The National tribune., 1899-12-28
MENELIK OF ABYSSlNIA.
His Curious Way Of Making His Men Accus-
toned to q Rain of RullAta.

Menelik of Ethiopia victor over Italian
regiments with Gatling guns and smok-
less powder, is n homely, pockrarked
man, whose skin is black; whose hair is
turning white, for he has passed the so
year point: massive in chest. strong in
tread Though of a clumsy gaiD, with keen,
restless eyes under threatening browS-a
warrior in men and build as in fact says
Cleveland Moffett in the Windsor Mdg1-
zine. There is much of contradiction in
Menelik. for tradition makes him Hebrew
by descent, from Solomon and ShebaS
queen, aud yet nc shows no sign of the jew:
straight nose and thick lips, starnness OF
glance. with kindness in the smile, fight
er and a patriarch, Christian king in
africa. Let no man think of this man aS 4
ruler OF negroes; say rather ruler of dark
skinned ItcnanS, some many shades lighter
than himself, with classic cut of features,
high broWs, thin lips, straight hair. q
puIcr type by far than Menelik himself,
who shows a mingiing Of races, where
from. t may lie, comes his strength. Those
Ethiopians wear the garment worn in
CeS2:'S time, their chemna being quite the
Roman toga in form and way of draping.
They go barcleGded for the most part,
though some bind their brows with 2 white
turbau, and barefooted- that is, all save
Menclk, who alone in The realm has taken
to European shoes and European hat
symbols. one may believe, of his friendii-
ness to Western innovations.
A country OF lions and rugged men this
Ethiopia, as the people call it-not Abys-
Slnla, which is a diSraraging word in Use
among the Arabs. An Ethiopian worthy
to wear in battle the lions skin that Menelik
gives TO the braveSt must be one who can
go three days without food, fighting the
while or journeying over deserts and mount
aims; one who cares nothing for pain or
death. 1t Is custom among these men
after battle or Warllke manuverS to squat
down on the ground in long line and fire
their rifles in the air, barrels up, butts re-
tween the knees; no blank cartridges here,
but balls that wound or kill Whoms0evei
they strike in the descent. A cannon-shot
gives the signal, and forthwith the firing
starts far down the line, rolling nearer and
nearer until it sWells into a roar of mus
kerry about the Emperor himself, then
dies away at the further side. And the
bullets come down upon soldiers or
citizens as may be; for this firing, like as
not, takes place in q crowded city. Would
it not be wise, Your Majesty" asked a
French traveller, aghast at this reckless
procedure, ito use blank cartridges?"
why so:' asked Menelik. ''it would
economic rifle-balls and save life." 81 do
not mind losing a few balls, if it makes
my people dcspise them"
The Italians found at Adowa what these
soldiers think of rifle-balls; saw them come
bounding on in the charge, pierced through
and through with Mauser bullets, and go
on fighting; saw the Emperor himself to-
ward the close rush in, waving his sword,
and kill with his own hands. The Abys-
sinians Ito use the accepted wordD go into
battle with modern rifles, and know how to
use them: but in the heat of action their
spirit is to throw these down and come at
the enemy man to man with saber and
shield. Each one carries on his left arm
a convex buckler made of hippopotamtIs
hide, so thick and tough that often swift
flying projectile is DETECTED by it. Of
q 900 men, blacks and whites, who fought
in this battle on the Italian side, about
l 900 escaped, about 1900 were made
prisoners, and the rest were killed. And
at Amba Alagui, which preceded their final
disaster the Italians found out what it
means to fight an army that knows not
shoes, but comes at you in your fortified
grip and cling. The Italians We're on
hill rising from plateau, impregnable, as
tney supposed, on three sides, and guarded
on the fourth by strong artillery. Against
these cannon the black men would hurl
themselves, and that would be the end of
them. SO reasoned the Europeans, but
counted without black feet; for what the
AbysSinians did was to take the hill from
the rear, straight up the precipice, doing
this stealthily, so as to give no alarm.
And when enough of them had gained the
vantage ground behind they swept down
like wave upon the Italians, and the day
was won. Again, at the siege of Makelle,
the Italians We're able to Judge what kind
of a Christianity it is the Abyssinians