The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-11


be hostile, were prowling around the English
camp at Senate.
In consequence Of this manifestation orders
were issued for all the European troops tenn.
porarily stationed at Annesley Bay and the differ
ent points along the line Of march from there to
the interior to advance to the front and join the
headquarter division at Senate.
Senate, the British Headquarters Cnmp In
Abyssinia.
In view Of the above important intelligence trans
mitted by special telegram through the Atlantic cable
from our correspondent al Alexandria tEgypt by way
OF London and tho indication which IL conveys that
the army OF King Theodorus may show fight append
description Of the English camping ground q. Senate
furnished by the correspondent Of the London Times
by mail just to hand.
tsenate (Dec. 81 correspondence OF London Timesl
Senate cuts SO respectable q figure on the map Of
Abyssina. and has been much written about and
talked about as one OF our principal posts that ex
was considerably astonshed therefore at being told.
as we entered an open and rather barren looking
from tho Top OF the Koomaylee Pass, that this
Senate, and was just coming TO the conclusion that the
caught sight Of two or three small clusters Of wretched
novels slowed away under the shelter Of the mountain
side. They are built Of clay, stuck with rough stones
only about seven feet in height, with HAT ROOTS
which mus. lead hard life in the rainy season, but
or considerable length and breadth, having to hold all
the propretors cattle and sheep, as well Is the moro
immediate members OF his family
Senate, though rather disappointing to those who
expecting 10 see an Abyssinan town. is satisfac-
tory enough from strategic point Of view. There is
enough good camping ground for large army
ana plenty Of walsr Our camp Is pitched In an
masses OF mountain and ROCK, which would
look lofty anywhere else. but eycrescences
htn ApfA1 ,vcet sta
ley winds round and swes into plain equally conye-
nicnt for camp and we'll adapted for the manGuvres OF
cavalry More table land, spacious but frequently
terrupted by low ranges Of hills stretches away 70 the
east, but on tho southwest the plateau abruptly breaks
and looking down from one sees rs far as the eye can
reach nothing but wild series OF mountain chains
rising and falling in every variety OF angle and eleva
ton until al last the horizon IS bounded by giant
range, which towers high above all the rest. Among
them several of those extraordinary Businesses said
to be peculiar feature Of this countrya square
Of rock fiat at the top but with sides bare and steep
the walls OF fortress aud having seemingly rs little
natural relation as fortress 10 the green mountain top
on which they stand.
The Abyssinian Advance-Forces of tho Kins
and Their Mode Of Varfare-ii0w They IRE
Armed and Uniformed.
Remembering that we have just been Informed that
the Abyssnian chief Of Tgre advancing at the head
OF thousand men to 'meel" the British. and
coupling this fact with the present news report OF
special cable telegram place before our readers
King Of Abyssin!a employ, with . description OF
their equipment, uniform and mode OF lighting II will
be seen that the Of the Tigre force the best
armed soldiers in the kingdom The most recent
authority says
The King Of Abyssinas army possibly consists Of
sixty thousand warrors-the British expedition Is to
muster twelve thousand-bu. the number OF camp fol-
lowers Is often double that OF the army ITSELF which, OF
course adds much to the unmanageabeness OF the whole
Indeed there is little or no system in Abysslnian war
hurting the spear, which Is their principal arm, and
picking up anu ,enurng tne spen' aars o. .as enemy.
Tgrean soldiers, Is even loss effective than the spear
and the amount Of powder and shot wasted must DO
The sword s seldom brought into reQuisi-
tion (uness II be in eating brundo or esh
to-arm combat 10 unrequent and ! actually
camp who had allowed the blade SO TO rust in the
scabbard that II was quito impossible 10 draw Il.
These swords are in the shape Of scmelars curlcd up
into a semi-circle resembling dogs tail, aud are
always getting enanged with tho dress or the trappings
Of the horses The shsahs are not strong aud one fire.
quenty sees the point OF the weapon peepn, out at the
end though Ia some cases this s prevented by large
brass mob, even !adys th!mble stuck the end.
The best hits made OF the horns OF the rhnocero,
and ornanonted With silver
The spears about six feet long, the length OF the
head being one foot and the breadth two inches in the
broadcast part The butt has piece or iron twisted
round It to prevent vaclaton In the The shields,
made OF nippopo,amus hide arc foot and o half in
diameter and about half All Inch thick. They
times ornamented With silver and the tail Of leopard
or lion is affixed TO tho boss.
cartridges
short pieces OF reed fastened together form
girdle.
The dress OF the soldier docs not differ from that OF
the people except that officers allowed
gray coored tunics. Tho war dance Is very Wild and
uncouh, consisting q eaping OIL TIE ground and whirl
ing the spear, sword and gun tho head accompa.
nied by song, a. the end Of every OF which
cuar chng-chlng sound is heard uttered by tho voice.
but resembling that OF cymoas
Not many pieces o. cannon in the country, and
they were seldom used Geld pieces artillery practice
being unknown 10 the military tactics or Abyssiria
mi In fnrnr nf annp fnU Fin
by placing 1000 men IN the HANDS OF Mr. Bsll his Eng
lish general, with the object or having them trained;
but as IN tho native Egyptian army the time OF
kohammed All, the produced much dissaiis-
faction, approaching 10 rebellion among the soldiers
that he was compelled a. last TO desisL
Official Reports from the British Expedition
News from the Captives.
Sir Stafford Norhcoto had received In London written
intelligence from Colonel Meewsahsr at Senate to the
18th OF December.
All was going well. He had hoard from the cap
tives al Magdaa who well on the I1th OF Novem.
Der and had had news Of tho expedition being on Its
way.
Msnc'ck, acting with the Gallas was moving to attack
kagiaa.
The King had not been able to advance more than
thirty miles from Debra Tabor being encumbcred with
baggage and having great opposusn 10 encounter
Accounts up 70 October Ill had been received from Mr.
Fand The King had carried OF with him from Debra
Tabor oil Europeans somo In chains and others free.
Among tho .ater was Mr. Fad who says also that tho
women aud children all we'll and that the prison.
ers had Of tate been bctsor treated by the King
KANSAS.
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