,  on  which  subjects,  I  told  his  jMajesty, 
I  was  unable  to  fiiliiihtin  him,  he  said,  "I  know  you 
are    a   man  of  tongue;"    and   then  sultjoiiicd,    "Were   I    as 


U' 


1SG8.  Ami..     THE  KIXG  EECOUNTS  HIS  TKOUBLES.  305 

powerful  as  I  once  was,  I  should  certainly  have  gone  down 
to  the  coast  to  meet  your  people  on  landing ;  or  I  would 
have  sent  and  asked  them  what  they  wanted  in  my  country. 
As  it  is,  I  have  lost  all  Abyssinia  but  this  rock  " — he  looked 
up  and  pointed  to  3Iagdala — "and  it  would  therefore  be 
absurd  in  me  to  say  anything.  However,  I  am  ready  to  meet 
them  here,  and  I  resign  myself  to  the  protection  of  my 
Creator."  He  remarked,  further,  that  he  had  been  in  con- 
stant trouble  since  we  left  him  in  July,  1866,  owing  to  the 
refusal  of  his  people  to  pay  the  regular  taxes.  The  whole 
country  had  risen  against  him,  and  the  rebels  had  driven 
him  to  desperation.  "  But,"  he  added,  "  whenever  I  caught 
any  of  them  I  caused  tliem  to  be  burnt ;  while  tliey,  on 
their  side,  did  not  spare  any  of  my  subjects  who  fell 
into  their  hands.  During  the  last  six  months  especially, 
while  on  the  way  from  Uebra  Tabor  to  this  plate,  I  have 
been  harassed  day  and  night  by  the  robbers,  and  have  been 
driven  to  support  my  soldiers  on  jilunder.  You  yourself 
have  witnessed  what  trouble  making  these  roads  and  moving 
tliese  gims  has  given  me  ;  but,"  he  concluded,  "  I  hope  you 
do  not  imagine  that  I  had  the  guns  cast  out  of  any  animosity 
towards  your  people.  I  had  them  made  to  use  against  my 
own  countrymen."  He  next  reverted  to  the  subject  of  Consul 
Cameron  having  re-entered  Abyssinia  without  bringing  an 
answer  to  his  letter  addressed  to  our  Queen,  and  then  said 
in  an  angiy  tone,  **  After  his  return  to  my  country  I  waited 
live  days  before  I  learnt  that  ho  had  come  back  without 
an  answer.  At  tlie  expiration  of  that  time,  I  sent  and  asked 
liiin  wliat  ha<l  brought  him  back  to  my  country,  seeing  that 
ho  had  come  without  an  answer  to  my  letter.  Receiving 
no  satisfactory  reply,  I  said  no  more."  He  then  dilated 
•mew  on  the  abuse  heaped  upon  him  by  3Iessrs.  Stern  and 
VOL.  II.  X 


306  THEODOEE  AT  JIAGDALA.  Chap.  XXV. 

Eosentlial ;  but  for  all  that,  he  went  ou  to  say,  the  former  had 
felt  constrained  to  call  him  "  a  wonderful  man  "  in  his  book 
('Wanderings  among  the  Falashas'),  and  he,  the  King,  had 
detained  him  because  Mr.  Cameron  had  brought  no  reply  to 
his  letter.  He  knew,  he  said,  that  my  companions  (Blanc 
and  Prideaux)  and  I  Avere  great  men,  and  admitted  that  he 
had  ill-used  us  without  any  just  cause,  for  which  he  felt  very 
sorry ;  in  future,  however,  he  A\ould  always  treat  us  as  friends. 
He  then  ordered  a  tent  to  be  pitched,  and  directed  Messrs. 
Waldmeier  and  Salmiiller  to  provide  breakfast  for  us  AAithin 
it,  evidently  under  the  impression  that  the  wives  of  those 
gentlemen,  who  were  the  daughters  of  the  late  Mr.  Bell, 
would  be  able  to  serve  us  Avith  some  European  dishes.  When 
Mr.  riad  announced  that  everything  was  ready,  the  King- 
rose  and  led  the  way,  we  following  him.  Theodore  looked 
very  sad,  and  although  he  made  several  attempts  to  be 
cheerful,  he  could  not  hide  the  care  which  was  weighing  ou 
his  mind.  I  never  saw  him  so  calm  as  he  was  on  that  day, 
and  I  shall  never  forget  the  melancholy  exjoression  of  his 
countenance  when,  glancing  at  the  half-clad  men  A\ho  were 
hauling  up  the  guns,  he  exclaimed,  "  How  can  I  show  those 
ragged  soldiers  of  mine  to  your  well-dressed  troops!"  On 
our  way  to  the  tent,  he  asked  me  what  I  thought  would  be  a 
proper  charge  for  the  large  mortar.  I  replied  that  I  could 
not  tell  him,  as  I  was  not  an  artilleryman,  nor  in  any  way 
conversant  with  military  matters. 

On  the  King's  return  to  his  ovm  tent,  he  sent  me  word 
that  the  day  on  which  "  Sevastopol "  was  successfully  cast, 
and  to-day,  when  he  had  met  me  again  in  health  and 
jDrosperity,  had  been  the  happiest  days  he  had  experienced 
since  our  separation  at  Debra  Tabor.  He  therefore  asked 
me  to  allow  him  to  have  a  salute  lirod  in  honour  of  tlio 


1868.  ArniL.  THE  KING'S  INDECISION.  307 

auj^picious  event ;  accordingly,  shortly  after,  the  roar  of 
artillery  was  heard  mingled  with  the  Elltl,  or  exulting  shouts 
of  the  women,  both  on  Salamge  and  Magdala.  Before  we  took 
leave  of  Theodore  he  sent  Messrs.  Flad  and  Waldmeier  to 
me  to  say,  that  a  live  coal,  not  larger  than  a  pea,  if  not 
extinguished,  might  create  a  great  conflagration.  Samuel 
understood  by  this  remark  that  his  3Iujesty  meant  to  intimate 
that  he  looked  to  me  to  put  the  fire  out  at  once. 

At  about  3  r.M.  wc  returned  to  our  prison-house,  escorted 
by  the  old  and  new  Commandants.  On  reaching  the  in- 
closure,  I  hardly  believed  that  it  was  the  same  place ;  for 
all  my  fellow-captives  had  been  imshuckled,  and  the  dismal 
rattling  of  their  chains  was  no  longer  heard.  In  the  course 
of  the  afternoon  I  received  a  few  lines  from  M.  Munzinger, 
apprising  me  that  our  deliverers  were  not  fiir  distant. 

'dnl. — Wrote  a  few  lines  to  Colonel  jMerewether  this  morn- 
ing, and  dispatched  them  out  of  Magdala  and  through  the 
royal  camp  by  no  less  than  five  difierent  channels.  I  also 
sent  our  compliments  to  the  King,  and  requested  him  to 
allow  ^lessrs.  Flad  and  Waldmeier  to  come  to  me,  in  order 
that  I  might  transmit  an  important  message  to  him,  through 
them.  JIc  acquiesced  at  once ;  whereupon  I  solicited  his 
permission  to  write  and  apprise  the  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  British  army  of  the  civility  N\lii(h  wc  had  lately  received 
at  his  Majesty's  hands.  (I  intended  this  as  a  feeler,  and 
lioped  that  it  might  induce  him  to  open  communications 
with  Sir  liobert  Napier.)  Ilis  immediate  reply  was,  that 
1  had  mistaken  the  motives  of  his  recent  conduct  towards 
me ;  that  he  had  released  my  fellow-captives  from  their 
fetters,  not  Ijecauso  he  was  afraid  of  the  expected  force,  or 
out  of  any  regard  for  the  prisoners,  but  simply  to  gratify 
me,  and  as  a  proof  of  his  personal  esteem  ;  hence,  he  did  not 

X  2 


308  THEODORE  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXV. 

see  the  use  of  my  reporting  a  matter  ^\lli(•h  in  no  Avay  con- 
cerned ji  third  person.  He,  moreover,  desired  Messrs.  Flad 
and  Waldmeier  to  convey  to  me  the  assurance  of  his  con- 
tinued friendship,  and  remarked  to  the  hitter  that  if  I  asked 
him  to  breakfast  and  dine  with  me,  he  wouhl  accept  the 
invitation,  rather  than  disappoint  me.  On  tlic  strength  of 
this  speech,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fhid,  who  were  then  residing  in 
Magdahx,  felt  at  perfect  liberty  to  accept  an  invitation  from 
me,  without  applying  for  the  royal  permission.  When  Mr. 
riad  returned  to  Salamge,  Theodore  inquired  whether  I  had 
received  his  reply  graciously.  To  an  affirmative  answer  he 
remarked,  "  ]Mr.  Eassam  and  I  know  each  other  well." 

The  King  started  off  in  the  afternoon  with  the  bidk  of  his 
army.  One  report  was  that  he  was  bound  on  a  plundering 
expedition ;  another,  that  he  had  gone  to  reconnoitre  the 
movements  of  our  troops.     Eain  fell  during  the  afternoon. 

4:th. — News  arrived  this  morning  that  the  King  W'as 
plundering  all  the  country  between  the  Bashilo  river  and  the 
fortress,  and  had  not  even  spared  some  huts,  situated  below  the 
Kafir-Bar  Gate,  on  the  north-eastern  side  of  Magdala,  although 
they  belonged  to  Christianized  Gallas  who  Avere  in  the  royal 
service.  This  intelligence  excited  no  little  apprehension 
among  the  residents  on  the  Amba  generally — even  tlie  royal 
troops  were  not  without  fears  that  their  property  might  be 
seized ;  consequently,  every  one  was  intent  on  liiding  all  he 
could  from  the  grasp  of  the  dreaded  Sovereign.  It  was  re- 
ported that  Theodore  had  been  driven  to  these  harsh  measures 
in  order  to  provide  food  for  his  starving  army.  The  resistance 
of  the  peasantry  led  to  frequent  encounters  with  the  royal 
troops,  and  many  were  killed  on  both  sides.  My  agents  on 
the  Bashilo  were  also  despoiled,  but  by  all  accounts  they 
fought  bravely  in  defence  of  tlicir  belongings.     The  com- 


18G8.  Apuii..        the  KING  OX  TEXTEEHOOKt^.  300 

munieation  which  I  had  scut  through  them  to  Colonel  31ere- 
Mether  the  day  before  they  concealed  in  the  ground,  and 
forwarded  it  to  the  British  camp  during  the  night.  Theodore 
returned  from  his  infamous  expedition  this  afternoon,  and. 
yielding  to  the  advice  of  the  3[agdala  Chiefs,  I  sent  a  message 
congratulating  him  on  his  safe  arrival. 

5th. — Theodore  sent  me  his  compliments  this  morning. 
After  Divine  Service  in  nn-  hut,  Bitwaddad  Hasani  and  l\as 
Bisa^vwir,  the  old  and  new  Commandants,  paid  me  a  visit, 
having  received  special  orders  from  the  King  to  see  me 
often  and  attend  to  my  wants.  There  was  a  little  rain  in 
tlie  eveniug. 

(jtlt. — Sent  compliments  to  Theodore  this  morning,  and  at 
noon  Bitwaddad  Hasani,  with  three  ex-members  of  the  MagdaUi 
Coimcil,  namely,  Ras  Bisawwir,  Bitwaddad Damash audi )ajja) 
Gojje,  called  on  me,  by  his  ^Majesty's  command,  to  recipro- 
cate ray  comi)liments,  and  to  sit  with  and  "  comfort "  me.  As 
the  new  Commandant  was  present,  none  of  my  old  friends 
dared  to  drink  even  a  cup  of  coffee,  though  poor  Gojje  winked 
at  me,  in  a  way  giving  me  to  understand  that  he  wished  the 
interloper  at  land's  end,  as  he  was  longing  for  a  glass  of  tij — 
a  beverage  which  he  had  not  tasted  since  his  removal  from 
office. 

After  these  visitors  left,  ^lessrs.  Flad  and  "Waldmeier  came 
and  informed  mo  that  the  King  was  anxious  to  hear  from  the 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  J?ritish  army,  and  that  he  had 
rciiuested  the  former  to  send  one  of  his  servants  to  our  camp 
to  collect  news.  Thereupon,  ^Ir.  Flad  tuld  his  I\rajesty  that 
I  had  expectcil  u  cominunicalion  from  Sir  Kobert  Napier  for 
the  last  two  days,  but  owing,  as  he  supposed,  to  tln^  disturbed 
state  of  tile  neighbourhood,  the  mcsseng(TS  were  probably 
afraid   to  approach.     To  tliis  the  King  re[»licfl,  that  those 


310  THEODOr.E  AT  MAGDALA.  Chap.  XXV. 

wlio  carried  sucli  messages  were  afraid  of  liini  too.  For  the 
last  three  days  Theodore  has  done  scarcely  anything  but 
ascend  the  height  of  Salasse,  scanning  Avith  a  telescope  the 
country  towards  Dalanta,  from  which  direction  he  had  been 
told  the  British  -force  was  advancing.  Whenever  his  spies 
brought  him  any  intelh'gence  of  its  movements,  he  invariably 
sent  and  communicated  it  to  me. 

Itli. — Theodore  has  been  busy  with  his  telescope  throughout 
the  day,  and  it  was  reported  that  he  had  espied  some  of  our 
troops  descending  into  the  Bashilo.  He  is  now  anxious  to 
hear  from  the  Commander-in-Chief  and  to  ascertain  his 
fate. 

The  old  and  new  Commandants  of  Magdala  came  to  me 
this  evening  with  the  King's  compliments,  and  told  me  that 
he  wished  to  see  me  at  Salamge  early  to-morrow  morning, 
with  all  my  fellow-captives,  from  ^Ahich  Ave  inferred  that  he 
intended  to  retain  us  with  him.  Tlie  native  prisoners  were 
also  ordered  down.  This  news,  we  feared,  portended  no  good 
to  any  of  us. 


1"M1E  AMBA  MAS-DATLA 

ArsTB  ITS  OFFSHOWTS 

f  Tlieortore's  last  Asvlimi) 


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Ml,£  mIi,/ 


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18G8.  April.  CAPTIVES  SUMMONED.  311 


CHAPTEK  XXVL 


THE   FALL   OF   TIIEODOKE. 

The  European  Captives  summoned  to  Salamge  by  the  King  —  Theodore 
harangues  his  troops  on  the  impending  invasion  by  the  British  —  Declines 
communicating  with  Sir  Robert  Napier  —  Release  of  some  of  the  native 
prisoners  —  Cruel  massacre  of  the  remainder  —  The  European  Captives 
sent  back  to  Magdala  —  Letter  arrives  for  Theodore  from  Sir  Robert 
Napier,  which  he  refuses  to  receive  —  The  native  troops  are  massed  at 
Salamgfi  —  Theodore  attacks  the  British,  is  defeated,  and  wishes  for 
peace  —  Lieutenant  Prideaux  dispatched  to  Sir  Robert  Napier  and 
returns  to  Salamge  —  Is  dispatched  again  with  an  angry  letter  from 
Theodore  —  The  Autlior  and  his  fellow-captives  directed  to  go  to  the 
British  camp  —  The  Author's  interview  with  Theodore  previous  to  his 
departure — The  Captives  reach  the  British  camp  in  safety  —  Theodore's 
letter  of  ajwlogy  and  proffered  gift  of  cattle  to  Sir  Robert  Napier  on  the 
morning  of  Easter  Sunday  —  The  Commander-in-Chief's  message  in 
reply  —  ITieodore  sets  all  the  lunopean  artisans  at  liberty —  "Was  Theo- 
dore deceived  V  —  The  Author's  justilication. 

At  dawn  on  tho  8th  of  April,  "Wald-Gabir,  tho  royal  valet, 
came  to  say  that  the  King  wished  me  to  go  down  to  Saldmge 
immediately,  with  all  my  fellow-captives,  as  he  desired  me  to 
act  as  a  jndg(!  between  hira  and  the  people  who  were  coming 
U)  fight  him.  It  was  surmised  tliat  the  spy  who  had  come  to 
him  tho  day  before  had  communicated  some  disquieting  news. 
The  King  had  never  before  summoned  tlic  European  captives 
and  tho  native  prisoners  simultaneously,  and  it  was  appre- 
liT'iidcd  that  we  were  going  to  bo  put  together  and  treated  alike. 
Jluwever,  when  wo  reacheil  the  royal  presence  the  King  rose 
and  welcomed  as,  and  desired  me  to  aj)proach  with  my  cora- 
]tanions.      lie  was  examining   some  guns,  and  wore  a  new 


312  THE  FALL  OF  TIIEODOFiE.  Chap.  XXVL 

style  of  dress  on  the  occasion,  made  of  Lyons  silk  worked 
witli  gold — it  is   now  in  the  South  Kensington  Museum — 
and  instead  of  the  common  nether  garments  of  the  country 
he  had  on  a  pair  made  of  white  tinsel;  iu  fact,  he  looked 
more  like  a  harlequin  than  a  sovereign  in  this  novel  motley 
suit.     He  walked  on  towards  his  tent,  bidding  my  party  to 
follow,  and  when  he  had  taken   his   seat    in   front   of  his 
pavilion  he  asked  Dr.  Blanc,  Lieutenant  Prideaux,  Consul 
Cameron  and  myself  to  sit  near  him,  the  rest  of  our  fellow- 
captives    remaining   a   little   distance   off.     "\Yc   talked   on 
different  matters  for  more  than  an  hour  in  the  open  air,  and 
in  the  course  of  the  conversation  the  King  told  me  that  the 
reason  he  had  brought  us  down  was,  that  he  might  leave  us 
in  a  safe  place  when  our  troops  arrived.     Being  with  him,  he 
said  he  could  protect  us  and  look  after  our  comfort ;  whereas 
if  we  were  at  Magdala  when  our  army  reached,  his  soldiers 
might  illtreat  us.      "Wherever   the  Empress  and  my  son 
are,"  he  added,  "  there  you  shall  be,     I  have  brought  them 
both  down  to  Salamge  for  security."     He  told  me  to  send  for 
our  tents,  in  order  that  we  might  pitch  them  near  his.     After 
this  we  left  him,  and  repaired  to  a  silk  tent  which  he  had 
erected  for  us,  not  more  than  fifty  yards  from  his  own,  there  to 
rest  until  our  tents  wore  forthcoming.      Theodore  was  very 
absent  during  this  interview;  his  countenance,  despite  the 
forced  smiles  which  ever  and  anon  played  upon  it,  betraying 
that  he  really  did  feel  like  another  Damocles — to  whom  he 
compared  himself — and  that  his  iiite  now  hung  upon  a  thread. 
Immediately  on  entering  the   tent  above-mentioned    we 
heard  that  all  the  troops  had  been  mustered,  and  about  half- 
an-liour  ufterwards  we  were  surprised  to  see  the  King  himself 
standing  on  a  rock  not  more  than  fifteen   yards   from  us, 
haranguing  his  soldiers  on  the  approaching  invaders  of  his 


18G8.   Apj:il.    THE  KING  HARANGUES  HIS  TROOPS.  31S 

country.  He  told  them  that  in  a  Jay  or  two,  perhaps,  tliey 
would  be  obliged  to  encounter  men  who  were  far  superior  to 
thcni  in  strength  and  arms — A\hoso  very  dress  was  bedecked 
with  gold,  to  say  nothing  of  their  treasures,  which  could  only 
be  borne  by  elephants.  "  Are  you  ready  to  fight  ?  "  he  con- 
tinued, with  increasing  animation,  "and  enrich  yourselves 
with  the  spoils  of  the  white  slaves,  or  will  you  disgrace  me 
by  leaving  mo  in  the  lurch  ? "  Afa-Negiis  Bahri,  whose 
name  has  already  been  mentioned,  stepped  forward  and 
bawled  out,  "  Only  wait,  your  Majesty,  until  these  asses 
make  tlieir  appearance,  when  wc  will  tear  them  to  pieces, 
and  those  of  them  who  are  lucky  enough  to  escape  will  have 
a  sorry  tale  to  tell  on  returning  to  their  own  country."  The 
King,  on  hearing  this  vaunt,  instead  of  commending  the  poor 
old  man  for  his  bombastic  enthusiasm,  as  any  rational  being 
would  have  done  under  the  circumstances,  proceeded  forth- 
with to  damp  the  courage  of  his  troops  in  this  style  : — 
"  What  say  you,  old  fool  ?  Have  you  ever  seen  an  English 
soldier  to  know  what  ho  is  like,  and  what  weapons  ho 
carries  ?  Be  assured  that  before  you  know  where  you  are, 
your  belly  will  be  filled  with  bullets."  Even  the  Abyssinian 
soldiery  \\ould  have  been  provoked  into  merriment  by  such  a 
speech  coming  from  any  other  than  the  dreaded  Theodore ; 
as  it  was,  they  pretended  to  look  grave,  and  were  forthwith 
dismissed. 

About  an  hour  after  we  parted,  the  King  went  to  superin- 
tend the  fortification  of  a  point  against  the  attack  of  our 
troops.  As  he  passed  our  tent  he  called  me  out,  and  in- 
dicated a  clean  spot,  about  one  hundred  feet  from  his  own 
pavilion,  where  I  might  pitch  ray  tent.  (  Vide  Plan,  page  277). 
He  then  entered  into  friendly  conversation  with  mo  about 
communicating  with  the  Commander-in-Chief,  a  step  which 


31i  THE  FALL  OF  THEODORE.  CuAr.  XXVL 

I  had  always  urged  him  to  take.  He  said,  "  What  is  the 
use  of  my  doing  so  ?  The  die  is  cast,  and  things  must  take 
their  course.  We  shall  see  what  will  come  to  pass.  How- 
ever, as  far  as  you  arc  concerned,  do  not  fear  ;  no  harm  shall 
befall  you." 

When  the  King  returned  from  his  work  I  went  out  with 
my  fellow-captives  to  Avelcome  him.  He  told  us  that  he 
had  seen  through  a  telescope  some  baggage  and  elephants 
coming  down  the  Bashilo.  In  the  afternoon  he  sent  to  ask 
me  AA  hy  our  people  advanced  so  slowly. 

Early  on  the  9th  of  April  he  sent  me  compliments,  and 
then  went  to  see  to  the  defence  of  another  spot,  and  returned 
at  about  three  in  the  afternoon.  As  soon  as  he  entered  his 
tent  he  again  sent  to  tell  me  that  he  had  seen  more  baggage 
coming  down  tlie  valley,  and  had  noticed  small  wliite 
animals  with  it,  and  asked  if  I  could  tell  him  A^hat  they 
were.     I  said  they  might  be  Somali  sheep. 

When  the  native  prisoners,  570  in  number,  came  down 
after  us  from  Magdala,  on  the  Sth,  they  were  confined  in  my 
stables,  in  front  of  the  royal  household-establishment,  and 
our  mules  and  servants  were  turned  out  for  their  accom- 
modation. That  day,  the  Avholo  of  the  children  and  women, 
amounting  to  18G,  were  released,  together  with  thirty-seven 
Chiefs,  including  Kantiba  Hailo  and  Balambaras  Tasamma, 
the  Master  of  the  Horse.  The  day  following  he  ordered  the 
remainder  to  be  released,  excepting  a  few  political  prisoners. 
By  1  r.M.  ninety-five  more  prisoners  had  been  released,  and 
as  tlie  process  of  opening  the  chains  was  rather  slow,  owing 
to  the  few  hands  told  off  to  the  work,  those  who  were  still 
unshackled  became  somewhat  imf)atient.  On  hearing  this 
Theodore  fell  into  a  rage,  saying,  "  Do  these  people  think 
they  can  oblige  me  to  strike  off  their  chains  ?  "  and  rushed 


1868.  April.  SLAUGHTER  OF  PRISONERS.  315 

out  in  a  frenzy,  sword  in  Land,  and  called  to  his  soldiers  to 
follow  him  to  the  quarters  of  the  native  prisoners.  A  friendly- 
courtier  came  running  to  me,  and  said,  "The  King  has 
gone  to  make  a  general  slaughter  of  the  captives ;  tell  your 
people  to  remain  in  their  tents  and  keep  quiet." 

