Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-04
VISIT TO MEN ELK
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE RE-
CENT SKINNER EXPEDITION.
Reception by the Emperor - Foreign
Objection to the Salute Given to
the American Party.


commanded the naval escort which accom-
panied Consul General Skinner on his dip
lomatic expedition to Abyssinia, just made
public at the Navy Department, details &C
counts of several interesting incidents not
heretofore published. 1t is shown that the
six seamen accompanying the expedition
were fitted out at Dijibouti with khaki uni
forms and helmets, decided innovation for
the jackies, the change in headgear being
necessary to avoid the danger of sunstroke.
1t also was new experience to the ma
rines and sailormen to ride mules. Few of
the men knew how to ride, and, as a rule.
they experienced great difficulty In mount
ing the animals which were not accus-
toned to white men. They also SHE'D at
the strange uniform. A number of the men
were thrown, but, fortunately, all escaped
ipjury beyond a Shaking>up.
At one stage of the journey to the interior
the expedition was met by messenger,
who inquired If the mission was of private
or national character. The commissioner,
the report states, had been warned at d.
reaoua that some of the foreign representa-
tives were trying to make it appear that the
mission was private undertaking, In
order to defeat its object.
RaS Makonan with about 600 native
troops, including many Chiefs met the expe
dition outside the city walls of Harar.
While far from military in their move
ments the native troops in their rich and
vari-colOred costumes, presented a stirring
spectacle. The soldierly bearing and the
precision with which they marched placed
the marines in striking contrast to the SOL
diers of Ras Makonan. The only incident
of interest on the return march from Harar
to Dire Daoua was the shaking up which
Capt. ThorpS, in command of the marine
tachment, received by being thrown from
his mule. This mtshap had the effect of
placing him on the sick list for a couple of
days. 1t was on this trip that they learned
how little dependence could be placed in the
native camel men, but the experience in
that respect 1t is stated, is the same that
all travellers in Abyssinia have to contend
with
AS the capital was approached natives,
headed by local chief, came into camp at
every hating place. bringing contributions,
by the express order of the emperor"
These consisted of bread butter milk eggs
honey. native wine, firewood grain for
the animals chickens, lambs, goats and oc-
casionally big streer. These supplies were
often IN excess of the demands of the ex-
petition, and according to the custom of
the country, the native servants bearing
these gifts, report says, received liberal graz
tuities.
Corporal Wood was the victim of a pois-
onous spider and for time his condition
was regarded as alarming. and he was in
capacitated for duty for two weeks This
was the only serious case of illness during
the trip.
Speaking of the 5000 Abyssinnian
troops that escorted the expedition to
the palace, Lieutenant Hussey says that
most of the men were on foot but that the
chiefs had fine mounts, beautifully capari-
soned. There was no uniformity of dress,
regularity of movement, or special position
for carrying arms, which were of all kinds
generally of velvet silk satin, leopard and
lion skin shoulder capes, fantastic head
gears, some of which were fringe of lions
name and richly decorated shields, with
they advanced toward the city, made a
unique and striking spectacle.
The Emperor
The emperor, when he received the party
was surrounded by his leading chiefs, whom
Lieutenant Hussey describes as a bright,
intelligent looking group of men, all rightly
cad. THE emperor" he says, sis large,
powerfully built man of about sixty, with
bright, pleasant eye and kindly face, al
though much disfgured by smallpox. He
Is still alert and active and impresses one
as being man of great force and ability in
his country. His clothes-the style of
dress peculiar to Abyssinia-were of silk:
he a 80 wore a dark satin caps trimmed with
gold, and had large ear rings, and around
his head white cloth tightly drawn and
knotted behind
The Presentation.
After stating the object of the expedition.
Mr.. Skinner presented the silver plate on
which was engraved the invitation to visit
the ST. Louis exposition. The emperor i'm
pressed the Americans ruler of ability.
There were thousand or more natives
present and the report says good order and
dignity which characterized the whole af-
fair was particularly striking. 1t is noted
that some of the foreign representatives ex-
pressed objection to the firing of twenty-one
guns in honor of the Americans when they
haiy1 tod a4 no pJpa %IrA
Icing as many as they themselves had re-
ceived. but 1t is reported that the emperor
replied that he considered he had a right
in his own capital to give as many guns
as he considered he had a desire to, and
being in doubt to the proper number
gave the national salute to the expedition
as whole. Although offered the palace of
an Abyssinian chief at the capital, Lieu
tenant Hussey, for the sake of better disci-
pline and to have some places distinctly
American to impress their nationality upon
the Abyssinians, Camp Roosevelt was es-
tab.ished at convenient open space in the
enclosure in front of the building used as
headquarters for the commission. After a
b-nquet given by the emperor the COM
mission had an opportunity to witness a
weekly feast given to the Abys,inian SOL
diers.
When the emperor visited the American
camp, and this was done contrary to GUS
TOM because of his desire, as he stated in
toasting the President, to emphasize his
interest In the great republic with which
ETHIOPIA was about to establish diplomatic
negotiations he was saluted with twenty
one guns, and for his benefit the marines
and seamen were put through course of
drills. Their movements, Lieut.. Hussey re-
ports, brought CALCULATIONS of surprise from
the emperor.
Return From the Capital.
Upon reaching Shola4 on the return from
the capital, the young lions escaped from
their cage. Lieut. Hussey mended the
cages with his own hands and found the
animals at the last camp. six miles back,
where their keepers had taken them. Find
ing that they were too heavy for one cage,
two were prepared. All went well with the
lions until about the middle of the journey,
when they became ILL., due, probably, it Is
stated, to the vicissitudes of travelling.
A peculiar situation was afforded in at
tempting to supply the native attendants
employed on the return trip with fresh
food The Somals, Lieut.. Hussey remarks
would not eat meat killed by an Abyssinian,
and vice versa, and neither would touch
meat killed by an American. Thus they
were in predicament. Lieut. Hussey COM
n,ends the officers, and says the twenty four
enlisted men took an important part In the
expedition. adapting themselves to the
changed conditions and conducting them.