The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-03-26 00:00:00

RAS ALOOLA'S CAMP.

The Naples correspondent of the Daily nuts has
translated part of a private letter sent from the camp
of Ras Aloola by Count Salembeni, who is a prisoner
there. This describes how when the Italians at
Massowa encroached on Abyssinian territory he and
his companions (Piano, Savoiroux, and Emanuele)
were taken prisoners. They had been invited to drink
ith Cantiva Keffir, has Aloola's brother, who had
been appointed their guardian, when, at a given
signal, the chiefs present rose all at once and fell on
them. "Then each of us had a solid iron ring
attached to the right arm, with a chain about half
a yard long, at the other end of which was a ring
fastened to the wrist of a guard. After this un-
pleasant operation,'' during which CantivA seques-
trated all our baggage, we started towards Ghinda,
each on his mule, with the guards on foot. The
march was long and painful. It was impossible to
prevent the dragging of the chains on the part of our
guards, and our arms began to swell; while as we
descended into the Valley of the Maenzi we entered
the zone of fine rain." After a long pause under the
rain, the company set off again up the right slope of
the Ghinda. "It was pitch dark, and the soldiers
had to light torches to find the road. I believed for a
moment that they were seeking a convenient tree on
which to hang us, and, thought of the uncertainty of
human affairs, comparing the splendid reception we
had met with a few days before to the severe treat-
ment we were now enduring. Everytning in our
pockets, except pipes and a little tcbacco, had been
taken from us, and there was no possibility of getting
anything to eat." In the morning the Count was seat
for to the tent of Ras Aloola. _ _

He was seated on his bed, with his most influential
chiefs to the right and left, leaving the entrance free.
We wore made to enter in a line so as to close the
ap:rture, and we waited for the Ras to speak. The
interpreter GhenciO, shared our fate, and was chained
to my favourite servant Zalel6. Aloola's first fury
was directed against me. "Thou art a fine friend.
he exclaimed; "thou bringest soldiers into my
country to conquer it, and spies to show them the
way !" "That," he continued, pointing to Major
Piano, "the tallest of all, and kin to your General.
For two years the Italians have not moved; but
scarcely are you here than they occupy IJaa. I told
thee to write to General Gene to do me the pleasure
to withdraw his troops from Uaa, and instead he has
occupied Saati. I must now write to the General to
withdraw his troops from Saati; if not, I will cut off
all your heads and afterwards go and make war against
him. If I die it does not matter." I tried to reply,
but he would not permit me to proceed, and cut Piano
(who had begun to speak) short by saying that he
would make an end of him first of all. He then asked
rilihr'lidiM6v.Let.lAtttexuan J., i MUD cI,W (4 7 alra• £ BCI
upon a mason named Adani. While the chains of the
latter were being removed I wrote to General Gene,
telling him that if the Italia's did not withdraw from
I.Jaa and Saati on Tuesday, Ras Aloola would cut off
our heads, and begging him to send an offloer to treat
for our liberation. _ _

The count goes on to describe his separation from
his companions, who were each confided to the care
of a different chief.

This separation was cruel from the mode in which
it was done. It was sunset, and some persons came
to examine our chains. They were speaking excitedly.
Piano, who was near me, said, "This is the beginning
of the end !" I believed it also. When the answer to
the letter taken by Adani arrived, our chains were
strengthenei, and my boots were taken away. These
were the most painful days. Our provisions were
exhausted, our frightened servants had fled or been
dismissed; we had nothing left but our saddle-mules,
and were guarded with increased severity. Every
day fresh soldi rs arrived at Ghinda, till there were
more than 15,000; and, from words that were frankly
spoken by curious visitors, I understood that all my
hopes bad become delusions. Our confinement was
then, and is now, very painful compared with
European, but mild compared with Abyssinian
customs. We had but little food, and yet much more
than our guards.
On Sunday, 23rd, the arrival of King John with
his army was spoken of. On the evening of the 24th
we commenced our march, sti"; in chains, and after a
stretch of 12 hours arrived ito sight of Saari, which
fort sainted the arrival of the Ras with a cannon-shot.
On the mozningof the 25th. Pasha Fedli, the nephew
ot the Has obtained permiss;on to make a reconnais-
sance against the fort of Saati, and started with a
large force, marching at great speed. We soon heard
the sound of cannon and the rolling of the wetterlys.
Podia had attacked the fort, and soon Ras Aloola,
taking us with him, ascended a height to see what was
going on. As the affair appeared not very serious, he
returned to his tent, leaving his nephew to do what he
liked. But the firing increased, the cannon thundered
without intermission, so that the Ras returned to his
post, leaving us in camp. Saroiroux and I, who were
together, followed in imagination the different phases
of the fight. In the evening we learned that the gar.
rison had attempted a sortie, but had been compelled
to retire within their entrenchments; but we could not
learn the loss of the Abyssinians, which, however, was
certainly great. The following morning the French
missionary, Father Colbeaux, having heard that we
were to be beheaded to revenge the loss, came from
his residence at Arcrai to give us absolution, and by
his prayers obtained a respite till next day. Mean-
while, the Ras had heard two things—first, that the
fort at Saati was in want of provisions; and, secondly,
that the Bashi-Bazouks were ready to come over to his
side. He then determined to interrupt the communi-
cations between Saati and Massowa, and on the evening
of the 25th posted pickets all along the locality of Do-
gs.% thinking that if the fort was in mint of provi-
sions they would surely be sent from Massowa : or,
on the other hand, that the garrison of Saati would
be obliged to leave the fort. In either case he was
determined to fight the Italians, having forcrs far
superior in number, and anything bat despicable in
valour.

