The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-19 00:00:00

THE EMPEROR OF ABYSSINIA.

The following is a description of Theodore 11.,
taken from a book published last year in France by
a gentleman who was for some time French Vice-
Consul at Massowah

The man on whose head now rests the lot of
Abyssinia is forty-six years of age. He is of average
stature, of an imposing carriage, and of an open and,
sympathetic physiognomy. His features, less regular
than those of most Abyssinians, are expressive and
changeable, and have none of that borrowed dignity
which marks certain Oriental faces with solemn
insignificance. The look is lively and piercing ; the
distinct lines of the profile well express the firm will
which has enthralled the freest and least docile
people of the East. Rigorous towards others in
matters of etiquette, the Negus has emancipated
himself in matters of costume, and affects a negli-
gence which, however, never becomes bad taste.
A simple soldier's coat, a pair of trousers, and a belt
from which hang pistols and an English sword, and
over all a chama, or embroidered toga—this is his
habitual costume. It has sometimes happened that
Europeans presented to him have hesitated among
the crowd of silk pourpoints (balakanzis) which sur-
round him, and committed mistakes which have
much diverted him. This disdain of all luxury go-
verns all his acts. The furniture of his tent is of the
simplest, while his residences at Magdala and Debra
Tabor are encumbered with silks and stuffs from
France and India. In the field he wears the coarse
black infantry buckler, while by his side trots the
page charged with his state shield, covered with
blue velvet scattered with imperial lilies. That which
at first is the most striking in Theodore is a happy
combination of suppleness and force—especially of
force. Born proud, violent, and inclined to pleasure,
he commands his passions in this sense—that they
never make him overstep the limits he has marked
out for himself. He has been unjustly accused of
drunkenness, and on this subject the late French
Consul has collected some information. He is very
sober, eats little, drinks more, but never up to any
marked over excitement, far less to coarse drunken-
ness more worthy of a yolof or Mandingo king than
of a sovereign of Christian Abyssinia. As to women
they have never had the least influence on his public
life, excepting his first wife, the good and regretted
Tzoobedje, for whom he had always a sort of wor-
ship. She had been, however, the faithful com-
panion of his days of trial, and when he lost her 7
or 8 years ago he saw in this death a chastisement
which Heaven inflicted on him for having burned a
woman alive at Godjam. Tzoobedje had kept him
in the simple life and pious practices of an Abys-
sinian of the old time.

A marriage of ambition has been the indirect
cause of the irregularities be has since made public.
To put an end, by a kind of fusion, to the preten-
sions of the family of Oubie, he married, about six
years ago, the daughter of the latter, the young
Toroneche, who had throughout Abyssinia the repu-
tation of an accomplished princess. Witty, accom-
plished, charming, she had scarcely any defect but
the obstinate pride which is a very general draw-
back with Abyssinians of a certain rank. For two
or three yearq the most perfect union reigned in
this household. Theodore had for his graceful
partner a tenderness in which pride had no small
part, and when she bad given him a son he assembled
all the grandees at a theatrical fete and showed
them the new-born, saying, " Behold him who will
reign over you." it is doubtful whether the guests
took seriously an observation against which the
elder sons of the Negus had the right to protest.
One day, on the occasion of the Easter fetes, itegh6
rforoneche asked her husband for the pardon of
some Tigrian chiefs, kept in irons for their
attachment to Oubie. This legitimate demand
excited in the highest degree the suspicions
of the irritable Negus. " What do you
mean ?" he asked. " Do you prefer your father to
me ?" " Perhaps I do," answered the haughty
princess. She had scarcely spoken when a violent
blow fell on her cheek. Bell, who wished to inter-
vene, received another. ()able, who Lsince the mar-
riage had been restored to favour, was placed in

loons, and has not since recovered his liberty.
Moreover, the Negus, to inflict a deadly blow on
his wife, at once took four favourites from the
lowest ranks. This first explosion over, he dis-
misse d them all except one woman of the Yedjo-
Gallt is, who has none of the physical or moral
char las of the iteghe, but who skilfully retains her
capricious lover by a number of cares and atten-
tions which the proud Toroneche has the impru-
dence to despise. What shows the abasement of
the national character is that those who surround
the Negus have taken his part in the scandal. The
church alone protests by the voice of some venturous
priests. At Easter, Theodore being obliged by
decorum to communicate obtains absolution only
on the condition of promising to change his con-
duct. Ile then goes to see the iteghe, who still
exercises a certain ascendancy over him—for he is
proud to be the husband of a woman so admired.
He passes an hour in listening to the most biting
and hardest truths, and if he occasionally rages and
threatens, the iteghe reminds him coldly that no
Negus has ever killed his wife, and that she knows
well he will not dare to begin. Theodore then re-
turns somewhat ashamed to his little court, makes
a public confession, declares " that he is really the
most scandalous sinner in Ethiopia—that he is in
spite of himself ; that it is a victory of the devil—
s victory which should make us feel our weakness
and nothingness. Finally, he promises to try and
do better, and dismisses the favourite. Easter over,
he takes her back again, and sometimes adds a
second. In these freaks all with the Negus is cal-
culated for effect. He is theatrical, fakerer, as say
the Abyssinians. It is just the shade which the
great Latin comic writer renders by gloriosus.
When he gives audience to strangers, to chiefs who
come to make submission, he leans negligently on
two magnificent tame lions, while two others roll,
gape, or stretch at his feet; and he enjoys like a
child the emotion which this formidable living deco-
ration inspires in the visitor.

THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.