The New York herald., 1868-05-14
NAPIER'S MARCH ON MAGDALA.
The Descents Into Ravines and
Rapid Road Making.
Scenes and Company by the Way-..-Natiye
Ladies and Military Chiefs.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE ASSAULT.

tho Bashei0 River-Defeat or Triumph as Can.
vasscd in Camp-Native Ladies' and Chiefs
An Assault to Take Place in Four Days
Thcodorus' Resolution Of Defencc-Socinl
Life and Amusem ments-Invocnti0n Of Saints
Admiration Of the Light Artillery.
WANDACH, VIOLA GALA CoUNrRY,(
ABYssINIA, March %, 1858.
At length we are fairly underway to Magdala
relieved OF superfuous baggage, supernuous camp
followers &c. which we left behind us at Lot, fifteen
miles south OF Lake Ashangi. We are drawing near
at rapid pace towards objective point the royal
fortress Magdaa, where the Great Negus awaiting
with admirable self-complacency, intrenched In
fanced security behind his Gigantic toys" those
wonderful mortars about which so much has been
written. The capture Of Magdaa spoken of already
by Generals Napier and Merewether a certainty,
provided that the prisoners that in search for
are therein incarceraed, which will make its capture
a necessity. In four days from the present the
English cannon will be making impression upon the
rocky Amba scattering death and destruction in the
fortress while the rockets win vomit flames OF fire in
the midst Of the matched roofs of the dwellings of
the garrison. II everything transpires as has been
foretold, why in five short days we will be on our re-
turn to the sea- happy the satisfactory finale of the
enterprise but we might as well abide time and fate
for four short days, and then we shall see what we
shall see.
Deserters lately arrived from his camp state that
Theodorus intends to dispute the passage of the
Bashelo a stream which crosses our route within
ten miles of Magdala. Both sides Of the passage to
the stream fanked by lofty Cliffs which afford
admirable sites for artillery. II he could dispute the
passage with safety to himself and fortress there,
TheOdorus shows his wisdom in attacking the Eng
lish in this narrow dee; but aware OF his presence
through his native auxiliaries there is no chance of
his maintaining his position, for the elongated shells
from the Armstrong guns on the adjacent heights
will soon render the hills untenable, and a dash
across in the meantime made by the English cavalry
will cause him to 'skedaddle'' to defend his darling
Magdala. But these are only surmses and rumOrs,
conjured up doubtless by the same irresponsible
parties who reported Lake Ashangi as swarmng
with hppopotami or that snowy range interposed
itself between Lot and Wandach which was impas-
sable. Happily these things were never seen.
Mr.. Munsinger, the English envoy to the court Of
Prince Gobazye OF Lorta, also states that portion
of Theodorus force is encamped on the Bashelo and
that the first skirmish with the enemy will take
place there. The camp of the DajaZ Mashesba is
situated thirty miles from Magdaa, which is visible
with good telescope. portion Of TheOdOrus'
cavalry the province OF Tulanta for the sake
Of procuring supplies for the garrison. The inhabi-
tants OF the province resist their tyranny much
possible, but the dread OF the great master is such
that continued resistance to his power Is what
they would never dream of. The city of GObazye,
though numbering 10000 mea, holds itself
aloof from the English, content with watching from
afar the progress OF affairs, and await with folded
arms the solution OF the complex politics OF the
pire. II Theod0rus is vanqushed there will he hands
enough stretched out to grasp the scepre OF govern
ment and share the SPOIL nTheodorus is victorious
D-i,,, ToI,a hat naah
with Menelek walheit and Kussai, will be compel
led to hide their diminished heads in some hyena's
den to avoid the terrible wrath of the liking OF
kings.n There will be prime feass for the beasts OF
prey and many a skull left bleaching ON the field OF
battle and there will be many a warrior, proud and
glOrying in his manhood, shOrn of his glory, mat
ter who IL victorious. In every village there will be
heard moaning and wailing, for much blood will un-
doubtedly be spilled, and savage merciless murders
DONE for such Abysslnian wars; and all this for
the imbecility OF a few Englishmen who vaunted OF
the courage Of their nation and carried their b0mbast
so far dare defy jealous and barbarous prince,
who, whatever his faults, desired nothing but the
Wandach is exactly forty-e miles from Mag
daa. The wisdom OF the perenptory order which
reduced the baggage was fully apparent on the march
from Lot to Wandach. IL would have been impos-
sble TO march over four or five miles day with
tram Of 5000 mules encumbering The few hun
dred transport animals that we took with u.s. relieved
OF half their usual quanum OF baggage, trotted up
the steep defles in bne style. We found a. we ad-
vanced further into the Gala country higher noun
tains and deeper canons, through which torrents
rushed with impetuous force.
Though the region OF country extending from Lake
Ashangi to Wanda Is covered with timber, II Is
evident from the brownish appearance Of many OF
the rocks. which consist Of sc0ria and pumice that
the whole country was at one period subject to vol
the most peculiar shapes, which meet the eye in
every direction. Some look like vast needless others
resemble monitor turrets, while many appear like
towers toppling over; but most OF the heights re-
sembe vast tables lifted up above surrounding emf
nences by lofty gneiss walls, as perpendicular and
even as II framed by the hand OF man. Pumice,
granite and p0rphyry boulders, heaped up in the
worst confusion, lined for miles and choked
the torrent beds rendering passage arduous In the
extreme. Rapid progress was also prevented when
passing under natural excavations penetrating far
into the bowels OF the earth by the masses OF debris
which had fallen down from the heights above.
more strange, fantastic and varied feature OF
scenery than each furong OF earth exhibits cannot
be found on any continent. The widest and most
bizarre formations hitherto viewed appeared tame In
comparison to the panorama OF chaos which slowly
unrolled as we doubled around dizzy precipices,
literally feeling our way inch by inch. Often deem
and sinuous ravines appeared far below, to which
we compelled to descend, and afterwards found
them TO be impossible account OF the frightful
depths revealed, which were hedged by lofty, rregu-
lar waves Of schistose rocks.
The sappers and miners were ordered to the front
and urged into pitch OF frenzy by the multiiudes OF
taskmasters, who shouted In desperate tones "Jede
jede, banshoot" (which being interpreted means
"quck, quick, you sons OF defiled mothers'', The
abyss was lled up by the united efforts OF 400 men,
and the column proceeded only to halt few yards
further. Hell disgorged Of It's inmates vacant dark
and silent, with ts black cavernous depths and ugly
chasms exposed TO the eyes Of living humanity for
the first time, could not have struck the beholder
with more awe than did some portions Of this fright
ful and God f0rsaken country OF the VIOLA Gallas.
And while listening to the frenzied blows of the
sedge and crowbar pick and shovel of the pioneers IL
was impossible not to admire this persistent res0-
luton and indomitable courage of the English nation
TO vndicae its honor and dignity In the face OF such
difficulties and perplexi'ies which each day made
more apparent
luxuriant vegetation. ledge Of rocks with but
scanty soil teemed with flowers Of rarest hue. In
the gaping cracks and assures, which Afforded ex
cellent dens for the panther and hyens, juniper pine
bamboo and the prickly kantua obtained precarious
hold. In the valleys where the soil was deep
est the venerable banyan, the leafy sycamore
and the koly all lent charms 20 views
which no one could witness without admiring.
Tamaux, tamarind, mmosg, peebul ng, doum and
jujub trees grew In the most extraordinary places.
Every turn and winding round hill revealed vistas
OF great beauty. Masses OF foliage on the various
trees appeared above us, with sky az blue a. ever
Italy boased. Giant woods rose here and there upon
hAlI. .iwl.fa