The evening times., 1900-03-20
A VISIT TO MENELEK.
How Party OF English Hunters
Were Entertained.

PROM lut i-ouutu >i4uulro-I
Capt Powell Cotton sends the following
notes OF a visit which he recently paid to
the Emperor Menelek:
Left the British Agency compound $50
and reached the outer stOckade of the
Jibbee tpalacel just before 4 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. II. 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 10 get them along;
an Abyssinian interpreter, and Or.
Mart-n. taken as a child from Magdala
after the siege. now an 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.
Al the gate OF the last enclosure We dis
mounted, took OF our coats. and shiyer-
ed. 10 being a cloudy. windy day after
pouring night. Only for q minute how
ever, for His Majesty has the name Of
great punctuality. 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 Join
ing it, approached by two staiTCases. U0
one Of these we filed. At the back OF the
room, some twenty feet square, was a dais.
ten feet long. and raised some four feet
from the ground, and covered. as was the
floor 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 Cush-
ions, was Meaelek. Two similar cushions
h.. n
twenty attendants stood about mostly
in group, by door on his right.
We were each introduced in turn: M
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: a short. greyish beard
and whiskers; a face that is full OF
strength and shrewdness, quick in alter
ing expression, a pleasant smile and a
hearty laugh. After few words he asked
us 10 be seated. where we we're on cane
chairs, In circle in front Of him. Then
as he listened TO the interpreter. his eyes
moved from one 70 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
fine rOce cut diamond stud in the left ear:
a plain gypsy ring on the little finger OF
the right hand: white trousers. a coat Of
green and yellow 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 I
asked leave to go north for ibex. The in
terpreter didn't know the name for ibeX
but described il; 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 and looked hard at me when
the Interpreter said | was going alone He
then smiled, and said could go ard that I
should certainly bag them, and he would
give me letters, guides, etc Meanwhile,
he hid 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 chafFngly
asked who wOIld be his guarantee, accord
ing to Abyssinian custom; on which Har-
ingtOn said Englishmen required none, and
there was general chaf, the King iaugh-
ing heartily.
He then asked when 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 coursin~ and he
decided TO come out on Tuesday to see
course. While this was going on he was
turning over the leaves OF book sent him
by Lady Meux, a reproduction Of an old
Abyssinian Bible. The pictures and the
binding being in exact fac similie, 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
Ike. He replied that any kind of ncw rife
was his greatest Joy. When told that But
Ter and Whitehouse had kept their elephant