The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-26
ABYssINIA'S NEW RULER.
The Powerful King Menelek Recognized Al
the Successor of King John.

The Powerful King Menelelx Recognized as
the Successor of King John.
LONDON, June 25.-There is no longer any
doubt that King Menelek is Negus of
Abyssinia. The late King John named his
nephew, Mangascia, as his successor, but
Menelek has brushed aside his pretensions
as unworthy of notice. Many of the most
important chiefs of Abyssinia, including
Ras Michael. have already recognized
Menelek as Negus. The King has dis
patched a mission of twenty persons, in.
Guiding several important chiefs, to the
accession of this powerful King to the
throne of Abyssinia will tend rapidly to
tranquilliZe that country, and will
strengthen the position of Italy on the Red
sea. ;,
powerful King of Shoa, large country
Joining Abyssinia on the south. Within
the past three years Menelek has conquered
all the small Gala states around him, and
hasmade it possible for European travellers
coast ShOa is a region of lofty mountains
and luxuriant vegetation, and 1t has nOml-
nally been a dependency of AbysSlnia,
though Menelek has been more nearly. a
rival than a vassal of King John In the
Negus's quarrel with Italy Menelek sided
with the Italians, which shows how little
he feared the power of King John.
King Menelek's people are half civilized.
When he gave a grand banquet to the Aubry
scientific mission to Sh0a everything was
canters, and even a tableclOth being among
the accessories of the feast. The Kin gs
face shows the ravages of smallpox. but it
also indicates great intelligence and energy.
in the field. and his army is composed
both of cavalry and infantry, armed with
guns and lances. A few years ago
Menelek imported Frenchman TO superin.
tend the manufacture OF gunpowder, and
the King is not now dependent upon foreign
the national weapon, in the use OF which
the soldiers are very expert. The Italian
explorer. Cecchi. says he saw hippopota-
mus hide shield pierced at over sixty yards
returned from Shoa. in April last. says
Menelek also possesses forty Thousand good
rifles.
The King has appeared to be anxious to
introduce the arts of civilization into his
country. though many of his chiefs have
looked with suspicion upon all Europeans.
A while ago he issued an edict against the
slave trade, but it is notorious that he has
himself been one of the most active slave
dealers in Africa. Thousands of his
slaves have been shipped across the
Red sea to Arabia. The Shoans are con.
nected with the Abyssnians by the
closest ties of kindred. and Menelek's blood
claims to be Negus of Abyssinia were
greatly superior to those of King John. He
was wholly independent of the Negus until
King John defeated him in "a great battle
twelve years ago. The coveted negusshir
has at last fallen to him. and with Abys-
sinia broken by the defeats the dervishes
from Khartonm have inflicted. there is
every reason to believe that he will have
no trouble in completely establishing bis
rule over all parts of the country 1t i.
not expected that he viii interpose any OBJ
stacle to Italy acquiring the northern
province of Abyssinia, which she needs tc
make her East African possessions valuable
Immediately after the death of Kine
John. Menelek, at the head of large army
marched into Abyssinia, proclaimed him
self King of Kings. and declared his inten
tion to be crowned in one of the holy cite.
of the country. The submission of tht
most powerful chiefs now indicates that
King Menelek has come peacefully into the
succession, something very unusual il
Abyssinian politics.