The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-04

was dressed in white, with q white turban All
priests wear white tIrbans the rest Of the people go
this embassy, It was received with all honor. The
British troops were all paraded and the bands played
and the troops saluted as the ambassadors were
shown into the tent OF Sir Robert Napier He received
them sitting, and after shaking hands they squat
The s wa coarse e
py means OF Interpreters. Sir Robert Napier
assured them Of the friendship OF the English
towards their Aing, and that We intended no harm
10 the people OF the country We only wished to
rescue our countrymen who were held In captivity
by Theodorus. The ambassadors on the other hand,
assured Sir Robert that the King OF Tigre most
friendly towards US, and that he would have come
h nuns ne had been able but that he had Just
ueen crowned and 1t was contrary to etiquette TO
lesve MS capital for month after that event. Be-
SIDES sides which he had large army and were he 10
course caD,i H. that he never had any intention
as all these peoples are, he was assured that II we
once mao MN IN our power should keep him as a
wseS er no e Of his people Besides this
perfect Freedom Of action. II all goes we'll and we
thrash Theodorus he Intends perfectly friendly;
H. on the contrary the expedition fails TO get through
the extraordinary difficulties OF ts Journey or meets
with any mishap whatever, he equally intends TO fan
upon US upon our retreat, and TO capture as much
baggage and do us as much harm as possible and
then not only for the sake OF the booty but TO pro-
piliate Theodorus, and 10 prove to HIM that he was
never friendly to US.
The next morning we had review Of the troops
here, and curiousy enough our barbaric visitors
were not In the slightest degree impressed either by
the steady movements of the British infantry or by
the battery or steel guns manufactured specially for
this expedition These they said were very small
and did not make enough noise, while OF the IN
fantry they merely remarked that such close columns
would make excellent marks to fire at. The cavalry
alone elected their admiration. They have them
selves nothing but small rough ponies, and the fine
animals OF the cavalry regiment were to them some
thing astounding. They acknowledged that the
charges OF the cavalry would be upon plain per-
fectly irresistible, and added that they would be Of
no use whatever among the mountains.
The prices we are paying for everything here are
something enormous, especially when it is remem-
bered that the original prices for provisions were
absurdly cheap. Formerly fowls were forty for
dollar Now they are two. Two pumpkins can be
bought for dollar, and have that even given
for quart OF milk. Altogether are being abom-
lnably neeced. But In country like this, with its
mountain passes and deep ravnes 1t Is better to put
up with being cheated than to make the people hos
tile for the difficulties OF collecting forage guarding
long trains of provisions and forage, and Of keep
Ing up our communication would be enormous that
It would be necessary to put down the whole country
before We advanced another foot. The Thirty.third
regiment have gone on towards Anta0, and other
troops march on the 18th, with the General himself.
Fresh troops are upon their way up from Senate to
take their places here AnalO IL nine days. march
ing; but owing to the extreme difficulty OF the way
1t Will probably take that period to get there.
MY next letter to you will be from Antao.