New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25

The recent events in Abyssinia render some
OF DR.. Smiths chapters more interesting 'hai'
others. His plan was to reach Lake Ruoon IN
as straight line as possible from Berbera' Oh
the Gulf Of Alden but TO do this it was necessar!
10 cross or at least to skirt MeneleKs oonn
ions The latter. however, like his European lei-
low-royalties is a stickler for his sphere OF III
nuence" and he compelled d.. Smith to retrace
h,s s,ens at Ginea and make his way to the lake
,ound through Somaland. With the divaga-
tions of his tourney we are not closely concerned
hare The significance of those caused by Meme
lex lies In the force Of the Abyssinian Govern
ment behind them. Much has been written since
the Italian defeat about Meneleks cleverness IN
fusing the northern and southern divisions Oh 'he
Empire DIR. Smiths adventure gives a concrete
illustration Of his skill. The policy OF the EN-
neror as he describes it, is to install his regents
at this point or that with complete power OF
life and death over their subjects. but they are
No, allowed TO gain too much strength. as he con-
tinually shifts them from one position 10 an
other" Dimly his shrewdness recalls the
method of the old Italian cities with their rulers
called from towns far off and dismissed before
they had grasped power enough TO subvert the
government to their own uses. The Emperor OF
Abyssinia certainly was justified of his wisdom
In the case OF -da-Gubbra his representa-
tive at Ginea, and DIR. Smiths particular oDsta-
Gle. Representative as he was, he still was recoS-
nized as king in his own district, and he resented
Dr. Smiths effort to cross the country. He de-
manded that the expedition be halted. and let
ter sent to Menelek. This was done, but the
delay being too long. DR.. Smith attempted to
break the truce. Wal-da-Gubbra bore down
upon him politely but firmly and with an escort
strong enough to lend weight TO the otherwise
presumptuous observation that Menelek owned
the land "all the way down to Mombasa," The
caravan turned back. DR. Smith admits, how
ever. and herein lies the gist of his pages the
episode that his troublesome friends were
worthy of his steel Practically no Abyssinians.
he says are devoted exclusively to military duty.
but the whole nation is trained for war.
Every Abyssnan is a soldier, and receives
little drilling from time TO time, so that he may
quickly obey orders when called upon to do duty
in times Of war They go about with a rife hung
over the shoulder. experimenting their slaves
working on the plantations. and indulge fire.
Quenty on their own account in target practice
They are very fond Of elephant hunting and
shooting any game they can find. They
have thus learned the use Of the rife, and many
Of them are excellent marksmen. Most OF them
fire with a rest, consisting of stick forked
end while the other end Is pointed to plant
in the ground. These rests, which are quite
short, they carry along with them, using them
as walking sticks. Though they mpetuous
and daring warriors, they are careful TO obey
the commands of their officers. the smallest
want Of discipline In this respect being punished
by death or the cutting off Of an arm When
going TO war they ride mule-back leading also
few ponies. which they mount only when they
wish to make a charge upon their enemy. They
are quick in SEEING advantageous positions. at
lacking their enemy in the dark or from ambush,
or Turing them on 10 some point where they may
have them at a disadvantage a harder. more
energetic lot of men could not be found. l made
up my mind then and there that any nation at
lacking them would have its hands full
DR.. Smith set out upon his expedition In 1893.
1t is scarcely year since the Italians met their
nn1l discontinue in Abyssnia turning these
words into kind Of prophecy. Dr. Smith fur
Their suggests the probability of a severe struggle
between the Europeans and the Abyssinians.
should the former persist in attempts TO
colonize the country by describing the social
character Of the natives. They are still bar
barous. it is true. but Waldo -Gubbra disclosed
considerable diplomacy as well as frmness in
his transactions with the explorer. lie might
have employed brute force. Instead he received
DR.. Smith with gifts and with ceremony. d.
yerted him from his chosen path with far more
urbanity and tact than could have been expected
In that portion Of Africa, and the total impress
sion conveyed by the King and his servants is
that Of most intelligent people, people far
more likely 10 adopt civilization as they desire
u than 10 accept 1t at the dictation OF the
whites. in this little interlude in the progress
OF the caravan toward Lake Rudolf we get |
glimpse Of African raw material that is less raw
than that with which European governments
usually prefer TO deal Mere strength will not |
avail In Abyssinia. The people will have to be |
approached warily and dealt with on relatively |
high ground or they Will keep the invader per- |
manently out. AT present they seem to be ruling |
their tribal neighbors and interiors with a high
hand. The treatment OF the natives by the |
Abyssinians" says DR.. Smith. us everywhere |
the same--they are whipped about like dogs. and |
have always the appearance Of a whipped dog
when their conquerors are about" One natural
phenomenon encountered by DR.. Smith at the |
time OF his negotiations with Waldo Gubbra |
must be noted in passing About thirty miles
south OF Ginea are some caves with the coral
limestone In them carved by the water into col |
umns OF extraordinary quaintness and artistic |
form The illustrations presented are fair
enough TO make the reader wish they were bet