Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-08-25
Gales ano skeifbes.
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE IN ABrssINIA.-
FoRTY-FIvE DAYS PRISONER OF TIT
CHRISTIAN KING JOHN.
From the BROOKLYN Eagle.

editor of the Manufacturer and Builder
and the Technol0gist in New York, after
a five years. sojourn in Egypt. returned
last week to his residence in Brooklyn.
Mr.. Mitchell was a geslogist and mining
engineer attached to the general staff of
the Egyptian army, and early in June.
1876, he was sent with small party to
Massouah, for the purpose Of making
study Of the geology and mineralogy Of
the country between the coast OF the Red
Sea and the Abyssinian plateau. Early
in February, 1879. the government re-
ceived telegram stating that Mr.. Mitch
ell had persisted on the march to the
plateau, having been overloaded by the
savages, who had seized and forced him
To carry on MS back a portion Of the plum
der of his camp. The rumor OF Mr..
MitchelFs death was false. but he was
captive in the hands Of King John OF Abys-
sinia. His experience is unique in the re-
spcct that he is the only American citizen
in the fourth quarter Of the nineteenth
century who has been a captive slave held
for ransom. and that by man calling
himself Christian king. Mr.. Mitchelfs
experience as captive is an interesting
one and well worth listening TO, coming
from his own lips. After speaking Of
events antecedent 10 his capture he went
on to say:
The party Of Abyssinians that followed
and captured us numbered about forty
men, all well armed; some mounted. 9TH
ers on foot We were taken into the plain
short distance from the ravine up which
we had passed little while before. where
we halted for perhaps an hour. Upon ar
irving ut Ailet, was Immediately con-
Quoted into the presence OF one OF the
Abyssinian chiefs, whom ] found seated
upon the ground with a crowd Of his sol
diers around him. In their midst stood
half-emptied bottle, which they were eye
ing with looks Of great curiosity. min
gled with distrust. The chief said that
some Of his men had been drinking from
the bottle. and he was afraid they were
going 10 die lie wanted to know what
the liquor was it was not good to drink
il was not arakee, a general name given
by Abyssinians to all intoxicating or dis
titled liquors. I at once recognized it as
being a bottle of concentrated nitric
or sulphuric acid which had belonged to
my chest OF chemical supplies, and
told the chief that if he wanted to die. he
might drink the liquid. A. the same time
kicked over the bottle. The chief then
Of which was able to cure the men that
had been drinking. replied that | had
left a case Of medicines in my tent. and.
under guard of soldiers, was taken to
the place where our tents had been
pitched. found the medicine chest
broken open and turned upside down. OF
u well-selected stock of medicines not even
a sedliiz powder was left. | was taken
back TO the chief, and told him that his
soldiers had destroyed and carried off nv
medicines. and that could do nothing
further than recommend that his soldiers
who had been drinking acids should now
he filled with water. To this end we
poured water down the burning threats Of
the invalids. whose tongues were swollen
to twice or thrice their natural size.
learned atterward that they all recovered.
At last. satated with their work OF
plumber and devastation. the robbers were
all assembled on the north side of the viii
lage of Ailet, now half in ashes. There
were about 800 of them, horse and foot.
In addition 10 their usual weapons-thc
sword. spear and shield-thc greater part
were armed with guns of various patterns
and descriptions. In accordance with
their usual custom. each Abyssinian that
had been successful in his work of plum
der. or had made u capture. was allowed
to keep possession of whatever he had
taken. whether il consisted of provisions.
merchandise. clothing. books. scientific
apparatus, firearms. ammunition. or on
the other hand. OF sheep. cattle. men.
women and children.
MIR. Mitchell gives an account of their
march to the province of Hamaseen. Upon
arriving ut the camp of Alluli. the chief
OF the province of Hamaseen. | was con-
Quoted between two long lines of petty
officers and soldiers into the presence of
this noted Abyssinan chief. He was
seated upon a carpet or rug in common
soldiers canvas tent. Statutes were ex-
changed. The words dahdn dnian fell
upon my ears. Here. then. was an as
surance from the man In power that we
were to receive good barbarian treatment.
or, at least. we were not to be Intentionally
mutilated. or killed. was now taken to
little shelter improvised from few cut
boughs and couple of blankets. This
was to be my shelter for the night. Bay
onini with me- Having been taken pris-
oner by the same individual we were to
be companions in captivity. The same
person held ownership in us both. Hav-
ing already at the outset relieved us of
all valuables. he still kept vigilant eye
upon whatever articles of clothing he
might think to be supertiuous. Seated
upon the ground in front of the little shell
ter. we were interviewed by many of the
Abyssinians. attracted thither from motives
of idle curiosity. or with the malicious
design of tormenting us. Some hard bread
and box of >ardines afforded us n
frugal meal. Several tins OF the latter.
also few cans OF peas. had been given
us by the Abyssinians. They did this not
from any desire to befriend us, but from
the TACT that they had no relish tor that
kind of food. At last my swarthy captor,
who had been for some time carefully in
speeding my wearing apparel, rs il max
ing a decision in his own mind what arti-
cles would serve his purpose best. rudely
seized my vest. and by means of signs
rather than W, rsis intimated plainly that
must take it off. objected until saw
that none of his superiors were disposed
to interfere in nv behalf. Then. in order
to save myself from having the garments
torn off unceremoniously by brute force.
l quietly gave il to him. He undertook to
put il on hind side before. then upside
down. At last he came to pause. He
was rs much puzzled as if trying to solve