Arizona republican., 1892-02-19

fore you get there, and when you do get there you will find more to look at still.
 The native dDess of the king and his nobles is at once simple and striking, consisting of a long white frock or man. tie, embroidered with five broad stripes of bright crimson, which are supposed to typify the five wounds of our Lord, for these strange people (Nestorian Christians ever since the Thirteenth century, are extremely devout in their own peculiar way, and even the dreaded King John himself-a perfect Abyssinian Henry Vlll-used to hear morning pray CTS and read a chapter of the Bible every day before going forth to dye his battle sword in blood or to order off score of innocent men to instant execution. This robe is usually tucked up so as to leave the limbs free below the knee, and the feet are protected by strong sandals. Most of the Abyssinian grandees are splendid horsemen, and the reckless way in which they dash up and down these precipitous ridges, with the tip of the foot just touching the silver ring that serves them as a stirrup, might con- mand the applause of any Gaucho on the | South American pampas.
 The kings life guards are picked sol diers, all fine and powerful men, armed with long native rifles and curved swords of wonderful keenness and tenn per. Here and there amid their stately ranks you may espy stalwart fellow who wears on his neck lions claw set in gold, decoration which may be called the Victoria Cross of Abyssinia, ! proving as it does that the lion to whom | that claw once belonged has been slain in single fight by its present wearer-a feat which even these hardy mountain eers consider well worthy of notice.
 Conspicuous amid the crowd of richly dressed native attendants that surround the "Nehgus" Gas the Abyssian king is called) is the figure of a tall and portly man in gorgeously embroidered robe, with flat, shining disk of metal hang ing upon his broad breast at the end of light silver chain, this being the badge of his office as the kings head cook. The post is one of the best in the whole king dom, but it has its drawbacks, the hold or of it being bound to remain unmar- ried, and never to quit the court without the special leave of the king himself, which is seldom if ever given More over, among this high functionary's countless duties is the tasting of every article of food or drink, no matter what it may be, which is to be set before his royal master.
 One very characteristic feature of this strange court still remains to be de- scribed. A little apart from the throng you will notice large group of hand some native girls of various ages, from thirteen to sixteen, arrayed in pictur- esque national costume, and adorned with barbaric national finery. A paint CT might object to their receding chins and thick, pouting lips, but their black, lustrous, melting eyes, their long, silky hair and the wonderful symmetry of their slim, graceful form, are study worthy of Titan himself.
 Should the king be pleased with your address, or with the presents which every one is bound to offer him, he will re- quest or rather command you to take three or four of these beauties away with you as your wives-a courtesy rather embarrassing to some prim, middle aged British envoy with strong minded wife of his own at home, especially as, by native custom, it is death for any man to decline gift offered by the king in person. Strangely enough, the young ladies themselves appear to be quite satisfied with the custom which thus transfers them from one master to an other, like sheep or cattle. Once given into your possession, an Abyssinian girl will toll for you, fight for you and if need should be, die by your side on the battlefeld-lnore than one weird story being current here of slender, dark faced soldiers who were seen fighting side by side with some of the Italian officers in the great battle two years ago, and who, when found lying dead over the corpses of those whom they had striven in vain to defend, were discovered to be women il disguise.
 Only once within the memory of liv- ing men has that strange gift been off, fered and refused. When the terrible King John reigned over Abyssinia-a tyrant whose merciless cruelty was rem dered doubly formidable by the daunt- less courage and great abilities by which it was upported-there came to him on public mission spare, muscular, clear eyed English officer, who had written his name in history some years before as Chinese Gordon"
 In the courtyard of the kings palace the two men met-the strong, swarthy Abyssinian in his gorgeous white and crimson dress, with gold rings in his ears and lionskin sash across his bare, brawny chest; the Englishman in his plain, well worn uniform, with the look of calm, fearless confidence that had kept up the dropping spirits of his sol diers on many hard fought battlefield. Behind them stood four beautiful native slave girls, looking wonderingly with their large liquid eyes at the strange war rior from beyond the sea who dared to face their terrible master and talk to him as an equal.
 John pointed to the women and bade his guest take them for his wives as gift from the king.
 It was certain death to refuse and Gordon knew it, but he never hesitated one moment. He drew himself up stern- ly and his deep, firm voice rang out clear and unfalteringly as ever:
 "l am a Christian, and what you offer me is forbidden by my religion. Slay me if ynu vill-but will mt 1o 4bio