The  King  had  not  been  away  ten  minutes  before  we  heard 
the  discharge  of  musketry,  which  lasted  till  6-30  p.m.     The 
place  of  execution  was  not  more  than  200  yards  from  our 
encampment.      The    unfortunate    prisoners    were    dragged 
before  him,  one  by  one ;  and  after  the  name  and  offence  of 
the  individual  had  been  repeated,  he  ordered  the  victim  to 
be  thrown  over  the  precipice.     Those  who  did  not  die  by  the 
fall  were  to  be  shot  by  the  3Iusketeers,  who  had  been  sent 
below  for  the  purpose.     After  this  indiscriminate  slaughter 
had  continued  for  two  hours  the  King  cooled  doAvn,  and  said 
*'  Enough ; "  not,  however,  until  he  had  caused  the  destruc- 
tion of  no  less  than  197  hapless  victims,  only  thirty-five  of 
whom   had    committed   any  crime — the   rest   having  been 
confined   for   trivial   offences,  or    lor   having    incurred   the 
royal  disj^leasure  by  laughing  amongst  themselves  when  the 
King  was  in  a  bad  temper.     I'ngada  Wark  had  been  im- 
prisoned for  losing  a  rifle,  and  for  being  unable  to  pay  the 
price   at  which  Theodore  had  valued   it.     AVhen  brought 
before  his  master  he  said,  "Have  I  not  served  you  faithfully? 
Why  do  you  kill  me?"     "Hurl  the  villain   down!     Have 
you   not    brought  the   Franks   on   me?"   was    the   savage 
rejoinder.     One  of  the  most  innocent  of  the  victims  was  a 
youth,  named   Kiduna  Miiryam,  who  had  been  one  of  the 
King's  pages,  and  had  frequently  been  sent  to  me  with  his 
Majesty's  compliments.     He  had  dared  to  laugh  while  con- 
versing with   one   Zaudi,   of  tlie   royal   body-guard,  when 
Theodore  was  out  of  humour.     Zaudi  also  was  executed  on 


31G  THE  FALL  OF  THEODOrj-:.  CuAr.  XXA'L 

this  occasion,  simply  because  a  musket  which  he  had  loaded 
for  the  King  missed  fire  when  the  latter  attempted  to  dis- 
cliarge  it  at  a  rebel  A\ho  was  deriding  him  at  a  distance. 

On  that  dreadful  afternoon  the  King,  in  my  opinion,  must 
have  been  quite  insane;  and  if  any  one  instance  goes  to 
prove  this  more  than  another  it  is  the  following.  Among 
the  unfortunate  prisoners  was  a  man  wlio  had  been  confined 
on  a  charge  of  having  attempted  to  take  liberties  with  one  of 
the  royal  concubines ;  and  as  Theodore  generally  made  the 
relatives  of  the  accused  jiarty  suffer  as  well  as  the  principal, 
he  ordered  two  lads,  between  twelve  and  fifteen  years  of  age, 
sons  of  the  offender,  to  be  imprisoned  Avith  their  father.  Soon 
after  the  King  had  commenced  the  slaughter,  these  unhappy 
boys  were  dragged  before  him,  and  on  being  apprised  that 
they  were  the  offspring  of  the  man  who  had  misbehaved 
himself,  as  aforesaid,  his  Majesty  shouted  out,  "  Away  with 
them  ! "  whereupon  they  were  instantly  hurled  down  the 
precipice  and  dashed  to  pieces.  When  the  father  of  the 
two  boys  ^^■as  produced,  Theodore's  rage  had  somewhat  sub- 
sided, and  after  hearing  the  culprit's  crime  rehearsed  by  the 
proper  officer,  he  said,  "  Open  his  chains  and  let  him  go." 

That  indiscriminate  carnage  disgusted  the  troops  more 
than  anything  that  had  occurred  before,  as  a  great  number  of 
them  had  to  assist  either  in  the  destruction  of  a  relative  or 
friend.  Courage  to  resist  they  had  none ;  they  could  only 
bewail  their  misery  in  the  darkness  of  the  night,  out  of  the 
hearing  of  eavesdroppers. 

Very  early  next  morning  (Good  Friday,  the  lUth  April) 
the  King  sent  to  bid  me  go  up  at  once  to  Magdala,  with 
my  eight  fellow-captives,  j\[rs.  Eosenthal  being  now  added  to 
our  number.  That  Theodore  was  in  an  awful  mood  was 
evident  from  another  mcssatre  which  I  then  received  from 


1868.  AruiL.        SIR  EGBERT  XAPIER'S  LETTER.  317 

liim.  I  liatl  repeatedly  advised  him  to  communicate  Avitb 
Sir  Eobert  Napier,  but  be  gave  no  beod  to  wliat  I  said.  He 
now  sent  to  say,  '*  Do  you  want  rae  to  a\  rite  to  that  man  ?  No, 
I  will  do  no  sucb  tbing,  inasmucb  as  be  bas  been  sent  by  a 
uoman." 

As  we  were  starting,  on  our  way  back  to  Magdala,  a  letter 
reacbed  me  from  Sir  Eobert  Napier,  addressed  to  tbe  King  ; 
■whereupon  I  sent  immediately  to  ask  his  Majesty's  permis- 
sion to  forward  it  to  him,  \a  itb  tbe  messenger.  He  returned 
me  an  indignant  answer,  saying  that  he  did  not  wish  to 
see  either  tbe  letter  or  the  bearer,  warning  me  at  tbe  same 
time  against  communicating  with  the  camp.  "  If  you  write 
to  them,"  (the  British),  he  said,  "  my  friendship  with  you  will 
be  at  an  end,  and  the  blood  of  tbe  messenger  who  carries  your 
missive  will  be  on  your  head.     Beware !  " 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  Sir  Eobert  Napier's  letter 
above  referred  to,  as  published  in  the  Abyssinian  '  Blue- 
Book:'— 

"From  etc.,  &c.,  to  King  Theodoras. 

"  By  command  of  the  Queen  of  England  I  am  approaching 
Miigdala  with  my  army,  in  order  to  recover  from  your  bauds 
Envoy  Russam,  Consul  Cameron,  Dr.  Blanc,  Lieutenant  Prideaux, 
and  the  other  Europeans  now  in  your  ^lajesty's  power. 

"  I  request  your  Majesty  to  send  them  to  my  camp,  as  soon 
as  it  is  sufficiently  near  to  admit  of  their  coming  in  safety." 

On  that  morning  all  the  troops,  botli  at  Magdala  and 
Salamge,  were  ordered  to  assemble,  and  only  fifty  men  were 
left  to  guard  the  fortress — thirty  over  the  native  prisoners, 
and  twenty  at  the  gates.  When  the  King  was  asked  who  was 
to  guard  tlio  European  captives,  be  replied,  "  Is  not  Mr. 
Uassam  there  ?  He  is  quite  sullicient."  For  all  that,  our 
old  warders  watched  us  very  strictly  that  day,  and  we  could 


318  THE  FALL  OF  THEODORE.  Cuap.  XXYL 

neither  laiigli  nor  talk  -without  their  saying,  "Hush!  you 
will  vex  his  Majesty."  A  little  after  noon  Me  heard  that  the 
British  troops  had  reached  A'roge,  and  were  taking  up  a 
position  on  different  hillocks  around  Magdala.  About  3  p.m. 
it  was  rumoured  that  the  King  had  taken  the  great  body  of 
his  troops,  and  had  gone  to  attack  the  advanced  guard  of  our 
army.  AYe  heard  continual  firing  for  nearly  two  hours  after, 
but  could  not  determine  w^hether  the  Abyssinians  were  only 
makinjr  a  demonstration — as  is  their  wont  on  similar  occa- 
sions — or  were  regularly  engaged  with  our  troops.  The  gates 
of  the  fortress  had  been  closed,  and  no  communication  was 
allowed  between  Salamge  and  Magdala  until  the  morning. 
We  retired  to  sleep,  therefore,  uncertain  whether  the  King 
had  actually  attacked  the  British  force,  or  had  merely 
feigned  to  do  so. 

At  10-30  P.M.,  however,  I  Avas  awoke  from  a  sound  sleep 
by  Aito  Samuel,  who  told  me  that  Messrs.  Flad  and  Wald- 
meier  had  come  to  me  with  a  message  from  the  King.  I 
immediately  called  them  in,  when  they  delivered  the  follow- 
ing communication  from  the  King : — "  How  have  you  passed 
the  day  ?  Thank  God,  I  am  well.  I,  being  a  Iving,  could 
not  allow  people  to  come  and  fight  me  without  attacking 
them  first.  I  have  done  so,  and  my  troops  have  been  beaten. 
I  thought  your  people  were  women,  but  I  find  they  are  men. 
They  fought  very  bravely.  Seeing  that  I  am  unable  to 
cope  with  them,  I  must  ask  you  to  reconcile  me  to  them." 
To  this  I  replied  tliat  I  was  now  powerless,  as  hostilities  had 
already  commenced ;  I  could  only  send  one  of  my  com- 
panions, Lieutenant  Prideaux,  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  to 
see  what  could  bo  done.  I  advised  his  IMajesty,  at  the  same 
tim(.',  to  send  an  Abyssinian  of  high  rank  on  his  part,  and  to 
allow  Mr.  Flad  to    accompany  them,  he   being  a   mutual 


18GS.   Arrai..     COMMISSION  SENT  TO  BRITISH  CAMP.  319 

frieud.  I  owe  it  to  Lieutenant  Prideaux  to  state  that  be 
accepted  the  proposed  duty  most  willingly. 

At  dawn  the  following  morning,  the  11th,  Mr.  Flad  re- 
turned, and  informed  me  that  the  King  concurred  in  my 
jjroposal,  and  begged  me  to  do  as  I  had  suggested  ;  where- 
upon Lieutenant  Prideaux  accompanied  Mr.  Flad  to  the 
King.  His  Majesty  appointed  Dajjaj  'Alami,  a  Chief  who 
had  married  his  favourite  consort's  daughter,  to  go  with 
them,  and  then  sent  them  off  to  the  British  camp. 

I  had  dispatched  Dasta,  one  of  my  interpreters,  with 
Lieutenant  Prideaux,  thinking  that  he  might  prove  useful  to 
him  on  the  road,  or  with  the  King,  When  bis  Majesty  saw 
him  he  approved  of  his  appointment,  but  ordered  him  to 
return  to  him  as  soon  as  the  Commission  had  been  received 
by  the  British  authorities,  and  give  an  account  of  their 
reception.  When  they  all  left,  the  King  went  up  to  Salasse, 
and  watched  their  movements  through  a  telescope.  Dasta 
returned  about  noon  and  informed  the  King,  who  was  still 
sitting  on  Sahisse,  of  the  handsome  reception  accorded  to 
his  Chief.  Whereupon  his  Majesty  told  him  to  come  and 
communicate  the  happy  tidings  to  me.  After  that,  I  heard 
nothing  more,  except  that  the  King  bad  worked  himself  into 
a  fearful  mood  on  the  return  of  the  Commissioners,  and  bad 
sent  Messrs.  Prideaux  and  Flad  back  to  Sir  Robert  Napier, 
witli   an  angrv  letter,*  and  had    refused    to  send  bis  own 


*  The  following  aro  copies  of  the  letters  wliich  passed  on  this  occasion 
l)ct\veeii  the  Commaudcr-in-Chicf  and  King  Theodore,  as  published  in  the 
« lUue-Books :  '— 

"  Copy  of  Letter  from  Sm  II.  Napier  to  Tuf.odore,  dated  ^British  Cam2\ 
Affajo,  11//*  April,  18G8,*'  se7it  in  reply  to  the  Verbal  Messaye  hrouijhl 
hy  LiKUTENAXT  Trideaux,  Mr.  Flad,  and  the  Dajazmaj  Alamee, 
the  So)i-in-Law  of  the  King. 

"  YoL'R  Majesty  has  fought  like  a  brave  man,  and  has  been  overcome  by 
the  superior  power  of  the  British  Army. 


320  THE  FALL  OF  TllEODOllE.  Chap,  XXVL 

deputy,  Dajjcij  'Alami,  again  to  our  camp,  as  he  was  against 
coming  to  any  terms.     The  Dajjaj  advised  him  to  resort  to 


"  It  is  my  desire  that  no  move  blood  may  be  shed.  If,  therefore,  your 
Majesty  ^vill  submit  to  the  Queen  of  England,  and  bring  all  the  Europeans 
now  in  your  Majesty's  hands,  and  deliver  them  safely,  this  day,  in  the 
British  Camp,  I  guarantee  honourable  treatment  for  yourself,  and  all  the 
members  of  your  Majesty's  family." 

KixG  Theodore  to  Sir  Egbert  Napier. 

'■^Delivered  ly  Lieut.  Prideaiix  and  the  Dajaz  Alamie  on  \lth  Aj^ril,  1868. 

"  (Note,  without  superscription,  seal,  signature,  or  date.  Along  with  it 
was  returned  the  Commander-in-Chief's  letter  of  that  morning,  in  which 
the  King  was  called  upon  to  submit.) 

"In  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost — one 
God  in  His  Trinity  and  His  Unity. 

"  Kassa,  whose  trust  is  in  Christ,  thus  speaks : — 

"0  people  of  Abyssinia,  will  it  always  he  thus  that  you  flee  before  the 
enemy,  when  I  myself,  by  the  power  of  God,  go  not  forth  with  you  to 
encourage  you  ? 

"  Believing  that  all  power  had  been  given  to  me,  I  had  established  my 
Christian  people  in  this  heathen  spot.  In  my  city  are  multitudes  whom 
I  have  fed :  maidens  protected  and  maidens  unprotected ;  women  whom 
yesterday  made  widows ;  and  aged  parents  who  have  no  children.  God 
has  given  you  the  power.  Sec  that  you  forsake  not  these  people.  It  is  a 
heathen  land. 

"  My  countrymen  have  turned  their  backs  on  me  and  have  liated  me, 
because  I  imposed  tribute  on  them,  and  sought  to  bring  them  under 
military  discipline.  You  liave  prevailed  against  me  by  means  of  people 
brought  into  a  state  of  discipline. 

"  !My  followers  who  loved  me  were  frightened  by  one  Inillct,  and  fled  in 
.spite  of  my  commands.  When  you  defeated  them  I  w;is  not  with  the 
fugitives. 

"  Believing  myself  to  be  a  great  Lord  I  gave  you  battle ;  but,  by  reason 
of  the  worthlessness  of  my  artillcr}-^,  all  my  pains  were  as  nought. 

"  The  people  of  my  country,  by  taunting  mc  with  having  embraced  the 
religion  of  the  Franks,  and  by  saying  that  I  had  become  a  Musalman,  and 
in  ten  different  ways,  had  provoked  me  to  anger  against  them.  Out  of 
what  I  have  done  of  evil  towards  them  may  God  bring  good.  His  will  be 
done.  I  had  intended,  if  God  had  so  decreed,  to  conquer  the  whole  world ; 
and  it  was  my  desire  to  die  if  my  purpose  could  not  be  fulfilled.  Since 
the  day  of  my  birth  till  now  no  man  has  dared  to  lay  hand  on  me.    "When- 


1868.  April.  SUMMONED  TO  SALAMGE.  321 

friendly  measures,  as  there  was  notbing  to  be  gained  by 
fighting  the  English.  The  only  answer  he  elicited  was  that 
he  should  hold  his  tongue. 

About  4  P.M.  the  old  and  new  Commandants  of  Magdala 
came  to  me,  A\ith  dejected  countenances,  to  say  that  the 
King  their  master  had  sent  them  to  tell  me  to  go  down  to 
the  British  camj)  and  take  all  my  fellow-captives  with  me. 
Every  Abyssinian  who  was  apj)rised  of  the  royal  mandate 
came  running  Avith  melancholy  faces  to  see  the  upshot,  as 
the  general  opinion  was  that  the  King  meant  to  have  us 
massacred  on  the  road,  or  to  keep  us  close  prisoners  until  he 
had  come  to  terms  with  the  Commander-in-Chief.  If  he  had 
really  entertained  any  such  design  he  was  induced  to  change 
his  mind  when  we  met — probably  in  the  hope  that  by  sending 
me  at  once  to  our  camp  be  would  secure  peace.  Had  the 
idea  ever  occurred  to  him  that  he  would  be  required  to 
surrender  himself  a  prisoner,  he  would  assuredly  have  had 
us  cut  to  pieces  rather  than  give  us  up. 

As  soon  as  Samuel  heard  the  Chiefs'  communication  he 
said  to  me,  "  I  advise  you,  Mr.  Eassam,  not  to  attempt  to  go 
to  your  camp  before  seeing  the  King."  I  rej)lied  that  I 
must  do  so,  as  his  Majesty  had  not  expressed  a  desire  to 
see  me.  "At  all  events,"  he  said,  '-'send  and  obtain  permis- 
sion from  the  King,  and  say  that  you  could  not  think  of 
leaving  for  your  camp  without  wishing  him  farewell,  and 
thanking  him  for  his  kindness  and  civility."     I  rejoined  that 


ever  my  soldiers  began  to  waver  in  battle,  it  was  mine  to  arise  and  rally 
tbem.     Last  night  the  darkness  hindered  mc  from  doing  so. 

"  Your  people  who  have  passed  the  night  in  joy  ;  may  God  not  do  imto 
you  as  he  has  done  to  me.  I  had  hoped,  after  subduing  all  my  enemies  in 
Abyssinia,  to  lead  my  anny  against  Jerusalem,  and  expel  front  it  the 
Turks.  A  warrior  who  has  dandled  strong  men  in  his  arms  like  infanta 
will  never  suffer  himself  to  be  dandled  in  the  anus  of  others." 

VOL.  II.  Y 


322  THE  FALL  OF  THEODORE.  Chap.  XXVL 

he  (Samuel)  knew  very  well  that  ever  since  my  arrival  in 
Abyssinia  I  had  never  taken  the  initiative  in  such  cases,  and 
that  at  that  critical  juncture  especially  I  could  not  do  so,  as 
his  Majesty  might  easily  have  sent  for  me,  had  he  wished  to 
see  me  before  I  went  away.  Samuel  then  went  and  spoke 
to  the  Chiefs  who  had  brought  me  the  message  and  were 
waiting  to  , escort  me  and  my  fellow-captives.  They  both 
urged  me  to  take  Samuel's  advice.  I  told  them  that  they 
knew  theii*  master's  temper,  and  that  if  I  sent  to  him  myself 
and  asked  for  an  interview  he  might  take  it  amiss  and 
become  furious ;  but,  if  they  liked.  Dr.  Blanc  and  I  would 
put  on  our  uniforms  and  be  ready  to  appear  before  the  King, 
should  he  express  a  wish  to  see  us. 

The  reason  why  Samuel  and  the  Commandants  of  Magdala 
were  so  anxious  that  I  should  see  Theodore  before  going  to 
the  British  camp  was  this : — All  the  Chiefs  and  courtiers 
who  knew  the  footiuG:  on  which  I  had  been  with  the  Kin^ 
were  impressed  with  the  idea  that  my  meeting  him  would 
suflice  to  allay  the  royal  anger;  and  as  on  this  particular 
occasion  every  Abyssinian  fully  expected  that  we  should 
be  put  to  death,  the  above-named  individuals  judged  that 
the  only  way  to  avert  our  doom  was  to  bring  about  an  inter- 
view between  me  and  their  Sovereign,  which  they  eventually 
effected,  at  great  personal  risk. 

As  our  tlu'ce  friendly  advisers  concurred  in  the  suggested 
arrangement.  Dr.  Blanc  and  I  dressed  in  uniform  and  went 
to  Salamge,  with  our  fellow-captives.  Consul  Cameron, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Stern,  ]\[r.  and  Mrs.  Eosenthal,  and  Messrs. 
Kerans  and  Pietro.  As  soon  as  we  descended  from  the  fortress 
a  follower  of  Ras  Bisawwir,  the  ex-Commandant  of  j\ragdala, 
came  running  to  that  Chief  with  orders  from  the  King  to 
take  me  to  him,  if  I  wished  to  see  him ;  his  Majesty  would 


1SG8.  April.  A  LAST  INTERVIEW.  323 

see  me  only,  and  none  of  my  fellow-captives  were  to  accom- 
pany me.  I  then  discovered  that,  although  I  had  refused  to 
send  to  the  King,  the  Chiefs  had  agreed  to  do  so  themselves, 
and  had  sent  to  say  that  I  had  expressed  a  wish  to  see  him, 
and  to  thank  him  for  his  kindness.  I  was  accordingly  sepa- 
rated from  my  fellow-captives  and  taken  to  the  Sovereign.  I 
had  scarcely  \\alked  fifty  yards  when  Mr.  Waldmeier  came 
to  warn  me  agamst  taking  any  of  my  fellow-captives  with  me 
into  his  Majesty's  presence,  as  he  would  not  see  any  one  but 
me.  We  then  walked  on  towards  the  spot  where  the  King 
was  said  to  be  awaiting  me.  I  found  him  standing  at  the 
junction  of  the  upper  and  lower  roads  loading  to  the  British 
camp,  with  about  twenty  picked  ^Musketeers  around  him,  and 
his  European  artisans  in  attendance.  (See  Plan,  p.  227).  On 
seeing  me  he  asked  how  I  had  passed  the  day,  and  beckoned 
to  me  with  his  hand  to  approach.  On  my  coming  uj)  to  him  he 
looked  towards  the  sun,  and  said  abruptly,  "  Do  you  not  think 
it  is  late  for  you  to  go  this  afternoon  to  your  camp  ?  Would 
you  rather  go  at  once  or  spend  the  night  with  me,  and  in 
the  morning  I  will  send  you  straight  to  your  people  ? "  I 
answered  that  whatever  pleased  his  Majesty  pleased  me.  He 
then  said,  "  Good ;  you  had  better  go  now ;  but,"  he  added, 
*'  sit  down  for  a  short  time,  and  let  me  have  a  few  words 
A\  itli  you  before  you  depart."  After  I  had  seated  myself  on 
the  ground  near  him,  he  said,  "  You  know,  3Ir.  Rassam,  that 
you  and  I  have  always  been  on  good  terms.  God  knows 
your  heart,  but,  as  far  as  I  am  concerned,  I  have  always  had 
a  sincere  regard  for  you.  It  is  true  that  I  have  behaved  ill 
to  you,  but  that  was  through  the  conduct  of  bad  men.  How- 
ever, the  past  cannot  bo  helped  now,  and,  I  can  only  say, 
God's  will  be  done.  I  want  you  to  bear  this  in  mind — that 
unless  you  bci'riend  me,  I  shall  cither  kill  myself  or  become  a 

Y  2 


321  THE  FALL  OF  THEODORE.  Chap.  XXVL 

monk.  Now,  good-bye ;  it  is  getting  late ;  try  and  come 
to  see  me  to-morrow,  if  you  can."  I  then  thanked  him  for 
his  kindness,  and  said,  "  I  will  come  to  see  your  Majesty,  if 
possible."  He  asked  again,  *'  Will  you  come  to-morrow  ?  "  I 
replied  that  it  all  depended  upon  the  orders  of  the  Commander- 
in-Chief.  He  then  rose,  shook  hands  with  me,  wept  and 
said,  "  Farewell ;  be  quick,  it  is  getting  late."  I  rejoined, 
"I  thank  your  Majesty;  but  my  companions  are  behind." 
His  only  answer  was — and  these  words  were  the  last  I  heard 
from  his  lips — "  You  had  better  go."  I  Avas  now  anxious 
about  my  fellow-captives,  and  after  walking  on  a  few  paces  I 
stopped.  The  King  was  still  standing  on  a  rock,  surrounded 
by  his  Musketeers,  and  holding  a  double-barrelled  rifle  in  his 
hands.  When  he  saw  me  stop  and  look  round,  he  motioned 
me  with  his  hand  to  go  on.  My  fears  then  began  to  in- 
crease; still  I  apprehended  that  if  I  said  anything  we  should 
all  be  shot  down,  so  I  proceeded  a  few  ste2:)s  farther  and 
stood  still,  when,  to  my  intense  joy,  I  saw  my  fellow-captives 
coming  down  the  hill  towards  me.  As  soon  as  they  joined 
me  we  went  on  towards  our  camp,  but  did  not  feel  safe  until 
we  were  within  our  pickets,  knowing  that  the  fickle  Theodore 
might  have  recalled  us  at  any  moment.  Before  I  parted 
with  the  King  he  ordered  Da^ijaj  'Alami,  Aito  Samuel,  and 
Messrs.  Waldmeier,  Salmiiller,  Mayer  and  Moritz  to  escort 
me  to  our  camp.  Soon  after  I  left,  I  dispatched  Mr.  Mayer 
in  advance,  to  notify  our  approach,  and  also  to  stop  Messrs. 
Prideanx  and  Flad,  in  case  they  were  on  their  way  back. 
Luckily,  he  arrived  just  in  time  to  detain  them,  or  they  might 
have  started  for  Salamge  and  missed  us  in  the  dark. 

