Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-07

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Captain Harrison Smith, psymsster,
r. N. Was sent by her Majesty's Gov
eminent to the King Of Abyssinia to
present to him . letter and sword Of
honor from her Majesty the Queen. On
April 10th, says the Captain, we ar
rived suddenly in sight Of the kings
csmp and Lake AshADei. As We nssred
camp We were met by the soldier whom
I had sent on. He brought message
from the King. The King requested me
TO come at once to him. The soldier
added that the King had threatened to
punish him should be fail to bring mo
into camp that evening; but he begged
me TO wait few minutes, till an escort
Of two hundred men should arrive to
accompany me. The officer command
ing the escort informed me that they
had been ordered to conduct me directly
to the King.
was obliged to change clothes on
tho road, uppsck the letters from her
Majesty and Lord S. and the swords
Tor the King and his son. These pro-
ceedings entertained the soldiers great
". The soldiers took up . sort OF
formation, in the centre of which | and
the persons who we're instructed to
carry the presents rode. Thus we
crossed Q plain, and then climbed the
bill on which the King is building Q
rev palace. There was the bsholcen
of many hundreds, having dismoun.ed
and walked to the door OF the cokel-
rooted building in which his Majesty
was seated
About to enter, / was abruptly
stopped, because at the last moment
the King had sent for \ chair, which
had not yet arrived. The chair was
brought and placed with its back against
the pole which supports the roof in the
centre, and exactly facing the King.
AS usual, he was seated on an angerib
IA sort of bedstsad), supported on
either side by large cushion. On my
entering, he extended his arm to its
full length, ard received me in the most
cordial manner, with his stamina
nearly down to his waist.
At first | thought he was reckoning
me to q chair, to which bis outstretch-
ed hand was pointing, but ! soon per-
ceived his meaning, and, having taken
his hand and bowed, presented her
Maesty's letter, envelopsd in an in
posing embroidered cover which | had
brought from Cairo, and which sppro-
priately had q gold lion resembling the
kings seal worked in the centre. Then
| laid before the king the sword in its
csse with the lid opened, aud after
ward the sword for his son, Ras Aria
Selassic. At the conclusion Of the brief
announcement with which | accom-
panied each presentation the King
bow ed and expressed thanks. lie then
said be had ordered camp to be pre-
pared for me, and that | must 60 and
rest. found large but very thin
tent pitched, Aad furnished with m
sngerib covered with 4 carpet. aud
having the two usual cushions. Other
carpets were laid on the ground, and
for some time sat in state till my es-
cort was marched or, and was left
only with the small guard.
In the evening presents Of goods,
consisting of a COW, bread, ghee, tsdge
Qiquor made from honey, red pepper,
frewood, and fireplacos, and spoon
for my use arrived, and were continued
regularly during my stay.
On April 18th the King came. lie
wanted to know why duties were im
posed. / replied tina. his merchants
had never requested that they tthe du
ties) might be RENTED.
On the 10Th ] called on the King a
7 A. NJ. ; talked and wrote sn addition
TO tho letter for the Queen then wa.
taken out and arrayed with shirt and
trousers. | do not mean that ut the
time wore neither Of these useful arti.
cles, but these were special garments Of
honor. Was also presented with q
lions name, the Kings own mare, q
horse, a mule, twenty.one spears, and a
shield. At ll:20 got on the march,
and continued till $40, when We
reached our old camp, near Bebbah.