The San Francisco call., 1904-02-22

In addition Mr.. Skinner prevailed
upon King Menelik to accept an invi-
tation for his country to participate
in the st. Louis exposition and pre-
bminary arrangements for a compre-
hensive exhibit at st. Louis have been
made. The King will send during the
coming summer a commission of dis
tinguished and representative men
who viii have charge of the exhibit.
Mr.. Skinner, after narrating these
facts, says:
Acting on the part of the Interior
Department I have secured a collec-
ton of the seeds of the more impor-
tant crops peculiar to Ethiopia, a
number of which may be found avail
able in the exploitation of the uncul-
tivated western lands of the United
States, now being made available by
the extension of our irrigation system.
ABYSSINIA'S RESOURCES.
Il have also in hand material for a
report on the agricultural resources of
Abyssinia- The Agricultural Depart
ment particularly desired to secure a
collection of wild coffee seeds for ex-
penmental purposes. These could not
be obtained during my visit, but have
been ordered and ultimately Will be
forwarded. Such a collection could be
found only in Kaffa, a remote province,
access to which involves a long and ex-
pensive journey. The experts of the
Agricultural Department have a theory
that the degeneration of the modern
coffee plant is due TO the fact that cof-
fee culture has been based on seed orig
inally imported from Arabia, and that
by getting back to the wild coffee
plant, the habitat of which is in the
province of Kana, a new variety may
be created, the value of which will be
incalculable.
My endeavor to secure a pair OF
zebras for breeding purposes was
also In vain. These animals are exceed
ingly rare and difficult to capture alive.
1 have left instructions, however, in re-
gard to this matter, and trust to be
able TO supply two of these animals
some time in the future.
The presence of the mission in Eth
iopia has had the effect of turning her
attention toward the United States as
a probable source of supply for many
manufactured articles for which an ex-
panding market is certain to re-
suit upon the completion of the rail-
way, and as a probable consuming
market for such product as may be
available for export
RECEPTION BY MENELIK.
Mr.. Skinner records in detail his ex-
pedition to Abyssinia from the time he
left New York on October UP to the
He calls attention to the prompt facil-
tiles which the French Government Of
fered for the progress of the expedi-
ton across French territory. Mr.. Skin
ner gives this picturesque description
of his reception by the Emperor:
Two hours after camping. accom-
panied by N. Chefnux Counselor of
State) the mission set out for the
Aderach. or seat of government, ac-
companied by an Ethiopian escort Of
5000 men under command of a dis
tinguished general. Although our re-
ceptiOn at Harrar had not been devoid
Of military pomp, We were astonished
and our appreciation Of the picturesque
gratifed by this glimpse of Ethiopian
troops upon a ceremonial occasion. Ar
rayed in gorgeous silks and satins, with
lion and leopard skin mantles, gold and
silver plated buckles. carrying lances
from which fioated the national colors.
mounted upon spirited horses. they gall
loped into formation. the order of which
was an apparent disorder, a scene as
indescribable as it was memorable. A
band of shaw-players heralded our
coming with weird music, which has
not been changed since the fall of Jeri-
cho.
AT the palace Of Guehi, our escort
fell back and the mission. always ac-
companied by the marines and blue
jackets. proceeded through a series OF
courtyards and after receiving a salute
from a company of 200 native artillery
men under the command of an Euro
pean officer and a further salute of
guns in honor of the United
States, we entered the Aderach. an
audience chamber of cathedral-like
The Emperor sat upon
his throne, surrounded by his more i'm
portant advisers, representing the ad-
department, the judiciary,
the army and the church. Back of the
two rows of pillars supporting the roof
were massed several thousand of the
leading people of the addisababa, all
in holiday regalia. Our reception was
cordial but formal
NINE DAYS CONFERENCE.
For nine days Mr.. Skinner was in
with the Emperor and his
chiefs Of staff. At the farewell audi
ence the Emperor received the entire
expedition and bestowed decorations
upon all the officers of the expedition,
and presented medals to the marines.
To Mr.. Skinner the Emperor gave two
young lions and a pair of elephant
tusks. together with a personal letter
of friendship and good will addressed
to the President, which he gave as tes-
timonials of his friendship and good
v,-sI7 n the limited States Of +na ~