The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-11-19
AS Day by Day.
The Abyssinian CaptiveS.

A letter from one of the Abyssinian capnves'
dated Magdila, the 7th of September, Contains the
following:
The onlv news Of interest I have to communi-
csta is the gradual downfall of the Emperor. he
has beel gong dow hill very rapidly during the
last two months, and should the same state OF
things continue much longer, we may never see
his taca agai1, as he will hardly venture so la
with h dlsafected soldiery. For the last Iour
months he has only been able 10 communicate
three times with the garrison here, and even tneh
hal to employ servant OF one OF the native pIie-
oners confined IN this fort fearing that one OF Els
own people might be wayld and muroereo'
There is now nothing but death between Ins poa-
san ry and their late ruler. Ii any OF tne IoinleI
fall into the hands of the latter, they are lIss
burnt alive or blrbarously mutilated, and left TO
die a lingering death. On the other hand, when
ever anv of the royalsts fall into the hands OF the
peasants. they are forthwith hacked TO pieces. L
have managed to communicate TWICE Win Mt.
Elai at D .bta Tabor, out on each occasion my
messenger was stripped naked on the road. Mr..
Flad gives me sad account OF the state or ahars
in he royal camp. Nothing hut destruction OF
life is gong o. there from morning till nlgnt.
The whole country between Debra labor and the
Lakes, which formerly was tElckly populated, mas
beel laid waste, and al the inhabitants. men,
women, and children, who could not effect their
escape have been ruthlessly murdered. Inc gar
rson at Debra Tabor has been surrounded Win a
hedge and If soldier attempts to desert, his VIE,
II,
insta Itly butchered. body OF 2500 men VINO
attempted to decamp last month were sIaughtered
like 80 many sheep, and 29o chiefs were lstt 10 o!e
of starvation alter suffering the mutlatlon OF tner
hands and feet. Ladies, too, of nobe families,
after Lelng ripped t. nudity and exposed - tne
gaze Of tue solulery, were tortured ana tnen e1r
ecuted. rne most revolving cruetleS, sucn as
must refrain ron describing, are perpe.rateo on
be mass women VINO are held accountable for the
desert!on OF their relatives. In addition 10 4OO
confined in this fJrt, the npelor has Wlth MIN al
Debra Tabor no less than 2OO native capLlVes, VINO
q few months ago were accounted among hs most
tr1sty adnerents. Besides ysel and seven other
feilow prisoners here, six of the Europeans al
Debra abor are IL chains, five or an aDortlVe al
tempt to escape and the SIX because ne was alleg-
ed to have meddled in matters which did not con-
oern him. There is some talk OF the Emperor
coming mere at the end of this month, which DO
not believe; but if he should come, fear we shaH
have m serable time Of it, unless he puts on once
more the ga;b of friendship, IN order TO ward on
from himself any impending calamity.
Mr.. Elad has told the Emperor plainly that Eng
land would be forced % fight him unless he reeas-
e3 the captives and sent them to the coast Io
which he replied: "Let them come; by the power
of God will meet them, and you may call me q
woman if do not beat lhem." His last letter TO
ma was very friendly. After courteously declining
a small present which had sent HIM. ne goes on
to saw: 'sWhat require OF my friend the queen,
and IF you my brother, is your friendship, NOT
that am rich in worldly goods, but what deslre
most lS that you SQOUlQ OUSn A4y OySo, AO@
a bind donkey" That letter was written on the
10th of April, AMI the messenger who carried my
reply mas been unable as yet TO make his way back
through the rebels who intest the roads. Ar.
Flad Informs me that as recently as last month,
when the Emperor rad ordered some swords to be
presented to diff rent officers for bravery in the
field, he caught sight OF one which he had given
10 me before my incarceration, and forthwith
directed it to be taken care OF, adding, Il intend
shortly To bring him and them (the other Enro-
peansj together, and will then restore him his
property This doubt very much, unless ne is
Constrained to release US by pressure from with
out. You will be surprised to learn that unless
supplies reach US very soon from Massowah we we
instructions to the contrary, everything has been
sent p,a Matammah, and the consequence is they
never reach US, and We are nearly destitute OF the
means OF subsistence. AS regards the measures
to be adopted for obtaining our release, have
repeatedly and distinctly given my, opinion in the
proper quarters and unless the otic>r command
ing the force follows my advc; fear our lives VIII
be in great danger, aud the troops wll be greatly
harassed. We have no lack Of friends in the royal
camp and elsewhere, but unfortunately they trem-
bic at the very lame OF Theodore, and have not
the pluck to move finger In oar behalf.