The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-18
e QUEEN TAfTU
DECLARES FOR WAR
WITH lTAEH

and their grievances, and to seq
whether his officials are doing their
! duty. Many stories are told of his
adventures in this character, and OF
the swift, picturesque justice that ha
has dealt out to the oppressed and
! the oppressor.
! Once he found a high official merci-
| lesSly beating slave. He snatCehd
away the whip and fiogged the master
until the latter tainted with pain. Next
day he decreed that for a year the
official should be the slave of his slave
The sentence was duly carried out,
At the end of the year Menelik made
inquiries and found that the slave
had not abused his power over his
former tyrant. Thereupon, he set the
slave free and gave him a high posi-
ton in the government service.
Europeans who visit Menelik ara
surprised to find that he knows all
about them and their affairs and mo-
tives before they tell him anything.
That is due to the elaborate system
of espionage which he maintains
throughout his country and at adj
jacent seaports through which trav-
elers have to pass.
An Englishman came to him once
to see for concessions. Menelik knew
what he wanted, but asked courteous
ly:
What is the motive of your visit?
Why have you come so many thou
sands of miles from your country"
Thinking he would be diplomatic.
the Englishman replied that he want
ed to meet a great monarch of whom
he had heard much.
Menelik turned from him colby.
There are already toe many liars
in my country" he said. You must
leave Adds Adeba in an hour and
never return"
But straightforward Europeans are
warmly welcomed by the NeguS Ma
gasti, and treated with courtesy and
kindness. He surprises them by his
knowledge of Western affairs, not on
ly of politics, which he might be ex-
pected to study, but also of science
and general matters.
When Rennell Rodd visited him to
conclude treaty on behalf of Queen
Victoria, Menelik discussed the art Of
medicine and surgery as if he were
doctor and expressed regret that,
among his numerous presents, Mr..
Rodd had not brought an X-ray APP
paratus, Menelik entertained the ems
voy and his companions at lunch, CIV
ing them a real European meal served
on fine china as correctly as at a
London club. But the King fed abb
stemiouslv on raw beef and stale
bread, which are all he ever eats.
Menelik stands about feet 10
inches high, and looks shorter because
of his great breadth of shoulders. He
is dark in face. and his feature are
negroid and decidedly ugly. He has,
however, frank, open, intelligent
countenance, a pleasant smile and
courteous, winning manner. He is only
So and probably has many more years
of kingship before him. He has no
heir, and when he dies Abyssinia, in
the opinion of European travellers, will
almost certainly fall back into chaos.
He is about the only man in the coun-
try who really desires civilization and
progress.
Menelik himself ascribes much of the
success of his government to the wise
counsel of his consort, Queen Ta1tu.
Her sturdy stand against Italy is only
one of many brave, patriotic deeds.
Menelik is her fifth husband, but they
are a very devoted couple, although
she is now over so and weighs nearly
300 pounds.