Some  officers  who  were  on  guard  conducted  us  to  Sir 
Eobert  Napier's  tent,  on  the  outside  of  which  we  were  cor- 
dially received  by  his  Excellency  and  Colonel  Mcrewcther. 


1868.  April.  THE  PROFFERED  PRESENT.  325 

The  latter  welcomed  us  with  his  usual  kindness,  and,  feeling 
as  I  did  how  deeply  indebted  all  the  liberated  captives  were 
to  his  assiduous  sympathy  and  valuable  assistance  from  first 
to  last,  I  was  rejoiced  to  have  this  early  occasion  of  express- 
ing my  gratitude  for  his  unwearied  exertions  on  our  behalf. 
Without  Colonel  Merewether's  foresight  and  zealous  coopera- 
tion, our  misfortunes  might  have  come  to  a  widely  different 
tenniuation. 

The  King  having  asked  me  to  go  up  and  see  him  again,  I 
communicated  his  wish  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  who,  of 
course,  objected  to  my  placing  myself  once  more  in  jeopardy, 
and  thereby  adding  to  the  existing  complications. 

On  the  morning  of  Easter  Sunday,  the  12th  of  April, 
Theodore  wrote  a  letter  of  apology,  containing  tlic  offer  of  a 
present  of  cows  and  sheep,  and  sent  it  by  Alaka  I'ugada,  his 
chief  Aniharic  scribe,  with  instructions  to  come  to  me,  in 
order  that  1  might  accompany  him  to  Sir  Robert  Napier. 
The  following  is  a  translation  of  this  remarkable  document, 
copied  from  the  Abyssinian  '  Blue-liook : ' — 

"  In  the  name  of  the  Father,  of  the  Sou,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost — one  Lord : 

"  Tlie  King  of  Kings,  Theodorus : 

"  May  it  reach  the  beloved  servant  of  the  Great  Queen  of 
England. 

"  I  am  writing  to  you,  without  being  able  to  address  you  by 
name,  because  our  intercourse  has  arisen  so  unexpectedly. 

''  1  am  grieved  at  having  sent  you  my  writing  of  3'esterday, 
and  at  having  quarrelled  with  you,  my  fi-iend.  When  I  saw 
your  manner  of  figliting,  and  the  discipline  of  your  army,  and 
when  my  people  failed  to  execute  my  orders,  then  I  was  con- 
sumed with  sorrow  to  think  that  although  1  killed  and  punished 
my  soldiers,  yet  they  woidd  not  return  to  the  battle.  Whilst 
the  fire  of  jealousy  burned  witliin  me,  Satan  came  to  me  in  the 
night,  and  tempted  me  to  kill  myself  with  my  own  pistol.     But, 


326  THE  FALL  OF  THEODORE.  Chap.  XXVI. 

reflecting  that  God  would  be  angry  with  me  if  I  were  to  go  in 
this  manner,  and  leave  my  army  without  a  protector,  I  sent  to 
you  in  a  hurry,  lest  I  might  die,  and  all  things  be  in  confusion 
before  my  message  should  reach  you.  After  my  messenger  had 
gone  I  cocked  my  pistol,  and,  putting  it  to  my  mouth,  pulled 
the  trigger.  Though  I  pulled  and  pulled,  yet  it  would  not  go 
off.  But  when  my  people  rushed  upon  mo,  and  laid  hold  of 
the  pistol,  it  was  discharged  just  as  they  had  drawn  it  from  my 
mouth.  God  having  thus  signified  to  me  that  I  should  not  die, 
but  live,  I  sent  to  you  Mr.  Kassam  that  same  evening,  that  your 
heart  might  be  made  easy. 

"  To-day  is  Easter ;  be  pleased  to  let  mo  send  a  few  cows 
to  you. 

"  The  reason  of  my  returning  to  you  your  letter  yesterday 
was,  that  I  believed  at  that  time  that  we  should  meet  one  another 
in  heaven,  but  never  on  earth. 

"  I  let  the  night  pass  without  sending  for  the  body  of  my 
friend  Fitaurari  Gabrte,  because  I  thought  that  after  my  death 
we  should  both  be  buried  together ;  but  since  I  have  lived,  be 
pleased  to  allow  him  to  be  buried. 

"  You  require  from  me  all  the  Europeans,  even  to  my  best 
friend,  Waldmeier.  Well,  be  it  so.  They  shall  go.  But  now 
that  we  are  friends  you  must  not  leave  me  without  artisans,  as 
I  am  a  lover  of  the  mechanical  arts." 

On  receiving  this  commimieation  I  went  to  Colonel  Mere- 
wether,  and  we  repaired  to  the  Commander-in-Chiefs  tent 
together,  when  I  was  requested  by  Sir  Robert  Napier  to  give 
him  a  literal  translation  of  the  letter.  With  the  assistance 
of  Samuel,  who  rendered  the  Amharic  into  Arabic,  I  trans- 
lated t]jo  \\h()lo  into  English,  sentence  by  sentence.  That 
done,  Samuel — who  had  been  ordered  by  Theodore  to  return 
with  the  answer,  and  then  to  assist  in  bringing  down  the 
European  artisans  and  their  families — wished  to  know  what 
reply  he  was  to  carry  back  to  the  King  respecting  the  prof- 
fered present  of  sheep  and  cows.  On  my  rejDeating  this 
question  to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  his  Excellency  said,  "  I 


1868.   April.  WAS  THEODORE  DECEIVED  ?  327 

accept  tliem ; "   and  that  was  the  message  which  I  gave  to 
Samuel. 

A  little  before  sunset  that  evening,  all  the  European 
artisans,  with  their  wives  and  families  and  the  whole  of 
their  effects,  arrived  safely  in  the  British  Camp,  the  King 
having  given  them  permission  to  leave  Magdala  immediately 
after  he  received  the  Commander-in-Chief's  message.  A 
little  after  sunset,  Samuel  came  to  the  British  camp  and 
informed  me  that  the  King  had  ordered  him  to  go  up  to 
Magdala  and  bring  down  our  effects,  and  had  also  given  him 
permission  at  the  same  time  to  remove  his  family  and  all 
his  belongings  from  Magdala  to  our  camp.  This  last  offer 
Samuel  thought  it  advisable  to  decline,  fearing  that  by 
accepting  it  he  might  create  suspicion  in  the  King's  mind, 
who  might  be  irritated  on  finding  that  every  one  wished 
to  leave  him.  The  King  insisted,  however,  on  his  coming  to 
our  camp  in  charge  of  my  moveables  and  those  of  my 
companions,  and  also  to  convey  his  compliments  to  me. 
His  Majesty's  words  were,  "How  are  you,  my  friend?  I 
hope  you  are  well.  I  know  you  have  no  longer  any  power ; 
so  do  not  think  about  me.  God's  will  be  done."  This  was 
the  last  message  I  received  from  Theodore.  At  a  quarter 
past  four  in  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day  I  saw  him 
dead.  He  had  committed  suicide  in  the  jiresence  of  his 
valet,  Wald-Gabir,  who  told  me  that  his  master  shot  himself 
just  as  our  troops  reached  the  second  gate. 

It  has  been  insinuated  from  more  quarters  than  one,  that 
Theodore  was  deceived  with  regard  to  the  reply  sent  to 
his  proffered  gift  of  sheep  and  cattle,  and  tliat  I  was  the 
author  of  the  deception.  It  is  not  within  my  province  to  dis- 
cuss the  former  question;  the  latter  I  utterly  deny.  Even 
when  a  prisoner  with  the  King,  I  never  gave  him  any  reason 


328  THE  FALL  OF  THEODORE.  CnAP.  XXVI. 

to  believe  that  I  could  shield  him  from  the  consequences  of 
his  obstinacy;  on  the  contrary,  I  assured  him  again  and 
again  that,  Avith  our  troops  in  the  field,  his  fate  rested  in 
other  hands  than  mine.  In  the  matter  of  the  present,  I 
acted  as  I  was  bound  to  act,  on  superior  authority,  and  was 
merely  the  channel  through  which  the  Commander-in-Chief's 
message  was  delivered  to  the  King's  officer.  The  innuendo 
referred  to,  however,  was  only  one  among  several  disparaging 
strictures  on  my  conduct  which  obtained  currency  imme- 
diately after  my  release  from  captivity.  Such  ungenerous 
reflections  were  hard  to  bear,  under  the  circumstances ;  but 
Time  is  the  great  rej)airer  of  injuries,  and,  moreover,  I  have 
the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  they  had  respect  to  matters 
far  too  trivial  to  be  repeated  here,  and  were  either  utterly 
unfounded,  or  based  on  words  and  actions  which  were  grossly 
distorted. 


"i 


1868.  April.  329 


CHAPTEE    XXYII. 


ALLS   WELL   THAT   ENDS   WELL. 

Narrative  of  events  between  the  11th  and  13tli  April,  18G8  —  Dispatch  of 
the  proffered  cattle  to  the  British  camp  —  Theodore's  imjiression  that 
hostilities  were  at  an  end  —  Mr.  Speedy  —  The  King  prepares  to  escape 
on  hearing  that  his  present  had  not  been  accepted  —  His  troops  decline 
to  accompany  him  —  Prepaits  for  defence  —  Is  abandoned  by  most  of 
his  followers  —  Some  of  the  Chiefs  surrender  themselves  to  Sir  Kobert 
Napier  —  Theodore  attacks  a  party  of  British  Cavalry — Ketreats  with 
a  handful  of  followers  and  secures  the  Gates  of  Magdala  —  The  fortress 
stormed  by  the  British  —  Theodore  shoots  himself — A  summary  of  his 
career  —  His  surviving  wives  and  children  —  Did  Theodore,  before  his 
death,  curse  the  Author? — Visit  to  Mdgdala  after  its  fall  —  The  Author 
charged  with  the  burial  of  Theodore  and  the  care  of  his  family  —  Dis- 
posal of  the  Chiefs  and  people  of  Magdala  —  Contrast  —  Divine  interven- 
tion—  The  Army  of  Eescue  —  Burial  of  Theodore  —  His  son,  'Alamayo, 
made  over  by  his  mother  to  the  care  of  the  British  —  Dismissal  of  the 
Magdala  Chiefs  —  The  Author  proceeds  to  Dalanta  with  the  royal  family 
—  Magdala  in  flames  —  Review  of  the  Expeditionary  force  —  Illness  and 
death  of  the  Queen  Tem-Wark  —  Dismissal  of  all  Abyssinian  followers 
at  Scnafe  —  Arrival  at  Zoolla  —  Journey  to  Europe  —  Dispersion  of  the 
late  European  Cai)tivc's  —  On  British  soil  once  more  —  Reception  by  old 
friends  —  Recognition  by  Government  of  the  services  and  sufferings  of 
the  Mission  to  Abyssinia  —  Conclusion. 

So  many  conflicting  accounts  have  been  given  of  \\hat  took 
place  at  the  royal  camp  ironi  the  afternoon  of  tbe  11th 
of  April,  when  I  took  leave  of  the  King,  until  the  morning  of 
the  loth,  that  the  reader  may  very  naturally  expect  to  hear 
my  version  of  tlic  subject.  Without  venturing  either  to 
impugn  or  reconcile  the  statements  of  other  writers,  I  shall 
give  a  brief  narrative  of  the  principal  events  which  occurred 
during  that  interval,  on  tlir  autliority  of  several  trustworthy 
persons  who  were  present  at  the  time. 


330  ALUS  WELL  THAT  ENDS  WELL.        Chap.  XXVIL 

After  the  King  had  dispatched  the  1,000  cows  and  500 
sheejj — they  were  all  he  possessed — to  Sir  Eobert  Napier, 
on  the  mistaken  idea  that  peace  had  been  initiated  between 
him  and  the  British,  he  seemed  quite  cheerful,  and  con- 
tinued so  throughout  the  greater  part  of  Sunday,  the  12th  of 
April,  and  allowed  all  his  European  artisans,  together  with 
their  fomilies  and  effects,  to  repair  to  our  camp.  He  had 
a2:)pointed  one  Agafari  IMashisha,  formerly  the  head  exe- 
cutioner but  whom  he  had  recently  raised  to  the  rank  of 
Dajazmatsh,  to  convey  the  live  stock  to  the  British  lines. 
This  man  was  stopped  at  the  outlying  pickets  and  kept  wait- 
ing there.  About  sunset  he  sent  a  messenger  to  his  master, 
stating  that  the  cattle  had  not  yet  been  taken  over,  and 
requesting  orders  as  to  Avhat  was  to  be  done,  as  the  animals 
were  likely  to  die  for  want  of  water.  He  also  reported  that 
"  Basha  Fallake "  (]\[r.  Speedy)  had  been  to  examine  the 
cattle,  but  had  not  told  him  whether  he  was  to  remain  or 
return.  As  soon  as  the  King  heard  the  name  of  Fallake, 
whom  he  always  called  an  "enemy,"  he  inferred  that  his 
visit  boded  him  no  good.  He  also  concluded,  from  the  fact 
of  the  cattle  having  been  kej)t  so  long  outside  the  camp 
Avithout  having  been  received  by  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
that  his  confident  anticipation  of  peace  was  doomed  to  be 
disappointed.  He  accordingly  began  to  make  preparations 
to  decamj),  and,  summoning  all  the  Chiefs  of  his  troops  on 
Salamge,  he  ordered  them  to  be  in  readiness  to  march  with 
him  during  the  night.  In  the  course  of  an  hour  he  was  told 
that  none  could  follow  him  that  night,  as  they  could  procure 
neither  animals  nor  carriers  to  transport  their  families  and 
effects  at  so  short  a  notice;  nevertheless,  about  two  hundred 
Chiefs  volunteered  to  accompany  him  at  once,  leaving  their 
families  behind.     As  this  did  not  satisfy  Theodore,  he  went 


1868.  April.  THEODOEE'S  LAST  EFFORTS.  331 

up  to  Magdala  and  issued  similar  orders  there,  stating  that 
lie  intended  starting  for  his  native  province  forthwith,  and  that 
they  would  be  able  to  reach  the  Jejaho  A^alley  next  morning, 
from  whence  they  might  proceed  onward  to  the  Lake,  with- 
out fear  of  molestation.     Thereupon   the  Chiefs   consulted 
with  their  men,  and  it  was  unanimously  resolved  to  disre- 
gard the  royal  mandate,  on   the   ground   that  for  want  of 
carriage  they  would  be  obliged  to  abandon  their  families — 
a   step  to  Avhich  they  had   the   strongest   objection.     They 
counselled  his  Majesty  at  the  same  time  to  come  to  terms 
with  the  invaders,  and  thereby  save  them  and  their  families 
from  the  destructive  devouring  fire  of  the  English,  which  all 
the  peojile  in  Abyssinia,  if  combined  against  them,  couhi  not 
extinguish.     The  King  then  upbraided  them  for  their  dis- 
loyalty and   cowardice;  they,  in  return,  blaming  him   for 
having   surrendered  me  and   my  fellow-captives  before  ex- 
acting favourable  conditions  from  the  British.     "Had  the 
European  captives  still  been  with  your  Majesty,"  they  argued, 
"you  might  have  revenged  upon  them  the  refusal  of  their 
brothers  to  accept  your  offers  of  peace,  and  thereby  have  made 
their  hearts  smart ;  as  it  is,  you  have  everything  to  lose.    We 
are  your  Majesty's  children  unto  death,  if  you  will  only  listen 
to  our  advice  and  come  to  terms  with  the  FrancJiotsh.'"    After 
this  incident,  Theodore  seated  himself  near  the  Salamge  Gate 
and  w  as  silent  for  about  two  hours.   He  then  ordered  Damash 
and  other  Chiefs  to  collect  four  hundred  men  to  assist  in  plac- 
ing some  mortars  on  the  road  leading  up  from  Salamge,  with 
the  evident  intention  of  making  a  show  of  defence,  in  the 
event  of  an  attack  l)y  the  British.    Ivas  Bi^awwir,  the  old  Com- 
mandant of  jMagdala,  returned  to  him  in  the  course  of  half  an 
hour,  and  reported  that  every  petty  Chief  both  of  the  old  and 
new  garrisons  had  sworn  tliat  they  would  not  stir  a  finger  in 


332  ALL'S  WELL  THAT  END'S  WELL.        Chap.  XXYIT. 

any  attempt  to  fight  the  English ;  bnt  that  if  ho  were  willing 
to  make  peace,  they  were  all  ready  to  go  before  the  great 
"  English  Eas,"  with  stones  on  their  necks,  and  sue  for 
23ardon.  Before  this  message  was  delivered  to  Theodore, 
some  of  the  highest  Chiefs,  including  Has  I'ngada,  consulted 
what  course  they  should  jiursue  in  case  the  King  took  it 
into  his  head  to  order  the  slaufrhtcr  of  some  individuals  of 
the  garrison,  with  the  object  of  intimidating  the  remainder 
into  obedience.  They  all  resolved,  and  sealed  the  deter- 
mination witli  a  solemn  oath,  that  they  would  disobey  any 
such  order,  cvcni  if  issued  against  one  of  the  common 
l^risoners;  and,  moreover,  that  they  would  thereupon  bind 
the  King,  if  necessary,  to  prevent  him  from  shedding  any 
more  innocent  blood.  Theodore  did  not  visit  his  family  at 
Magdala  on  this  occasion,  and  on  receiving  Kas  Bisawwir's 
answer  he  returned  to  Salamge,  saying  to  that  Chief  as  he 
left,  "Let  tliose  who  still  bear  me  any  attachment  follow 
me,  and  we  shall  see  what  assistance  is  to  be  got  below." 
Between  forty  and  fifty  Chiefs  accompanied  him,  and  towards 
dawn  he  set  about  his  absurd  ])roject  of  moving  some  mortars 
on  the  road  leading  up  to  Magdala ;  but  as  it  was  no  easy 
task  to  drag  such  heavy  pieces  of  artillery,  over  rocks  and 
stones,  uj)  a  steep  incline,  especially  as  only  a  few  hands 
could  be  got  together  to  co-operate  in  the  work,  he  even- 
tually abandoned  the  attempt,  and  reverted  to  the  former 
scheme  of  retiring  from  the  place,  lie  asked  those  who 
liad  come  down  with  him  from  Magdala,  whether  they  would 
accompany  him  if  he  Avent  to  Gishen,  and  from  thence 
make  their  way  to  Kwara,  by  the  safest  route.  On  receiv- 
ing an  affirnialivc  reply,  he  next  summoned  the  Chiefs  of 
the  troops  at  Salamge,  who  had  promised  the  day  before 
to  go  with  him,  if  he  wished  them  to  attend  him.     He  sent 


1S68.   April.        THEODORE  ATTACKS  THE  BRITISH.  333 

for  them  twice,  but  as  they  refused  to  come  he  left  and  re- 
turned to  Magdala,  to  try  his  luck  there  once  more.  In  the 
mean  time,  some  of  the  foremost  Chiefs  at  Salamge,  thinking 
that  Tlieodore  was  about  to  retreat  with  tlie  Chiefs  who  had 
gone  up  with  him  to  Magdala,  hurried  off  to  the  British 
camp  and  surrendered  themselves  to  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
proflering  at  the  same  time  the  submission  of  all  the  royal 
troops  on  Salamge.  The  King,  on  the  other  hand,  having 
tried  in  vain,  for  the  space  of  an  hour,  to  obtain  more  help 
from  Magdala  to  enable  him  to  move  the  mortars  and  make 
a  better  defence,  returned  to  Salamge,  at  his  wit's  end  what 
course  to  pursue.  To  his  chagrin,  he  found  the  soldiers  there, 
on  whose  loyalty  he  had  implicitly  relied,  hurrying  from 
their  huts  towards  the  British  lines  at  A'ro^e.  Nothinjr 
daunted,  however,  by  tliis  sore  mortification,  he  set  to  work, 
heart  and  soul,  with  his  few  remaining  adherents,  in  plac- 
ing the  mortars  in  a  good  position  for  defence  below  the 
Salamge  Gate.  "While  engaged  on  tliis  bootless  undertaking, 
he  espied  some  cavalry  belonging  to  Sir  Charles  Staveley's 
division  on  the  height  of  Salasse.  Thereupon  the  King  im- 
mediately abandoned  the  work,  mounted  his  horse,  and  set 
off  towards  that  point,  calling  upon  his  party  to  follow  him 
and  die  fighting.  Most  of  his  people,  however,  deeminf>" 
that  they  would  be  safer  in  ]\ragdala,  deserted  him  and  re- 
turned to  the  fortress,  only  twelve  persons  accompanying 
him,  including  Kas  rngada,  Bitwiiddad  Ilasani,  Eas  Barrako, 
and  A\'ald-Gubir,  the  royal  valet.  AVhile  Theodore  was  gallop- 
ing about  and  challenging  our  troops  to  single  combat,  one 
of  his  party  was  shot  in  the  arm,  which  induced  the  rest  to 
entreat  his  Majesty  to  relinquish  the  rash  demonstration  and 
return  to  the  defence  of  i\Iagdala.  On  reaching  the  fortress, 
he  again  appealed  to  the  garrison  to  assist  him  in  defend- 


3^4  ALL'S  WELL  THAT  ENDS  WELL.        Chap.  XXVIL 

ing  it;  but  all  his  solicitations  Averc  in  vain.  He  succeeded, 
however,  in  securing  the  help  of  Kus  Bisawwir  and  Bitwaddad 
Damash,  and  their  relatives,  to  pile  huge  stones  behind  the 
wooden  gates ;  but  before  the  task  was  accomj)lished  the 
cannonading  from  our  side  began,  which  scared  all  the  hands 
away,  excepting  the  few  persons  who  had  gone  up  with  him 
from  Salamge,  and  those  Chiefs  who  liad  joined  him  in  the 
fortress.  Three  of  tlie  former  were  killed  by  the  explosion 
of  a  shell,  and  another  by  a  rocket.  As  soon  as  Theodore 
saw  one  man  fall,  he  went  and  seated  himself  in  a  passage 
cut  between  two  rocks  below  the  second  gate,  and  bade  those 
who  remained  with  him  depart,  if  they  liked,  and  seek 
shelter  elsewhere.  None,  however,  would  leave  him,  and  all 
swore  that  they  would  remain  where  they  w-ere  and  die  with 
him. 

"When  the  storming-party  began  the  ascent,  Theodore  re- 
joined his  few  remaining  adlierents,  and  with  five  of  them 
ojiened  fire  upon  the  advancing  column.  Four  of  his  men, 
besides  Eas  I'ngada  and  the  Eas's  brother,  were  shot  dead  by 
our  troops.  On  seeing  that  the  latter  had  attained  the  first 
gate,  the  King  retired  to  the  inner  gate,  bidding  his  dimi- 
nished band  follow  him.  Damash  and  another  Chief  were 
wounded  while  effecting  this  movement,  and  were  imme- 
diately carried  to  their  respective  homes.  Perceiving  now^ 
that  our  troops  had  surmounted  the  wall  of  tlie  outer  gate, 
and  that  a  few  of  them  were  apjiroaching  the  spot  where 
he  stood,  Theodore  drew  a  pistol  from  his  belt,  and  said, 
"  Sooner  than  surrender  into  the  liands  of  the  Franks,  I  will 
shoot  myself! "  lie  forthwith  put  the  muzzle  of  the  pistol  to 
his  mouth  and  fired,  the  bullet  coming  out  at  the  back  of  his 
head.     Falling  instantly  on  his  back,  he  breathed  his  last. 

