Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-08-08
THE ABNSSINIAN KING.


Fnciug the entrance and against the cir
cul,r wall of the hut. ON throne covered
with violet satin cloth aud supported ON
either side 10y pillows of the same rich
stuff with the cross of solomon worked
in gold thereon. sat the "NegtlS Ncgusti'
and King Of Zion, writes the correspond
cnl of the London N,rS On his right
stood Il servant with a silNer-hnudlcd
hurschair fly switch which he kept sway
ing to and fro to keep the flies from feed
ing off the butter on the royal head, for in
the habit of urpaSing doth his Mai sly in
dulgc as well rs his lOWlN subjects, and
the fat sparkIcd ON his crisp hair, neatly
plated in three broad pieces stretched from
the forehead over they royal Uranium to
the uapc OF the neck. where the plHit1 mar
row and are held together with a diamond
headed pin Drawn mp just over he tip
of his nose and totally covering the lower
part of his face and body was the ShCmmd
or tuga similar To the one given 10y Al lula
to the admiral, embroidered wit Nariou 5
culUrcd silks. in Il broad strip down the
centre of the cloth, which is the token of
nobility. The King, who was indeed all
eyes and ears. scanned Us each suspicious
ly as we approached the throne and bow
ed. He shook hands with Sir William
Ilcwctt and Mason Bcy. this movement
ncCcSSitating the partial uucONCrlng OF the
body, showing the massive Order of Solo
mon cleaning on Il gown of black SILK.
But only for II moment was So much roy
atty seen. and ~ the admiral and the EgNp-
tian representatives seated themselves ON
Cane-bOttOmcd chairs provided for them Il
little distance on the left of the throne, the
togI was up to his mouth again, as if our
presence had suddenly made him feel very
i'll. So far was this illusion carried that one
almost expected him To rush for the door
or call the steward. The admiral soon
settled down to business, and rose to pre-
sent the Queens letter which looked Il
very formidable cpistlc as il lay in the
pretty blue silk ease worked by Lady
Strangiord.
Now placed ON Il better footing the King
even cOndcsccndcd to smile his thanks.
which lightencd up his otherwise gloomy
face and made it quite pleasant. 1t is lean
and wan broad Just over the brOWS.
which are perfectly archcd deep seated
large black eyes Il nose slightly Jewish,
but small and Il mouth and chin showing
Il weakness that belle the upper part of
the face. His color is almost negro in its
blaCkneSS, and was much intensified
against the Wilderness of the shcmma
There was no attempt at state II few do
mcStiCS lOllca against the walls. and on
the left side of the throne stood Il priest
whose seeming occupation was to Keep the
flies from his own nose with the aid of Il
piece of il COWS tail. There appeared to
he no one in particular to keep the door or
And when we did the lHttcr-aftcra cheer
ful gppdby from the King-We had To
move it for ourselves. out of the kinglN
presence an unruly mob of soldiers and
servants iOStled Us wherever we walked
sometimes an indignant chief would lay
about him with II stifl bamboo. and clear
ed the way for Il time. but they were like
flies their appetite for curiosity was all
the more Sharpencd and they SWarmed
around in large numbers In the com
pound | noticed that IL large lcaiN bower
had been erected to cover ut least five hum
drpd men. This was where the warriors,
chiefs and courticrs OF the King Toasted
We were none of us invited during our
stay To one of these entertainments. the
King knowing full well that Europeans
are not accustomed to the peculiar luXu-
ricS of an Aby>Sinian banquet. \ small
one | have seen, and, for myself, was
heartily glad that he did not honor lis with
this mark of his favor. The piece ne re-
$iNtu,c' is generally raw meat.