The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-21 00:00:00

THE FIRST ENGAGEMENT.

Early the next morning (Good Friday) we were informed
by a message from the King that we were immediately to
return to the Arabs., as being a place of greater security
than Selamg6 in case of a skirmish. Before he lett he-
informed Mr. Rassam that in case he sent a messenger, or
even if one of our servants were missing, the covenant
between them would be broken. This looked much as if
he viished to pick a quarrel with us, as it was quite impos-
sible for us in prison to prevent our servants going when
they felt disposed. However, as the means of averting
his anger, a conciliatory answer was returned through
Mr. Flad. A few minutes afterwards a messenger
arrived, bearing a letter from Sir Robert Napier, dated
April 3, and demanding our release in civil terms.
This the King refused to receive, and we immediately
returned to our old prison-house, not sorry to escape from
the dreaded presence of the incomprehensible monarch.
In the evening we all of us heard the distant discharge
of cannon many times repeated, together with what ap-
peared to be volleys of musketry many times. Confined in
the small compound in which were situated our prison-
houses, it was impossible for us to glean intelligence from
any one outside, and it was therefore only left to us to form
our conjectures as to the mysterious sounds. They could
only arise either from a conflict between the King and
his English foes, or from his Majesty having a grand
" fakaring," or boasting, down below, in which case he
always fires his heavy guns. Our doubts were only set at
rest very late in the evening, when they were solved most
satisfactorily. Concerning the " battle of Fala" I shall say
nothing. I was not there, and you will have learnt all
the details from a thousand other sources long ere this.
About 10 p.m. we were aroused-from sleep by the arrival
of Messrs. Flad and Waldmeier, who were the bearers of
a message from the King, to the effect that his troops had
been defeated by the English, and that he wished to be re-
conciled to them. Mr. Rassam replied that the only way to
bring about his object was to send an envoy with proposals
of peace onhis part, and he would be happy to despatch one
of the officers attached to the mission on his own part,
naming me at the same time as the person whom he
would be willing to send. Mr. Flad and his com-
panions then took their departure, but owing, to the
vacillating temper of the King, did not return till
after daybreak. I was then told to prepare myself,
and as soon as I was dressed descended the hill
in company with Mr. Flad, who had been sole messenger
the second time. The King was sitting on a stone, dressed
in his ordinary manner. He received us very graciously;
and immediately ordered one of his best mules to be
saddled for my use. Noticing that I was rather exhausted
after our rapid Walk and almost sleepless night, he added
to his gift a horn of mead, in order to refresh us on the
road. We were then dismissed with the message, " I had
thought before this that I was a strong man, but I have
now discovered that- there are stronger. Now reconcile
me." We then left him, accompanied by Dejaj Alame,
his son-in-law, for the British camp at Aroge, where we
arrived after a two hours' ride, and were warmly greeted
by the many friends I had not seen for so long a time, and
had scarcely expected ever to see again.