The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-05-21
The Late King John of Abyssinia.

A recent cable dispatch chronicles the
death OF King John of Abyssinia. From
an account given by Mr.. De Cosson of
his visit to this mighty cheftain in 1873,
we CLEAN the following:
Long before Kings Johns presence is
reached (wrote Mr.. De Cosson), the
traveller hears of his wisdom, strength
and proves. At AXum, the monolith,
10 feet in height, is shown over which
Prince Hasa used to hurl his heavy war
spear. A league from the camp a de-
tachment of stalwart men armed with
long rifles decorated with jackals' tails,
under the command of little lieutenant
who gave his orders in English, met Mr..
De Cosson and escorted him to the con-
fines of an immense camp, in the midst
OF which stood the Kings tent and au-
dience hall. Two interpreters, dressed
in long silk robes of honor, conducted
the English ENJOYS to their tent, which
was spread with rich carpets from the
Kings treasury. There speedily came
the monarch's gift of welcome two jars
of dreadful drinkable called tedge,
fifty loaves of bread, an antelope's horn
filled with mingled salt and red pepper,
and live cow, which the escort at once
slaughtered, piling up the meat before
the visitors. The Kings cook and faster,
who must be priest and a celibate of
stainless life, followed with four dishes
of curry. At dawn next day came an
officer, splendidly dressed in robe of
lowered silk, with silver mounted pistols
in his sash, one of the officials who have
the dangerous distinction of going into
battle dressed and armed precisely like
the King, to inquire in Johns name of
the strangers health. Early in the after
noon came the interpreter, attended by
an esquire bearing the royal sword and
shield, in whose company, amid the
sounds of drums and trumpets, and
salute from a battery of brass howitzers,
MIR. DE Cosson proceeded to the audi.
ence hall. 1t was wooden building
rooted with rushes, of oblong form and
vast extent. A double colonnade of
tree-trunks led to the center, where the
King sat cross-legged on high
divan draped with purple velvet. On
the cushion on either side rested an
English rife, cooked and loaded; his
slippers of solid silver filigree were
on the carpet in front. The King wore
a robe of cloth of silver; falling in heavy
folds around his face was long veil of
crimson silk, beneath the great triple
crown of Ethiopia blazing with gold and
jewels; by his side was sword in a sheath
Of velvet and enamel. Two gigantic
eunuchs, clad in purple and green silk
and holding drawn swords, stood beside
the throne; behind it was a guard of
honor as magnificently dressed, also
with sabres drawn, while the court was
crowded with officers and warriors in
trailing robes of silk and velvet of every
color, their scarlet scabbards cleaning
with filigree of gold and silver and their
shoulders 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; the barbaric
splendor of the scene was perfect. The
King shook hands with his English
guest, who bowed. The company being
seated on the carpets, there filed in q
long line of slaves, each bearing basket
covered with red cloth and filed with
flat cakes of bread. One of these wa:
placed before each guest. Meanwhile
at the threshold, other attendants were
slaughtering cows and sending grea
hunks of the raw and yet smoking mea
to be placed on the baskets of the guests
the stranger being first served; thu
others made the round of the hall, on,
distributing knives from case carried
at his side, the other offering an an