American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-10-26
THN ABYss1N,AN cAPTIyEs.
An Interview with King Theodore.

An Engllshman, who was for a
long tine held a prisoner by the
Abyssinian monarch, gives the fol.
LOWING account of a personal inter-
view with the famous tyrant:
"After being kept in durance some
three weeks, the ahuna summoned me
to the imperial presence. He seemed
much better tempered than OH the
occasion of my first visit, and began
By asking if would ever have been
treated in a more element manner
In any other county. Certainly
not, your majesty; especially not in
England, where the innocent are in
generated and criminals Il # at free
dom and rewarded ! / replied. as
cody as he had questioned me. He
seemed amused, and after awhile
said: That l can easily believe, if
the British government treats it's sub
Jects in the same manner they have
acted toward met
LII answer to this attack, en-.
dtavorod to look upon all the disa.
greements that had occurred between
him and Great Britain as caused by
the lamentable ignorance prevailing
IN England respecting the manners
and customs Of Abyssinia and begged
him to remember that Queen Vic.
torla, against whom he had the
greatest grudge, was hut an instru
ment in the hands of the parliament,
and not possessing the power of
strength his majesty did, who had
but command, and he was obeyed.'
80 AvOOnat very true answered
Theodore 'but that does not alter
the fact, except in 80 far that must
hold the British Parliament RESPONSE
BILE for the insult heaped upon Inc.
looking to it for an apology and
reparation, and not to the British
Queen
IhcreupOn | modestl1 asked what
have ycfbH Been 9TH, the release of the
OF faith, and of great dlsrespett5d ht.
yeachery toward me, for which they
have been Justly condemned to death
by the likaonent; but |, III the fuii-
ness of my clemency, have diminish
ed and sottpned the severity OF their
sentence, and committed 1t to lmprlS'
onment for lite. What the law has
pronounced, justice must carry OUT
lam no robber, who makes prisoners
merely in order to extort ransom
act in accordance with justice.
"IThen, your majesty, | would oe'
of YOU to treat me with the sam
severity as Consul Cameron; cas-
ME in chains, and larcerate my bod
with the scuurge. He IL not NOR
guilty than lam Theodore SCENE
Tuher astonished, but | continued
swing that not beng a spy nor
missionary-never having giving hi
cause for anger, l never for M
meut entertained any fear for II
safety whilst iu his dOminions. L
had the reputation of being gre
nan; no truly great man would eV
net so tvrannically, and | ended
advising him tOcut of my hands al
feet, and see if he could then say
his conscience, l have acted rlgi
ly.' 49,
"WilI you engage in single co
bat with one of my knights, a
stake YOUR life for your liberty
asked Theodore, when | had G.
cluded.
".No, l do not dream of it. be-
mite inexperienced in the use OF
sword and lance. Besides, sho
have fancled enough English bl,
Hpa U,o euCu RI roaI IndJts
How so?' he inquired. Coz
Plowden was murdered because
was YOUR friend. That fact mi
possibly escape Your memory,
that you should have forgotten
Bell, who sacrificed his own lif
save yours, Is not what should b
expected
"On hearing this, Theodore
came furious, for any auuslOn
Bells death was extremely danj
GUS, and for a moment | fancieG
was all over with my chance of
Gaping. However, thrusting
sword back into the scabbard, Fl
which he had half drawn it, he
marked: / do remember him,
your head would now have left
shoulders
Herewith his majesty ordt
me back TO my residence, and l
no more of him for six weeks, dul
which time l demonstrated to
abuns how advantageous my Iel,
would be to himself; at its expira
his majesty advised me to leave
country as soon as possible.