Evening star., 1937-01-17
Diary of Marine Tells
Of Ethiopian Journey
Diplomatic Jaunt to Adds Ababa in 1903
Finds Natives Eating Living Animals
and Fighting Men in Feather Boas.

gang came running for us. was Just
about to give the order to fire and
thus initiate war with the Danakil
nation when the Danakils dropped
their spears not far from our muzzles.
Taxing instant advantage of my psy-
Geological success, I yelled to the
prodigals to get to their camels quick
ly or 1 would kill the lot Of them. A
minute later our caravan was going
forward in song as If nothing had
happened.
learned then that the desert man
or woman is impulsive. 1 have since
seen two camel women fight like fren-
zied manlacs, trying their best TO Kill
each other over the merest trifie, and
two minutes later the aggressor was
searching the others head for lice. the
African token Of friendship.
WITH all these delays I did not
w get the caravan to the next camp
site and overtake our advance until
we'll after dark that evening. By that
time our comrades were in high state
Of anxiety.
Although during the next three
weeks we saw. no houses, many OF our
camp sites we're visited by natives
who seemed to spring out Of the sands.
Usually the local feudal chief appeared
with few followers II he claimed
to be a governor or ras, we estimated
his importance. based upon appear
ances, and informed him that he was
entitled to certain honors. say. to
salute of three. four. five or more
volleys fred with blank cartridges.
Then he was asked if he would havs
| his honors at once or wait until his
people might be gathered together TO
! witness their lords distinction. The
chief invariably elected to wait.
As We were on a visit to the EN-
peror, we were his guests the moment
the expedition entered the boundaries
of his vast dominions. BY immortal
law a guest Of royalty was entitled 10
durgo, that Is TO say. to food and all
necessities Of the traveller. Shortly after
the chiefs visit long columns Of car
riers would arrive bearing quantities
of foodstuffs. of which there was littls
that was pleasing to the American
palate, though our natives gorged
themselves.
Feeding the camel men was my
severest trial. When q beef or goat
came to camp, I was stormed with ap-
peals to be allowed to kill 1t. The
first time this occurred, I replied:
What the deuce do care who kills
it?" The interpreter explained that
one tribe would not eat anything
killed by another tribe. I thought
had a Solomon wise solution for that
difiiculty when / announced that
would kill each animal myself.
But what are you?" they chorused.
Buddhist" replied for safety. Then
none Of us will eat It," they agreed.
So I had to reconcile myself to tbs
inconvenience OF feeding different ele-
ments on different days: today the
Danakils, tomorrow the Abyssinians.
the next day the Somalis A pair OF
goats were thrown to the six Arabs
the same day more numerous group
had steer.
THOUGH rarely fed meat. these men
consumed enormous quantities.
and seemed to care very little whether
1t was cooked or not No part OF the
animal was wasted except the hoofs.
The first effect OF feeding was intoxl-
eating. The camp became a bedlam ot
food revel At reveille the next morn
ing they were as sluggish as gorged
boas, as II paralyzed BY some toxic
effect of their excess
Reveille was always an annoying ex-
perience, for the natives were resource
full in devices to avoid the early start
scheduled. At first they tried to de-
ceive us by pretending to prepare their
camels for their packs. when suddenly
the animals disappeared. Ordered to
bring them back, they said they could
not find them. Under such circum-
would not have moved that day. a. Is
well recognized in Ethiopia. But they
had 10 reckon with the Marines. each
one of whom was ordered to take four
camel men and to see that each Of
them brought in q camel within half
an hour-with authority to use as
much force as necessary.
When they passed out OF camp
made q dash at each group, ersspin1
the shoulders OF 0 native here and
there to shake him furiously. Their
naked bodies were creased and 1t was
necessary to dig in stoutly to hold on.
In the meantime yelled like an In
dian. The camel men scattered and
quickly returned with the herd. Op-
erations were 30 inspirited that the
dilatory tactics Of the Denakils caused
little ultimate delay.
The native understands no persua-
sion short of force, show Of kindness
being interpreted as O sign OF weak
ness Our men had no general author
ity to be rough. monopolized that
within military discretion" and re-
suits seemed to justify the means en-
ployed, for our caravan was said TO
have had the best spirit and TO have
suffered the least imposition OF any
that had ever journeyed between Dire
Dauoa and Adds Ababa, not excepting
the imperial caravans. On every oc-
casion when there was resistance q
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