The Red Cloud chief., 1913-10-23

crowned at Entollo on November Of the same
year. Ras Mangasca, q natural son of Theodore.
made several attempts to regain power. but Meme
lik defeated all efforts to overthrow him. He
conducted his government with frmness and
sagacity and steadily consolidated his power.
In the hrst year Of his reign he made treaty
with the Italians. practically placing Abyssinia
under their protectorate they on their part agree.
ing to lend him 100000 francs. In consequence
OF disputes with tho Italians and their encroach.
ment on his territory and also OF differences re-
lativs to the Ucciali treaty Menelk raised a
large army and indicted . serious reverse on the
Italian advance guard at Umbaago in December
1885, The Negus then made propositions OF
peace. but they were unacceptable to the Italians
% they included demand for retirement and
also Tor modification Of the Ucciali treaty
On February ~. 1885, the Abyssinians conceu.
trsted at Adowa and were pursued there by the
Italian forces under General Baratieri. The Ital.
!an troops advanced against the Abyssnans In
Snree columns but the confguration Of the coun.
w permitted Menelik to concentrate his men in
IN sttack on the left column and the other two
columns being prevented-partly by the confg.
uration OF the ground and partly It Is said by bad
onposiuons consequent on a want Of unanimity
amongst tho senerals-from arriving in time to
assist the Italians suffered an overwhelming de.
feat with a loss of 1000 men killed and wounded
THIS caused the fall OF Signor Crispi's govern.
ment and General Wales was sent with full
power to treat and an agreement fully recogniz-
Ing the independence of Abyssinia was signed.
Aenehk had three concubines. by whom he had
one son. who died at the age Of thirteen, and
ew0 daughters Ono OF them, Zeodita Judith)
married Dl1asmach who was governor OF the
Wonomigra Gallas. and the other Schoag asch
married Ras Michael. governor of the Wollo Gala
country
MeneNk married In 1883 Taitou the present
empress She was daughter OF Batul 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. ono Of King Theodore's generals, but ne
was killed by Theodore shortly after their mar
rage Soon after King Theodores death she
took for her second husband Dedjaz Tekla Geor
&is. whom she divorced She was then married
Tor tho third time to the governor Of one OF the
provinces. who was subsequently imprisoned by
King John OF Abyssinia. She then returned to a
convent for time but left there to marry the
kanjasmach LkargHcho. Then Menelk fell In
love with her. and in 1883, all obstacles having
been removed. she made him her NTH husband
queen Taitou has borne Menelik no children
She has the reputation Of being a woman of
unusual strength OF character and ia said to have
had great influence with her husband She does
NOT, however. share his views with regard to the
encouragement OF foreigners and foreign ways.
but 10 much more inclined to discourage foreign
intercourse and foreign civilization and to keep
AOyssinia and Its Inhabitants to the customs and
cruder methods of the old regime According
10 report II was she who stifened the backbone
OF Menehk during the varying fortunes OF the
nattle OF Adowa, and II was her advice that In.
duced him to hold on until the ammunition of the
tahan column was exhausted and so enabled
MN TO surround and decimate the force opposing
nim' clever retort Is ascribed to Queen Taitou
when a foreign representative was impressine
upon ner the advantages Of foreign and more