The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-09-20
The Apyss,n,an Court.

The special correspondence of the |
London Netos describes Admiral Hew-
ett's interview with KING John OF Abys-
sinia: Facing the entrance and against
the circular wall of the hut, on athIone
covered with violet satin cloth, aud
supported on either side by pillows of
the same rich stuff, with the cross of
Solomon worked in gold thereon, sat
the 'Negus Negusti' and King of Zion.
On his right stood servant witt a
silver.handled horsehair fly switch,
which he kept swaying to and fro to
keep the flies from feeding off the but
ter on the royal head, for in the habit
of greasing doth his majesty indulge as
well as his lowly subjects, and the fat
sparkled on his crisp HAIR, neatly plated
in three broad pieces stretched from
his forehead over the royal Uranium to
the nape of the neck, where the plaits
narrow and are held together with a
diamond headed pin. Drawn up just
over the tip of his nose, and totally
covering the lower part of his face and
body, was the shemma or toga similar
to the one given by Allula to the Ad-
miral, embroidered with various col
ored silks in a broad stripe down the
center of the cloth, which is the token
of nobility. The King, who was indeed
all eyes and ears, scanned us each sus-
| niainpcIu q xuo fha fhror..
and bowed. He shook hands with Sir
William Hewett and Mason Bey, this
movement necessitating the pal tial I'M
covering of the body, showing the mas
sive Order of Solomon cleaning on a
gown of black silk. But only for a
moment was so much royalty seen, and
as the Admiral and the Egyptians sea-
ted themselves on cane. bottomed chairs
provided for them a little distance on
the left of the throne, the toga was up
to his mouth again, as if our presence
had suddenly made him feel very ill.
So far was this illusion carried that one
, almost expected him to rush for the
, door or call the steward.
r ''The Admiral soon settled down to
business, and rose to present the Queen
letter, which looked very formidable
' epistle as it lay in the pretty blue silk
r case worked by Lady Strangford. Now,
{ placed on a better footing, the King
e even condescended to smile his thanks.
a which lightened up his otherwise gloo.
9 my face, and made it quite pleasant
S 1t is lean and wan; broad just over the
e brows, which are perfeatly arched
e deep-seated, large black eyes; most
t slightly Jewish, but small, and mouth
p and chin showing a weakness that bellies
Il the upper part of the face. His colo
rs is almost negro in its blackness, ant
if was much intensified against the white
IL ness of the shemma. There was IN
n attempt at state; few domestics lolleC
against the walls, and on the left sid
of the throne stood q priest, who's
seeming occupation was to keep TIL
flies from his own nose with the aid o
!, piece of cows tail. There appeare,
!, to be no one in particular to keep til
n door or lift the cloth as one entered q
p passed out. And when we did the lat
= ter, after a cheerful good,by from til
70 king, we had to move 1t for ourselves
IA Out of the kingly presence an unrul
AZ mob of soldiers and servants jostle
. us wherever we walked. Sometime
no an indignant chief would lay abou
n. him with stiff bamboo and cleare
h. the way for time; but they were Liz
a flies; their appetite for curiosity VIZ
re all the more sharpened, and they swa
p med around i'll larger numbers. In Il
~ compound noticed that large leai
N. bower had been erected to cover
"a least five hundred men. This W;
NJ where the warriors, chiefs and courtie
as of the king Toasted. We were none
.er us invited during our stay to one
a these entertainments, the king KNOWN
nd full well that Europeans are not accu
lii toned to the peculiar luxuries of {
he Abyssinian banquet. A small one
it. have seen, and for myself was hearth
,at glad that he did not honor us with I'll
nv mark Of his favor. The piece de l
IF sistance is generally raw meat"