The evening times., 1900-03-20
A VISIT TO MENELEK.
How a. Party of English Hunters
Were Entertained.
tFrom the London Standard. }

tFrom the London Standard
Capt. Powell Cotton sends the following
notes of a visit which he recently paid to
the Emperor Menelek:
Left the British Agency compound 500
and reached the outer stockade of the
Jbbee (palace) just before o'clock. rode
! through three large muddy and untidy
courtyards. with crowds of followers loaf
ing about. We were a party of six. Cap
tain Harrington. H. b. N. Agent at the
Court of Menelek. and Baird. his seere-
tary. in spotless khaki uniform, on two
fine grey ponies; We four in dress clothes
and pumps. with felt hats and ulsters.
mounted on four sorry mules which re-
Quired much beating to get them along;
an Abyssinian interpreter, and DIR.
Martin. taken as child from Magdala
after the siege. now in Government en-
ploy 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 Indian sOwaTs.
At the gate of the last enclosure we dis
mounted. took of our coats, and shver-
ed. ii being a cloudy. windy day after a
pouring night. Only fol- minute. how
ever 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 clock tower in one
corner and an open -frOnted building join
ing it. approached by two staircases. Up
one of these we filed. At the back of the
ROOM some twenty feet square, was das
ten feet long and raised some four feet
from the ground. and covered. was the
floor in front of il. with European green
and rather bright colored carpets. On this
with his legs tucked oB one side under
him and half reclining to the opposite
side on two large pink satin covered cush-
ions, was Menelek. Two similar cushions
were on the other side of him. Some
twenty attendants stood about, mostly
in a group, by a 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 it-a very dark but not black face,
NAKED by smallpox; rather even. but not
very white, teeth; short. greyish beard
and whiskers; face that is full of
strength and shrewdness, quick in alter
ing expression, pleasant smile and a
hearty laugh. After a few words he asked
us to be seated. where 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.
fine roce cut diamond stud in the left ear;
a plain gypsy ring on the little finger OF
the right hand; white trousers, coat of
green and yellow striped silk; 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 In
terpreter didn't know the name for ibex,
but described it; the King in a moment
gave the name, and said 1t was only 10 be
found in Semen. He then asked which OF
us were going, and looked hard at me when
the Interpreter said l was going alone. He
then smiled. and said could go. and that
should certainly bag them, and he would
give me letters, guides, etc. Meanwhile,
he had sent for natural history book, and
at once turned up 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, accord
ing to Abyssinian custom; on which Har-
ington said Englishmen required none, and
there was general chaff, the King laugh
ing heartily.
he then asked Wnen We proposed START
ing and on our saying at once. said
What, Without lunching or dining with
me?" and promptly asked US for Sunday,
which we, of course, accepted. The con-
versation then turned on coursing. and he
decided TO come out ON Tuesday to see
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
Abyssinian Bible. The pictures and the
binding. being in exact fac smile, eyi-
IDENTIFY excited his wonder, and he remarked
on it several times. DR.. Martin had some
words with him, and the word Magdala
caused him to look serious for few min
utes We told him we had brought no pres
ent, wishing to find out what he would
like. He replied that any kind of new rifle
was his greatest Joy. When told that But
Ter and Whitehouse had kept their elephant