Thus  ended  the  career  of  Theodore,  Avho  had  swayed  the 


1868.  April.  TPIEODORE'S  CHARACTER.  335 

Abyssinian  sceptre  for  nearly  fourteen  years,  during  wliich 
time,  as  he  himself  told  me,  he  had  not  enjoyed  one  day's 
rest.  A  warrior  from  boyhood,  and  elevated  to  the  highest 
dignity  by  personal  energy  and  dauntless  courage,  his  early 
successes  made  him  the  idol  of  friends  and  the  terror  of  foes. 
Had  he  possessed  the  requisite  qualifications,  Theodore 
might  have  consolidated  his  power  over  the  feudal  Chiefs, 
whose  misrule  had  kept  the  country  in  a  state  of  anarchy  for 
centuries,  fostered  peaceful  arts  and  sciences  among  his 
people,  developed  the  resources  of  his  kingdom,  and  made 
Cliristian  Abyssinia  a  blessing  to  the  sm-roundiug  heutlien 
and  barbarous  races.  The  reforms  which  he  initiated  shortly 
after  his  accession  to  the  throne  show  that  he  was  capable  of 
appreciating  these  and  similar  advantages.  But  he  utterly 
lacked  the  talent  for  administration ;  or,  if  ho  possessed  any, 
it  was  completely  neutralized  by  inordinate  military  ambi- 
tion and  a  thirst  for  martial  fame.  His  eflforts  to  carry 
out  his  schemes  of  conquest  and  aggrandizement  excited  first 
the  passive,  tlicn  the  active  resistance  of  his  subjects,  wlio 
banded  together  under  their  old  leaders  to  withstand  the 
oppressor.  But  his  proud  spirit  could  not  brook  opposition, 
and  rivalry  drove  him  to  pei-petrate  those  deeds  of  atrocity 
and  cruelty  which  eventually  stirred  up  Chief  and  peasant  to 
compass  his  downfall.  J\[y  own  sincere  conviction  is,  that 
this  antagonism,  perpetuated  and  intensified  by  the  unwise 
measures  which  he  took  to  repress  it,  so  unsettled  the  mind 
of  the  haughty  monarch  that,  at  times,  he  was  decidedly 
mad.  On  no  other  su])position  can  I  account  for  his  extra- 
ordinary conduct  towards  the  Mission  from  first  to  last;  al- 
though, when  he  ultimately  decided  to  retain  us  as  liostages, 
iio  most  i)robably  calculated  on  striking  a  bargain  for  our 
release,  which  he  fondly  hoped  would  have  enabled  him   to 


336  ALL'S  WELL  THAT  ENDS  WELL.        Chap.  XXYIL 

regain  his  lost  ascendancy.  That  there  were  a  few  loyal 
men  who  stood  by  him  to  the  bitter  end,  evinces  that  Theo- 
dore must  have  had  some  noble  qualities  worthy  of  such 
devotion ;  that  he  was  abandoned  by  all  but  that  valiant 
little  band,  and  died  hemmed  in  on  an  isolated  mountain, 
surrounded  by  thousands  of  his  own  people  up  in  arms 
against  him,  proves  that  he  had  forfeited  all  claim  to 
their  allegiance,  and  deserved  the  fate  which  rid  them 
and  their  country  of  an  infatuated  tyrant. 

Theodore  left  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  the  Prince 
'xVlamayo  being  the  only  one,  however,  who  was  born  in  wed- 
lock, his  mother  Teru-Wark,  the  daughter  of  Dajjaj  Oobe, 
having  been  married  to  the  late  King  in  the  church,  and  the 
marriage  confirmed  by  both  parties  receiving  the  holy 
Eucharist  together.  The  other  five  were  the  issue  of  mothers 
who  were  married  without  any  religious  ceremony;  conse- 
quently, according  to  Abyssinian  Canon  law,  Dajjaj  'Alamayo 
is  the  only  legitimate  child,  althougli  the  present  Civil  law 
recognizes  the  secondary  marriages  as  valid.  Theodore's 
eldest  son,  Eas  Mashisha,  now  about  twenty-three  years  of 
age,  went  away  from  Magdala  with  a  few  followers,  intending 
to  make  his  way  to  Shoa,  the  day  Magdala  was  taken,  but  he 
eventually  changed  his  mind  and  took  refuge  with  his  grand- 
mother's family  in  Amhara-Seint.  Hailo  Kasa,  the  youngest 
son,  was  loft  in  Tigre  with  his  mother,  a  Galla  concu- 
bine, on  the  return  of  the  Lritish  force  to  the  coast.  His 
eldest  daughter,  about  twenty  years  old,  who  had  been 
married  to  Mcnilek,  King  of  Shoa,  was  made  over  by  her 
father  to  a  Tigrc  Chief,  named  Earia,  when  Menilek 
escaped  from  Magdala  and  returned  to  his  native  province. 
Ilis  other  two  daughters,  one  about  five  and  the  other  three 
years  of  age,  were  taken  by  their  mothers  to  Bagameder. 


1868.  April.     THE  ALLEGED  CURSE  OF  THEODOEE.  337 

It  was  reported  that  before  putting  an  end  to  his  life, 
Theodore  gnashed  his  teeth  and  invoked  a  malediction 
against  Mr.  Waldmeier  and  myself  for  having  deceived  him. 
I  have  never  been  able  to  discover  how  this  story  originated. 
Those  who  were  in  close  attendance  upon  the  King,  from  the 
evening  of  the  12th  till  the  time  of  his  death,  assured  me 
that  they  had  not  heard  him  utter  a  word  either  against  me 
or  any  other  person  ;  the  only  time  he  mentioned  my  name 
was  when  he  sent  Samuel  down  with  a  message  to  me,  in  the 
evening  of  the  12th.  Among  those  whom  I  questioned  on 
this  subject  was  Wald-Gabir,  the  royal  valet;  his  quaint 
answer  was  this : — "  Master,  why  do  you  give  heed  to  such 
reports  ?  The  day  of  lies,  when  through  fear  of  the  King  no 
one  would  dare  to  moot  such  topics,  has  gone  by ;  but  Theodore 
is  no  more,  and  the  English  are  here ;  therefore,  if  Mr.  Wald- 
meier has  told  you  this  story,  ask* him  to  name  the  person  who 
was  with  the  King  at  the  time,  and  related  it  to  him  (Mr. 
Waldmeier)  and  by  that  means  you  will  arrive  at  the  truth.  I 
will  pledge  myself  to  become  your  slave  for  ever  if,  on  inves- 
tigation, you  discover  that  any  such  person  exists."  Even 
if  the  story  were  true,  Theodore's  malediction,  being  wholly 
undeserved,  would  cause  me  no  compunction.  When  I  told 
him  that  I  "  hoped  " — the  word  which  I  always  used  in  my 
verbal  as  well  as  written  communications  to  him — that  matters 
would  end  peaceably,  I  really  meant  what  I  said.  It  was  not 
my  fault  that  he  rejected  wise  counsels  and  persisted  in 
his  determination  to  resist,  crowning  his  headstrong  folly  by 
attacking  the  vanguard  of  our  army  on  Good  FrMay,  tiie 
10th  of  April,  thereby  causing  the  slaughter  of  so  many  of  his 
hapless  followers.  My  fellow-captives  and  I  were  shut  up  in 
]\Iagdala,  and  knew  nothing  of  what  took  place  below  the 
fortress  from  the  morning  of  that  day  until  the  aftornoon  of 

VOL.  II.  z 


338  ALL'S  WELL  THAT  ENDS  "WELL.        Chap.  XXYIL 

the  day  following,  when  the  King  sent  for  us  to  Salamge  and 
dispatched  us  to  the  British  camp.  I  had  repeatedly  warned 
the  obstinate  Sovereign  against  driving  her  Majesty's  Govern- 
ment to  extreme  measures,  and  on  the  occasion  of  my  previous 
visit  to  him  at  Salamge  I  strongly  urged  liim  to  make  over- 
tures to  Sir  Robert  Napier.  His  reply  to  me,  through  Messrs. 
Flad  and  Waldmeier,  was  as  already  stated  at  p.  307. 

If  Mr.  Waldmeier  credits  the  story  referred  to,  he  is  per- 
fectly welcome  to  draw  what  inference  he  pleases  from  it ; 
for  my  own  part,  I  utterly  disbelieve  it.  I  was  the  last 
person  to  whom  the  King  sent  a  civil  message  on  the  evening 
of  the  12th,  the  pith  of  which  was  that  he  knew  I  was  then 
powerless  to  assist  him  ;  and  he  also  mentions  my  name 
in  his  last  letter  to  the  Commander-in-Chjef,  without  the 
slightest  indication  that  he  entertained  other  than  the  most 
friendly  feelings  towards  me.  Further,  the  testimony  of 
those  who  were  present  with  the  unhappy  Sovereign,  from 
that  time  until  his  suicide,  wholly  acquits  him  of  the  charge 
of  having  cursed  any  one  on  the  occasion.  Besides  which,  it 
should  be  borne  in  mind,  that  when  Samuel  was  sent  down  to 
me  on  the  evening  of  the  12th,  the  King  had  already  heard 
that  his  present  had  been  rejected. 

In  resuming  my  narrative  I  shall  abstain  from  any  attempt 
to  describe  the  military  operations  of  the  campaign — a  task 
which  has  already  been  so  ably  performed  by  Mr.  C.  R. 
]\[arkham  in  his  '  History  of  the  Abyssinian  Expedition  ' — 
and  shiill  confine  myself  to  matters  connected  with  the  cap- 
ture of  j\ragdala  and  subsequent  events  in  which  I  was  per- 
sonally engaged.  Through  the  courtesy  of  Sir  Robert  Napier, 
I  was  allowed  to  accompany  him  in  his  attack  upon  the 
fortress;  and  was  glad  to  find  that,  in  conjunction  with  Samuel, 
I  was  able  to  render  his  ICxcellcncy  some  sliglit  service  as  the 
medium  of  communication  between  him  and  the  refugees 


1868.  April.  THEODORE'S  REMAINS.  339 

whom  we  met  running  down  from  Salamge  towards  A'roge. 
At  4*30  P.M.  Magdala  Avas  captured,  and  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  entered  the  place  in  triumph,  attended  by  his  staff, 
myself  among  the  number.  On  passing  through  the  outer 
gate,  I  recognised  Eas  I'ngada  and  Bitwaddad  Bakal  among 
those  who  had  fallen  on  the  spot,  and  on  proceeding  to  the 
plateau  above  the  inner  gate  I  was  called  to  identify  the  corpse 
of  the  King.  It  was  unmistakable ;  there  lay  the  "  great 
Theodore,"  stretched  on  his  back,  with  no  other  covering 
than  a  shirt  and  trowsers.  On  catching  the  first  glimpse 
of  the  lifeless  form  I  was  strongly  reminded  of  his  strange 
speech,  uttered  on  the  29th  of  March,  just  a  fortnight  before, 
when  he  said  that  ere  long  I  might  stand  over  his  corpse, 
and  begged  that  I  would  then  forget  his  ill-treatment  and 
see  him  decently  interred. 

When  Sir  Kobert  Napier  had  settled  affairs  at  Magdala 
and  was  returning  to  the  camp  at  A'roge,  he  appointed  me 
to  take  charge  of  Theodore's  remains,  the  Queens  and  their 
establishments,  the  Chiefs  and  the  native  political  jmsoners, 
and  also  to  assist  Brigadier-General  Wilby,  who  had  been 
made  Commandant  of  the  fortress  for  the  time  being,  in  all 
his  requirements.  Our  first  duty  was  to  remove  the  corpse 
of  the  late  King  to  the  inclosure  of  our  old  prison-house, 
where  we  saw  it.  deposited  on  Signor  Pietro's  couch,  and 
jilaccd  under  an  European  guard.  On  going  thence  to  in- 
quire after  the  Queens  and  the  other  members  of  the  royal 
family,  we  found  that  they  had  left  their  residence,  and  had 
repaired  for  protection  to  mine,  where  they  were  received 
by  Dr.  Blanc,  who  happened  to  be  in  the  house  at  the  time. 
As  it  was  the  best  iu  the  inclosure,  it  was  allotted  to  the 
two  (Juoens  and  Dajjaj  'Alamayo.  Moreover,  every  available 
room  within  the  fence,  including  Samuel's,  was  crowded  with 
the  male  and  fenude  relatives — children  and  adults — of  our 

z  2 


340  ALL'S  WELL  THAT  ENDS  WELL.        Chap.  XXVIL 

old  acquaintances,  who  liad  taken  refui^e  tliere  witli  what 
jjroperty  they  could  bring  with  them,  and  the  entire  inclosure 
was  thronged  with  the  horses,  mules  and  cattle  which  they 
had  conveyed  thither  for  greater  safety.  After  General 
Wilby  had  placed  a  guard  over  the  premises  to  keep  out 
intruders,  we  collected  all  the  Magdala  Chiefs  and  lodged 
them  in  Bitwaddad  Damash's  house  for  the  night — also  under 
a  guard,  to  keep  them  together.  We  next  notified  to  the 
rest  of  the  inhabitants  that  they  were  to  remain  quietly  in 
the  open  space  until  the  morning,  when  all  would  be  dis- 
missed to  their  homes.  Poor  Damash,  who  was  still  suffering 
from  the  wounds  which  he  had  received  that  afternoon,  got 
somewhat  anxious  after  I  left,  apprehending  that  all  those 
who  had  fought  against  the  English  were  to  be  executed  the 
following  day.  After  seeing  that  every  arrangement  had 
been  made  for  the  comfort  of  the  royal  family,  I  repaired 
again  to  Damash's  house,  and  in  the  course  of  my  visit 
assured  him  and  his  companions  that  they  need  be  under  no 
dread  of  retaliation  on  the  part  of  the  British  Commander-in- 
Chief.  Bitwaddad  Wasi  was  the  only  one  among  them  whose 
face  wore  a  smile ;  the  remainder  were  absent,  and  looked 
like  men  who  thought  that  their  doom  was  sealed.  I  took  Eas 
Bisawwir  and  Bitwaddad  Hasani,  the  two  ex-Commandants, 
to  sleep  in  a  room  near  the  royal  family,  in  order  that  their 
proximity  might  inspire  the  unfortunate  Queens  and  their 
relatives  with  confidence ; — the  former  was  cousin  to  the  late 
King,  and  had  always  been  intrusted  with  the  royal  Hfing. 
I  also  quartered  with  them  the  Etshege,  or  Superior  of  the 
monks,  and  two  other  priests  who  were  held  in  great  venera- 
tion at  Magdala.  ]\[r.  Waldmeier  kindly  volunteered  to  assist 
in  the  several  duties  wliicli  devolved  upon  me  during  our 
further  stay  in  the  fortress,  and  I  feel  bound  to  recognize  his 
ready  and  valuable  co-operation. 


1868.   Apkil.  now  AXD  THEN.  341 

The  extraordinary  changes  which,  in  the  course  of  a  few 
eventful  hours  had  succeeded  each  other  so  rapidly,  kept  me 
awake  nearly  the  Avhole  night.  I  was  unable  to  realize  the 
idea  that  the  dreaded  monarch  who,  only  two  days  before, 
held  the  lives  of  so  many  Europeans  in  his  power,  was  now  a 
lifeless  mass,  sheltered  within  one  of  the  Franehotsh's  huts ; 
that  the  Chiefs  who  had  been  our  jailors,  and  who  from  sheer 
timidity  would  not  have  hesitated,  at  the  despot's  fiat,  to  stain 
their  hands  with  our  blood,  were  at  that  moment  guarded  by 
British  sentinels ;  and  that  my  old  prison-house,  where  I  had 
lingered  out  an  anxious  existence  for  twenty-two  months,  had 
been  converted  into  an  asylum  for  the  royal  family.  Ever 
and  anon  I  fancied  myself  in  a  dream ;  then,  again,  I  felt 
sure  that  we  were  free,  and  that  the  fear  of  an  ignominious 
death  had  passed  away.  Truly,  the  deliverance  was  marvel- 
lous ;  no  wonder,  therefore,  that  for  a  time  it  should  seem 
doubtful.  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way ;  but  the  agency 
of  His  superintending  Providence  in  the  liberation  of  the 
captives  was  too  manifest  not  to  call  forth  from  all  a  humble 
tribute  of  praise  and  thanksgiving  for  His  merciful  inter- 
vention. 

Of  the  rescuing  array — ofScers  and  men,  soldiers  and 
sailors,  British  and  Indian — through  which  that  intervention 
was  wrought  out,  England  may  justly  feel  proud.  Bloodless 
as  \\as  the  campaign  ou  our  side,  it  was,  nevertheless,  sig- 
nalized by  a  display  of  the  noblest  qualities  which  can  adorn 
the  true  warrior — self-restraint,  patient  endurance,  and  in- 
domitable perseverance.  Incompetent  as  I  am  to  make  any 
remarks  on  the  purely  military  conduct  and  manoeuvres  of 
the  Abyssinian  Expedition,  those  are  qualities  alike  appre- 
ciable by  all,  and,  therefore,  humble  as  the  foregoing  testi- 
mony may  be,  a  deep  sense  of  admiration  and  gratitude 
impels  me  to  record  it. 


312  ALL'S  WELL  THAT  ENDS  ^YELL.        Chap.  XXYIL 

14^//. — This  afternoon  Dr.  Lumsdaine  and  Dr.  Blanc  having 
examined  the  bullet-wound  in  the  head  of  Theodore's  corpse 
reported  oilicially  that  the  King  had  died  by  liis  own  hand. 
The  ball  had  passed  outwards  from  the  mouth,  which  was 
blackened  and  scorched  by  the  charge,  and  the  palate  had 
been  blown  away. 

Sir  Eobert  Napier  could  not  have  conferred  a  greater  com- 
pliment upon  me  than  that  of  intrusting  the  remains  of 
Theodore  and  the  supervision  of  liis  bereaved  family  to  my 
care,  thereby  enabling  me  to  prove  to  the  Abyssinians  that 
their  late  Sovereign  had  not  vainly  styled  me  his  "  friend." 
There  was  nothing,  indeed,  which  the  kind-hearted  Com- 
mander-in-Chief would  not  have  done  to  alleviate  the  sorrow 
and  add  to  the  comfort  of  the  King's  surviving  relatives.  I 
had  only  to  submit  a  request  on  their  behalf,  either  to  him 
directly  or  through  Colonel  Merewether,  and  it  was  granted 
at  once. 

Orders  having  been  received  after  the  post-mortem  ex- 
amination that  the  King's  remains  were  to  be  interred,  I 
directed  the  Etshege,  Aito  Samuel,  Theodore's  confessor,  and 
two  other  priests,  to  have  the  corpse  prepared  for  burial, 
according  to  the  Abyssinian  custom,  wrapped  in  a  suitable 
shroud,  which  was  generously  provided  by  Samuel.  It 
was  an  affecting  sight  to  witness  the  reverence  with  which 
the  dignitaries  of  the  Church  performed  these  last  offices 
for  their  departed  Sovereign.  They  approached  the  life- 
less body  with  their  sMmmas  girt ;  and  their  whole  behaviour 
on  the  mournful  occasion  proved  that,  even  in  death,  Theo- 
dore had  not  wholly  lost  the  affection  of,  at  least,  some  of  his 
subjects.  The  grave  had  been  previously  dug  in  the  church  at 
Mdgdala,  and  when  all  the  preliminaries  were  completed,  I 
made  over  the  corjise  to  the  old  Chiefs,  avIio  accompanied  the 
clergy  to  see  it  buried.  Samuel  and  I  were  unable  to  be  present 


1868.   April.  DISMISSAL  OF  CHIEFS.  3i3 

at  the  funeral,  as  Colonel  Merewetlier  had  just  come  up  to 
the  fortress  to  make  arrangements  for  the  future  movements 
of  the  Queens  and  the  Prince  Dajjaj  'Alamayo ;  also  to  dis- 
pose of  the  political  prisoners  and  the  inhabitants  of  Mag- 
dala.  In  reply  to  Colonel  Merewether's  question,  what  her 
wishes  were  regarding  her  son  'Alamayo,  the  Itege  Teru- 
Wark  said,  that  as  his  father,  when  alive,  had  made  him 
over  to  the  English,  through  me,  she  preferred  abiding  by 
his  wishes,  and  was  herself  ready  to  follow  him  wherever 
he  went.  The  Itege  Itamanyo,  Theodore's  favourite  ex- 
Queen,  expressed  a  desire  to  return  to  her  native  Yadjow, 
and  would  leave  us  in  Wtidala,  the  nearest  place  to  that 
district.  I  then  accompanied  Colonel  Merevvether  to  wit- 
ness the  dismissal  of  the  old  Magdala  Chiefs  and  the  poli- 
tical prisoners.  The  gallant  Colonel  had  a  kindly  word 
for  all,  bade  them  not  fear,  and  assured  them,  on  the 
part  of  the  Commaudcr-in-Chief,  of  a  safe-conduct  through 
the  Gallas  and  other  deadly  enemies,  of  whom  they  were 
in  great  dread.  He  also  promised  to  provide  all  with  animals 
for  themselves  and  their  wives,  in  order  to  enable  them  to 
reach  their  respective  homes  with  greater  ease.  Some  evil- 
disposed  person  having  had  the  cruelty  to  tell  the  Chiefs  that 
they  would  be  retained  as  prisoners,  and  that  several  of  them 
would  probably  be  hanged,  this  authoritative  announcement 
was  hailed  by  thcin  with  intense  satisfaction. 

Early  the  following  morning,  I  returned  to  Magdala  from 
the  head-quarters  at  A'roge,  with  instructions  to  provide  the 
Chiefs  and  their  families  with  the  proper  number  of  mules 
and  horses  from  those  which  had  been  seized  after  the 
capture  of  the  fortress.  Almost  the  whole  day  was  spent 
on  this  task,  and  when  the  hour  came  for  starting  towards 
A'roge,  which  was  the  route  which  I  had  been  directed  to 
take,  we  found  the  road  so  blocked  up  by  a  relief  which  was 


SU  ALL'S  WELL  THAT  ENDS  WELL.        Chap.  XXYIL 

going  on  at  tlie  time  between  two  European  regiments,  that 
I  had  to  posti)one  our  departure  till  next  day, 

l(jth. — Early  this  morning  I  Avas  informed  that  one  of  the 
gateways  leading  to  Salamge  had  fallen,  and  that  we  could 
not  j5ass  that  way  until  the  road  was  cleared.  As  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief had  ordered  that  all  the  Abyssinians  should 
leave  the  Amba  as  soon  as  possible,  and  as  I  was  moreover 
anxious  to  see  the  royal  family  safely  located  at  head-quarters, 
I  determined  to  w^ait  no  longer.  I  accordingly  took  the 
Queens,  who  had  been  furnished  with  a  guard  of  honour  by 
General  Wilby,  and  tried  to  escort  them  to  A'roge  by  the 
Kafir-Bar  Gate ;  but  on  beginning  the  descent  by  the  narrow 
path  at  its  entrance,  it  was  discovered  that  the  loads  carried 
by  the  mules  were  too  bulky  to  pass  that  way,  without  being 
first  discharged  and  then  reloaded  beyond  the  gate.  As 
that  process  would  have  occuj)ied  an  hour  or  two,  we 
retraced  our  steps  to  our  old  quarters,  and  on  arriving  there 
found  that  the  Salamge  Gate  had  been  rendered  passable. 
Thereupon  I  accompanied  the  cortege  for  some  distance,  and 
then  leaving  the  Queens  in  Mr.  Waldmeier's  charge  went 
to  Salasse  to  distribute  swords,  shields  and  spears  to  the 
late  inhabitants  of  Magdala,  Sir  Kobert  Napier  having  most 
considerately  ordered  that  they  should  be  provided  with 
these  arms,  in  order  to  be  able  to  defend  themselves  against 
attack  on  the  way  back  to  their  respective  homes.  That 
done,  I  rejoined  ]\Ir.  Waldmeier  and  his  charge  within  half 
a  mile  of  the  pickets,  and  reached  head-quarters  towards 
evening.  My  tent,  which  I  had  brought  from  Aden,  and 
which  was  the  largest  in  the  camp,  had  already  been  pitched 
for  me ;  and  having  ushered  the  royal  party  into  it,  I  gave 
them  all  the  carpets  with  which  the  late  King  had  presented 
me,  and  which  now  proved  very  useful.  Meanwhile,  the 
released  native  political  prisoners,  the  Magdala  i^eople,  and 


1868.   April.  MAGDALA  IN  FLAMES.  345 

all    other   Abyssinians,    were   located   beyond   tlie   pickets, 
between  the  camp  and  the  Amba. 

