Evening star., 1923-05-13

with the general decay, he assembled
the great rases about him and pledged
them by most solemn oath to support
as his successor to the throne of
Ethiopia, Lidj Yassou. his comely
grandson. son of his daughter. Wal
zaro Shoa Rogga, and Ras Mikael.
king of the Wallo country. And they.
still wholly dominated by the will Of
the inflexible old chieftain, yielded
to his wishes. 1t is certain. though.
that they looked upon the heir to the
throne with secret disfavor, as he was
obviously weak and vacillatilg
youth.
When Lidj Yassou by easy gradi-
ents found himself upon the throne
Of Ethiopia, the country relapsed
once more into its deep-rutted medie-
valism. The fine roads of the capital
became rock-studded troughs and
quagmires; justice became tickle; the
stern laws Of Menelik were merely
memories; indifference succeeded the
vigilance of old; little remained of
| the simple splendor of the past save
the unalterable beauty Of the billow
| ing mountains and the gentle wales.
Two elements finally began to
| Identify themselves SO closely with
the princes destiny as to render his
| ultimate fate certain. These were
his increasing sensuality and his
| overpowering superstition. He yielded
| irresistibly to the dusky charms Of
his countrywomen; and then, with
| whetted passion. looked for conquests
| among the fairer Arabs and Egyp-
| tians who had passed before his
smoldering gaze. Here, however. his
religion and the traditions Of his peo-
pie raised formidable barriers that
could not be passed unless over
! thrown.
| Like many before him who lacked
| the strength to guide their own des-
TIMES. Lidj Yassou began then to
consult the famous sorceresses of the
land. Chief of these was a wrinkled
daughter of Islam who daily received
tribute of earth and water from far
countries. and whose potent spells
could bind the very Nile. BY her art
many an outstanding warrior had
found himself at nightfall changed
into a hysterical hyena, and it was
common belief that IL she would re-
| lease the spell, more than few
| croaking crows would speak once
more the soft syllables of Ethiopia
| Lidj Yassou wore an amulet charmed
| by her None knows what weird sug-
gestions she whispered in his ear, but
the result was becoming manifest
One simple evidence of the ambition
that grew within him was a silly pas
sion for photographs. In his capital
there was foreigner from the le-
, want, who monopolized the making Of
portraits. His collection numbered
hundreds of portraits Of the prince
in great variety of attitudes and in
many costumes; but the most signifi-
cant Of all was one showing the
prince wearing turban.
* * X
T>HIS simple portrait the plainest
i in all the collection. vividly illu-
mines the princes conduct. BY be-
coming a convert to Islam he believed
that in one act he could become ruler
over half the world, easily impose
his might upon the rest and at the
same time secure to himself all the
delights that are permitted the lax
Mussulmans of the present day.
Proceeding then to the walled city
Of Harrar. he gave himself over
openly to the friends Of Islam.
Harrar now became gathering
place for Somalis and Dankalis. The
Abyssinians. meanwhile, ignored by
their prince. who was now almost
constantly surrounded by Mussul-
mans, smothered their fury in silence.
1t is evidence Of Lidj Yassou's
fatuous egotism that he took it for
granted no serious opposition would
be made against his actions by the
Abyssinians. particularly by natives
Of Shoa. the metropolitan province,
land Of the ruling race. and seat of
the capital, Addis-Abeba-
AS a matter of fact, in Addis-Abeba