The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-26
READY TO ATTACK TIE FOE
The Italian Garrison at MassoWah Ex-
pect an Attack by the Abyssinians.
An Incident That Throws Doubt on the Good
Faith Of the English Tory leaders Sup
port of the Richie Bill-Cable Notes.
THE ITALIANS IN AFRICA.


RasaluIa Arrives at Ghinda, and an Early
Attack Is Expected.
ROME, March 25.-Advices from Massowah
say that an early attack By the Abyssinians is
expected Rasalula. the Abyssinian general has
arrived at Ghinda. King John is at Aznefas
This dispatch confirms the generally enter
tanned expectation that the month of March
would witness a decisive turn in the Italo-
Abyssinian conflict. In fact, 1t would be next to
impossible for the expeditionary corps 10 move
at all after the setting in of the warm season
The italian headquarters and base of operations
still remain located at Massowah. aud a line of
forts extending crescent-like around and in ad-
vance of Massowah, from Arkiko to Saat at q
distance not greater than twenty-five miles from
the coast.
The Italian outposts have not yet climbed over
the first slopes of the Abyssinian plateau, which
rises TO the region of eternal SHOWS. Very
likely they never will do It, especially during
the hot season of the year. On the other hand,
the Negus's soldiers will not down from
their mountainous heights to fight the Italians.
covered by the fire of the many forts they have
built and armed with big guns all along the
semicircular line of their defenses running
from Arkiko to Massowah, with It's inland cen
tire at Saati.
The only enemy in sight is aesuredly the
scouting squadrous of the terrible Vollo-Gallas
cavalry. which their queen has herself led into
the camp of her suzerain, the Negus of Neghest,
the king of Kings OF Ethiopia. Some travellers
have computed that the Gallas cavalry numbers
&C. 600 horSemen, but it seems according to DIR.
Rohlfs, an authority in regard to Abyssinan
affairs. that the whole country could hardly
furnish 70 600 horses: At any rate, the Galas
are the Cossacks of Africa. Brought up among
horses since their infancy they better CEN
taurs than the majority of Abyssinans. In the
Gallas country it Is held disreputable thing
to go about afoot instead of on horseback. The
people are nomads, and this explains why so
little is said about them by travellers. But it
IS generally admitted, says of the latter,
Mr.. Roger d Hericourt, that the Gala race is
the finest in Africa Their country is situated
southeastward of Abyssnia proper to which the
Calais are more or less tributary. according to
the whirns and fancies of their ruler, usually a
queen, who takes unto herself one or more
prince consorts.
The Gallas horses are of short stature, but are
very line and spirited. They are often noun led
by the wives of the warriors, who gallop at the
left or the right side of their husbands in the
middle of n battle. The arms of the Gallas, like
those OF the Abyseinians, are the lance, sword
and shield piece of calico, abundantly i'm
pregnated soaked with rancid butter or stale
bacon, is sufficient commonly for the support of
Gallas soldiers. The richest among them
trousers, with another garment like the Scottish
kilt. Their hair Ia sometimes freely floating on
their heads and sometimes knotted IN three
cords, but 1t ia always perfumed with butter.
This explains how the approach of Gallas horse
men Is always known advance, even when
they cannot be seen at a distance, for they
detected by their "nauseatingn smell.
Such are the terrible Voilo- Cfallas Abvssinian
horsemen. One of their Chiefs Ras Govana, is
the most popular man in southeastern Africa
able TO lead his squadrons to battle. began life
hostler. He commanded some irregular
troops, or partisan corps, when Theodoros con-
quered the Gallas and Choa countries. Govaua,
at the head of twenty thousand horseman. was
the only Abyssnian who dared to hold on
against the ferocious Negus. who had pat a
price on Govana's head. But the latter was
kind of Garibaldi for his soldiers, and no one
ever thought of gaining the golden treasure
promised by Theodoros. After the British
Meuelik made of Ras Govana
the second in the kingdom, and
appointed him Viceroy OF the Gallas and
the other countries he had conquered. He Is
practically independent of the Queen of tho
Volo-Galas, we'll of Menelik,- King vef
e,i4o@, truoseu nm with the care of
his son, whose life was threatened by the in
trigues of the Ankober court. Ras Govana con-
cealed the young remote village where
he is considered and treated if he were the son
of a common peasant. The old warrior looks
exactly like biblical parsonage, and when not
on the battlehe he would be taken for a very
peaceful man. But he is TRANSPORTED" at the
hour of fighting. and lie will prove to be a
dangerous enemy to the Italians if they commit
the blnnder of penetrating further into Abys-
sinia.