The New York herald., 1868-04-13

handing Generals tent the rst hour Of his arrival
In Abyssna he had TO pass by scores Of tents out Of
Indian ofcer calling right Justify for his ghora
or durwan TO hand him some article which lay with
in arms length almost OF the lounge, but which he
was too lazy to reach himself
Your correspondent found the General command
ing the post Sir Charles Staveley, in tent which was
no exception TO the fashion or size OF the others.
Presenting my credentials from the HERALD Bureau in
London, the General was pleased to ask me TO sit
down, after which he requested me to inform him
by whom the HERALD was editedS
replied, "James Gordon Bennett, SIR"
.N "Wha Is Is he the gentleman who won the great
"No, sir; the editor Of the HERALD is that young
gentleman's father"
"9h, ay, to be sure am glad to hear it. What
Upon being informed that simply wanted permis-
sion to accompany the expedition, he kindly wrote
me permit 10 proceed to the front.
Genera Staveey, i believe, is good of1cer, at
least he is an energetic one and though he arrived
rather late at this post he has contriyed to bring
some order out OF the universal disorder previously
prevailing in the camp at Zoula. He declares 1t as
his opinion that the expedition win be by the
end OF April, II King TheodOrus win not take to the
mountains, in the event OF which General Napier
win offer reward for his head which viii certainly
cause his destruetionj for aside from appealing to
being already inimical to Theodorus reign will seize
favorable opportunity, backed by strong forces, to
depose HIM and bring him, either dead or alive, to
the British Generals camp. Theodorus' punishment
is now the aim and desire OF General Napier. Theo
d9rSs downfall Is eagerly sought after s6 by Knss Ras
With these two powerful concomitants the reign Of
Theodorus Rex, successor and lineal descendant Of
The ABOVE are but the outlines OF conversation
with an English General, and have thought ut to
Introduce them here because the conversation 0c-
CURED within an hour OF my arrival in the English
camp.
ON leaving General staveley took a stroll arouna
Zouia ana It's neighborhood. Zoua is the name
given 10 the location now occupied by the army,
from an Abyssinian village OF That name situated
four miles from Annesey bay and lying between the
hay and the mountainS which looming
to the rising Clouds The town is merely collection
OF nat rooted mud huts and is occupied ey portion
OF the Shoboe trbe They are said to be friendly; but
they VIII sell neither beeves nor goats, though the
tribe possesses enough 10 feed the whole English
for period Of twelve months Every mule or OK
caught browsing among the acacia bushes
SaeS e sf SsaT Ind p s6SSss Ss proper poess sppaS the
Mohammedan religion. and live chiefly. as might be
supposed, upon meat and milk AS guides they per-
aar Work T6v wen G s set in over S Se, ,as
black nakedness, both male and female at all hours
of the day, prowlng around camp, and viewing with
curious eyes the immense preparations for the expe
dition, with all its turmoil and hustle.
The tents Of the troops are excellent 80 far as COM
iOg h 9Gt ey sn
imaginable. They are wall tents abont cwelye feet
by ten lined with crimson cloth, and are covered by
wng 'S0 a ss geG Of a1n 1 ns sn ha%
Wiiicn makes this tent about as comfortable place
TO live in as one could wish.
IL
The infantry regiments are armed with the COM
mon muZzle loading Enfield musket, while .ne cav
airy armed with short double Darrelied musket
and stout and broad though short sabre, ground
II The unborn of the Eurspean soldiers consists of
H nss Of ss S as w o s eh HPd Of
tree Tnch grows in the East Indies. This helmet Is
also covered with linen TO correspond with the uni
green. All the officers also wear this uniform. That
OF the native infantry s the crimson uniform OF the
Of Wns ss coa Of
sheepskin, with the wool inside:
The artillery is composed of clumsy Armstrong
twelve-pounders, with carriages wider than any
ever saw before these being six feet ten inches wde
and are very heavy In make both cannon and car
riages that each cannon will require dozen mules to
haul Ii up the mountain torrent road to Senate. IN
Decd looking at the tout ensemble OF this expedition
with critical eye, one would be apt to say that 1t
rate me Power about to vaunt OF It's former greatness
only to ears who never heard the cannon'S roar
English camp at Zoula. There are many things to
admire, such as providing plenty of stores OF every
description, plenty OF animals, though SO many have
died, and plenty OF men for the the work IN hand.
Stores such as tea sugar rice, our, salt ghee, or
clarified butter, dhall, potatoes, onions, rum, grain
and hay have been landed IN immense quantities,
SUFFICIENT TO last the whole army now In Abyssinia
for six months Taking lesson from former suffer
ing American condensers and American pumps have
been placed ON shore to supply the troops and ami
mails with water, and these add not O little 10 the
animated appearance OF the landing: Any disar-
cause excessive suffering, as the daily water require
ment amounts TO over one hundred and twenty tons.
moters OF this expedition cherished respect
ing getting sufficient water on shore has
now been thoroughly dispeed. r for GOOD good
which s lost in the sand Except during the con-
tnuous rains no rcgua. supply OF fresh water can be
depended upon and 1t must have been set OF BRAIN
less irresponsible men that ordered the transporta-
ton OF SO many thousand animals on this open
beach without drop OF fresh water to be had for
miles around.
AS regards the adequate supply Of forage, may
say now, upon my arrival on the highlands OF TINS
country that sufficient hay and chopped straw can
be procured in any part of the country from Senate
to Anatoo. But from Zoula to Senate they must
depend solely upon what s imported from India and
Egypt. The intention Of the transport master now
is TO push OIL the animals TO the healthy, fertile
highlands where they can forage for themselves,
only retaining suiclency for urgent work, most OF
them TO be camels, which can browse On the cabool
and jungle bushes
The Land Transport Department Is new feature,
at least new name, for very useful arm Of the
service. IL consists OF about five or six thousand
Egyptian muleteers and camel drivers, and about
score of mahouts TO drive elephants, superintended
by officers, selected for their efficiency for the work,
from the different regiments OF the held force, colo
nels majors, captains, lieuenants and ensigns, who
receive additional pay. These with about hfteen
thousand mules two thousand canels one hundred
elephants transport all the war material and stores
imported from Egypt and Berbera, camels from
Alden and the elephants from India Post No. /,
Zoula Is the main depot OF supplies and point OF de-
barkalion, and Is the post from whence the land
transport department commence their freghtng TO
most No q Senate, and intermediate stations. Post
No 3 will probably be Anatolo, one hundred and
forty miles from Senate, and half way between Zoua
and Maadaa, the point Of destination. IL would have
been easier cheaper and much better to have all the
supplies by wagons. have travelled over one hun
dred and twenty-five miles OF the toughest road on
and eveled until it IL feasible for any carriage or
wagon. This department has suffered considerable
annoyance from the drivers which they had engaged
In Egypt and Persia. Al one tune 1t appeared as # 1t
must fan TO the ground and another method substi-
tuted for the drivers mutinied after their arrival In
AnneIey bay. To such work these men had been
observation-disclosures men OF independent habits
as they felt their taskmaster's power they became
clainorous for permission TO return The colonel
commanding urged them TO work-they insisted for
return passes: then tile colonel threatened-the
drivers dened him. The consequence was that q
company Of soldiers was sent TO mis- assistance with
loaned Iiuskets and dozen OF the mutineers were
seized bound and logged. This had the required
eject They went TO work with will for the time
being but they continually desert to Massowah and
| Ankecko two Turkish ports twenty miles north