AN EXCITING ELEPHANT HUNT:
The Pioneer Mail publishes an account of an excit-
ing elephant hunt which took place in Gurwbal early
last month. It was some time before the party came
upon the objects ot their chase, but eventually a herd
or elephants was nescried : Then (writes the corre-
spondent of the Mail) began a scene of wild excite-
ment and tumult. Seven or eight of the herd were
immediately noosed, and piteous and loud were the
cries raised by the captors to tbeir brethern to assist
in securing the captures by throwing a second noose.
But no heed was taken or response given—all the
mahouts might have been deaf. Each was far too
intent on obtaining for himself the honour and glory
(coupled with the substantial reward) of a first noose.
Meanwhile the remainder of the herd were turned
exactly as hoped for and arranged, and came tumbling
along to below a knoll occupied by the Lieutenant-
Governor. Some crossed the tire line, giving a clear
view of pursuers and pursued, while a few broke back
to the north-east, but each was followed, and had to
put his best leg forward. Needless haste, for one by
one was noosed, and those mahouts who had been
unlucky in gaining a first noose had to be content with
a second. One fairly grown muckna, or tuskless
male, showed more fight and pluck than the
rest. Six or seven times did he charge home
and twice did he succeed in upsetting one of the
'riders of his opponent, but fortunately without
further disaster. Some time before the end, the
Lieutenant-Governor and those with him became
tired of simply witnessing the fun, and came down
and joined in it, the Lieutenant-Governor's large
elephant giving material assistance in securing the
last three or four, especially a large muckna, and the
small one who hai madeup his mind not to be caught
without fighting to the last. Only three or four out
of the whole had escaped. By half-past four the
sport was oyez, and the Lieutenant-Governor started,
much pleased at the success of the operations, to his
camp. It was difficult to estimate the number of
captures, and not until camp was reached did we
know that the total was 20, including an old female,
which had been freed as useless for work, and more
worry to carry with us than she was worth. So large
a capture has never, we believe, been made before in
these hunting grounds, and considering the scenery,
the excitement, and the fact that each of the party
was thinking that it was he who was seeing most of
the fun, we can only hope that it may be the luck of
some of us to see its like again.

A VICEROY of Ireland asked one of his guests at a
public dinner why there were no toads in Ireland ; to
which he replied : Because, please your Excellency,
there are so many toad-eaters.
PITTSBURG tramp: "Madam, if you'll fill me up
with a good dinner, I'll saw some wood, I'm willin' to
work.—Woman (shortly) : You know very well we
bin n nothing but natural gas.—Pittsburg tramp:
Well, gimme sutlain' to eat, an' I'll turn on the gas
for you.

OLD lawyer to young partner: Did you draw up
old Moneybag's will.—Young partner: Yes, air; and
so tight that all the relatives in the world cannot find
a flaw in it.--Old lawyer, with some disgust : The
nest time there is a will to be drawn up I'll do it my.
self.

Yourfa Lawyer (to client): They can't hang you for
a murder you didn't commit.—Client: That's the
judge's sentence: To be hanged by the neck until I'm
dead.—Young Lawyer (thoughtfully) : All right; you
just go ahead and let 'em hang you, and I'll make 'ern
sweat for it.

MAWS YEAR, HST.
NATIONAL PROVIDENT
INSTITUTION rou Burma ,
LIFE ASSURANCE.
POUNDED 1835. FUNDS, £4,280,000.
*DIVISION OF PROFITS, 20 NOV., 1887, in
which all now insuring will participate.
48, GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON.
AGENTS WANTED WHERE NOT REPRESENTED.
AUSTAALIA BY "EAIIM
P.L. & CROWTH Ft "

£l2 15s.
STREET, LON noN