11th. — I  received  orders  early  this  morning  to  proceed  to 
Dalanta  with  the  royal  family,  under  the  escort  of  a  detach- 
ment Avhich  was  going  thither,  and  there  await  the  arrival 
of  head-quarters.  We  reached  the  halting-place  at  Abbaba 
in  the  afternoon,  and  pitched  our  tents  next  to  those  of 
my  liberated  fellow-captives,  and  of  some  of  the  European 
artisans  who  had  preceded  us  to  the  spot.  On  the  way, 
while  ascending  the  valley  of  the  Bashilo,  we  had  heard 
the  loud  consecutive  reports  caused  by  the  blowing  up 
of  the  gates  of  Magdala,  and  on  turning  round  I  saw  the 
lurid  flames  ascending  from  that  late  abode  of  iniquity, 
tyranny  and  bloodshed,  proclaiming  to  the  surrounding 
country  far  and  near  that  the  sceptre  of  the  oppressor  of 
his  people  was  broken,  and  his  last  r&fuge  reduced  to  a 
heap  of  ruins.  Thousands  of  widows  and  orphans  probably 
gazed  with  wonder  at  the  sight,  and  invoked  a  blessing 
upon  their  English  deliverers,  who,  besides  vindicating  their 
own  national  honour,  and  adding  a  fresh  trophy  to  British 
fame,  had  saved  many  a  doomed  victim  from  the  fate  which 
had  been  reserved  for  them  by  the  ruthless  Theodore.  The 
two  Queens  and  their  attendants  could  not  resist  casting 
a  glance  behind  them,  and  as  the-  cherished  Itamanyo 
looked  upon  the  glowing  mass,  she  sighed  and  said,  "Now 
tliat  our  lord  has  gone,  may  all  Abyssinia  be  consumed 
by  fire ! "  Nevertheless,  this  lady  was  always  cheerful, 
8i)oke  kindly  to  every  one,  and  while  she  remained  with 
us  was  a  general  favourite  with  the  late  King's  followers. 
On  the  other  haml,  the  Itege  Teru-Wark,  the  de  jure  Queen 
Consort,  was  always  silent  and  dejected,  and  on  inquiring 
into  the  cause  I  was  told  tliat  she  was  naturally  taciturn 
and  reserved,  and  had  ever  manifested  a  dislike  for  gossip. 


346  ALL'S  WELL  THAT  ENDS  WELL.        Chap.  XXVII. 

In  reply  to  an  attempt  wliich  on  one  occasion  I  made  to 
encourage  and  cheer  her,  assuring  her  that  she  could  not 
have  better  protectors  than  the  Britisli,  she  said  that  she 
entertained  no  doubt  whatever  on  that  jDoiut,  but  she  felt 
that  her  days  were  numbered,  for  which  she  was  not  sorry ; 
and  then  added,  "  Mine  has  been  a  miserable  existence  since 
childhood,  and  I  am  now  looking  forward  to  that  happiness 
which  is  promised  me  by  our  Savioui"." 

18th. — All  the  troops  which  had  remained  behind  at  A'roge, 
together  with  the  Commander-in-Chief  and  his  Staff,  reached 
Dalanta  to-day,  and  on  the  20th  there  was  a  grand  review 
of  the  wdiole  force,  at  which  all  the  released  captives  were 
present.  On  the  21st  the  latter,  myself  excepted,  were 
dispatched  with  the  Second  Brigade  to  Antalo,  there  to 
await  the  arrival  of  head-quarters.  I  remained  behind  in 
charge  of  the  ex-Queens  and  the  young  Prince,  and  started 
with  them  on  the  23rd,  in  the  rear  of  the  army.  On  the  24th 
we  crossed  the  Chetta  valley.  Sir  Eobert  Napier  having 
kindly  attached  an  European  guard  to  the  royal  suite,  I 
was  able  to  have  a  separate  camp  for  them,  outside  that 
of  the  force,  where  all  other  Abyssinians  also  who  were 
under  the  Commander-in-Chiefs  protection  located  them- 
selves. While  at  Wadala,  before  crossing  the  Takkaze 
river,  the  Itege  Itamanyo  left  with  her  retinue  for  her 
native  district,  Yadjow,  under  the  protection  of  a  new  Chief 
who  had  rebelled  against  the  Wakshum  Gobaze. 

The  day  before  we  left  Abbaba  the  Itege  Teru-Wark  fell 
sick,  but  as  her  ailment  was  reported  to  be  nothing  but  a 
cold,  no  anxiety  was  felt  as  to  the  result.  It  turned  out, 
however,  that  she  was  suffering  from  pulmonary  disease.  As 
soon  as  the  Commander-in-CIiief  was  apprised  of  her  indis- 
position, he  appointed  his  Staff  Surgeon,  Dr.  Lumsdaine,  to 
attend  her ;  and  as  she  felt  rather  weak  the  day  after,  a  palan- 


18G8.  May.  DEATH  OF  THE  QUEEX.  317 

quin  was  placed  at  her  disposal,  with  bearers  to  carry  her. 
In  fiict,  nothing  was  wanting  on  the  part  of  Sir  Eobert  Napier 
to  relieve  and  comfort  her.  Dr.  Lumsdaine's  assiduity  and 
kindness  towards  his  royal  patient  could  not  be  surpassed, 
and  the  poor  lady  frequently  expressed  her  gratitude  to  me 
for  the  sympathy  and  attention  which  she  received  both  from 
her  medical  attendant  and  the  Commander-in-Chief.  Despite 
all  our  efforts,  however,  her  health  gradually  declined.  Now 
and  then  there  was  a  slight  rally,  but  she  succumbed  at  last, 
and  died  almost  suddenly  on  the  evening  of  the  15th  of  May, 
at  Haik-hallet,  near  Chelicut.  I  had  noticed  throughout  the 
journey  that  the  state  of  the  atmosphere  had  a  wonderful 
effect  upon  her :  when  it  was  fine,  her  health  seemingly  im- 
proved ;  but  wet  or  damp  weather  increased  her  malady  and 
made  her  breathing  more  difficult.  There  was  a  heavy  fall 
of  rain  the  evening  she  died,  and  at  about  nine  o'clock  I 
ordered  a  basin  of  arrow-root  with  a  little  port  wine  to  be 
prepared  for  her,  but  her  attendant  through  whom  I  intended 
sending  it,  and  who  had  just  left  the  Queen,  informed  me 
that  she  was  too  ill  to  take  any  food.  I  then  bade  him 
go  and  ask  whether  she  would  like  a  little  gruel ;  he 
came  running  back  immediately  with  the  melancholy  tidings 
that  she  had  breathed  her  last  during  his  short  absence  from 
her.  I  forthwith  repaired  to  the  tent,  which  was  always 
pitched  a  few  yards  from  mine,  and  foun<l  tluit  the  sad  intel- 
ligence was  true.  There  lay  the  lifeless  body,  but  the  features 
were  unchanged,  and  seemed  composed  as  in  a  quiet  sleep. 
The  Commander-in-Chief,  on  receiving  my  report  of  the 
melancholy  event,  directed  me  to  see  that  she  was  buried 
with  the  honours  due  to  her  station.  I  accordingly  dis- 
patched a  messenger  during  the  night  to  the  priests  of  a 
large  church  at  Chelicut,  requesting  them  to  come  early  the 
following  morning  to  arrange  for   the  interment.     On  dis- 


3i8  ALL'S  WELL  THAT  END'S  WELL.        Chap.  XXVIL 

covering  that  the  deceased  Queen's  paternal  grandfather 
had  been  buried  some  years  before  in  a  vault  in  the  same 
church,  I  directed  that  her  remains  should  be  deposited 
next  to  his,  and  that  a  suitable  monument  should  be  raised 
over  the  spot,  for  which  services  the  priests  received  pre- 
payment. 

After  the  death  of  the  Queen,  her  mother  and  most  of  her 
attendants  returned  to  their  respective  homes,  well  provided 
for ;  the  remainder,  together  with  Samuel  and  other 
Abyssinians  who  were  still  under  British  protection,  accom- 
panied us  to  Senaf^.  I  am  happy  to  say  that  Sir  Robert 
Napier  rewarded  all  those  Abyssinians  whose  faithful  services 
I  brought  to  his  notice;  and  a  great  number  of  the  late 
King's  followers,  who  had  assisted  me  to  the  best  of  their 
power  during  their  master's  lifetime,  were  kindly  cared  for 
by  his  Excellency's  orders,  so  long  as  they  travelled  with  the 
army  on  its  return  to  the  coast. 

At  Senate  all  Abyssinian  followers  were  dismissed,  except- 
ing two  old  dependents  of  the  deceased  Queen^  to  whom  the 
Prince  was  strongly  attached.  His  foster-motlier,  who  be- 
longed to  a  Shankela  tribe,  we  were  obliged  to  part  with,  as 
her  services  were  no  longer  needed,  and  she  would  have  proved 
a  great  incumbrance.  The  late  Itege  having  expressed  a 
wish  that  her  son  should  continue  his  Amharic  studies,  Lord 
Napier  was  kind  enough,  at  my  recommendation  through 
General  Merewether,  to  allow  Alaka  Zaunab,  the  late  Keeper 
of  the  Royal  Archives,  and  a  pious  Christian,  to  be  attached 
as  tutor  to  Dajjaj  'Alamayo.  For  some  reason  or  other,  the 
Alaka  was  subsequently  discharged,  which,  if  regard  be  had 
to  the  Prince's  eventual  usefulness  to  his  own  country,  is 
much  to  be  regretted. 

We  reached  Zoolla  on  the  27tli  of  IMay,  where,  in  pursuance 
of  instructions  to  that  effect,  I  consigned  the  young  Priuce 


1868.  June.  HOMEWARD  BOUND.  349 

to  the  care  of  the  local  political  officer.  On  the  30tb,  I 
and  my  late  fellow-captives,  with  the  exception  of  Consul 
Cameron  who  remained  behind,  started  in  the  Peninsular  and 
Oriental  Company's  steamer  *  Ottowa,'  and  in  due  course 
arrived  at  Suez,  wliere  we  left  Signer  Pietro  and  all  Theo- 
dore's late  European  servants.  On  the  13th,  Messrs.  Stern, 
Rosenthal  and  Flad,  with  the  wives  and  children  of  the 
two  latter  gentlemen,  left  Alexandria  with  me  for  Brindisi ; 
my  late  companions,  Dr.  Blanc  and  Lieutenant  Prideaux, 
having  left  the  day  before  by  the  route  via  Marseilles,  pre- 
ceded by  Mr.  Kerans,  who  had  embarked  on  board  a  Liver- 
pool steamer,  on  his  way  to  Ireland.  Mr.  Flad  and  his 
family  separated  from  us  at  Brindisi  to  go  up  the  Adriatic, 
while  the  rest  of  our  party  went  on  to  Paris.  Leaving  Mr. 
and  ]\Irs.  Rosenthal  there,  Mr.  Stern  and  I  started  together 
for  Calais,  and  reached  British  soil  once  more,  in  health  and 
safety,  on  tlie  22nd  of  June,  1868.  The  welcome  which 
awaited  me  from  many  old  and  valued  friends,  whose  former 
hospitality  had  made  England  a  home  to  me,  outweighed  the 
memory  of  past  sufferings,  and  in  the  midst  of  their  cordial 
sympatliy  and  generous  kindness  the  anxieties  and  perils  of 
my  sojourn  in  Abyssinia  are  fast  fading  away  into  the  un- 
reality of  a  dream. 

Tlie  official  Report  to  Government  of  my  proceedings  in 
Abyssinia  having  been  submitted  to  Parliament,  I  received 
in  due  course  the  following  gratifying  reply  and  handsome 
a(;knowledgment  of  the  services  and  endurances  of  the  dif- 
ferent members  of  the  Mission  from  her  Majesty's  Principal 
Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs : — 

''Foreign  Office,  December  5t7i,  1868. 
"  Sin, — T  have  directed  a  letter  to  be  addressed  to  you  in  regard 
to  your  financial  arrangements  during  your  mission  in  Abys- 
sinia, and  as  I  must  now  hold  your  accounts  to  bo  virtually  closed, 


350  ALL'S  WELL  THAT  ENDS  WELL.        Chap.  XXYH. 

l)e3'ond  pucli  information  as  yon  may  still  be  able  to  afford,  it  is 
luy  duty  to  signify  to  you  that  I  sball  no  longer  detain  you  from 
your  duties  under  the  India  Government. 

"  I  cannot,  however,  close  my  correspondence  with  you  without 
expressing  the  high  sense  entertained  by  Her  Majesty's  Govern- 
ment of  your  conduct  during  the  difficult  and  arduous  period 
of  your  employment  under  this  Office.  You  appear  throughout 
to  have  acted  for  the  best,  and  your  prudence,  discretion,  and 
good  management,  seem  to  have  tended  greatly  to  preserve  the 
lives  and  thus  to  insure  the  ultimate  release  of  the  captives. 

"  Your  companions,  Dr.  Blanc  and  Lieutenant  Prideaux,  are 
also  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  Her  Majesty's  Government,  which 
I  request  you  to  convey  to  them,  for  the  uniform  and  zealous 
support  which  they  gave  to  you  during  very  trying  times. 

"  The  sufferings  which  you  all  underwent  have  been  deeply 
deplored  by  Her  Majesty's  Government,  and  as  some  compensa- 
tion, therefore,  as  well  as  a  testimony  of  appreciation  of  good 
service,  they  have  resolved  to  present  a  siun  of  5000Z.  to  your- 
self, and  sums  of  2000Z.  each  to  Dr.  Blanc  and  Lieutenant 
Prideaux. 

"  I  am,  &c., 

(Signed)  "Stanley." 
"  Hormuzd  Hassam,  Esq., 

d-c,       tCc,       dc." 

Proud  of  having  been  judged  worthy  of  such  a  testimonial 
from  her  Majesty's  Government,  I  shall  feel  prouder  still  of 
the  approval  of  the  British  public,  to  whose  verdict  this 
Narrative  of  the  Mission  to  King  Theodore  is  now  sub- 
mitted. A  Chaldean  by  birtli,  Great  Britain  is  the  country 
of  my  adoption ;  but  although  I  cannot  boast  of  being  an 
Englishman,  I  can  glory  in  this — that,  to  the  best  of  my 
ability,  I  have  endeavoured  to  emulate  the  loyalty  of  her 
most  loyal  sous. 


INDEX. 


ABAI,   EIVEB. 


Abai,  river,  i.  202  ;  ii.  1,  125. 
Aha-Fakk,  ii.  183. 
Abbaba,  halt  at,  ii.  34."),  347. 
'Abdallah-abii-Kliuiii"  ir,  acting  Gover- 
nor of  Casala,  i.  l.")2. 
'Abdallah  ErtciKli,   Lieut.-Governor  of 

Massnwub,  i.  CO. 
'Alxiallah  Khali  1,  i.  .S3. 
'Ab(l-ul->Ielek,    Coptic     messenger,    i. 

1.54. 
'Abd-iil-Kcrim,  brother  to  the  Nayib  of 

Harkiko,  i.  71,  85,  88.  118,  122",  132  ; 

leavL-s  tlie  Mission  at  Ciisala,  142. 
'Abd-ur-Kahman    Ry,    Envoy    from 

Egypt,  i.  192  ;  ii.  24. 
Ab-hau,  i.  71. 
Ahitu,  Lij,  ii.  2,  95. 
Abiina     .Salama,      the     Metropolitan, 

Autiior's   letters   to,    i.    7,    78;    his 

character  and  death  at  Magdala,  ii. 

193-5 ;    his    opinion    of  Abyssinian 

marriages,  220. 
Abu-Sill,  Siieikh  of  Kclarif,  i.  153. 
Abyssinian.s,  cliarartcr  of,  ii.  249  ;  their 

kindness  to  servants,  250. 
Aehattar,  di.-triot,  i.  232.  235. 
Adam,  Yai^lwilaka.  ii.  185. 
Adurdi,  valley,  i.  12S. 
Aden,  dcpartiirf  of  ^lission  from,  i.  2  ; 

visit   to,    113;    return    to  Massowah 

from,  114. 
Adina,  on  lake  Tftna,  i.  .308. 
Adjuration  "  by  the  death  of  Theodore," 

i.  101  ii.  50. 
A<lv<iitiirers,  European,  in  Abyssinia,  i. 

32,  303. 
Adwa,  or  Adowa.  i.  103. 
Ala-Xegus  IJahii,  ii.  290. 
Agalari  (iolam,  a  eiuuuberlain,  sent  to 

Miigdala  to  release!  old  captives,  ii.  5  ; 

dies  of  elioKra,  129. 
Agdv^mCdGr.  di.slrict,  i.  235,  245,  294. 
Agows,  the,  i.  'SMi. 
Ahmed  Ariiy,  Chiuf  of  the  Danakil,  i. 

37. 
Aliinel,    Imfim    of    the    Willo-fJallas, 

writes  to  the  Author  and  tlie  Abuna 

to  siirrr'mler  Mugdala  to  liim,  ii.  250. 
Aidee,  i.  90. 


ArTHOR. 

Aigai,  i.  133. 

Ailat,  i.  53  ;  hot-springs  at,  57. 

'Ain,  i.  85,  90,  120. 

Aito,  title,  import  of,  15G-7. 

Samuel,  see  Samuel. 

Alaka  I'ngada,  chief  scribe,  ii.  55. 

'Alamayo,  Dojjaj,  only  legitimate  son  of 
Theodore,  ii.  33(5;  introduced  to 
Author,  292 ;  brought  by  Author  to 
^  Zoolla,  349. 

'Alami.  Daj_jaj,  sent  by  Theodore  to 
Sir  Robert  "Napier,  ii.  319. 

Alexandria,  visit  of  Mission  to,  i.  111. 

Ambaa,  i.  84,  120. 

Amhara,  country  and  people,  ii.  271. 

Amusley  Bay,  i.  81. 

Ansiiba,  i.  125. 

Antalo,  ii.  34G. 

Arafat,!.  162. 

Aral,  Sheikii  of  the  El-Bakhit,  i.  129. 

Ariko,  i.  220. 

Armenian,  an,  his  adventures  with 
Theodore,  i.  17. 

Army,  Theodore's,  i.  274 ;  on  tlie 
march,  292;  King's  care  for,  293; 
cholera  in,  ii.  125. 

,  British,  of  rescue,  tribute  to,  ii. 

341. 

A'roge,  Theodore  at,  ii.  224;  British 
camp  at.  318,  339. 

Artisan.s,  Theodore's  European,  reach 
Korata,  ii.  14  ;  their  wives  and  fami- 
lies, 27  ;  accompany  Jlission  to  Zage, 
56;  general  friendliness  to  the  Mis- 
sion, 07 ;  dinner  party  to,  70  ;  their 
fuial  deliverance  from  Magdala,  327. 

A'shfa,  meeting  witii  Tlieodore  at,  i. 
24s  ;  departure  from,  274. 

Asida,  a  native  disli,  i.  104. 

Asft.s,  i.  71. 

Atbnra,  river,  i.  148;  excursion  to, 
172. 

Atte-Mitryam,  tribe,  their  conversion 
to  Islam,  i.  87. 

Autlior,  his  appointment  to  the  Mission, 
i.  2  ;  his  first  four  letters  to  Theoilore 
from  Massowah.  5,  41,  01.  107;  totho 
Abftna,  7,  78 ;  fo  Col.  Merewether, 
100;  his  first  interview  with  Theo- 
dore, 248  ;  tries  to  prevent  a  meeting 
between  Theodore  and  tiie  old  cap- 
tives, ii.  27,  7U ;  holds  a  court  to  try 


352 


INDEX. 


captives,  35;  his  letter  to  Theodore 
on  the  subject,  40 ;  is  arraigned  at 
Zage,  84 ;  becomes  security  for  the 
captives,  fl8,  14:^;  letter  to  Govern- 
ment on  Theodore's  demand  for  arti- 
sans, 102;  remonstrates  with  the 
King,  104,  10(J ;  receives  visits  from 
Tlieodoro,  108,  130,  155 ;  arraigned 
at  Debra  Tabor,  141;  a  prisoner  at 
Miigdala,  100 ;  his  cliains  lightened, 
197 ;  lady  visitors  to,  207 ;  is  unfet- 
tered, 273 ;  suggests  that  Theodore 
should  make  overtures  to  Sir  Robert 
Napier,  307 ;  his  last  interview  with 
the  King,  323  ;  did  not  deceive  Theo- 
dore, 327 ;  not  cursed  by  him,  337  ; 
takes  cliarge  of  the  remains  of  Theo- 
dore and  of  his  ex-Queens,  339,  345  ; 
safe  return  to  England,  350. 

Awasa,  raid  ou  by  Takroories,  i.  177, 
182. 

Awhe,  i.  130, 


Baat,  i.  128. 

Bagameder,  district,  revenue  of,  ii. 
10. 

Bajirwand  Kiinfu,  steals  Theodore's 
charmed  rifle,  ii.  295. 

Bahri.  Bitwadilad,  ii.  179. 

Biikal,  Bitwiiddad,  ii.  180. 

Balal-bin-'Abdallah,  a  tShoho  Chief,  i. 
81. 

Biilas,  i.  224. 

Baldariiba,  what,  i.  271. 

Bahviiha,  i.  192. 

Barca,  Muslims  of,  attack  Christians  of 
Bogos,  i.  44 ;  incursions  of,  120  ;  cli- 
mate of,  129  ;  visit  from  Chiefs  of, 
ih. ;  bad  water  in,  133 ;  etymology  of 
mime,  ib. 

Bardel,  M.,  Theodore's  charges  against, 
ii.  34 ;  obtains  copy  of  a  dangerous 
dociuiient,  00;  iiis  IVicnd.-^hii)  with 
I'ngada  Wark,  OG,  77  ;  in  royal  favour, 
93,  97;  nicknamed  "Shrimps,"  117, 
141  ;  betrays  j)rojected  escape  of 
European  artisans,  201. 

Barrako,  l{a.s,  ii.  277,  333. 

liarriyali,  tribe  and  district  of,  132-4. 

Basabir,  i,  150. 

Busha,  captain  of  Musketeers,  ii.  191. 

Baskets,  native,  i.  55. 

Beitaiior,  Tiieodore  at,  ii.  25G. 

Bel<e,  Dr.,  report  of  his  arrival  at  Masso- 
wah,  ii.  25;  his  letter  rcaci;es  Theo- 
dfire,  41  ;  impolicy  of  his  mission,  40- 
50  ;  excites  the  suspicion  of  the  King, 


67 ;  reports  his  imprisonment  at  Halai 
to  Theodore,  110 ;  his  return  to 
Europe  after  promising  to  visit  the 
King,  144. 

Beni-Atnir,  tribe,  i.  129-30;  visit  from 
Chief  of,  131. 

Biancheri,  Vicar-Apostolic,  i.  9 ;  his 
opinion  of  Theodore,  29 ;  death  of, 
30. 

Bifata,  in  Me'tcha,  ii.  277,  292. 

Biraad,  i.  125. 

Birds,  at  Magdala,  ii.  209. 

Bisiiwwir,  Basha.  a  doorkeeper,  ii.  185. 

,  Bitwiiddad,  ii.  109 ;    his  trial  for 

treason,  280. 

Blanc,  Dr.,  his  appointment  to  the  Mis- 
sion, i.  2. 

,  Mrs.  i.  45. 

Bogos,  province,  i.  23,  72,  85 :  visit  from 
Collector  of  Customs  in,  126. 

Bourgaud,  M.,  ii.  4 ;  IMadame,  27. 

Brandeis,  Mr.,  imprisoned  at  Magdala, 
ii.  201. 

Brantt',  river,  i.  236. 

Brundo,  raw  meat,  how  eaten,  i.  198. 

Busson,  Count  du,  i.  44. 


C. 


Cameron,  Consul,  letters  to  tlie  Author 
from,  i.  63,  73,  75,  78;  Theodore's 
charges  against,  202,  299 ;  ii,  33, 
305. 

Canoes,  bulrush,  on  Eake  Tana,  i.  309. 

Captives,  old,  arc  liberated  and  reach 
Korata,  ii.  28  ;  to  be  tried,  31 ;  Theo- 
dore's cliarges  against,  33,  34  ;  result 
of  trial,  40  ;  start  homeward,  82 ;  are 
brouglit  back  to  Zage  in  chains,  91 ; 
are  unfettered,  98 ;  niarcli  with  King 
and  Mission  to  Korata,  128  ;  at  CJaf- 
fat,  133-5;  sent  to  Rlagdala,  159; 
placed  in  fetters,  101;  their  quarters 
at  IMiigdala,  101,  202;  their  fare  at 
Magdala.  203-4 ;  jilaeed  uniler  strict 
watcli,  284 ;  rclea^^ed  from  chains, 
303  ;  summoned  with  Mission  to  Sa- 
liimgc,  311;  sent  back  to  IMiigdala, 
315 ;  recalled  to  Salamge,  321  ;  dis- 
missed to  British  camp,  324. 

Carpendale,  Lieut.,  i,  48,  53,  57,  105, 
108. 

Casala,  arrival  at,  i.  130 ;  ruined  state 
of,  137 ;  country  betweeu  it  and  Ke- 
darif,  149. 

Cliiilga,  plateau  of,  i.  207. 

Ciielieut,  ii.  348, 

Chetta,  valley,  ii.  205. 


INDEX. 


'6od 


CHOLERA. 

Cholera,  in  the  Hijaz.  i.  78  ;  at  Masso- 

wah,    116;    in    Theodore's   camp,   ii. 

124-8. 
Church,    Abyssinian,  description   of,  i. 

217. 
Clergy,  Abyssinian,  lav  contempt  for,  i. 

235. 
Coffin,  Mrs.,  i.  22. 
Communicants,  in  Abyssinian  Churcli, 

i.  312. 
Converts,  from  Islam  to  Christianity  at 

Magdala,  ii.  213. 
Coptic    Patriarch,    Theodore's  charges 

against,  ii.  62. 
Crocodiles,  in  the  Atbara,  i.  148,  172. 


D. 


Ddbterfi.  Dasta,  messenger,  i.  213 ;  de- 
corated with  the  Royal  Shirt,  ii.  25  ; 
un-shirts  himself,  50 ;  in  the  royal 
robes,  51. 

Dagrec,  valley,  i.  72. 

Dagussa,  grain,  i.  189. 

Dak,  island  in  Lake  Tana,  i.  315  ;  how- 
reduced  by  Tlieodore,  ib. 

Dakla-Guargis,  Dajjaj,  i.  81,  103. 

Dakn-ul-Fil,  i.  186. 

Dalanta,  people  of,  submit  to  Theodore, 
ii.  256 ;  ho  breaks  faith  witli  them, 
270. 

*  Dail;ousie,'  steamer,  i.  2,  29. 

Damash,   Bitwiiddad,   one  of  Mdgdala 
Council,   ii.  171-4;  tried  for  treason 
280 ;  charged    with   cowardice,    294 
his    raid    again&t    the    Gallas,   297 
•wounded  at  the  storming  of  Magdala, 
334. 

Danibi'a,  district  of,  i.  215. 

Diirnbi'a,  lake  of,  see  Tana. 

Damot,  district  of,  i.  244,  273. 

Dang  we,  i.  241. 

Danka,  i.  294. 

DankOra,  i.  232,  308. 

Dasait,  i.  92. 

Da.sta,  Dajjaj,  petty  Chief  of  Magdala, 
ii.  262. 

Dilwunt,  ntrr>city  of  an  insurgent  of,  ii. 
242 ;  if.s  submission  to  Theodore, 
269 ;  ho  breaks  faith  with  its  people, 
270. 

Debni  Tabor.  Thcorlorp  at,  ii.  131 ;  holds 
an  assize  oti  the  Ca])tivcs  at,  141  ; 
Mi.ssion  confined  at,  145 ;  trial  of 
rebels  at,  148. 

Delmonte.  Padre,  i.  9,  2(;,  60,  113;  ii. 

4. 
Dhdfar,  Bitwaddnd,  ii.  181. 

vol,.    II. 


G^VBE-LUKUM. 

Dharita,    a    shrewd  Mussulman   of,   i. 

51. 
Dissee,  island,  i.  .37. 
Dust-storms,  at  Massowah,  i.  9,  19,  91, 

103  :  at  Casala,  141. 
Dwarkin,  rivulet,  i.  204. 


E. 


;  Earthquake,  at  Massowah,  i.  30.  43. 

Eipperle,  Mr.,  i.  163,  171,  178,  185. 

El-Agamat,  i.  71. 
1  El-'A'zazS,  i.  151. 
i  El-Bakhit,  tribe,  i.  129. 
I  Elephants,  i.  82,  128. 

El-Gaidat,  i.  157. 

El-J'a'afara,  i.  159. 

El-lSIadag,  i.  156. 

El-Maradib,  i.  187. 

Essler,  Mr.,  imprisoned  at  Magdala,  ii. 

261. 

.  Etiquette,  Abyssinian,  in  eating,  i.  228 ; 

I      in    riding,   245,   ii.    126;  in  address, 

I      220,  224;    in  presentation,   225;    in 

drinking,  226. 

Etshege,  Superior  of  Monks,  ii.  340-1. 


F. 


Fallake,  see  Speedy. 

Fanta,  a  Gondar  merchant,  i.  114. 

FarOhe,  i.  309. 

Fiittam,  river,  i.  241. 

Fcker-Kasa,  a  friendly  indemnity,  ii. 
35. 

Festival,  of  the  Drum,  at  Matamma,  i. 
174. 

Fetteh-Ncgfist,  code  of  Abyssinian  law, 
ii.  104,  148. 

Fish,  .d'  Lake  Tsina,  i.  224  ;  flying-fish 
at  Massowah,  103. 

Flad,  Mr.,  i.  50,  52  ;  letters  to  Author 
from,  62,  75  ;  joins  Author  at  Korata, 
ii.  11  ;  sent  with  letter  to  the  Queen 
from  Theodore,  103  ;  testimony  to  his 
kind  e.\ertions,  206 ;  forwards  Queen's 
nply  to  Theodore  fnnu  INlassowah, 
231 ;  his  account  of  Theodore's  views 
on  the  api)roach  of  the  15ritisli  army, 
266  ;  is  itllDWcd  to  reside  at  Magdala, 
272 ;  sent  by  Tlieodore  to  Sir  llobert 
Napier,  319. 


G. 


Gdhana-WadgHnfalo,  i.  125. 
Gftl*-I.ukam.  1.  127.  134. 


2   A 


354 


INDEX. 


G^bra,  ^uidc  from  Mataramn.  i.  18fi. 

Gabra-Madhnne'Alam,  Balambams,  Go- 
vernor of  Wandi'ge,  i.  808  :  ii.  74,  90 ; 
rebels  against  Theddore,  '21G. 

Gabrie,  Fit-awrari,  ii.  27G. 

Gabrie,  Ras,  imprisoned  at  Magdala, 
ii.  261. 

Gabza,  1.  70. 

Gadaret,  i.  Sf.,  90,  121. 

GMiro,  ii.  128. 

Gaffat,  i.  50;  captives  arrive  at,  ii. 
131. 

Gainti  Bisawwir,  Bitwaddad,  one  of 
Magdala  Conneil,  ii.  181. 

Gallabat,  inhabitants  of,  i.  1.57;  govern- 
ment of,  lo8;  etymology  of  name, 
1.58. 

Gallas,  contemptible  as  assailants,  ii. 
251;  raid  on  the,  295;  their  mutila- 
tion of  captives,  29G. 

Game,  nee  Sport. 

Gastineau.  M.,  i.  21. 

Gesho,  a  plant  used  in  fermentation,  ii. 
119. 

Geta  and  Getotsh,  import  of  the  titles, 
156-7. 

Gint,  i.  205. 

"Girding,"  ii.  221-224. 

Gishen,  i.  206  ;  ii.  332. 

Goija,  i.  221 ;  ii.  76. 

Gajjamy  Kasa,  i.  196,  233-4. 

Gojje',  Dajjaj,  one  of  Magdala  Council, 
ii.  180 ;  on  a  raid  against  the  Gallas, 
297. 

Gondar,  old  capital,  rumoured  sack  of, 
i.  35;  glimpso  of,  214;  sacked  bv 
Theodore,  ii.  17.  230-1. 

Gon(ia,wa,  river,  i.  187. 

Greek  priest,  mission  of,  to  Theodore, 
i.  77;  ii.  144. 

Guang&l,  ii.  192. 

Guinea-wonn,  i.  151. 

G&ks,  native  tournament,  ii.  121-2. 

Gumara,  river,  ii.  130. 

(u'lna,  Mt.,ii.  159. 


H. 

Hagiography,  Abyssinian,  ii.  128. 

Haik-iiallet,  death  of  the  ex-Queen 
T('TU-Wark  at,  ii.  347. 

Hail,  on  IMount  (iiina.  ii.  159  ;  hailstorm 
at  Magdala,  265. 

Hallo,  messenger,  decorated  with  Royal 
Shirt,  ii.  8  ;  death  of,  256. 

Hailo.  Hitwiiddad,  oiieofAIagdala  Coun- 
cil, ii.  174-177  ;  cscaiK's  from  Magdala, 
276. 


Hailo,  Bitwaddad,  of  Chalga,  ii.  181. 
Hailo  Kfisa,  Tlieodore's  youngest  son, 

ii.  336. 
Haji   Adam  Korman.  .story  of  his  lost 

wife,  i.  31  :  his  opinion  of  the  Aby>;- 

sinians,  83 ;    prognosticates   the   ill- 

suc-css  of  the  I\Iis.<ion.  102. 
Hall,  Mr.  Moiitz,  kissed  by  Theodore,  ii. 

113;  dragged  in  chains  to  Magdala, 

277. 
Hallet-ul-Kanz,  i.  154. 
Hiillet-Wadabein.  i.  152. 
Hallet-Wadab.sin,  i.  152-3. 
Hamarai.  1.  128. 

Humid,  Sheikh  of  the  Beni-'Amir,  i.  131. 
Hamus-Gabia,  market,  i.  220. 
llaninrua,  tribe,  i.  134. 
Harkiko.  i.  10 :  water  at.  14;  visit  to,  37. 
Hasan    P]ffendi,    Kawwas.    1.    44;    his 

effrontery,  159;  leaves  the  Mission  at 

IMatiimma,  174. 
Hiisani,  Bitwaddad,  new  Commamlant 

at  INlagdala,  ii.  283. 
Hawashet,  vallev,  i.  132. 
Hibab,  tribe,  i.  8(5,  88,  90,  122. 
Hibub,  wells,  i.  126. 
Hippopotami,  i.  3 1 2 ;  a  lucky  sliot  at,  31 3. 
Honev,  from  a  tree,  i.  173. 
Hozat,  i.  89. 
Huts,   moveable,   i.  56 ;  of  Abyssinian 

soldiers,  275. 
Hyffinas,  i.  48,  205,  212. 


I. 


Ibdnkab,  ii.  159. 

Ibrahim,  messenger,  i.  95  ;  his  marriage, 

103. 
Ibrahim,  a  Shoho,  a  relative  of  Samuel, 

i.  66. 
Idris-Dar,  i.  134. 
Idris  Hasan.  c.\-Nayib  of  Harkiko,  i.  37; 

visit  to,  46. 
Ifaliad,  i.  87. 
Ik  war,  i.  55. 

Ilfing,  royal  female  cstaldishment :  cap- 
tives' quarters  at  Magdala  near  to,  ii. 

162. 
I'ngada,  Ras,  Theodore's  Prime  Minister, 

his  history,  i.  255-258. 
I'ngiidit  Wark,  i.  269,  ii.  (j6,  150;  is  put 

In  death,  315. 
Injabara,  valley,  battle-.'ield,  i.  238. 
I'rkinn,  a  Chief  of  Dalanta,  liis  fidelity 

to  tiie  Mission,  ii.  247,  268,  272. 
Itainanyo,  Queu7i,  her  sympathy  with  the 

Captives,  ii.  106 ;  her  robe  presented 

to  Autiior,  117;  her  origin  and  mar- 


INDEX. 


355 


ITEGE.  j  MARCOPOLI. 

riage  with  Theodore,  218 ;  her  con-  '  Kidana  Maryam,  a  page,  brutally  mas- 
version  to  Chi-istiauity  and  religions        sacred,  ii.  315. 
devution,   21ii ;  rotnrns   to  her  home     Kiltc,  river,  i.  235,  308. 
after  the  death  of  Theodore,  346.  Kitba,  i.  124. 

Itege,    Empress.      See    Itamanyo    and     Kokai,  rivnlet,  i.  187. 
Teru-Wark.  Komar,  i.  187. 

Iz-nil-Din.  Prime  Minister  at  Matamma,     Korata,  i.  31o,  319;  snjouiu  of  Mission 
i.  1(;2,  173.  at,  ii.  1-80. 

j  Kwakura,  i.  23G. 
Kwara,  i.  207 ;  ii.  2Ut3. 


.la'afara,  i.  157. 

Jage,  i.  128. 

Jarar,  ])oint,  at  Massowah,  i.  11,  7'.). 

Jebel  Tayif,  i.  108. 

Jiddali,  arrival  uf  Mission  at,  108 ;  town 

of,  109. 
Juma'ah,   Sheikh   of  Gallabat,  i.  1.57 ; 

visit  from,  164  ;  hurangues  liis  troops, 

175 ;  farewell  to,  1^2. 


K. 


Kalamat,  i.  123. 

Kaldur-koy,  style  of  serving  dinner,  i. 
38,  64. 

Kamants,  their  character  and  religion, 
i.  208. 

Kiln  far,  i.  85,  92,  120. 

Iviinfu  Dajjaj,  Tlieodore's  father,  i.  229. 

Kauoha,  i.  224. 

Kiintilia  Ilailo,  ex-Mayor  of  Gondar,  ii. 
13;  his  liistory,  16-20;  urges  Theo- 
dore'to  release  the  captives,  106;  his 
credulity,  138 ;  imprisoned  at  Mag- 
dala,  261. 

Karkue,  Mt..  i.  132. 

Kar-Obel,  i.  128. 

Kasii,  Aito,  merchant  of  Koratn,  i.  32  ; 
arraigned  by  Theodore,  ii.  105. 

Kasha,  lia.-jha,  a  brave  Andiara,  ii.  301. 

Kasa,  Lij,  xee  Tiieodore. 

Kasn,  Lij,  a  courtier,  ii  2. 

Kedfirif,"  district,  i.  151.  {See  Htillet- 
Wad:ibsiii.) 

Kedus  Mikiiil,  church,  i.  210. 

Kerans,  Mr.,  ii.  112,  114,  154,  340. 

Kha.sm-ul-Ghirbah,  i.  148. 

Khatmia,  i.  142. 

KhojalJcdn'w,  i.  21,  77,  102. 

Khoja  I'anagiotes  Kozika,  i.  139. 

Khnr-Ithrib.  i.  159. 

Klior-ul-(ia.-<h,  i.  143. 

Khui-ul-Lail;',h,  i.  187. 

Kidana  i\hiryam,  Ras,  Commandant  of 
Miigdaln,  ii.  160;  his  history,  1G7  ;  is 
pii;  iti  inms.  'I'.V.K 


Lagiista,  i.  236. 

Lakaba,  i.  130. 

Lebka,  i.  86,  121. 

Lejean,  M.,  i.  39  ;  Theodore's  complaints 

against,  ii.  OO,  61. 
Lent,  Abyssinian,  i.  311 ;  ii.  268. 
Lih,  Yashiili.ka,  ii.  228,  273. 
Lij,  title,  197. 
Lisag,  i.  214. 
Lions,  i.  86,  123,  188;  Theodore's  tame, 

ii.  148. 
Locusts,  i.  80   121. 
Lumsdaine,  Dr..  ii.  342  ;  his  assiduous 

attentions  to  Queen  Teru-Wark  during 

her  illness,  347. 


M. 

Macraire,  M.,  ii.  117,  145,  154,  261. 

Magamayatat,  i.  86,  90,  121. 

Miigdala,  dispatch  of  stores  and  letters 
to,  i.  64;  Captives  arrive  at,  ii.  160; 
kindness  of  its  Chiefs,  165 ;  our 
guardians  at,  167-186  ;  our  domestics 
at,  187;  i)risou-discipline  of,  189;  our 
guards  at,  191;  gntes  of,  192;  escape 
of  captives  from  impracti-'ablc,  193; 
Captives'  quurlers  at,  202;  fare  at, 
"  203 ;  entertainment  of  public  guests 
at,  205 ;  society,  205-6 ;  water,  soil, 
and  climate,  208-9  ;  birds,  210 ;  re- 
ligious reform  amonij;  soldiery,  211; 
Divine  Service  at,  214  ;  communica- 
tion between  it  and  royal  camp  cut 
otl',  241;  re-opened,  256;  Chief's  and 
Kurf>pean  arti.sans  imprisonal  at.  261 ; 
dismantled  l)y  TliLodore,  278  ;  Theo- 
dore's entrance  into,  279  ;  Theodore's 
siijierstitious  views  respecting,  305; 
sturmed  by  I5ritish,  334  ;  dismissal  of 
Chiefs  at;  343-4  ;  in  flames,  345. 

Miihabar,  i.  121. 

Mahlal),  i.  127. 

Marcopoli,  Signor,  i.  120,  130,  142.  178, 
185. 

2    A    2 


o56 


INDEX. 


mXrgaf. 

Margaf,  robe,  ii.  117. 

l\Iiirisn,  dish,  i.  1'j4. 

Markets,  Abyssinian,  i.  220. 

Markhani,  Mr.  C.  R.,  bis  '  History  of 
the  Abyssinian  Expedition,'  ii.  338. 

Marmadiyat,  watercourse,  i.  148. 

Marriages,  Abyssinian. ii. 215-220;  ^acra- 
mental,  210 ;  second-rate,  219;  third- 
rale,  219. 

Maryam-Wiiha,  i.  185. 

Mashisha,  Afa-Nepus,  deserts  to  the 
Gal  las  from  Magdala,  ii.  295. 

Mashisha,  Eas,  eldest  son  of  Theodore, 
ii.  45  ;  introduced  to  the  Autlior,  57  : 
escapes  Irom  Magdala,  oolj. 

Mashlat,  i.  89,  90. 

IVIasir  i  T2 

Mastyat.  Queen  of  Wello-Gallas,  ii.  250. 

Maswiilia.  stream,  i.  237. 

Matanima.  district,  government  of,  i. 
157;  called  by  Arabs  '  Suk-ul-Galla- 
bat,'  158 ;  climate  of,  165 ;  produce, 
167;  fairs  at,  167;  slave-trade,  168; 
horses  and  cattle,  ib. ;  revenue  and 
army,  169;  review  of  troops,  171; 
Festival  of  the  Drum  at,  172;  return 
of  troops  from  a  raid,  182. 

Mateb,  cord,  <listii)guisiiing  Abyssinians 
from  non-Ciiristians,  Kamants  forced 
to  wear,  i.  209;  borne  by  converts,  ii. 
213. 

]\Iiltrah-]\raddai,  i.  72. 

Mayer,  Mr.,  ii.  24,  324. 

Mckelvie,  ii.  112,  145. 

Meat,  slaughtered  by  Christians  and 
Mussulmans,  i.  88;  raw,  see  Brundo. 

Meniiek,  King  of  Shoa,  proposes  to  attack 
Magdala,  ii.  250  ;  his  display  and  re- 
treat, 251 ;  sends  money  and  a  letter 
to  Author,  261. 

Mercwether,  Colonel,  i.  1,  60,  113;  his 
arrival  at  Antalo,  ii.  275;  at  Ashangi, 
302 ;  his  exertions  on  behalf  of  the 
captives,  325 ;  his  kindness  to  the 
Magdala  Chiefs,  343. 

Messages,  verbal,  custom  of  sending 
with  letters,  ii.  3,  5,  23,  27,  41,  76,  et 
passim. 

Messengers,  Abyssinian,  their  lidelitv, 
ii.  245-247. 

Metcha,  district,  i.  273,  289. 

Metropolitan,  Abyssinian,  see  Abfma. 

Millet,  large,  i.  J51;  dillennt  ways  of 
cooking,  166. 

Milwia,  ravine,  i.  145. 

Miraad,  JJalJaj,  i.  65,  73. 

Mircha  Warkee,  i.  8. 

Mission,  to  King  Theodore,  ari-ives  at 
Massowah,    i.    3 ;   leaves    for    i'^gypt, 


108;  returns  to  Massowah,  114;  de- 
parture for  Casala,  120;  reaches  Ca- 
sala,  13G;  starts  for  Kedarif,  142; 
reacl:es  Htillet-Wadabsin,  152; — Ma- 
tiimma,  160;— Wahne,  188;— Theo- 
dv)re's  camp,  248; — Korata,  316: — 
Zage,  ii.  56 ;  disgraced,  83 ;  under 
surveillance  at  Zage,  89;  to  be  re- 
tained as  hostages,  100  ;  march  with 
the  King  and  his  armv  to  Korata, 
124-128  ;'  arrive  at  Gatia't,  131  ;  loca- 
tion of,  there,  133-4;  under  watch  at 
Debra  Tabor,  145;  arraigned  again 
at,  152 ;  confined  at,  153 ;  start  with 
Theodore  towards  Magdala,  159; 
fettered  at,  161 ;  quarters  at,  202  ;  in- 
vited by  Theodore  to  see  mortar 
brought  up  to  Salamge,  303 ;  in 
tents  at  Salamge,  312 ;  sent  back  to 
Magdala,  316 ;  liberated  and  sent  to 
British  camp,  325 ;  arrival  at  Zoolla, 
349;  recognition  of  its  services  by 
Government,  350. 

Mohammed  Adam,  cousin  to  Nayib  of 
Harkiko,  i.  37. 

Mohammed-bin -'Al)d-ur-Rahim,  Nayib 
of  Harkiko,  i.  37 ;  his  admii-ation  of 
Theodore,  38 ;  his  adventure  with  the 
King,  39. 

Mohammed  Sa'id,  messenger,  statement 
of  his  interview  with  Theodore,  i.  98; 
Sent  with  Agafari  Golam  to  release 
old  captives  from  Magdala,  ii.  5. 

Mohammed  Sihawy,  the  lying  mes- 
senger, i.  92,  194  ;  a  candidate  for  the 
Eoyal  Shirt,  ii.  7;  Theodore's  apology 
for  him,  9 ;  is  raised  to  the  rank  of 
Ona,  50. 

Moncfilu,  water  at,  i.  14  ;  Consul  Plow- 
den's  house  at,  19;  residence  of  Mission 
at,  23 ;  heat  at,  24 ;  French  Consul's 
house,  47 ;  duiiier  given  to  Massowah 
authorities  at,  64. 

INlonkeys,  i.  70,  160. 

Morland,  Lieut.,  i.  2,  24,  48. 

Mortar,  Theodore's  large,  arrests  his 
progress  to  Magdala,  ii.  257 ;  is  brought 
up  to  Salamge,  303. 

IMudir,  of  the  iJanakil,  i.  53. 

Munzinger,  M.,  i.  22,  43,  48.  82,  114;  is 
appointed  Britisli  Agent  at  Massowali, 
115;  sent  in  advance  of  tiie  British 
expedition  to  reconnoitre,  ii.  273 ;  at 
Dalanta,  276. 

Mutchler,  Mr.,  i.  171,  178,  185. 


N. 


Nafasa,  i.  231,  308. 


INDEX. 


357 


Nagadras  Gabra-Madhen,  ii.  11. 

Napier,  Sir  Robert,  liis  proclamation,  ii. 
255 ;  Lis  ultimatum,  265 ;  letters  to 
Tlieodore.  317,  319  ;  messafi:e  iu  reply 
to  proffered  present  from,  5327 ;  kind- 
ness to  Theodore's  survivinj^  family, 
342 ;  rewards  faithful  Abyssinians, 
348. 

Naturalists,  German,  i.  32,  33. 

Nayibs  of  Harkiko,  i.  37  ;  visit  to,  37. 

Ntguse,  Basha,  a  religious  reformer  at 
Magdala,  ii.  212. 

