The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-30 00:00:00

a.....-.

tution seems completely broken up, we are all in
good health. I have found an excellent tonic in
the study of Russian ; there is no danger of memory
growing dull while I can still master Sclavonic in-
flections. The rainy season is nearly over ; on
Tuesday fortnight is Kedus Gohaunes, the Abys-
sinian New Year's day, when fine weather is
•sup-
posed to recommence.

" P.S. —Since I wrote the preceding portion of
my letter we have been having a little excitement
on the mountain. On Thursday morning two men
of note, one the son of a man who was formerly a
great favourite of the King, now dead, by title Afa
Negoos (mouth of the King), and the chief steward
or treasurer, Bedjerwaud Coati, together with
sonic soldiers and servants, managed to effect their
escape from the Amba. Their flight being disco-
vered they were hotly pursued by a party of sol-
diers, but were successful in reaching the Galla
country, where the soldiers did not venture to follow
them. In the evening au expedition, consisting of
200 musketeers and an equal number of spea.rmen,
went to the village where the fugitives had taken re-
fuge, about eight hours' journey from here. They
took the inhabitants by surprise, slaughtered several
Gallas, and plundered all the cattle and horses they
could lay their hands upon. However, they over-
looked a small house in which were the chidif of the
district, the Afa Negoos, and Bedjerwand. These
three ran off and aroused the inhabitants of the
neighbouring villages, and as the plunderers were
retreating they were surprised to :see themselves fol-
lowed by several bands of Gallic horsemen, who
harassed them dreadfully and nearly took the chief
of the expedition, Bitwaddad Damash, prisoner.
The Amba soldiers retreated fighting as well as
they could, and succeeded in shooting the chief of
the Gallas, Mohammed Hamza, a great favourite
of the Queen's. At last they reached the edge Of
the plain, whence a sort of ravine led to the
Amba, and whither the Gallic soldiers, being all
mounted, could not follow them. Here they were
comparatively safe, but the Gallas contrived to
annoy them by hurling large stones at the retreat-
ing soldiery. About three p.m. yesterday they ar-
rived here, having been delayed on the road by hav-
ing to carry a large number of wounded men. They
managed, however, to carry with them a goodly
amount of spoil, including several Galla prisoners,
who have, I fear, but a sad fate before them. The
loss on the Galla side is said by the Amba people
to be very great, but, of course, but little reliance
is to be placed on their statements. Of the Amba
people about 12 have been killed, and several
more are likely to die of their wounds. Over 100
are said to be wounded, several very badly, and Dr.
Blanc has been busy all the morning lending aid to
the sufferers. Bitwaddad Damash has received two
slight wounds, and in his haste to descend the de-
clivity was unfortunate enough to lose his two
horses, his musket, his shield, and even his leopard-
skin war pelisse, which was either thrown away by
him to lighten his load, or was snatched off 10
shoulders by some purloining Galla. The Gallas
also have a few prisoners, among them one of the
bravest chiefs of the mountain, who was hit with a
Stone on the head and left for dead by his comrades.
Sixteen or twenty muskets have been captured by
the Gallas, and nearly all the shields and spears of
the Magdallites. Altogether it was a most disas'
trous affair for the mountain. They have certainly
got a little booty, which was driven off before the
Galla attack, but this does not compensate for se
many killed and wounded. Besides, they did not
attain their object, the capture of the Afa ego°
and Bedjerwand, who were bravely fighting on the
side of the Gallas. Worst of all, it is the King s
strict orders that no soldier should leave the moue-
taiu to fight or plunder, and this command has been
disobeyed with unsuccessful results. I would r 164
give sixpence for the life of the Ras of the Amba •
or of Damash when this is known at Debra Tabor'
However, the Gallas will be pretty sure to rise new,
and lead us all a dance by stopping all messengers'