The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1917-03-15

W n sloping knoll. From afar in the
iistance q faint murmur suddenly
rose. The noise increased rapidly I'M
ii 1t seemed almost like the frenzied
'houting Of terror-stricken persons.
The Americans, not knowing what to
Expect, ~dismounted. This nov bad
scarcely been accomplished when over
he crest Of the hill appeared a tum-
Hing, writhlng mass of balloons and
monkeys, charging in wild disorder di-
Getty toward the party. The plunging
lerd numbered thousands in strength,
he creatures all in q seemingly insane
state Of agitation. Volley after volley
vas fired into the animal army, which,
alarmed at the fusillade, suddenly
Sweryed sharply to the right, and
passed the caravan at close range.
throughout the route the territory
If dozens Of tribes were traversed, but
many of these were under the rulership
If King Menelik and the reception
given the travellers was Of the most
)ountiful the country could offer. They
we're fetCd and dined on the fat Of the
and, and in many places were given
)ne of the palaces Of the village in
which to pass the night. At times,
Ong before q settlement was reached.
they would be met by thousands of the
natives. In their naked state they
1anced about them %jubilantly, and with
weird music and shouting escorted the
party into the precincts Of the city.
1.-THE habits of King Menelik's sub
jects are most peculiar, and their va
rious customs as displayed to us would
Gil a book. Many Of them were of tall,
sturdy physique, their height enhanced
by their thick mop Of coarse hair, Of
times half a foot in length, which stood
perpendicular on their heads. For
every person killed by them the men
wear q feather in their hair, and eX-
tremely proud are those who flaunt a
goodly number of this insignia.
"In the journey over the arid wastes
many sand storms were encountered.
These tempests sweep up with appal-
ling ~suddenness, and the tiny particles
make travel impossible. The approach
Of such a blast is always presaged
hours, and even days, before the gale
bursts, by the action Of the camelS, who
become restless, and snort repeatedly.
Long before sweeping sand clouds ap-
pear on the horizon these intelligent
creatures throw themselves upon the
ground and bury their noses in the soft
soil.
In Adds Abeba.
ARRIVING at the capital, the recep-
ton of King Menelik's subjects was
most v%oclferous. ThrOngs Of the pOpu-
lace swooped down upon the cavalcade
and so intermingled with them as to
make any semblance of order impos-
Sible. AS the American detachment
entered the city a crude band Of Afri-
can instruments struck up "The Star
Spangled Banner" King Menelik him
self received the wanderers and every
possible hospitality was lavished upon
them, and they were given the freedom
Of the city and lodged in close proX-
unity to the palace-a structure much
like q barn in this country.
"Addis Abeba, the capital city, has
many thousand inhabitants. The houses
were mostly crude matted structures
Of but a few feet in height. A wonder
full zoo was kept by the king, and in
this We're captive specimens Of all the
beasts of the jungle. The donkeys have
been interbred so much that their stat
ure has become stunted and many
were scarcely more than a foot high,
yet with large heads and huge ears
resembling in many ways a strange
species Of rabbit.
"The Americans were anxious to get
hold Of several of the animals to trans
port out of curiosity, but there are
strict rules guarding against taking the
creatures from the country.
1.-TWO weeks were spent at the mon
nrcl's stronghold before the return trip
IN..,s cUmrlHctd. Prior to the depar-
ture, King Mcnelik shook hands with
all members Of the expedition and pre-
sented each with q gold medal as a
souvenir. On one side Of the ornament
was his own profile and on the other
two lions, under which were inscribed
the words, Lion Among Lions, King
Among Kings Besides concluding q
successful treaty with the king, the ex-
petition brought out many relics and
curios for the Smithsonian institution"