The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-18 00:00:00

The Abyssinian Prisoners.

LETTER FROM DR. BEKE.
(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
lIALAI (ABYSSINIA), April 8.
As was only to be anticipated Dedjatj Gebra
Aledhin at once removed the bar so inconsiderately
Placed by his kinsman, Lidj Tasfaidet, on Dr.
Beke, leaving him at full liberty to go wherever he
Might think proper. This is the more creditable to
that chief, as Dr. Beke had held no communication
with him whatever.
On April 3d Dr. Beke's messenger returned from
Adowa with a most friendly answer from Dedjatj
Tekla Georgis, the Emperor's Lieutenant in Tigre.
Whilst his troops were ravaging the country south
of Ilanzuyn, where he had defeated the rebel Gover-
nor Dedjatj Derasa, the cholera entered his camp
and caused him to make a precipitous retreat to
Adowa, whither he carried the disease with him,
and where it has destroyed a considerable number
of his soldiers. Were it not for this, he writes to
Beke, he would already have been in the neigh-
bourhood of Halal, where he still hoped soon to be.
The messenger brought also news of Dr. Beke's
former messenger Biru, who was sent to the Em-
peror from Massowah on January 30. He had
passed through Adowa, in due course, and was re-
Ported to have reached the Emperor, to have de-
liveredf to
him Dr. Beke's letter with the petition
r°4l the relatives of the captives, and to have been
well received. He would have been sent back at once
,Ns-ith an answer had he not been suddenly taken ill.
-"co dates were given, but if three weeks are allowed
for Biru's journey, he would have reached the
Illperor by February 20.
That monarch had then returned into Begamider
from his campaign into Ayaumider Damot, and
Godjam, without however subjugating the heredi-
tary chief, Tadela Gwalu, who had again retired
into the impregnable amba or hill-fort of Djibella.
On April 4th Dr. Beke received the following
letter from Consul Cameron
" Magdala Prison, Abyssinia,
" Feb. 26, 1866.
_. lay dear Beke,--I saw in a fragment of the
ct mes, that fell into my hands yesterday, ta you
had volunteered to come to this countr to try and
effect our liberation. yy
" I thank you most sincerely, and beg that you
.
be good enough to inform such of our well-
Vishers as may be within your reach that our chains
'Were taken off yesterday by royal order, and that
we are all to be given over to Mr. Rassam.
"I write this in secret and in haste, but will let
3'°ll know further hereafter hogs we are getting on.
" God bless you, and, with kind regards to Mrs.
41 eke, believe me, yours sincerely,
" Consul DUNCAN CAMERON."
Dr. Beke has since heard that Mr. Rassam joined
the) Emperor in Begamider, after his return from
Is campaign into Ayaumider, and not in this latter
,_Province, as has been so repeatedly asserted. He
Was most favourably received by the Emperor, who
Promised to liberate all the captives and to deliver
there over to him. The next intelligence will
doubtless be that they have been set entirely at
liberty in pursuance of the promise given to Mr.
Itassam.
lThe departure of the captives from Abyssinia, as
ikewise that of Mr. Rassam and his suite, depends,
:owever, on the will of the Emperor, who is re-
°r
have to have declared that he must first exter-
-'inate the rebels that impede their passage to the
,e(3ast, and probably therefore he has it in his mind
escort them thither in person. This would be
111 in accordance with the rumours that have so
0
Prevailed of his intention to march his army
44Ts.Tigre before the rainy reason.
Ihe steamer victoria, on her last trip from Aden,
brought to Massowah, on March 23d, Mgr. Bel,
Abe newly
-appointed Roman Catholic Bishop in
amYssinia, and Mgr. Massaja, the Bishop in Enarca ;
to 4,111, Ong the Gullas, with several priests attached
ef ",°'n prelates, as likewise Padre Stetta, the head
amble mission in Bogos, on his return from Paris
eft R°lne• On April 3 Mgr. Bel and Padre Stetta
zin Massowah for Bogos, accompanied by M. Man-
ger, the French Consular Agent at Massowah,
Thin charge of the British Consulate.
French and Roman Catholic element is daily
ielf
deeper root and more widely developing
in _ North-Eastern Abyssinia, being that por-
on,
. the empire which is nearest to the seacoast,
natett
must continue to do so whilst this unfortu-
ti is distressed and weakened by intes-
' Warfare.
and btollt the middle of March the Rev. Mr. Lange
it
1)..d .w° companions arrived at Massowah from
their • On April 3 they proceeded to Keren, on
way into the country of Bared, where they
Purpose
establishing a Swedish Protestant mission.