The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-20 00:00:00

THE SPIES AND THE NATIVES.

From the Daily News letter we take an extract sheaving
how the spies are treated, and how the natives like the

English :—" A somewhat amusing instance of the sort of
rumours which come floating into camp at Senaf6 is re-
nted by General Merewether and Colonel Phayre. When
these officers were in the highlands, considerably beyond
the first plateau, and while enjoying their morning meal,
a Shoho rushed in breathless haste into their tent, and
communicated to them the startling intelligence that an
innumerable army of Abyssinians were within a mile or
two of their camp, and were approaching with the ex.
pressed determination of swallowing them up, camp and
all. Not so greatly startled as their informant hoped they
would be, they told the Shoho, through the medium of
Dr. Krapf, who was with them, that, under the circum-
stances, everything must give place to breakfast. For
curiosity's sake, a few men of the 3rd Light Cavalry
were sent out to see what foundation there was for the
story. The officer in charge reported seeing a motley gronp of
Agami, some armed with firelocks, others with bludgeons,
proceeding upon their lawful avocation—viz., to be re.
venged upon the Shohos, for some insult or raid of which
they (the Agami) had been the victims. The lying rascal
had been despatched by his tribe to carry the news in
question, in the hope that it might lead to the crowd of
Agami being swallowed up by a handful of the light
cavalry. Another man who brought a similar message to
Senaf6, and who was believed to be a spy of Theodore's,
was told to examine the camp, the men, the horses, and
the equipments, and to report to his master all he had
seen. He was also requested to inform all the chiefs that
while the English very much preferred peace, they
were intensely fond of fighting, and left it with
the Abyssinians to decide which they should have.
A. copy of Sir Robert Napier's proclamation was
given him to carry to Theodorus, and then Le went his
way. There seems no reason, thus far at least, to
anticipate anything but most cordial assistance and co-
operation from the natives of the country, after they are
once persuaded of the honesty of the professions that have
been made to them. Prince Kassa (or Prince Dejesmaj
Kassa) of Tigre, in whose territory the advance brigade
under Colonel Field is now encamped, has of his own
accord sent a confidential agent to accompany Sir R.
Napier, to see to it that supplies are not kept back from
the army, and to afford assistance gene ally. This agent
is a man named Meertcha, an Abyssinian of Armenian
origin, who received his education in Bombay, at the
institution founded and presided over by that excellent
veteran in the mission field, the Rev. Dr. Wilson.
Having returned to Abyssinia many years ago,
he was marked by the Prince of Tigre, who, on learn-
ing of the advance of the English army, sent him
with assurances of his friendly feelings towards us,
and of his sympathy with the object of the expedition.
Strangely enough, Colonel Phayre had letters from Dr,
Wilson to Meertcha, but did not forward them, as they
might have been intercepted and used against a man who
would assuredly befriemns if he could. Meertcha's assis-
tance and advice will be of the greatest value ; he is an
intelligent man, and has himself been a prisoner of Theo-
dore's. It is worthy of remark that the present chief of
Tigre is one of the old Saba Gadis family—a family which
has alWays been befriended by the English. Salt and
Coffin took their cause up thirty years ago, and it is a
strange coincidence that after many years of varying for-
tune and exile, a representative should again be in power
ready to give his benefactors help now that they need it."

TRAVELLING OVER THE PASSES.
The Herald's correspondent tells us that the natives are
rather a nuisance to meet going down the pass. He says :
" Our own mules go in strings, one tied behind the other,
and the drivers of one meets them in a narrow place, draw
them aside to allow officers to pass. The natives drive
their animals in a herd before them, occupy the whole
width of the track, and make no effort whatever to get
their cattle out of the way. It is in vain shouting and
being angry. The Shohos regard one with placid indif-
ference, and you must push your horse into a thorn thicket
or up a rock to get out of their way. If you happen to
overtake one of these native herds in rather a narrow
place, it is still more provoking, for there is nothing to do
for it but to follow patiently in their train for perhaps
half a mile, half smothered in dust they raise, until the
valley opens; and you are able to leave the path and
get past them among the stones and scrub. These
oxen are very small, but extremely hardy. There
is nothing for them in the way of forage all the nay
up. All they have to eat are a few leaves from the bushes,
and such handfuls of grass as their masters may get for
them by climbing the sides of the hills, and yet they. arrive
at Senafe in good condition and without signs. of distress,
accessionwit h their
of
storessk i n a
tsmoothseaa andis a .their
great
addition to our stock there, and it is a great relief to the
aeysseissta bnilc is an
'Phis
of forwarding regiments, and stores for present consump.
transport corps to be able to continue their regular work
tion of man and beast. The transport train is now doing
its work very much better ; but I shall have more remarks
to make upon them in my next. Brigadier-General
Collings has started to take command at Senafd, and I
expect to find that very material changes have, in conse-
quence, taken place there. At any rate there will be no
vexatious regulations or downright incivility, as before,
for your correspondent, and I shall return next week to
the front with a certainty that anything there is to see
I shall have every facility to be present at. Brigadier-
General Snider has arrived here, and will take VI ?era-
amid At 1114 Waclilog-Plact.". • ' •

Falaries
Zspenses paid

TOTA Lf3.

£ s. d.
1,242 18 10
1,730 3 0

Bridges
Sessions Douse, Clerkenwell
Westminster
Assistant Judge's additional Salary
Clerk of the Peace ~
"Weights and Measur?s
Treasurer of the County ..
Law business ..
Conveyance to pcp)ts of Offenders sentenced to

. .
Penal iervitn le .. • . •
Removal of Sco ch and Irish Paupers .. .
Providing staves and other necessary articles for
•• special constables .. .. ..
General printing and stationery .. •• ..
Advertisem?nts .. •• .. ..
Miscellaneous charges .. ..

Total erpengttnre
Valance in the Bank of England..

3,An 1. lo
.. 245 6 9
.• 265 4
00 GO 7 11
.. 75 0 0
.. 106 17 1)
.. 150 0 0
265 16 9

787 5