The Raymer enterprise., 1913-10-23

crowned at Entol!o on November . Of the same
year. Ras Mangascia. natural son OF Theodore.
made several attempts to regain power but Meme
llk defeated all efforts to overthrow him lie
conducted his government with hrmness and
sagacty and steadily consolidated his power.
In the first 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 900 francs. In consequence
Of disputes with the Italians and their encroach-
ment on his territory and also Of differences re.
atve to the Uccali treaty Mcnelk raised n
large army and inflicted a serious reverse on the
Italian advance guard at Gmbaago in December,
1895. Tho Negus then made propositions Of
peace, but they were unacceptable to the Italians
as they included a demand for retirement and
also for n modification OF the Uccali treaty.
On February -, 1896 the Abyssnans conccn.
trated at Adowa and were pursued there by the
Italian forces under General Baratieri The ltal-
ian troops advanced against the Abyssnans in
three columns, but the conhguratiOn OF the cOun.
try permitted Menelik to concentrate his men In
attack on the left column and the other two
columns being preyented-partly by the coElg.
uration OF the ground and partly 1t is said by bad
dispositions consequent on want Of unanimity
amongst the generals-from arriving In time to
assist the Italians suffered an overwhelming de
feat with loss Of 1000 men killed and wounded.
This caused the fall OF Signor Crspis govern.
ment. and General Wales was sent with full
power to treat, and an agreement fully recognz.
ing the independence OF AbyssinIa was signed.
Menclik 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 Diasmach who was governor OF the
Wonomicra GallaS and the other. Schoagasch.
married Itas Michael governor Of the Wollo Gala
country.
MenelIk married In 1889 Taitou. the present
empress. She was 4 daughter OF Batul n former
Ras OF Gondar. where the women are famous for
their white skins She herself was n great beau.
~ and very fair. She first married Waldo Ga.
brio one OF King Theodores generals. but he
was killed by Theodore shortly after their mar.
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 was subsequently, imprisoned BY
King John OF Abyssna, She then returned to n
convent for a time but left there to marry the
Kaniazmach Lkargacho 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 McnelIk no children
She has the reputation OF being woman OF
unusual strength OF character and IL said to have
had great influence with her husband She does
not, however. share his Views with regard to tho
encouragement OF foreigners and foreign ways.
but is much more inclined to discourage foreign
Intercourse and foreign civilization and to keep
AbysSinla and It's inhabitants TO the customs and
cruder methods OF the old regime. According
TO report II was she who srened the backbone
OF MeneUk during the varying fortunes Of the
battle OF Adowa, and Il was her advice that In
duccd him 10 hold on until the ammunition Of tho
italian column was exhausted and so enabled
him to surround and decimate the force opposing
him. A clever rctort Is ascrbed to Queen Tatou
when 4 foreign representative was impressing
upon her the advantages OF foreign and more