Niir-Habibai,  i.  85. 


Obsequies,  Abyssinian,  ii.  258,  260. 
Occupations,  of  males   and  females   iu 

Abyssinia,  i.  191,  ii.  72. 
Odis>o,   Aito,   niussacrcd   by  rebels    of 

Dawunt,  ii.  242  ;  Theodore's  grief  for 

him,  243. 
T)miir  'Ali,  interpreter,  i.  22. 
Ona  Mohammed,  see  Mohammed  Sihawy. 
Ondo,  ii.  13i). 
Oo1k%  Ras,  late  Chief  of  Tigre,  d.  feated 

by  Theodore,  i.  284;  impriijoned  by 

Theodore,  ii.  217. 
Order,  of  the  Cross  and  Solomon's  Seal, 

ii.  44,  48. 
Order,  of  the  Shirt,  see  Shirt. 


Palgrave,  Mr.  Gifford,  i.  104,  111. 

'Pantaloon,'  H.M.S.,  i.  29,  61. 

I'ietro,  Signor,  ii.  154. 

I'lovsdi,'n,  Consul,  his  Report  on  the 
military  and  political  career  of  Theo- 
dore, i.  282-287. 

Prideanx,  Lieut.,  associated  with  the 
Mission,  i.  66,  70;  sent  with  mtssago 
from  Theodore  to  Sir  Robert  Napier, 
ii.  319. 

Pric.-its,  trial  of  two  Abyssinian,  ii.  280. 

Purtoo  Effuiidi,  Lieut. -Governor  of 
Massowah,  i.  3  ;  his  opinion  of  Theo- 
dore, 4  ;  of  Massowaii,  25  ;  kaves  for 
the  llijaz,  32 ;  meeting  with  at  Jiddah, 
109. 

Purvis,  Captain,  i.  20,  tJO. 


Queen,  her  Rritiinnir  Majesty,  letters 
to  King  Themlore  from,  ii.  38,  231. 

Queens,  Tlicodorc's,  ii.  33(5.  See  Itji- 
manyo  and  Toru-Wtirk. 


SEVASTOPOL. 


R. 


Raines,  General,  i.  113. 

Raro,  i.  87. 

Ras  Harb,  i.  108. 

Reade,  Consul,  i.  111. 

Revenue,  oi  Abyssinia,  ii.  16. 

Rosenthal,  Rev.  Mr.,  i.  78  ;  Theodore's 

charges  against,  300  ;  ii.  306. 
Russell,  Earl,  suggests  tliat  a  British 

officer  should  be  attached  to  Mission, 

i.  65 ;  his  letter  to  Theodore  by  Consul 

Cameron,  ii.  37. 


S. 


Sabdarat,  i.  135  ;  view  from,  145. 

Sabunja,  i.  237. 

Sahatee,  i.  53,  60. 

Sakola,  i.  276. 

Sahimge,  plateau,  Theodore  reaches,  ii. 
27  ;  his  large  mortar  brought  to,  303. 

Saliisse,  attained  by  Theodore,  ii.  277  ; 
watclies  British  camp  from,  319. 

Samhar,  the,  i.  85,  90. 

Samuel,  Aito,  i.  244  ;  liis  cliaracter  and 
history,  258  ;  appointeil  Biildarriba  to 
the  jMission,  260  ;  his  character  vindi- 
cated, 262;  his  fidelity,  264;  arraigned 
by  Theodore,  ii.  86,  1U5 ;  takes  part 
■with  the  Cajitives,  145  ;  accompanies 
Mission  to  INLigdaia,  159  ;  his  jtosition 
at,  161 ;  services  at,  165  ;  death  of  his 
wife,  260  ;  iu  disgrace  with  Theodore, 
278  ;  restored  to  royal  favour,  280 ; 
his  visit  to  British  camp  and  return 
to  Magdala  with  Sir  Robirt  Napier's 
reply  to  Theodore's  proffered  present 
of  catth',  327. 

Saraba,  i.  208. 

Saraf-ul-Bawadra,  wells,  i.  151. 

Sar-Amb.i,  i.  197,  206  :  ii.  167. 

Sarmoutsli,  creek,  in  Island  of  Dak,  i. 
315. 

Sar-wiiha.  rivulet,  i.  216. 

Schiller,  Mr.,  imprisfmed  at  Magdala, 
ii.  261.    . 

Schimjur,  Dr.,  i.  52;  letters  from,  62, 
75 ;  his  oj)inion  of  the  Abyssinians, 
ii.  14  ;  his  .sketch  map  ul'  BagiimiSder 
and  ichtliyologieal  researches,  24. 

Schwainfurth,  Dr.,  i.  1()3. 

Scnafe,  Abyssinian  followers  dismissed 
at,  ii.  348. 

Servants,  Abyssinian,  fidelity  of,  ii.  244- 
249. 

Sevastopol,  Theodore's  large  mortar,  ii. 
303-4. 


358 


i:ndex. 


Sha'ab,  i.  85,  91,  121. 

Slia'alah,  i.  127. 

Sliajarut,  i.  149. 

Shallaka-Shatiisli,  i.  240. 

Shamma,  etiquette  in  wearing,  ii.  221- 
224;  enveloping  liead  in,  an  insult, 
22tj. 

Shiinkelsi,  slaves  taken  from  tlie.  i.  1G8. 

Sharo,  Inj,  i.  100. 

Sheikh  Hasb-Allah,  i.  150. 

Shells,  between  Casala  and  Kedarif,  i. 
150. 

Shirt,  Abyssinian  Order  of  tlie,  i.  198 ; 
Theodore  proposes  to  invest  tl:e  Mis- 
sion followers  witii,  ii.  5 ;  Theodore 
and  Em-opean  shirts,  71. 

Shisharo,  valley,  i.  72,  73. 

Sliohos,  the,  i.  (J6,  81. 

Shukry,  tribe,  i.  140;  cameleers,  152. 

Slave-trade,  at  Massowah,  i.  Gl,  G8 ;  in 
Abyssinia,  287-8. 

Snakes,  near  Lake  Tana,  i.  226. 

Solib,  i.  129. 

Soodan,  mutiny  in  the,  i.  141;  etymology 
of  name,  150. 

Speedy,  Mr.,  Theodore's  complaints 
against,  ii.  G3 ;  regarded  him  as  an 
enemy,  330. 

Spies,  alleged,  sent  to  Massowah,  i.  42. 

Sport,  i.  24,  54,  56,  73  ;  near  Lake  Tana, 
224. 

Staiger,  Mr.,  imprisoned  at  Magdala,  ii. 
261. 

Stanton,  Colonel,  i.  110;  his  opinion  of 
Dr.  Bekes  mission,  ii.  47. 

Steamer,  Theodore's  imitation,  ii.  120. 

Stem,  Rev.  Mr.,  letters  from,  i.  G3,  73 ; 
Theodore's  charges  against,  299,  ii. 
305 ;  his  missionaiy  Lbours  at  Mag- 
dala, 211 ;  fidelit}'  of  his  Abyssinian 
servants,  219. 

Suez,  arrival  of  Mission  at.  i.  110;  re- 
turn from,  111;  homeward  journey 
from,  ii.  349. 

"  Sugar,"  see  Sukkar. 

Siikkar,  Chief  of  the  Atte'-Maryam,  i. 
87-89.  122. 

Suk-ul-Galla])at,  sec  Matiimma. 

Sunkwaha,  i.  204. 

Surur,  Mt.,  i.  132. 


Tabot,  or  Ark,  i.  225-228  ;  ii.  2(;(). 

Tacrarait,  i.  129. 

Taiila,  liitwaddad,  sent  to  re-arrest  old 
captives,  ii.  80,  IIG;  in  charge  of 
(Captives  sent  to  Magdala,  152;  ini- 
l)ii.ioned  at,  2G2. 


THEODORE. 

Tadla  Gwalu,  deserts  from  the  royal 
camp  and  is  proclaimed  Chief  of 
Gojjam,  i.  238  ;  battle  between  his 
followers  and  Theodore,  239. 

Tiigga,  Ras,  Commander  of  the  Mus- 
keteers, ii.  45,  277. 

Taka,  plain  of,  i.  145. 

Takkaze,  river,  i.  35,  63. 

Takroories,  i.  157  ;  etvmology  of  name, 
158  ;  disobliging,  170. 

Tana,  Lake,  passage  across,  i.  314-317 : 
shores  of.  ii.  7 ;  shooting  with  Theo- 
dore at,  109,  114 ;  artillerv-practico 
at,  111. 

Tankwal,  i.  216. 

Tartar,  i.  150. 

Tasiimma,  Balanibaras,  Master  of  the 
Horse,  impi  isoned  at  Magdala,  ii.  262. 

Tasanima,  Lij,  i.  196,  200,  201,  202;  his 
motlier,  213. 

Ta.sho.  Lij,  i.  196. 

Ttj,  beverage,  i.  19'>. 

Teru-Wark,  daughter  of  Dajjai  Oobc, 
married  to  Theodore,  ii.  217,"  277, 336  ; 
makes  over  her  son,  'Alamayo,  to  the 
British,  343  ;  her  death,  347. 

Tigreau,  dialect,  used  at  Massowah,  i.  14. 

T'issoo  Gobaze,  rebel  Chief  of  Walkait, 
i.  35,  74,  102,  188. 

T'issoo  Hailo,  head  of  Abyssinian  mer- 
chants trading  to  Jlassowah,  i.  34,  35 ; 
is  imjiri.soned  at  Magdala,  ii.  262. 

Theodore,  King,  fir.st  letter  from  to 
Author,  i.  93, 115 ;  his  reception  of  the 
Mission,  248 ;  his  complaints  against 
the  old  Captives,  248-251 ;  orders  their 
relciise,  265 ;  his  letter  to  the  Queen, 
ib. ;  knowledge  of  Arabic,  270  ;  not  a 
beneficent  ruler,  278;  his  parentage 
and  early  youtli,  ih.;  earlv  ex])l()its, 
280  ;  recJives  a  check  at  Kediirif,  281 ; 
marries  Tobet,  Eas  'All's  daughter, 
281 ;  overthrows  Has  'Ali  and  Eas 
Oobe,  282-284 ;  is  crowned  Emperor, 
284;  his  early  reforms,  285-6;  causes 
of  his  waning  jiower,  288-9 ;  his  tits 
of  niclauchdly,  290;  rapidity  of  his 
marches,  291 ;  care  for  his  troops,  293; 
alleged  rea.>ton  for  delaying  answering 
the  Author's  letter,  295  ;  sends  order 
for  release  of  old  Captives,  297 ;  his 
complaints  against  them,  299 ;  otfers 
to  make  a  treaty,  304 ;  presents  Author 
with  5000  doHars,  305;  arrives  at 
Zagc,  ii.  1 ;  his  ethics,  9 ;  agrees  to 
departure  of  European  artisans  with 
Autlioi-,  12 ;  used  to  believe  in  the 
black  art,  19;  writes  that  he  wishes 
to  "consult"  Author,  21;  pioposcs  to 


INDEX. 


359 


decorate  members  of  Mission  with  the 
Koyal  Shirt,  22  ;  intimates  tliat  the 
Captives  are  to  be  tried,  26 ;  arrange- 
ments thereto,  31  ;  seeks  an  indemnity, 
32,  35:  demands  artisans  from  Eng- 
land, 39;  forgives  tlie  Captives,  42; 
sends  Author  another  5000  dollars,  45 ; 
his  reception  of  the  Slissinu  at  Zage, 
57 ;  consults  Chiefs  and  European 
artisans  about  dettiining  the  Mission, 
58,  59 ;  his  complaints  against  the 
Coptic  Patriarcli  and  the  Egyptian 
Government,  G2,  63  :  against  iiis  own 
people,  64  ;  directs  Author  to  prepare 
to  leave  Abyssinia,  64 ;  in  European 
shirts,  71 ;  returns  a  seized  packet 
open  to  Author,  73 ;  changes  plan  of 
our  return  jounu.-y,  76 ;  agrees  to 
Author's  proposed  route,  78  ;  orders 
re-arrest  of  Captives  on  their  way 
homeward,  SO;  his  charges  against 
the  Author,  84-86;  apologizes,  87,92; 
arraigns  tlie  Captives  at  Zage,  93;  asks 
their  pardon,  99 ;  ciiuses  tlie  petition 
from  the  relatives  of  the  Captives  to  be 
read,  ib. ;  his  letter  to  Queen  Victoria 
asking  for  artisans,  100  ;  his  presents 
to  the  members  of  the  Mi.-^sion,  107 ; 
restores  part  of  cash  taken  from  old 
Captives,  107;  visits  tlie  Author  at  Zage, 
108;  commemorates  Queen  Victoria's 
birth-day,  110;  fellsa  su[ipli;int  with  a 
billet  of  wood.  Ill ;  n counts  his  wars 
against  Turks  and  (Jallas,  113;  his 
cruelty  at  Zage,  115;  pro])o.ses  that  the 
Author  should  wear  a  Mdnjaf,  117; 
attempts  imitation  of  a  steamer,  120; 
his  views  on  taxation,  131  ;  courtesy 
to  Autlior  at  Gatfat,  132-3 ;  his  de- 
scent from  Alexander,  137 ;  praises 
the  English  for  providing  his  people 
with  Amharic  bibles,  139;  his  charges 
against  the  Autlior  at  Debra  Tabor, 
141-2;  claims  India  and  half  tlie 
world  besides,  153;  visits  Captives  at 
Debra  Tabor,  155;  believes  himself 
mad,  15() ;  proceeds  with  Captives  to- 
wards Magilala,  158;  sends  Captives 
on  t^)  Miigdala,  159  ;  his  reiuarlfs  on 
hearing  that  Author  was  fettered, 
163;  returns  to  Debra  Tfilior,  164; 
his  difl'erent  marriages,  217-219  ;  his 
first  letter  to  Author  at  Miigdala, 
228  ;  forwards  stores  to  Author,  229- 
238 ;  forwards  Queen's  letter  to  him 
for  perusal,  23;;;  notitics  that  lie  will 
keep  us  at  Miigilala,  231 ;  deelim  s  a 
jiroHered  present,  240;  cut  off  from 
Miigdala,   241  ;  his   cruelties  at  thiit 


TOLKEATION. 

period,  241 ;  receives  copy  of  Sir 
Eobert  Napier's  proclamation,  254 ; 
reaches  Beitahor,  256 ;  death  of  his 
sister,  258 ;  reaches  Clietta  valley, 
260 ;  his  talk  about  the  Author,  264 ; 
reaches  tlie  Dalanta  plateau,  267; 
breaks  fidth  with  the  Dalanta  people, 
268  ;  rciichcs  the  Bashilo,  271;  speaks 
of  a  "  blood  bath,"  272  ;  sends  his 
valuables  to  IMtigdala,  276;  reaches 
Salamge,  277  :  enters  Miigdala,  279  ; 
tries  two  priests  for  defamation,  280 ; 
tries  Chiefs  for  treason,  281 ;  returns 
to  Sahinige,  282 :  visits  IMiigdala 
again,  286 ;  alleged  reason  for  detain- 
ing the  Mission,  287;  summons  the 
Author  to  an  interview,  ib. ;  his  altered 
appearance,  ih. ;  refers  to  the  impend- 
ing attack  by  the  British,  289;  re- 
quests the  Author  to  bury  him  in  the 
event  of  his  death,  ih. ;  another  al- 
leged motive  for  detaining  the  Cap- 
tives, 290 ;  unfetters  Bl;mc  iind  Pri- 
deaux,  291 ;  hopes  the  British  will 
not  despise  him  for  his  colour,  292 ; 
upbraids  his  Chiefs  at  Sahimge,  293 ; 
his  charmed  rifle,  295 ;  his  queries  on 
European  warfare,  304 ;  recounts  his 
troubles,  305  ;  deplores  the  raggedness 
of  his  troops,  306 ;  refuses  to  make 
overtures  to  Sir  Robert  Napier,  307  ; 
goes  oil'  on  a  plundering  expedition, 
308  ;  is  anxious  to  hear  of  the  British 
army,  309 ;  Wiitches  for  its  move- 
ments. 310 ;  harangues  his  troops, 
313;  is  determined  to  let  matters 
take  their  course,  314  ;  orders  massacre 
of  native  prisoners,  315 ;  refuses  to 
receive  Sir  R.  Napier's  letter,  317 ; 
attacks  British  advanced  guard,  318 ; 
requests  Author  to  open  communica- 
tions with  Sir  R.  Napier,  319;  his 
letter  to  Sir  Robert,  320  ;  his  anger 
iit  the  result  of  the  dejiutatiou  to  Bri- 
tish camp,  319;  his  letter  of  apology  to 
Sir  Robert,  325  ;  sends  present  of  cattle 
to  British  camp,  330  ;  prcpan  s  to  de- 
camp, //;. ;  his  ('hiefs  and  peo])le  re- 
fuse to  obey  him,  331;  prepares  fur 
defence,  332 ;  attacks  our  ciivalry, 
333 ;  retires  to  tlie  gates  with  a  few 
followers,  334 ;  shoots  himself,  ib. ; 
summary  of  his  character,  335 ;  his 
wives  and  issue,  336;  his  burial, 
343. 

Ti'ibet,  daughter  of  Rils  'Ali,  marries 
Theodore,  ii.  217. 

Toleration,  Abyssinian  religious,  i. 
319. 


360 


l^v'DEX. 


ToUs,  ii.  16. 

Tournament,  native,  ii.  123. 


'  Victoria,'  transport  steamer,  i.  48,  53, 
eO,  64,  104. 

W. 

Wadala,  ii.  148,  270. 

Wahne,  i.  188. 

Waitos,  near  Lake  Tana,  i.  814. 

Wai'zero  Baritu,  i.  218. 

Wiiizero  Denke,  i.  213,  219,  222,  310. 

Wai'zero  Mi'nyen,  mother  of  Ras  'Ali,  i. 
281. 

Waka,  i.  187. 

Wak.sbum  Gobaze,  of  Lasta,  i.  35,  74. 
81  ;  proposes  to  attack  Ma^dala,  ii. 
250 ;  rctii-es  from  before  Ma.i^dala, 
251 ;  bis  friendliness  to  the  British 
army,  252  ;  designs  to  attack  Theo- 
dore, 255 ;  forwards  copy  of  Sir  Robert 
Napier's  nltiraatum  to  Author.  2G5, 

Wak.slium  Tafare,  cousin  to  Waksbum 
Gobaze,  ii.  239,  203. 

Wald-Gabir,  Theodore's  valet,  i.  276; 
saw  Theodore  connnit  suicide,  ii.  327  ; 
denies  that  his  master  cursed  on  the 
occasion,  337. 

Wald-Gabriel,  interpreter,  i.  187;  deco- 
rated with  Royal  Shirt,  ii.  13. 

Wald-Maryam,  lesser  Cliief  of  escort,  i. 
196. 

Wal(l-]\Iaryam,  messenger,  i.  43,  48,  65, 
77,  104, 

Waldmcier,  Mr.,  bis  testimony  to  first 
.success  of  Mission,  ii.  43,  44 ;  bis 
zealous  co-operation,  206  :  Theodore's 
testimony  thereto,  292  ;  escorts  libe- 
rated Captives  to  British  camp,  324  ; 
styled  by  Theodore  his  "  best  friend," 
326  ;  assists  Author  at  Miigdala,  340. 


Wald-ul-'Ammas.  i.  156. 

Wald-Salasse  Gobaze.  i.  69,  70,  231. 

Waldt-lNIdryam,  a  native  Joan  of  Arc,  i. 
218,  317. 

Walkait,  i.  35,  ii.  74. 

Wande,  Aito,  is  presented  with  one  of 
Theodore's  dismissed  wives,  i.  220, 
317 ;  is  arraigned  by  Theodore,  ii. 
105. 

Wandige,  district,  i.  308. 

Wanzi'ge,  village,  i,  216. 

Warke',  Yashalaka,  a  doorkeeper  at  Mag- 
dala,  ii.  185. 

Wasi,  Bitwaddad,  one  of  Magdala  Coun- 
cil, ii.  177;  heads  a  raid  uj)on  the 
Gallas,  297. 

Wello  -  Gallas,  Theodore's  campaign 
against,  i.  74. 

Wiiby,  Brigadier-General,  ii.  339,  344. 

Worohaimano,  Gallas,  raid  upon,  ii. 
294-801. 


Y. 

Yadjow,  Gallas,  ii.  218 ;  intended  to  sub- 
mit to  Tluodore,  270. 
Yashalaka,  a  Captain  of  Lancers,  ii.  191. 
Yasmala,  i.  234,  808. 


Zaga,  i.  130. 

Zage,  capital  of  Me'tcha,  ii.  1 ;  reception 
of  Mission  at,  56 ;  arrested  at,  83 ; 
Theodore's  cruelties  at,  115  ;  penin- 
sula of.  its  inhabitants  and  produce, 
118-120. 

Ziinuab,  'Alaka,  keeper  of  the  royal 
arcliivcs,  ii.  192,  349. 

Zanzalima.  ii.  80. 

Zand!,  ii.  315. 

Zoolla,  visit  to,  i.  81 ;  return  to.  ii.  349. 

Zflgda,  i.  236,  307. 


THE    END. 


IjOKDON  :  PRINTEU    BY    WILLIAU   CLOWES  AKD  SONS,  STAMrOIU>  STRP.ET, 
AND  CnABrXG   CliOSH. 


Albemarle  Strekt. 
Norrwhry,  ]868. 


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^iiarttrlD  ITist  of  ^orks. 


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V.Y   THE    LAJK 

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^^'itll  nu  Index  to  tlio  8  vols.     8vn. 


ANNALS    OF    ST.    PAUL'S    CATHEDRAL. 

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TX  JAVA,  CELEBES,  AMBOYNA,  THE  SPICE  ISLANDS, 
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WIVES  OK  A  GREAT  .JAVANESE  PRTKCK. 

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POULTRY  VENDOR.       BATAVI.ii. 

AFTER  THE  BATH. 

A  DYAK,  OR  HE.\D-HtSTER  OF  BORNEO. 

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.MUSICAL  IN-STRUMKNTS    USED    BY    THi;    >1.\I.AY.- 

AT  BATAVIA. 
LANDING  THROtJOH  SURF  IN   CERAM. 


ASCENT  OF  BURNING  MOUNTAIN. 

DRIVING  HOUND  A  DANGEROUS  BLUFF. 

KILLING  THE  PYTHON. 

.\  JAVANESE  AND  HIS  FAMILY. 

A  JUNGLE. 

GOVERNMENT  BUILDINGS.      BATAVIA. 

NATIVES  OF  PAGI  1SI,ANDS. 

THE  PINANO,  OR  BETEL-NUT  PALM. 

THE  BAMBOO. 

THE  LONTAR  PALM. 

liOMUTI  PALM. 

WOMAN  OF  THE  PADANG  PLATEAU. 

A  NATIVE  OF  THE  ISLAND  OF  NIAS. 

A  MALAY  OPIUM-SMOKER. 

A  KLING. 

NATIVE  OF  BELUCHISTAN. 

PALEMBANG — HIGH  W.^TER. 

SINGAPORE. 


THE    MILITARY    FORCES    OF    THE    CROWN 

THEIR  ADMINISTRATION  AND  (;0VERNMEN1\ 

Svo. 


THE    TALMUD. 

Rv  EMANUEL  DEUTSCH. 
8vo. 


A   NEW   SERIES   OF 

CONTRIBUTIONS   TO   THE    LITERATURE 

OF  ART. 

INCLUDINCJ    THE    ESSAYS    PUBLISHED    IN    184S. 
By    sir    CHARLES    LOCK    EASTLAKE,    RR.A. 

Svo. 


MR.  MURRAY'S  QUARTERLY  LIST  OF  WORKS. 


NAPOLEON  AT  FONTAINEBLEAU  AND   ELBA. 

JiEING  A  JOURNAL  OF  OCCURRENCES  DOWN  TO 

THE  ESCAPE  OF  BONARARTE  FROM  ELBA, 

WITH  NOTES  OF  HIS  CONVERSATIONS. 

By  Major-Gen.  SIR  NEIL  CAMPBELL,  C.B., 

British  Commissioner  in  that  Island. 

