The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-05-21

telope's horn filled with salt and red
pepper. The King sent the stranger his
own drinking glass, gift of Queen Vic
toria, and painted with head of Cupid
he had taken for portrait of the Prince
of Wales. Next day Mr.. De Cosson
dined with the King en- fanaiIle, when
all wore the universal garment OF Abys-
sinia-a white blanket with crimson
stripe, worn so as to bring the stripe
over the left breast, where the Saviour's
heart was pierced by the spear. The
Kings head was bare; he wore small
diamond pin in his braided hair, his
only other ornament being string of
silver beads at each ankle. This king,
''who is great soldier, just judge and
a powerful ruler, of distinguished and
refined appearance, a fine horseman,
master OF all athletic exercises, alike
learned and practical in his religion, in
terested in other countries and unques-
tionably the ablest prince who has been
allotted to his own" is thus described
by Mr.. De Cosson:
King John is about thirty-five, and
his stature somewhat under the middle
height; his figure is perfectly proper
toned and indicative of great strength
and endurance; his hands and feet are
very small and delicately shaped. His
face is delicately nodded, the brow
slightly retreating; the nose is aquiline,
with very finely formed nostrils: the eyes
are deep-set and not very large, but sim
gularly courageous and penetrating;
the cheekbones are high for an Ethio-
plan; the mouth and chin are sharply
chiseled, and the ears almost as tiny and
shell-like as a woman's. He is grand to
see, mounted on his beautiful charger,
with its elegant harness and saddle
cloth, carrying his spear and his shield;
bareheaded and barefooted, the great
toe only in the stirrup, which is merely
a silver ring. He is a splendid shot,
and very fond of firearms. He is en-
tirely devoid of the boastfulness and the
vanity which distinguish most savage
princes, very simple in his demeanor, of
a secretive turn of mind and taciturn
habit, of studious disposition, we'll read
in the laws of Ethiopia, and of remarka-
BILE sobriety and piety of life. He keeps
his word when he has put it in writing,
and has made 'by the death of johann
nes' the most binding oath among his
people,"
In camp King John rose at a. m.
and read the Psalms of David by candle
light for two hours; then he went to
church, then usually sat, fasting, in
open court to hear all cases that might
be brought before him. He was just
Judge, if severe. The rest of the day
was spent in the Inequalities of the
camp, in attending to the affairs of the
state and in the martial exercises of the
gon6S, a game resembling the djereed
of the Moors while still they used
shields. Two or three hours of the even
ing were given to study. The King re-
tired at g.. When General Kirkham
presented him with the great Abyssinian
Book CT the Laws, captured from
Theodorus and returned by the Queen,
King John received it with great cour-
tesy and gratitude and ordered a copy
of the Queens letter in Abyssinian TO be
placed in all the churches, that his peo-
pie might know the graciousness of "his
Mother of England"
At the departure of the Kings guests
the royal interpreter, with retinue of
pages, led to the envoy's tent beauti-
full cream-colorede horse, fully capari-
soned in Abyssinian fashion, the head
stall and breast-plate being profusely
ornamented with plates and bosses of
solid silver. This gift was accompanied
by one of the Kings shields, richly or
namented with silver work, a pair of
light javelins and mule with "the
golden saddle" a curiously -worked sad
die of scarlet and green leather, which
can only be conferred by the sovereign
and only used by his highest officers.