Mohave County miner., 1886-11-28
the nNo or AeYss.NiA

A. KssiisA Psynassss 0ivss - A.
essss ss HE Visit - ne Ki.g.
CApA. Harrison Smith, psymastsr, r
n. was sent by her nasjesty's govern
ment to the king Of Abyssinia to present
TO him letter and sword Of honor from
her majesty the queen. -On April TO-"
says the captain, I'VE arrived suddenly
IN sight Of the kings camp and Lake Ash
augi. AZ we nesred camp we were met
by the soldier whom had sent on. He
brought message from the king. The
king requested me TO come at once 10
him. The soldier added that ths king
had threatened to punish him should he
fail TO bring me into camp that evening;
but hs begged Inc to wait afew minutes,
till an escort of 200 men should arr1ve to
accompany me. The officer command
ing the escort informed me that they
had been ordered TO conduct mo d.
rectly to the king.
Il was obliged to change clothes on
the road, unpack the letters from hsr
majesty and Lord s., and the swords for
the king and his son. These proceed
ings entertained the soldiers greatly.
The soldiers took up sort Of formation,
IN t!Is centre Of which I and tho persons
who were instructed to carry the pres
ents rode. Thus we crossed plain, and
then climbed the hill on which the king
is building a new palace. There I was
the behoiJrn Vt many hundreds, having
dismouIted and walked to the door Of
the coGrr roote'i building in which his
majesty was seated.
About - enter was abruptly stopped,
because at the last moment the king had
sent for chair, which had not yet ar
rived. The chair was brought and
placed with its back against tho pole
which supports the roof in the center,
and exactly facing the king. As usual
he was seated on an angerib IA kind Of
bedstead). supported on either side BY a
large cushion. On my entering he ex.
tended his arm to its full length, and re-
ceived me in the most codial manner
with his stamina nearly down to his
waist.
AT first I thought he was beckoning
me to chair, to which his outstrstched
hand was pointing, but soon reroeivsd
his meaning, and having taken his hand
and bowed, presented her majessy's
letter, envelopsd in ., imposing en-
broidered cover which I had brought
from Cairo, and which appropriately had
. gold hon resembling the kings seal
worked In tho center. Then laid b.
fore the king the sword In IL casa with
the lid opened, and afterwsrd the sword
for his son, Ras Aria Selassie. At the
conclusion Of the brief announcement
with which I accompanied each pressn-
tation the king bowed and expressed
thanks. He then said be had ordered .
camp to Be prepared for me, and that
must 70 and rest. I found . large but |
very thin tent pitched, and furnished
with an an ysrib covered with . carpet |
and having the two usual cushions.
Other carpets were laid on the ground,
and for some time sat In state till my
escort was marched off, and I was left |
only with the small guarl.
in the evening presents Of goods,
consisting Of COW, bread, ghse, tsdgs |
Giquor made from honey. red pepper,
firewood and fireplaces. and spoon for
my use arrived, and were continued
regularly during my stay.
"On the 10Th called on the king at 7
q. m. Talked, and wrote an
addition to the latter for the
queeI.. Then was taken out, and ar
rayed with a shirt and trousers. do
not mean that at the time wore neither
Of these useful articles. hut these were
special garments Of honor was also
presented with lions name, the kings
own mare, q horse, q mule. twenty-one
spears, and shield. At 11:20 got on the
and kept till $40, when we
reached our old camp near Bebbah.
London News.