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

The Abyssinian Prisoners.

LETTER FRO NI DR. BEKE.
(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
HALAI (ABYSSINIA), April 8.
A 3 was only to be anticipated Dedjatj Gebra
Medhin 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 Hanzuyn, 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
1)r. Beke, he would already have been in the neigh-
bourhood of Haliu, 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-
fiivered to him Dr. lieke's letter with the petition
rom the relatives of the captives, and to have been
well received. He would have been sent back at once
with an
answer had he not been suddenly taken ill.
No dates were given, but if three weeks are allowed
for Biro's
journey, he would have reached the
Emperor 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.
„.. My dear Beke,—l saw in a fragment of the
1 .4
nieS, that fell into my hands yesterday, that you
had volunteered to come to this country to try and
effect our liberation.
m.." I thank you most sincerely, and beg that you!ll be
good enough to inform such of our well-
ishere as may be within your reach that our chains
!ere 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
Yeti know further hereafter hov‘ we are getting on.
" God bless
Beke, believe me you, and, with kind regards to Mrs.
, yours sincerely,
" Consul DUNCAN CAMERON."
the Dr. Beke has since heard that Mr. Rassam joined
Emhisperor in Begamider, after his return from
carapaig
w n into Ayaumider, and not in this latter
pro.„.vinee as has been so repeately asserted. He
as most favourably received by the Emperor, who
them over to him. The next intelligence will
lib
oubtless be that they have been set entirely aterty
in pursuance of the promise given to Mr.
Rassam.
The departure of the captives from Abyssinia, as
likewise that of Mr. Rassam and his suite, depends,
,
"Wever on the will of the Emperor, who is re-
Ported to have declared that he must first exter-
minate the rebels that impede their passage to the
toast, and probably therefore he has it in his mind
escort them thither in person. This would be
t„1117 in accordance with the rumours that have so
ng Prevailed of his intention to march his army
‘,2.l:igre before the rainy reason.
-uhesteamer Victoria, on her last trip from Aden,
broughtthe to Massowah, on March 23d, Mgr. Bel,
kb' newly-appointed Roman Catholic Bishop in
aald3rEisii-lia) and Mgr. Massaja, the Bishop in Enarca ;
tc b among the Guiles, with several priests attached
of both Prelates, as likewise Padre Stetta, the head
aticitil De mission in Bogos, on his return from Paris
eft enle• On April 3 Mgr. Bel and Padre Stetta
4cLassowah for Bogos, accompanied by M. Man-
alsoge,t2 the French Consular Agent at Massowah,
he charge of the British Consulate.
taki French and Roman Catholic element is daily
itselfdeeper root and more widely developing
do in North
I' of th •
-Eastern Abyssinia, being that por-
kid it e empire which is nearest to the seacoast,
tate the
continue to do so whilst this unfortu-
tine e°lletrY is distressed and weakened by intes-
A ,warfare.
,ueet
arid the middle of March the Rev. Mr. Lange
Djidda wo companions arrived at Massowah from
their On April 3 they proceeded to Keren, on
h r Way into e country of Barea, where they
establisthhing a Swedish Protestant mission.