The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-31 00:00:00

THE ABYSSINIAN CAPTIVES.

The following letter from Mr. Rassam has been
forwarded to us for publication :

" Magdala, Sept. 7.
"My dear Your kind and welcome note of
the 2d of March was nearly five months on its way
here. Where the delay took place I cannot make
out. Our affairs are sadly neglected at Massowall,
and it appears that our agent there has been attend-
ing to any other matter save the wretched Abys'
sinian captives. Ever since we were sent as pri-
soners to this place in July, 1866, I have been send-
ing regularly a monthly post, and sometimes I
despatched extra couriers when I had anything im-
portant to communicate. You will all be sorry to
learn that myself and party are nigh starving,
owing to the mismanagement of those who have to
do with our affair at Massowah. I have repeatedly
written for money, but my messengers are sent back
with the same story, that Colonel Merewether had
given orders that no money was to be sent to me ex-
cepting via Matermua. The road between that place
and Magdala has been quite blocked up, partly by
the rains and partly by the rebels, and there is no
more chance of our obtaining money thence than
from Timbuctoo. I have warned them over and
over again not to trust to that route, but as we have
always been successful through the Tigree and
Lasta road, I begged that money should be sent to
us constantly by that way ; but my advice was not
listened to, hence this difficulty. Only God knows
what will happen to us in case we do not get any
succour from the coast for five or six weeks longer.
" The rebellion has now become general all over
Abyssinia, the few districts between the Royal camp
at Dabrataboor and this place have thrown off
their allegiance to King Theodorus, and consequently
they have closed the roads against all travellers, and
have succeeded so far as to prevent public commu-
nication from taking place between Dabrataboor
and Magdala. For the last four months the Emperor
has only communicated three times with this place,
and even then he was obliged to employ a servant
of one of the native prisoners in order that he might
not be recognised. Our Royal friend is now becom-
ing desperate, and consequently he spares neither
male nor female if any of the rebels happen to fall
into his hands ; the rebels, on the other hand, imi-
tate the practice of their late master by butcher-
ing any person found outside the hedge which is
now built outside the Royal camp. I have only
been able to communicate with Mr. Flad at Dabra-
taboor since his return. Every time I tried to send
a messenger they were plundered, but the letters
they have always managed to save. The carnage
which takes place daily in the Royal camp from
famine, pestilence, and the sword is quite terrifying.
2,500 men who had intended to run away were
butchered like sheep, and 295 chiefs were starved to
death, after they had their arms and feet cut off,
for the same reason. For two whole days, from
morning till evening, nothing was heard but reports
of musketry, and at each discharge either the wife,
mother, or child of a deserter was killed. Ladies Of
noble families were tortured to death, and the poor
creatures breathed their last under most frightful
agony. Men are now held responsible for the deser-
tion of their brothers-in-law, sons-in-law,or fathers-
in-law, as they are expected to know the movements
of their marriage relations. Between 40 and 50
persons die daily of different diseases.

" Some one has told the Emperor that if ho per'
sisted in keeping me and my fellow-prisoners in this
country England would be compelled to fight hiln•
Let them come,' said he, ' and call me a woman if
Ido not beat them.' You will all be glad to knout
that his Majesty still treats me with consideration
and mock friendship, and he never fails to send Inn
polite messages, and orders the authorities of this
place to be kind to me and to come and see me
often. Mr. Flad tells me that in the beginning
of last month the Emperor ordered some swords
to be presented to deserving officers that showed
good service in the field. A sword which was pre'
sented to me by his Majesty before my incarceration
was brought out with the rest intended for presenta-
tion, and on seeing it he said to the officer in charge a
the arms, 'Take care of that sword, it is the property
of Mr.Rassatn, whom I have chained only because I
had listened to instigators. I shall bring him to-
gether with them' (my European fellow-prisoners)
and release him and give him his property.' He maY
keep my sword for the sake of old friendship, but
there is no more chance of his letting us out without
coercion from without than to fly up to the moon.
He sent me a letter the other day wherein he called
me a friend and a brother, and assured me the only
thing he wished in the world was the friendship Of
my Queen and that of myself. The chiefs of the
mountain are still as kind to me as ever. I3efore
the rains began they enlarged my courtyard, wliich
enabled me to make a nice garden around my house
which has been built anew by the chiefs of this for"
tress. It is considered the prettiest house there an"
the most comfortable. In front of the door I ha!e
erected a nice arbour, covered over with tomato
plants. We have had a great deal of sickness on this
mountain for the last three months, from which
nearly one-third of the native prisoners have been
e_
carried off. I thank God not only that none a our
people have been infected by the epidemic, but i 0
has not even touched our quarter.
" Our rainy season will be over in ten days, whevilo
we fear the Emperor will begin to make a Ino
towards this place. If he continues to behave
towards me we might have a little quiet, but if Le
a
begins to bully Inc woe betide us. However, I
such a great faith in the mercies of our Pavell,:?l
Father that I feel sanguine that everything 1‘
yet end well and to the honour of England.
" I hope that you are all enjoying perfect 110chil1
i
and with kind love to your husband and your
dren,—l remain, as ever, your affectionate frien
If. BASSAN'

THE HILLSBOROUGH DEMONSTRATIOS.--1314:
FAST, Wednesday.—The Ulster great Protestant'
demonstration was hold at Hillsborough to-day.
About
were no processions or display of party emblems. 4
6,000 persons were in the fields, and their conduct W 4.,:•
most orderly. The Marquis of Downshire took tb.evvag
Lord Roden was present. The Earl of Enniskillen
prevented om atending through illness. Resolotioudd
were unanimously passed pledging the meeting' dclett
the chtueh