Evening star., 1937-01-24

| and every one killed except the two
| boys, who were taken to the Kings
camp. 1t was finally decreed that
they should die. but it occurred to the
young crown prince that they might
make amusing toys, and he got the
sentence reprieved.
The young Greeks, quite alive to
their situation, became as busy as
| Shahrazed with King Shahryar and
detailed the experiences of their trav-
els. They remained at the barbaric
| court and dominated the mind of the
prince. He became Christian. When
| the Greeks had grown to manhood
they obtained their release, proceeded
northWard to civilization, and at
Alexandria Frumentius was made a
patriarch and returned to Ethiopia
to convert the whole nation. Chris
tianity f1ourished until the armies OF
Mohammed conquered all the low
lands, but the Christians were able to
fight them of in the highlands of
Shoa, which Islam was never able to
reach. Thus that part of Abyssinia in
which Adds Ababa is located has al
ways been Christian oasis in desert
OF Islam1sm, and so it has been cut off
from the remainder of the world DUR
ing modern times, retaining the GUS
toms of the people of Sheba's times.
The Emperor visited our camp, ac-
companied by vast throng of fol-
lowers. A rug we had brought from
Beyrout was spread in front of my
tent, where place was made for the
royal visitor to sit under a large por-
trait Of President Roosevelt while the
Marines paraded. Then the Emperor
inspected the tents and each Marines
equipment, laid out in rigid uniformity.
I saw that something did not please
his majesty. At last, it was uni
formity Jared upon his nerves. He
referred to the greater individuality
displayed by his own warriors, no two
of whom did the same thing at the
same time.
r EFRESHMENTS were served-the
cases of champagne we had
DAooSAlO uSlOoc Vic dCSClb dIlu SuCIl
delicacies as macaroons and lady,
fingers. The few wine glasses we had
were naturally assigned to royal use.
while the hosts were given rougher, if
larger, water tumblers. Again royalty
was not pleased and called for the
tumblers as the fragile glasses were
thrust aside. And so Solomon's "sec-
cc1f, 10 Jol
the courtiers of his dominions. The
Emperor and his favorite governors
and raseS soaked ladyfingers in tum-
blerfuls of champagne for only a few
minutes, for our supply was soon ex-
hausted by such Unexpectedly hearty
appreciation. The desert was soon as
if it had been visited by the eighteenth
amendment.
Now the Emperor would inspect
more closely our firearms. A corporal
brought forth the service rifle and pro-
ceeded to show his majesty how car
tridges were loaded and extracted.
But Menelik, with kingly impatience,
snatched the loaded weapon from the
corporal and pulled the trigger. I
looked with horror, expecting to see
some one in the surrounding multitude
fall. Nothing happened, for by
happy chance the bullet had gone high.
I then hastened to offer his majesty
blank cartridges, and he begged few
with which to try the courage Of some
of his officers. He wanted to see If
they would dodge when he shot at
them, he said.
In due season the American party
was invited to dine with the King.
For officers and diplomatic corps
table was spread with silver service
beside the throne, where the Emperor
sat, surrounded by native favorites.
In front of him was built up a pillar
of bread consisting of thin layers Oike
the American griddle cake) about IL
inches in diameter. This is the Or
thodox Abyssinian manner of making
a plate. The diner makes cavity in
the top of the pillar by denting it with
his fist. Courses are served in the
cavity, and food is taken by the fingers.
Hunks of bread are broken from the
pillar.
A place was arranged for our troops
on the opposite side of the throne. At
the same time the Emperor entertained
several thousands Of his army. After
we had taken our seats, doors were
opened, and generals passed in and
took seats on the ground around tables
arranged nearest the throne. Then
chiefs of thousands entered and took
places at the next tables, followed by
chiefs of hundreds and of tens, and
finally the soldiers. Attendants brought
in enormous portions of meat and
bread and served liquor that they
dipped from large, bathtub-like con-
tainers made of animal skins stretched
upon poles. For feasts like this over
q hundred cattle are required. Levies
are made from the surrounding coun-
try, one form of taxation.
THE market place at Addis-Ababa
= Is not the least Of its interesting
sights. Conventional money has lit
tie acceptability. We had heard that
the Maria Theresa dollar Of 1850 was
current and so carried two camel
loads Of them, but were unable to
spend them. T1P real currency OF