The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-10-31

crowned at Entollo on November of the same
year Ras Mangascia, a natural son of Theodore,
made several attempts to regain power, but Meme
Ii; defeated all efforts to overthrow him. He
conducted his government with f1rmness and
sagacity and steadily consolidated his power
In the first year of his reign he made treaty
with the Italians practically placing Abyssnia
under their protectorate they on their part agree
ing to lend him 100000 francs. In consequence
of disputes with the Italians and their encroach-
ment on his territory and also of differences re-
lative to the Ucciali treaty Menelik raised
large army and inflicted serious reverse on the
italian advance guard at Umbalago in December,
1895. The Negus then made propositions of
peace but they were unacceptable to the Italians
as they included demand for retirement and
also for modification of the Uccia treaty.
On February "a 1896 the Abyssinians concen-
trated at Adowa and were pursued there by the
Italian forces under General Baratieri The Ital
ian troops advanced against the Ahyssinians in
three columns but the confguration of the coun-
try permitted Menelik to concentrate his men in
an attack on the left column and the other two
columns being prevented-partly by the conhg-
uraton Of the ground and partly it is said by bad
dispositions consequent on want of unantmity
amongst the generals-from arriving in time to
assist the Italians suffered overwhelming de-
feat with loss of 1000 men killed and wounded
This caused the fall Of Signor Crispis govern
ment and General Wales was sent with full
power to treat, and an agreement fully recogniz
ing the independence of Abyssinia was signed.
Menelik had three concubines, by whom he had
one son. who died at the age of thirteen, and
two daughters. One of them, Zeodita (Judith)
married a Dijasmach who governor of the
Wonomgra Gallas, and the other Schoagasch,
married Ras Michael governor of the Wollo Gala
country.
Menelik married in 1883 Taitou the present
empress She was daughter of Batul a former
Ras of Gondar, where the women are famous for
their white skins. She herself was a great beau
ty and very fair. She first married Waldo Ga
briel, one Of King Theodore's generals, but he
was killed by Theodore shortly after their mar
riage Soon after King Theodore's death she
took for her second husband Dedjaz Tekla Geor-
for the third time to the governor of one of the
provinces who was subsequently imprisoned by
King John of Abyssinia. She then returned to
convent for a time but left there to marry the
Kaniazmach Likargacho Then Menelik fell in
love with her, and in 1883 all obstacles having
been removed she made him her fifth husband.
Queen Taitou has borne Menelik no children
She has the reputation of being a woman of
unusual strength of character and is said to have
had great influence with her husband. She does
not however share his views with regard to the
announcement of foreigners and foreign ways,
but is much more inclined to discourage foreign
intercourse and foreign civilization and to keep
Abyssinia and its inhabitants to the customs and
cruder methods of the old regime. According
to report it was she who stiffened the backbone
of Menelik during the varying fortunes of the
battle of Adowa and it was her advice that in
duced him to hold on until the ammunition of the
Italian column was exhausted and so enabled
him to surround and decimate the force opposing
him clever retort is ascribed to Queen Taitou
when foreign representative was impressing
upon her the advantages OF foreign and more