The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-01

mainGer with muzzle-loaders. spears and
swords. many carrying hide shields. The
chiefs mostly possess revolvers. The whole
military force OF Ahyssinia probably num-
bers more than 10000 men. about one
third OF them armed with rifles. This VIII
be able, however, 70 offer little serious re-
sistancs 10 the Italians. SO that the con-
quest Of the whole eountry may be looked
upon as sure 70 occur in the near future.
An Interesting Monarch.
King Menelek ii. was the most interest
ing and important native ruler in Africa.
He was king Of Shoa, south OF Abyssinia.
long before he assembled the throne Of the
larger kingdom. His people are Of the
same race and speak the same language
as the A~hyssinians. Their country is SIM
ply a part OF Abyssinia whose chief be-
came powerful enough TO be. practically
independent of the ruler further north.
When King John was killed by the
Nahdists in ISa II was known TO be MS
wish that his nephew hou succeed him.
Menelek, however, proclaimed himself
king of Abyssinia. and no faction was
strong enough 10 oppose him except that
Tigre. the most northern province. was
very slow in yielding allegiance.
About fifty-fve years ago King Haelou.
ruler OF Shoa. heard one day that a wo-
man OF striking beauty was seeking aims
at the door OF the palace. He sent for her
and was so greatly impressed by her
charms that he introduced her among the
women of his establishment. When a
little boy was born the king said he would
not recognize him as his son unless in the
course of years he showed a striking re-
semblance TO his majesty. AS the boy
grew up he came to look very much like
his royal father. and the king named him
as his heir. though he had other sons who
thought they had a better right 10 the
throne. This boy was Menelek. The leading
native ruler in Africa, therefore, was the
son Of a beggar, as we'll as OF a king. 1T
was his ancient lineage, however, of
which he was chiefly proud. 1t was his
boast that he was a lineal descendant OF
king Solomon and the Queen of Sheba-
Physically the king was not an impress
sive person. He was almost coal black,
short and dumpy. Unlike his uncle. Ras
Darghe, and others among his chief adj
visers. he was very friendly to Europeans
until his recent trouble with Italy. and
wanted to introduce their arts into his
country. He had a remarkable fondness
for machinery and implements of all sorts.
and his greatest delight was to examine
their machinism. Explorers say he ruined
about a dozen watches ana alarm clocks,
taking them apart and trying TO put them
together again. He became at last. how
ever. quite a proficient watch tinkerer.
Several years ago Mr.. Chsfneux took
the king. as a present from the French
government a mitrailleuse. For conven-
ience OF carrying 1t had been taken 10
pieces and compactly packed. The weap-
on reached the king several days before
the traveller did, and very much TO Mr..
Chefneux's astonishnent he found the
weapon properly put together and mount
ed. The king had made a careful study
of the mechanism of firearms, and, Will
the aid of a picture OF a mitrailleuse, he
had ~aI thsa V.fTN crFr.r,=A Cor +ha
white man.
The king was gentle and amiable to
those who had his friendship. but he was
guilty OF acts Of gross cruelty and injus-
tice TO conquered enemies. He largely
widened the boundaries of Shoa by con-
quering the fierce Gala tribes around
him. He was distinguished above all his
advisers for his faith in the advantage OF
drawing useful lessons from civilized
countries. He did not like missionaries.
however. In 1885 he kept two Swedish
missionaries practically prisoners in his
chief town for ten months. and then sent
them back TO the coast. Since then he
has expelled all the French Catholic and
Germa missiona.ries from his country.
The king was very angry at the decision
OF the great powers to forbid the importa-
ton of firearms and gunpowder into the
interior of Africa. He was, however, in
a measure, independent, as he made his
$500 o1Hk8N0EA ain ia a hACSS l.
of improved irearms.
In 1879 he introduced some Swiss engi-
neers, carpenters and machinists into
Shoa for the purpose of carrying out va
rious works. Among their undertakings
was the building of some stone houses,
and as there We're neither stone masons
nor carpenters in the country, the hand
full of white men made slow progress.
Nobody volunteered 10 take up the stone
hammer and chisel.
The king thereupon decided to set his
subjects a good example. He put on
orking clothes, and with hammer in
hand toiiod for several days by the side
OF the Swiss, while his subjects looked
on in tl3nk amazement. Then, little by
little, they began 10 think it would be a
good idea TO initiate the royal example.
They went to work with the tools the
whites supplied. and before long a mum
Der of them had become very fair masons
and stonecutters. The king also had sew
eral very good wagon roads built between
some OF his chief towns.
There was not a bridge in the country
and Mr.. Zig, the Swiss engineer, told the
king that he ought to have a bridge over
a river leading TO the recently conquered
Gala province. which in flood time could
not he forded.
Make me a model of what you call a
bridge" the king said.
The same day one of Mr.. Ilg's assist
ants appeared before the king with the
proposed plan of the bridge. The king
was much pleased with il, and ordered
that the work be carried out at once.
The difficulties were very great 1t was
necessary to transport trunk of trees a
distance Of ten miles in the burning sun.
When the bridge was completed the king
and his subjects would not risk their lives
on it until the Swiss had given proof of
It's solidity by drawing very heavy loaded
wagons over 1t. Great was the JOY of the
king when he and his people were able
70 utilize the bridge.
Later the Swiss built a blast furnace
for the smelling Of iron, a -four mill and
baking ovens. From time 10 time the
king sent one or the other OF them to
Europe 70 purchase material. 1t has look
ed as though the work OF these few Eu-
ropeans would give civilization a consid-
cradle impetus among the healthful high
lands OF Ethiopia.
But King Menelek has not lived on good
terms with the Italians. He has never
ceased 10 regret the day in 1889 when he
signed a treaty practically placing Abys-
sinia under the protection of Italy. He
has said In later years that the Italians
asked an inch and took an ell. He has
accused them Of attempting TO absorb
his country and make him merely a fig
urehead That is the cause Of the present
war. IN which the Italians, from the start,
are rapidly getting the best Of the light
Ing. The Italians assert. not orlg that
the king violated his treaty. but also that
he prevented Italian traders from doing
business. They have gone into his coun-
try 20 buy ivory. and they say that the
king sent his agents far and wide 10 in
teTCgut ivory caravans and g~nap thev,