With  a  Memoir  of  the  Life  aud  Services  of  that  Officer,  by  his  Nephew, 

ARCHIBALD  NEIL  CA]\IPBELL  MACLACHLAN,  ]\I.A., 

Vicar  of  Newton  Valence,  Hants. 
With  Rortrait.     8vo. 


NARRATIVE    OF    THE    BRITISH     MISSION    TO 
THEODORUS  THE  EMPEROR  OF  ABYSSINIA. 

WITH  NOTICES  OF  THE  COUNTRY,  GOVERNMENT,  AND  PEOPLE 
OF  THE  A]\[HARAS. 

By  HORMUZD  RASSAM, 

First  Assistant  Political  Resident  at  Aden  in  charKe  of  tho  ^Mission. 
8vo. 


TRAVELS  AND  ADVENTURES  IN 

THE  TERRITORY   OF  ALASKA   AND   ON 
THE    RIVER   YUKON. 

F0R1\IERLY   RUSSIAN  AMERICA,  NOW  CEDED  TO  THE  UNITED   STATES 
WITH  NOTF.S  OF  YOYAOFS  AND  TRAVELS  IN  OTHER  PARTS  OF  THE  NORTH  PACIFIC 

By  FREDERICK  WHYMPER. 

^lap  and  30  Illustrations.     8vo. 


THE    NILE    AND    ITS    BANKS. 

THEIll  ATTIIACTIONS  TO  THE  ARCHiEOLOGIST,  NATURALIST. 
AND  THE  GENERAL  TOURIST. 

r.v   REV.   A.    C.   SMITH,   Rector  of  Yatesbury. 
Woodcnts.     2  Yols.,  post  8vo. 


4  MR.  MURUAY'ii  QUARTERLY  LIST  OF  WORKS. 

PRINCIPLES    AT    STAKE. 

ESSAYS  ON  THE  CHURCH  QUESTIONS  OF  THE  DAY. 

BY  VARIOUS  WRITERS. 

Edited  by  GEORGE  HENRY  SUMNER,  M.A., 

Rector  of  Old  Alresford,  Hants,  and  Chaplain  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Winchester. 

CONTENTS. 

I.     EiTUALiSM  AND  Unifokmity.      Bj'  BENJAMIN  SUA  11",  M.A.,  late  Fellow  of 
Trinity  Coll. ,  Cambridge. 

II.       IXCREASE     OF      THE     EpI.SCOPATE     OF     THE     ClirrvCH     OF     EXGLAND.         LORD 

ARTHUR  HERYEY,  M.A.,  Archdeacon  of  Sudbury,  and  Rector  of  Ick- 
worth-with-Horringer. 

III.  Powers  and   Duties  of  the  Priesthood.     R.  PAYNE    SMITH,    D.D., 

Canon  of  Christ  Church,  and  Eegius  Professor  of  Divinity  at  Oxford. 

IV.  National  Education.    ALEXANDER  R.  GRANT,  M.A.,  Rector  of  Hitcham, 

Suffolk,  and  late  H.M.  Inspector  of  Scliools, 
V.     Doctrine  of    the    Eucharist,   considered    iu   connection    with   Statements 

recently  put  forth  respecting  that  Holy  Sacrament.     THE  EDITOR. 
VI.     Scripture  and  Ritual.      T.  D.  BERNARD,  M.A.,   Rector  of  Walcot,  an.l 

Canon  of  Wells. 
VII.     Church   in  South  Africa.      ARTHUR  MILLS,   M.A.,    of    P.alliol   Coll.. 
Oxford. 
VIII.     Schismatical  Tendency  of  Ritualism.     GEORGE  SALMON,  D.D.,  Regius 
Professor  of  Divinity  in  the  University  of  Dublin. 
IX.     Revisions  of  the  Liturgy  considered  in  their  bearing  on  Ritualism. 
W.  G.  HUMPHRY,  B.D.,  Vicar  of  St.  Martin-in-the-Fields,  late  Fellow 
of  Trinity  Coll.,  Cambridge. 
X.     Parties  and    Party   Spirit.      JOHN  SAUL   HOWSON,    D.D.,    Dean    of 
Chester. 

One  Volume.     Svo.     12s. 

Uniform  with  "Aids  to  Faith." 


MISSIONARY   TRAVELS    IN 
LITTLE    KNOWN    PARTS    OF    ASIA    MINOR. 

By  rev.  henry  J.  VAN  LENNEP. 

With  Map  and  Illustrations.     2  Vols.     Post  Svo. 

HISTORY    OF    THE    SCHOOLS    OF    PAINTING 
IN    NORTH    ITALY. 

INCLUDING  VENICE,   LOMBARDV,  PADUA,  VICENZA,  VERONA,  PARMA, 
FRIULI,  FERRARA,  AND  BOLOGNA. 

FROM  THE  SECOND  TO  THE  SIXTEENTH  CENTURY. 
By  J.  A.  CROWE  and  G.  B.  CAVALCASELLE, 

Authors  of  "The  Early  Flemish  Painters." 
With  Illustrations.     2  Vols.     Svo. 


MM.  MURRAY'S  QUARTERLY  LIST  OF  WORKS. 
A  PRACTICAL  TREATISE  ON 

SHIPBUILDING    IN    IRON    AND    STEEL. 

By  E.  J.  REED,  C.B., 

Cliiof  Couatructor  of  the  Royal  N'avy,  and  Vice-President  of  the  Institution  of  XuviJ  Architects. 

AVitli  5  Plates  aud  250  Diaf;r;uus.     Svo. 

By  Older  of  the  Lords  Coinniissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  the  Examinations  iu  Iron 
Shipbuilding  iu  H.  M.  Dockyards  will  be  based  on  this  Treatise. 


This  work,  which  is  of  an  esisentially  practical  character,  gives  full  detailed  descrip- 
tions of  the  manner  in  which  the  keels,  stems,  stern-posts,  frames,  beams,  plating,  bulk- 
heads, topsidcs,  and  other  parts  of  iron  ships  arc  formed,  fitted,  and  fastened  ;  witii 
descriptions  of  the  various  methods  of  laying  down  and  building  pursued  in  the  principal 
]irivate  establisliments  upon  the  Thames,  the  Tync,  the  i\Iersey,  and  the  Clyde,  and  also 
in  H.  II.  Dockyards.  The  volimie  also  embraces  the  employment  of  steel  in  ship- 
building ;  detailed  investigations  of  the  strength  of  riveted  butts,  founded  on  the  latest 
examples  of  actual  practice  ;  remarks  on  Lloyds'  and  the  Liverpool  rules  for  ship- 
building ;  the  testing  of  shipbuilding  in  iron  and  steel ;  and  the  armour-plating  of  war 
ships.  The  volume  is  profusely  illustrated  with  carefully  executed  woodcuts,  and  with 
steel-plate  engravings,  showing  iu  perspective  section  the  systems  of  framing  adopted 
in  the  mercantile  steamships  Queen  and  China,  and  iu  the  war-shijis  Warrior,  Bellero- 
phon,  and  Hercules. 


THE  TRAVELS    OF   MARCO    POLO. 

A  NEW  ENGLISH  YEKSIUN. 
WITH    COPIOUS    ILLUSTRATIVE    NOTES. 

Bvr  COL.  HENRY  YULE,  C.B.,  M.R.G.S. 

One  Volume.     With  original  Maps  aud  otlier  Illustrations.     Svo. 

The  Editor  aims  at  producing  a  Standard  Edition  of  these  cla.ssic  Travels.  Forty 
years  liave  elapsed  since  the  publication  of  Marsden's  edition,  the  liest  that  wo  possess, 
but  in  that  interval  tlie  great  stream  of  information  on  niedi;eval  Geograimj'  and 
History  of  Asia  has  been  constantly  bringing  fresh  materials.  The  Editor  has  long  been 
preparing  for  tlie  task. 

This  version  will  l)e  based  on  the  old  Frencli  texts,  which  are  now  known  to  come 
nearest  to  the  author's  dictated  narrative,  without  excluding  passages  known  to  other 
texts,  where  thej-  appear  authentic. 


THE    YOUNG    OFFICER'S    COMPANION; 

On,   ESSAYS   ON    MILITAliY    DUTIES   AND   (QUALITIES: 
WITH   EXAMPLES  AND   ILLUSTRATIONS  FROM   HISTORY. 

Bv   LTEUT.CEN.   LORD   DE   ROS. 

A  New  Ediliuii,      Willi  niinii  loiis  .Vdditiiiiis.      I'ost  8vo. 


ME.  MUBBAY'S  QUABTEBLY  LIHT  OF  WOBKS. 


LAST    WINTER    IN    THE    UNITED    STATES. 

BEING   TABLE   TALK   COLLECTED    DURING   A  TOUR 

THROUGH   THE    LATE    SOUTHEKX  CONFEDEEATIOX,  THE   FAR  WEST, 

THE  ROCKY   MOUNTAINS,    &c.,    fcc 

Br  F.  BARHAM  ZINCKE, 

Vicar  of  Whcrstead,  and  Chaplaiu  in  Ordinary  to  tlie  Queuu. 
Post  8vo. 

"No  one  would  now  think  of  -waiting  a  continuous  narrative  of  travel  in  tlie  United 
States  of  America.  .  .  .  He  may  write,  however,  somewhat  in  the  fashion  of  a  book  of  table- 
talk.  This  he  may  do  by  confining  himself  just  to  wliat  he  knows  woukl  be  listened  to 
with  interest  in  a  company  of  intelligent  persons  wlio  liad  some  acquaintance  Avith  the 
subject  ;  and  by  putting  what  he  has  to  say  of  this  kind  with  the  conciseness,  and,  if 
possible,  with  the  point,  required  in  conversation." — Author'' s  Introduction. 


THE    METALLURGY    OF    LEAD,    SILVER, 

GOLD, 

PLATINUM,  TIN,  NICKEL,  COBALT,  ANTIMONY,  BISMUTH,  ARSENIC, 
AND  OTHER  METALS. 

By  JOHJ^  PERCY,  M.D.,  F.R.S., 

Lecturer  on  Jletallurgy  at  the  Government  School  of  Mines. 

With  Illustrations.     8vo. 

**  Also,  a  New  and  Revised  Edition  of  VOL.  I.  of  Peucy's  ]\[ETALLUKGy. 


A    HANDY-BOOK    ON    HOUSES: 

OR,    GUIDE    IN    THE   CHOICE   OF    A   DWELLING,    AFFORDING    CONCISE 

INFORMATION,    ARRANGED   ALPPIABETICALLY 

UNDER  ONE  HUNDRED  HEADS. 

For  the  Use  of  Owners,  Occupiers,  Buyers,  and  ]5uildcrs  o'l  Houses. 
By  ROBERT  KERR,  Architect; 

Author  of  "  The  Gentleman's  House,"  &c. 
AVitli  Plans.     Post  8vo. 


CHRISTIANITY, 

VIEWED    IN    ITS    RELATION    TO    THE    PRESENT   STATE   OF   SOCIETY 

AND   OF   OPINION. 

BEING   A  THIRD  SERIES   OP   MEDITATIONS. 

?>Y    M.    GUIZOT. 

Post  8vo, 


MB.  MURRAY'S  QUARTERLY  LIST  OF   m)RK(<.       7 

HISTORY  OF  EUROPE  DURING  THE  FRENCH 
REVOLUTION. 

FROM  THE  SECRET  ARCHIVES  OF  GEK.MANV,   &l-. 
By  professor  VON  SYBEL, 

Univer.sity  of  Bonn.      ' 
Vols.  III.  and  IV.,  completing  tlie  Work.     Svu. 


A    COPIOUS    ENGLISH    GRAMMAR. 

A  METHODICAL,   ANALYTICAL,  AND  HISTORICAL  TREATISE  ON  THE  ORTHOGKAPHY, 
PROSODY,  INFLECTIONS,  AND  SYNTAX  OF  THE  ENGLISH  TONGUE. 

"With  numerous  Authorities,  cited  in  the  order  of  historical  development. 
By  Professor  EDWARD  MAETZNER,  of  Berlin. 

TUANSLATED 

liY   A  MEMBEl!    OF  THE    PHILOLOGICAE    .sOCIETY   OF  LONDON. 

3  Vols.     Svo. 


A    COURSE    OF    LECTURES    ON    GENERAL 
JURISPRUDENCE; 

OR,  THE  PHILOSOPHY  OF  POSITIVE  LAW. 
By  the  late  JOHN  AUSTIN, 

Ban-istcr-at-Law. 

Edited  auil  re^■ised 

By    ROBERT    CAMPBELL, 

Ailvojiito(oi"  the  Scotch  Bar),  and  of  Lincoln's  hin,  Barristev-at-Law. 
Third  Edition.     2  Vols.     Svo. 

This  New  Edition  has  bec-ii  revised  witli  the  a.ssisLanre  of  notes  of  ihc  Lectures  as  origi- 
nally deliverc.l,  tak.-u  l.y  Mr.  J.  S.  Mill,  and  kindly  lent  to  the  executors  of  the  late 
Sarah  Austin,  by  whom  tli<;  former  ..'ilitioii  was  [.iv[«ar.il  and  edited  iVom  the  author's 
original  maiiuscriids. 


A   DICTIONARY   OF    CHRISTIAN   ANTIQUITIES. 

(JOMPi;iSlN(;  THF  mSTOllY,  INSTITUTIONS,  AUCH.KOLUOY,  GEOGKAPHY. 

AND  15I0GI!API(Y  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,   FROM  THE  TIMES 

OF  THE  APOSTLES  TO  THE  AGE  OF  CHARLEMAGNE. 

UNDEK  THE  GKNERAL  SUPERINTENDENCE  OF 

WM.  SMITH,  LL.D., 

In  Loiiliiuiatiuii  ofhis  •'  l)i.iioii;iiv  oflli,'  I'.iMi."'     With  llluslratious.     Medium  Svo. 


MIL  MURRAY'S  QUARTERLY  LIST  oF  WORKS. 

THE    STRENGTH    OF    IRON    AND    STEEL. 

TUAXSLATED    FKO.Al    TilE    SWEDISH    OF    K.   STYFFE. 

By  CHRISTER  P.  SANDBERG,  C.E. 

With  a  Pkeface  by  JOHN  rEUCY,  M.D. 
With  11  Lithographs.     Svo. 


FACT    AND    ARGUMENT    FOR    DARWIN 

By  fritz  I\IULLER. 

With  imiuei-ou.s  Hlustiatioiis  ami  Additions  Ly  the  Author. 
TUANSLATED    FROM    THE    GeHMAX    BY   W.    S.    DALLAS. 

Svo. 


ON    MOLECULAR    AND    MICROSCOPIC 
SCIENCE. 

By  MARY  SOMERVILLE, 

Author  of  "  Physical  Science,"  &e. 
Witli  muiierous  niustrations.     2   Vols.     Tost  Svo. 


A    COPIOUS    AND    CRITICAL 
ENGLISH-LATIN     DICTIONARY. 

COMPILED  FIJOM   OIHGLXAL   SOURCES 
By   WM.    SMITH,  LL.D.,    and   THEOPHILUS   D.    HALL,    M.A. 

Svo,  and  alaidgud,  12nio. 


LIVES    OF   THE    WARRIORS    OF    THE 
17"^^^    CENTURY. 

By  GENERAL  SIR  EDWARD  GUST. 
Vol.  \.     Post  Svo. 


A    CLASSICAL    AND    BIBLICAL    ATLAS. 

Edited   ]iv    ^\^M.   SMITH,  LL.D. 
Pakt    l.-GKEECE,  and  THE  ISLANDS  OF  THE  .EGEAN. 
PaktII.— THE  HOLY  LAND  AND  COUNTRIES  OF  THE  lillJLF. 

Fol  io. 


MB.  MURRAY'S  QUARTERLY  LIST  OF  WORKS. 

THE    NEW    TESTAMENT. 

Edited,  with  a  short,  practical  Commentary, 
By   rev.    EDWARD   CHURTON,   M.A., 

Archdeacon  of  Cleveland, 
AND 

REV.  W.  BASIL  JONES,  M.A., 

Archdeacon  and  Prebendary  of  York. 

"With  100  rauoramic  aud  other  Views  of  Places  mentioned  in  the  Sacred  Text,  from 
Authentic  Sketches  aud  Photographs. 

Second  Edition.     2  Vols.  8vo. 


A  NEW,  UNIFORM!,  AND  POPULAR  EDITION  OF 

MOTLEY'S    HISTORY    OF   THE    UNITED 
NETHERLANDS; 

FKOM  THE   DEATH    OF   WILLIAM  THE   SILENT   TO    THE   TWELA'E 
YEAllS'  TRUCE,   1609. 

Vol.  I.     To  be  comjileted  in  4  Monthly  Vols.     Post  Svo.     6s.  each. 


STUDENTS   MANUAL  OF    ECCLESIASTICAL 

HISTORY. 

Containing  the  History  of  the  Christian  Church  from  the  Close  of  the  New 
Testament  Canon  to  tlie  Iicformation. 

Post  8VQ. 


STUDENTS    MANUAL   OF    MODERN 
GEOGRAPHY. 

By  W.  L.  BEVAN,  M.A., 

Author  of  "  Tlio  Student's  Manual  of  Ancient  Geo^uphy." 
With  150  ilaps  and  Illustrations.     Post  Svo. 


INITIA    GR/ECA,    PART   III. 

GUKKK  PKO.SE  COJIPOSITION. 
Containing  the  Pules  of  Syntax,  witli  Copious  E.xaniples  and  Exercises. 

By  WILLIAM   SMITH,   LL.D. 

12mo. 


10  MB.  MURRAY' ti  QUARTERLY  LIST  OF  WORKS. 

HISTORY    OF    POTTERY    AND    PORCELAIN, 
MEDIAEVAL    AND    MODERN. 

By  JOSEPH  MARRYAT. 

mUrd  Edition,  revised  and  greatly  enlarged.     AVitli  niany  additional  Illustrations. 

Medium  8vo. 


NOTES    ON    VENETIAN    CERAMICS. 

By  W.  RICHARD  DRAKE,  F.S.A. 

Medium  Svo. 
(Forming  a  Supplement  to  "Marryat's  Pottery  and  Porcelain.") 


THE    CONSTITUTION    AND    PRACTICE    OF 
COURTS   MARTIAL; 

WITH   A   SUMMARY   OF   THE   LAW   OF   EVIDENCE,    &g. 
By  CAPT.  T.  F,  SIMMONS,  R.A. 

Sixth  Edition,  embodying  the  latest  alterations  in  the  law.     Svo, 


BENEDICITE; 

OB,  SONG  OF  THE  THREE  CHILDrvEN. 

Being  Illustrations  of  the  Power,  Beneficence,  and  Desi.gn  in  the  Works  of  Creation. 
By  G.  CHAPLIN   CHILD,  M.D.     . 
Nciv  Edition,  in  One  Volume.     Post  Svo. 


THE    HARVEST    OF   THE    SEA. 

oil,    THE    NATUIJAL    HISTORY    OF    BRITISH    FOOD    FISHES. 
Witli  Sketches  of  Fisheries  and  Fisherfolk. 

By  JAMES  G.  BERTRAIkL 

Sccoiul  Edition.     With  Illustrations.     Svo. 


MR.  MURRAY'S  QUARTERLY  LIST  OF  WORKS.  11 


THE    STUDENTS    HALLAM. 

AX  EPIT02IE  OF  THE  HISTORY  OF  EUROPE  DURING  THE  MIDDLE  AGES. 

With,  additional  Notes  and  Illustrations. 

By  WM.  smith,  LL.D. 

Post  8vo.     Uniform  with  the  "  Student's  Hume." 


HANDBOOK   TO    THE    CATHEDRALS 

OF  YORK,  RIPON,  DURHAM,  CARLISLE,  CHESTER,  AND 

MANCHESTER. 

By  E.  J.  KING,  B.A. 

With  Illustrations.     Crown  8vo, 


A    CATALOGUE    OF   THE    WORKS    OF 
SIR    JOSHUA    REYNOLDS, 

WITH  NOTICES  OF  THEIR  PRESENT  OWNERS  AND  LOCALITIES. 
By  TOM  TAYLOR  and  CHAS.  W.  FRANKS. 

With  Illustrations.     Fcap.  4to. 


PLAIN    SERMONS 

PREACHED    TO    A    COUNTRY    CONGREGATION. 

By  rev.  J.  J.  BLUNT,  B.D., 

Late  Margaret  Professor  at  Cambridge. 
Fifth  Edition.     Complete  in  2  Vols.     Post  Svo. 


A 

SMALLER  HISTORY  OF  ENGLISH  LITERATURE 

Edited  by  WILLL\M  SMITH,  LLD. 
16mo. 


GREECE: 

PICTORIAL,  DESCRIPTIVE,  AND  HISTORICAL. 

By  ARCHDEACON  WORDSWORTH,  D.D. 

With  nearly  600  Engi-avings,  illustrative  of  the  Scenery,  Architecture,  Costume,  and 
Fine  Arts  of  the  Country. 

Fifth  Edition.     Royal  Svo.     2l5. 


12  Mli.  MUURAt'S  QUARTERLY  LIST  OF  WORKS. 

FORD'S    HANDBOOK    OF    SPAIN. 

ANDALUSIA,    GRENADA,    lilADKID,    HONDA,   MALAGA,    &c.,   &c. 

A  new  Edition,  tliorouglily  revised  on  the  spot,  describiupj  all  the  Eaihvays,  uew  Inus,  &c. 

Slaps  and  New  Plans.     Post  8vo. 


HANDBOOK    FOR    CONSTANTINOPLE. 

With  general  directions  for  TKAA'ELLIXG  IN  TURKEY. 
Being  Pact  I.  of  a  new  Edition  of  THE  HANDBOOK  OF  TURKEY. 

-',     ..  ,  With  Map.     Post  8vo. 


HANDBOOK-THE    EASTERN    COUNTIES. 

ESSEX,  SUFFOLK,  NORFOLK,  AND  CAMBRIDGE. 
Map.     Post  8vo. 


PRINCIPIA  LATINA.    PART  I.    A  First  Latin  Course. 


COMrRElIEKDIKQ 


A  GRAMMAR,  DELECTUS,  EXERCISE  BOOK,  AND  VOCABULARIES,  FOR  THE  USE 
or  THE  LOWER  FORMS  IN  PUBLIC  AND  PRIVATE  SCHOOLS. 

By  WILLIAM  SMITH,  LL.D. 

Wth  Ed'Uim,  with  the  Accidence  adapted  to  the  "Public  School  Latin  Primer." 

12ino.     3s.  G(/. 

"At  the  request  of  several  teachers  in'c]iarinp;  hoys  for  the  Public  Schools,  who 
find  the  'Priiici])ia  Latina'  the  cn.siest  l)ook  for  beginners  in  Latin,  I  have  appended  to 
the  present  edition  the  Accidence  as  arranged  in  tlie  'Puldic  School  Latin  Primer,'  witli 
a  reference,  under  each  Deelension  and  Conjugation,  to  tlie  pages  of  the  'Principia'  on 
which  the  corresponding  Exercises  will  Ini  j'ound.  In  this  way  the  work  can  bo  used 
with  equal  advantage  by  those  teachers  who  prefer  the  old  arrangement,  and  by  those 
who  are  j)rcparing  boys  for  schools  in  which  the  '  Public  School  Primer'  is  adopted." — 
Preface  to  Wth  Ediliun. 


Albemaki.e  Stkeet, 

Novanber,  1868. 


MR.    MURRAY'S 

LIST  OF  NEW  WORKS. 


NOW     READY. 

LORD    LYTTON. 


THE    RIGHTFUL    HEIK. 

A  DRAMA,  IN  FIVE  ACTS. 
By  riiii  Author  of  "Richelieu,"  "The  Ladv  of  Lyons." 

Secodd  Edition.     8vo.     Is.  (id. 


CHARLES  DARWIN,  F.R.S. 

THE  VARIATION  OF  ANIMALS  AND  PLANTS 
UNDER  DOMESTICATION. 


Witli  Illu.stmtions.     2  Vols.     8vo.     286-. 
LADY   DI   BEAUCLERK. 


A  SUMMER  AND  WINTER  IN  NORWAY. 

Third  Edition.     "With  Illustrations  by  the  Author.     Small  8vu.     {is. 


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