The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-10-08


King MenHlek OF AByssinia is to
have a mint The machinery tor the
plant amounting to 45J tons. was
manufactured in Vienna. and was
shipped 10 Alden. on the Red sea, aarly
in the summer Thence il was sent
to Dibouti, ON the French East Afri.
can coast, and from there it will be
taken by rail into the interior to New
F-arrar. the end OF the line. and con.
vayed by camel caravan TO Adds
Ababa, the capital OF AByssinia. The
caravan Journey win occupy about a
Imonth.
4 Hitherto MeneIet has used a mixed
currency, consisting OF French. TtaE
ian, German and English coins. He
made an attempt to establish an in.
dependent currency by having a lin.
lted amount of silver coins minteG in
France This proved satisfactory
and now the Negus is branching out
on a larger scale. For some time he
has been putting aside both silver and
gold bullion with a view 10 conducting
a mint Of his own. II IS said Meme.
lex now has on hand more than 10.
600 pounds Of gold bullion and even
larger amount OF silver bullion.
Msnelek II. King Of Abyssinia and
Emperor of Ethiopia is one Of the
MOST interesting and striking hgures
among the crowned heads. He has
realised his realm from collection OF
semi-harharous tribes TO the position
of a powerful compact monarchy. we'll
on the way toward civilization. He
claims descent from the son Of King
Solomon and the Queen Of sheba, and
.is a Christian. He is the son OF a
besgar woman, who became one Of
the wives of the King Of Choa, the
southern portion % Abyssinia. His
royal father favored him on account
Of his resemblance 20 himself and
chose him az his successor In 1850
King I0hanness, Emperor Of Ethiopia,
died and Msneiek claimed the throne.
BE defeated All his rivals and since
1880 has ruled over a united country.
He first came prominently before
the rest Of the world when he ami
hilated strong Italian army In the
terrific battle Of Adua. For weeks o.
vas thought that not an Italian out OF
a force Of nearly 1900 had escaped.
Since that time an European nations
have been eager % claim the friend
ship Of tho warllke African monarch.
He has a regular army Of 10000 men.
an armed with modern rifles He can
put into the field az a few days notice
300 600 trained troops Infantry cav
airy and artillery the latter equipped
with nifty rapld-hrng cannon. Meme.
iek has a personal bodyguard Of TO-.
900 picked men When they salute
their cOmmanderin-chief. they FIRE
guns loaded with bullets lnsteai Of
blank cartridges.
Menelek. fierce warrior that he is
does not care FOR clashes with other
nations He is not Dnbltious for ex.
tending bis dominions. and his only
aim In this respect IA 10 protect his
own frontier In fact, hls grandson.
who will succeed him. Is named Waus-
sen segged-'T pray for my from
tiers" The Negus shines as bril-
Iiantly In peace a. IN war His bitter
attacks on brigandage by means OF
his ierocious police have wiped out all
the bandits In that part Of Africa. He
himself sits on the supreme court OF
the country two days IN the week, In |
order 20 see that complete Justice is |
done his subjects. He is a close stu.
dent Of world politics. and asks more |
questions Of the visitors TO his court |
than did III Hung Chang. He Is more
friendly toward France and Russia
than 10 the Triple Alliance. OF which
Italy Is a member He takes keen
interest 10 all the arts OF peace. and
II Is for the promotion OF Industrial
prosperity that he proposes 20 estab.
lish a mint In his domains.