Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-10-23


crowned at Entollo on November Of the same
year RSamMangascia natural son of Theodore
made several attempts to regain power, but Meme
Xix defannaAj all efforts TO overthrow him he
conducted his government with hrmness ana
sagacity and steadily consolidated his power
In the first year Of his reign he made treaty
with the Italians, practically placing Abysslnla
under their protectorae, they 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 a serious reverse on the
Italian advance guard at Unbalago in December,
1895. The Negus then made propositions OF
peace but they were unacceptable to the Italians
as they included a demand for retirement ana
also for a modification of the Ucciali treaty.
On February "a 1896, the Abyssinians concen-
trated at Adowa and were pursued there by the
Italian forces under General Baratieri. The ltal-
ian troops advanced against the Abyssinians in
three columns, but the contiguration OF the coun-
try permitted Menelik to concentrate his men III
an attack on the left column, and the other two
columns being overwhelmingly by the contig'
uration OF the ground and partly 1t is said by bad
dispositions consequent on a want of Unanimlty
amongst the generas-from arriving in time to
assist the Italians suffered overwhelming de-
feat with loss OF 900 men killed and wounded.
This caused the fall Of Signor Crispis govern
Inent. and General Wales sent with full
power TO treat, and an agreement fully recogniz-
ing the independence of Abyssinia signed.
MeneIik had three concubnes, 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
Wonomigra Galas, and the other, Schoagasch
married Ras Michael governor Of the Woo Gala
country.
Menelik married in 1888 Taltou, the present
empress She was daughter of Batu 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
brel, one of King Theodore's generals, but he
was killed by Theodore shortly after their
riage. Soon after King Theodores death she
took for her second husband Dedjaz Tekla Geor-
gis, whom she divorced. She was then married
for the third time to the governor of one of the
provinces who subsequently imprisoned by
King John of Abyssinia. She then returned to a
convent for a time but left there to marry the
kanjaZmach Likargacho. Then Menek fell In
love with her and In 1888 all obstacles having
been removed, she made him her fifth husband
Queen Tatou has borne Menelik no children.
She has the reputation of being a 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
encouragement of foreigners and foreign ways.
but is much more inclined to discourage foreign
intercourse and foreign civilization and to keep
Abyssina and its inhabitants to the customs and
cruder methods OF the old regime According
TO report It she who stirened the backbone
of Menelik during the varying fortunes Of the
battle OF Adowa, and II was her advice that In.
duced him to hold on until the ammunition of the
Italian column exhausted and enabled
him 10 surround and declmate the force opposing
him. A clever retort Is asctbed to Queen Taltou
when foreign representative impressing
upon her the advantages OF foreign and more