Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-26

chiefs, well mounted upon Arab horses or
zebra-like mules, and richly caparisoned
with gold and silver-plated bucklers silks
and satins. rode up and down in front Of
these lines and with long lances from
which foated the national colors beat the
too eager ones back into their places Be
fore such reviewing body and amid the
greatest conceivable din of voices trum-
pets and tomtoms, our men rode with ex-
cellent discipline for an hour and a half
before the Guebi or imperial palace was
reached. There band of shawn players
heralded the missions coming with weird
music, which" says Commissioner Skim
ner, had not changed from the fall Of
Jericho"
In the Throne Room.
At the Guebi the native escort fell back
the American escort dismounted, and fol-
lowing the commission through a series OF
courtyards. paused to receive a salue from
| company of 200 native artilleryInen under
the command of a European officer, and q
further salvo of twenty-one guns in honor
of the United States.
The entire mission then entered thu
Aderach. an audience chamber of caths-
dral-like proportions and FORM ct the far
end of which the emperor sat upon his
throne his feet doubled under him nearly
buried In cushions. He was surrounded by
his more important advisers representing
the administrative departments. judiciary,
army and church. The hall was packed
with distinguished warriors in their saw
age costumes and heavily armed Back
of two rows of pillars supporting the roof
of the great hall were massed several
thousands of the leading people of Adds
Ababa, all In holiday regalia,
"Our reception was cordial but formal"
says Commissioner Skinner. II lasted q
half hour. when the mission left the PAL
ace for compound belonging TO the Raa
Waldo Gorgis. one of the court dignitaries
which had been assigned TO it, Here camp
was established for our men. Commissions
Skinner occupying the house, "a largo
structure of native architecture consist
ing of two huge rooms"
Nine days were spent at the capitai
There were daily conferences with the en-
peror and his foreign advisers Courtesiea
were exchanged also with the heads of tho
foreign legations at Addis-Ababa and ths
officers of the court. Mr. Skinner also viz
tied commercial houses and gathered all
available data which might be of interest
to Americans.
The Official Farewell.
On Christmas eve the emperor visited our
camp and sitting in Captain Thorpe's tent
viewed with great interest a drill through
which the marines were eut The old mon
arch asked the captain many questions
concerning the organization and armament
of our fighting forces.
The treaty was signed and a farewell au-
dience granted two days after Christmas.
On the same day two lions. a pair Of eie-
plant tusks and an autograph letter were
given to Mr.. Skinner for delivery to the
President the officers of the commission
We're decorated with the Star of Ethiopia
and the enlisted men with the "Menelek
Medal" Representa- tives of every branch
of the Ethiopian government escorted the
mission to the outskirts OF Addis-Ababa
The caravan Immediately set out for thu
coast, reaching Djibouu without untoward
incidents of any kind.
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS,