The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-09-19
KING JOHN OF ETHIOPIA.
Sketch Of nm African Kings Splendor thnt
Outshines the Arabian Nights--A Bar.
barrie Banquet.
H. RDarkatOrI
[From tho London Bpoctator].

Sketch of IN African Kings Splendor tnn
Outshines the Arabian NiRhts--A Bar
baric Banquet.
[From tho London Spectator.
King John of Ethiopia is o striking
and picturesque parsonage. AS Kassa
Prince of Tigre, claiming equal descent
with Theodorus from King Solomon, he
figured largely in the Blue books which
formed an exceedingly interesting but
little read history of the events which
preceded the Abyssinian expedition; anc
that impression is deepened by the &C
count given by Mr.. de Cosson-who, II
company with the late Gen. Kirkham
visited King John at his camp, near Con
dar, the ancient capital of Abyssinia, III
1S73-of the king end his surroundings.
The country, its people, their wives, ano
their faithr are not like any of tho Afri
can types in other portions of the con
tinent. They remind us of the Old Tes
lament Scriptures; the whole picture II
like that of the tribes and the feudt
which We find in the book of Genesis
and the books of the Kings. Long be-
fore the king is reached, the traveller
hears tales of him-his strength, hif
wisdom, and his prowess in war. Al
A1um, the former capital of Tigre, he
is shown the great monolith, seventy
feet high, and told how Kassa used tc
cast his heavy spear over it-a great feat
to do with an ordinary lance-and still
practises this exercise when he comes tc
Axum. There is little disposition tc
"forward" traveller, the disposition tc
keep their country free from the stranger
being as strong as ever in the Abyssians,
but thr king promises his help and pro-
lection to all who shall be properly
recommended to him by the French con.
sui at Massowah, and the reluctance OF
intervening personages has to give way
When Mr.. de Cosson had taken pos
session OF bis tent, near the monarch'e
enclosure, the king sent him two jars
full OF O dreadful drinkable called tedge,
fifty "breads," an antelope's horn full
of salt and pepper, and live COW, which
was killed and cut up before his eyes, and
the meat piled up ineide the tent. He
subsequently visited the house of Muir
cher, one of the kings interpreters,
which was, like all the Abyssian houses,
constructed of wood and branches, and
there he saw pretty sight, that of Muir
cher's horse forming one OF the family
circle. The beautiful, intelligent animal
WAS lodged in little thatched stall OPEN
ing into the house, his neck adorned
with handsome chain, his food and
drink given him at regular intervals in a
clean ear.hen dish, the corn being The
same as that of which the household
bread was made; he was regarded rs q
cherished friend and comrade. After the
civilities of the kings interpreters, came
the good Offices OF the kings cook, who
sent the honored guest four dishes OF
curry. The kings cook, who also acts
as faster, is a great personage; he must
be priest, must have always led an ire
proachable life, and is never permitted
to marry.
= Next day at dawn came one of the
officers "Likamanguas," splendidly
dressed in a robe of lowered silk, with
an India muslin kuarie, and silver
mounted pistols in his sash, to inquire
after the traveller health in his majesty s
name. He was one of those who have
the privilege of wearing the same dress
as his sovereign, and the dangerous dis
tinction of going into battle similarly
armed, 80 that the royal person may not
be distinguished. Early in the after
noon came Maderakal, another interpre-
ter, attended by an esquire, bearing the
royal sword and shield, to conduct the
stranger to the kings banqueting hall.
Drums and trumpets sounded; salute
was fred from a battery of brass howit-
zers as the guest entered the wooden,
rush-roofed building, of oblong form and
vast extent, with a double colonnade OF
tree trunks Hading to the center, where,
on divan, raised high and draped with
purple velvet, sat King John Of Ethiopia,
cross-legged, a pair of English rifles,
cooked and loaded, resting on the cush-
ions to left and right of him, and his
slippers of soli| silver filagree on the
carpet before him. By his side was a
beautiful sword, with sheath of velvet
and enamel; on his head the great triple
crown of Ethiopia flashed with gold and
jewels; his robe was q cloth of silver,
and over his brows hung a long veil OF
crimson silk, worn under the crown and
falling in heavy folds round the face.
The barbaric splendor of that scene was
perfect in every respect. Here are Mr..
de Cosson's words, which fall, he says,
far short of his Impressions: "On either
side of the throne stood two gigantic
eunuchs, clad in shirts of purple and
green silk, and holding drawn sabres.
A swarthy guard of honor, dressed with
equal magnifcence,' stood also with
drawn sabres, behind; while all around
crowded the great officers of state and
noted warriors, in long robes of silk and
velvet of every color, the scarlet scab.
bards of their swords cleaning with gold
and silver flagree, and their necks
adorned with the skins of the lion and
black panther. The air shook with the
wild notes of the trumpets and the roll
of the drums.
When Mr.. de Cosson reached the
throne and bowed, King John shook
hands with him, and bade him welcome.
Then the whole company seated them
selves on the carpets '(some which our
queen had sent to Kassa, Prince of Tigro),
and the next arrival was of special in
terest. It was that of Ras Warenia, who
had ruled over all Amhara as an abso-
lutte prince until subdued by King John.
He presented most striking figure as
he walked up the center of the hall, a
rifle in one hand and richly ornament:
ed shield in the other. The conquered
Ras, tall, stout, very handsome, wore a
splendid tippet of black panther skin,
enriched with clasps and bosses of gold
fligree, which the king had just given
him; robe of the richest silk; on his
right wrist a silver-gilt gauntlet. studded
with gems-an especial mark OF the
kings favor; splendid sword, and his hi
carefully plated hair was covered with
thin piece of white muslin, attached
by golden pin. His feet, like those Of I
all present, we're bare. Among the wild
and splendid crowd was veteran war;