Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-01-26
MelelGk a Source Of
British Apprehens on

The cable announces that King
Menelek of Abyssiania will not visit
the French Exposition, as he had in
tended. And only few days before
the cable supplied the explanation OF
this change in the royal plans in the
shape of a statement that Menelek was
preparing to march on the Soudansas
soon as the Sirdar had left for South
Africa. The ambitions and character
istics Of Menelek make this more than
probable. He believes himself to be
the direct descendant of Solomon by
the Queen of Sheba, alleged in Abysin.
MAN traditions to have come from the
land then known as Ethiopia, name
still applied to 1t by its inhabitants
The name Abyssini is IN aprellation
bestowed by the Arabs. 1t means mix
ture," referring to the mixed character
of the inhabitants of that great coun-
try. Menelek is absolute monarch OF
all the wide domain, with its 1000, OOC
or 100000 inhabitants. 1t is divided
into three large provinces-Tigre on
the north, Amhara on the south and
Shoa on the southeast. Ethiopic Is
the language of the first, Amharic is
spoken in the two other provinces.
The life and customs OF the Abys-
sinians are simple to primitiveness, yet
they are an intelligent people. capable
of high civilization. The army of
Menelek numbers some 100000, for
midable force, trained as they are and
supplied with modern weapons. The
Italians had a little experience with
them which they will remember for
many years to come, for the troops of
Menelek go into battle to fight with
| rifles If they can, with saber and shield
when they have a chance. In their
last battle with the Italians. who num-
bered 2l,000. but 1000 escaped. Some
5000 were taken prisoners aud the rest
were killed outright. They under
stand the value of discipline, but they
couple with the order of modern troops
the fierceness of the savage aud will
rush to kill, although wounded to the
death themselves.
The discipline enforced even upon
the chiefs is of the severcsS If Meme.
lex is not pleased with the acts of one
of his chiefs he sends for tho man, and
with is own ,oyal hlr,G lays on lus,i
ly wih |. stick. The urhrarch doCs Il
thoroughly IL. firmly, for the good of
the kingdom. These chiefs are respon-
sible to him personally for their men
and for the taxes required. Menelek
is not easily deceived, for he goes about
like modern Haroun al Raschid to
see that all is well in his capital Ads
Adaba. He even descends to the royal
kitchen.
Not detail escapes him, and in his
eagerness to see and learn everything
he can snatch but three of four hours
a night for sleep. He can fix his own
watch IL 1t gets out of order and han
die Calling gun with the best Of his
men. At the same time he will take
part in their dangerous sport of hurl-
ing javelins at one another while rid
ing at full speed, and fears neither man
nor beast. Bat there ARE two persons
who exert no small influence upon hiia,
and these are his clever wife, T-hal-itu,
and his cousin and the gommander-in-
Chief Of his armies, Ras Makonnen
both Of whom worked hard for the in.
PRODUCTION of the latest modern meth
DDS into Abyssinia.
Such is the country and the people
which may precipitate all its powe.
upon the British soudan to crafty the
ambition of Menelek and Ras Makon-
men. Encouraged by Russia. 1t would
take very little to induce MenelelS To
march the short distance to Khartoum
and undo at one stroke all Of the work
so brilliantly performed by Eitcl ener
New York Herald