Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-11-01

An African Ring.
When James Bruce, the celebratcd
Scotch traveller, returned from h,s AZ
rican' explorations hundred years ago,
he did what in these deys Is matter
Of course-he published book. The
work was received with the natural dis
trust which the cautions feel towards
travellers tales. But the reading pub
lie de voured IL, nevertheless. X has gone
through many editions, and ranks among
classics in its hne Of literature. La
terpublications have superseded Bruce's .
work with those who read for informa-
ton. But hrs Incredible relations are
now verified, and the shade of doubt
which rested upon bis narrative has
been removed. One Of his statements
was that the Abyssihians devoured raw
beef. As promine Mt parsonage, many
persons obtained an introduction TO the
eminent traveller. One OF these Inter
views" after the proper opening OBJ
servations, compl,mented Bruce upon
his work, which he said he read with
great interest. But" the visitor adj
ded, 'there is one statement which |
cannot credit. 1t is impossible that a
man should eat raw beef .'Do YOU
think so:" said the traveller. "Allow
me to convince YOU that it is possible"
Bruce went from the room, and re-
turned with a raw steak on dish.-
And now,' said he, you must eat
that, or give me the satisfaction due to
a gentleman" The visitor had his
choice to eat the steak or stake his own
life, in what would have been no child
ish encounter. Report SAYS he forced
himself 10 swallow no small part of the
raw meat.
Recent travellers in Abyssinia, when
well received, are, il would seem, COM
PEELED TO go through the same or
deal or be guilty OF 4 breach OF the cour-
tesy with which guests reciproca;e hos
pitality. Two English travellers, WHO
visited Abyssinia in 1878, were lodged
with all honor in tent near the Kings.
The ground was spread with rich car
pets, and every mark Of distinction was
paid to the guests, one Of whom was an
officer in the British service. From the
Kings stores provisions were sent, 10
wit: Two jars Of the throai-cutting
liquor of the country, supply Of bread,
an antelope's horn filled with salt and
pepper mixed, and a live COW. The
COW was killed and cut ep before their
eyes, and the meat piled up for them
within their tent. This reminds the
reader OF the lesser tribulation of the
French missionaries, Hue and CADET,
who were presented in Asia with the
enormous tail of a Tartar sheep, noun
tain of tat, As the mark of special honor
at feast. To eat il was a thing SIM
ply impossible for the Fenchmcn.
The Abyssinian monarch> claim to be
descended from Solomon and the Queen
of Shcba, and the people have 4 form of
Christianity grated on their Jewish ira
di.ions. Their calendar contains davs
for the Hebrew worthless as well as the
Christian. King John, the present ru-
ler took that name upon ascending the
throne, after the death ofTheodorc, who
was ruler at the time of the British in
vision few years ago. lie is repre-
sented 10 be a great warrior, a lust
judge and powerful ruler. In his bodi-
ly presence he is of distinguished and
refined appearance. He is an adep, in
all physical exercises, and in mental
characteristics of decided force. He Is
OF studious habits, and we'll read in the
laws of Ethiopia and the Jewish and
Christian sacred writings. The Psalms
of David are his favorite portion, and, in
deed, he would himself appear to be in
many respects a repetition Of that mon
arch. The daily routine of King John, as
observed By the travellers, is as follows:
He rises at three O'Clock and gives two
hours to the psalmi,t King of l>rael.-
After that church, and after that again.
when cases were brought TO him he >at
in open Count to hear and Judge. The
rest of the day was gwen TO State af-
fairs, military duties, martial games and
hospitality, except three hours which
he daily reserved for reading and study.
His day closed at nine in the evening,
at which hour he retired.
All the surroundings Of King John,
his appointments and equipments of
dress and armor, are Of the most costly
description, mounted and adorned with
silver aud gold and gems. The civil
and military suite which attends him is
said TO present ''an august aSsemblrge."
The national garments of A5yssinia,
worn by all alike, have only two colors,
white with red stripe; the white en-
blematic of the innocence Of the Sa-
viour, the stripe of red over the left
breast recalling the blood which flowed
from Thy wound by the Roman spear.
BY the Centennial Exposition We
were familiarized with old world and
curious objects. An We have thus
feeling of actual knowledge, almost con-
tact, as it were with the scenes and
people of these strange climes. Mod
ern travellers are more and more famil-
iarizing us with them. Yet IL seems
hard to credit that the splendor Of the
Abyssinian Court may vie, in ccstliness
at least, with that of any. And it is
hard 10 reconcile raw beet as a diet,
killed and eaten while warm and smok-
ing, with our ideas Of feasting. Yet We
take oysters alive and swallow them
whole. Probably King John nigh, con-
slider such a gastronomic feat as the
eating Of oysters from the she'll trifie