The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-21
A VISIT TO MENELEK.
LF'rom the London Standard


lowing notes of a visit which he recent
ly paid to the Emperor Nenelek:
Left the British Agency compound
500 and reached the outer stockade of
the Jibbee (palace) just before 4 O'Clock,
rode through three large muddy and
untidy eourtyards, with crowds of fol-
lowers loafng about. We were a party
of six, Captain Harrington, H. 3. NJ.
Agent at the Court of Menelek, and
Baird, his secretary, in spotleSS khaki
uniform, on two fine gray ponies; we
four in dress clothes and pumps, with
felt hats and ulsters, mounted on four
sorry mules, which required much
beating to get them along; an AbySSin-
ian interpreter, and a DR.. Martin, taken
as child from Magdala after the siege,
now in government employ in Burmah,
come here on leave to see if he can get
employment in the land of his birth;
the rear brought up by two smart In
dian SowarS.
At the gate of the last Enclosure we
shivered, it being a cloudy, windy day
after pouring night. Only for a min
ute, however, for his majesty has the
name of great punctuality. A court
functionary of sorts came to call us,
and we entered a small yard, with a
clock tower in one corner and an open
fronted building joining 1t, approached
by two StaircaSeS. Up one of these we
filed AT the back of the room, some 20
feet square, was a dais, 10 feet long,
and raised some four feet from the
ground, ana covered, as was the 4OOT
in front of it, with European green and
rather bright colOred carpets. On this,
with his legs tucked on one side under
him, and half reclining to the opposite
side on two large pink satin covered
cushions, was Menelek- Two similar
cushions were on the other side of him.
Some twenty attendants stood about,
mostly in a group, by door on his
right.
We were each introduced in turn; my
name he had repeated twice, as he
could not catch it. To each he gave
his hand and smiled, as he half bowed
in return to ours. His age is fifty
eight, but he hardly looks tia very
dark but not black face, marked by
smallpox; rather even, but not very
white, teeth; a short, grayiSh beard and
whiskers; a face that is full of strength
and shrewdness, quick in altering eX-
preston, a pleasant smile and a hearty
laugh. After a few words he asked US
to be seated, which we were on cane
chairs, in a circle in front of him. Then,
as he listened to the interpreter, his
eyes moved from one to the other as he
took in every detail of our appearance
His head was covered by white muslin,
drawn tight on the skull, and with
many folds on the forehead and at the
sides of the head. A fine rose cut dia-
mOnd stud in the left ear; plain gypsy
ring on the little finger of the right hand
white trousers, a coat of green and yell
low striped silk; a black satin cloak
with gold braid and lined with pink
was his costume.
After we had expressed our thanks
for leave to visit his country, and the
good sport we had had, we asked for
leave for three to go to Rudolf, which
he readily granted. and promised a
guide. Then ! asked leave to go north
for ibex. The interpreter didn't know
the name for ibex, but described it; the
king in a moment gave the name, and
said it was only to be found in Semen.
He then asked which of US were going,
s,k -,
terpreter said I was going alone. He
then smiled and said I could go, and
that I should certainly bag them, and
he would give me letters, guides, etc.
Meanwhile, he had sent for a natural
history book, and at once turned up a
picture of an ibex. Butler then offered
him a pair of dogs, which he at once
accepted, and chaffingly asked who
would be his guarantee, according to
Abyssinian custom; on which Harrlng-
ton said Englishmen required none, and
there was general chaff, the king laugh
ing heartily.
He then asked when we proposed
starting and on our saying at once,
said, What without lunching or din
ing with me?' and promptly asked US
for Sunday, which we, of course, ac-
eepted. The conversation then turned
on cOursing. and he decided to come
out on Tuesday to see a course. While
this was going on he was turning over
the leaves of a book sent him by Lady
Meux, a reproduction of an old Abys-
sinian Bible The pictures and the
binding, being in exact facsimile, evil
IDENTIFY excited his wonder, and he re-
marked on it several times. DR.. Martin
had some words with him, and the word
MagdaIa caused him to look serious for
a few minutes. we told him we had
brought no present, wishing to find out
what he would like. He replied that
4 any kind of new rifle was his greatest
/ Joy. When told that Butler and White
/ house had kept their elephant tusks,
/ being the first they had killed, he ex-
/ pressed his pleasure, and hoped we
would all take large tusks to England
4 to show what came from his country.
/ We then shook hands and departed,
/ quite impressed with his shrewdness
/ and affability.
n. B.@'Bil" CWhitehouse) was point
ed cut to him as an American. He
promptly said. What part of Amer
/ leap and then remarked that he had
1 come by far the furthest of any of US
TO see his country.
! Group instantly relieved. DR.. Thomas
| Eelectric Oil. Perfectly safe. Never
| fails. At any drug store.