KING JOHN OF ETHIOPIA.
ONLY those to whom the natives of every land on the far side of the Red Sea are merely " blacks " will fail to recognise in King John of Ethiopia, whose game of ambition our Abyssinian Expedition helped to play, a striking and picturesque personage. As Kassa, Prince of Tigre, claiming equal descent with Theodorus from King Solomon, he figured largely in the Blue-books which formed an exceedingly interest- ing but little read history of the events which preceded the expedition ; and that impression is deepened by the account given by Mr. de Cosson,—who, in company with the late General Kirkham, visited King John at his camp, near Gondar, the ancient capital of Abyssinia, in 1873,—of the King and his surround- ings. The country, its people, their ways, and their faith, are not like any of the African types in other portions of the continent, and yet they are not "Oriental," as we loosely, but always with the notion of Mahommedanism attaching to it, employ that word. They remind us of the Old Testament Scrip- tures; the whole picture is like that of the tribes and the feuds which we find in the book of Genesis and the books of the Kings ; these four or five millions of warlike people, shut in to their mysterious country by three great mountain ranges, are like Israelites with Christianity tacked on to them without any solution of continuity. Long before the King is reached, the traveller hears tales of him, —his strength, his wisdom, and his prowess in war. At Axum, the former capital of Tigre, he is shown the great monolith, seventy feet high, and told how Kassa used to cast his heavy spear over it—a great feat to do with an ordinary lance—and still practises this exercise when he comes to Axum. There is little disposition to "forward" a traveller, the disposition to keep their country free from the stranger being aa strong as ever in the Abyssinians—and with reason, as any one may see who reads the article in last month's Blackwood on the Egyptian campaign, and notes its sympathy with the American adventurers who exploiter the country in the interests of the Khedive—but the King promises his help and protection to all who shall be properly recommended to him by the French Consul at Massowah, and the reluctance of intervening personages has to give way. Not only did King John fulfil this promise in Mr. de Cosson's case, but the traveller's road from the Takazze river to Ambachura, passing through difficult, rock-strewn defiles, the King ordered that all obstacles should be cleared away along the line of march from the river to his mountain camp, from whence the great Lake Tyassa is visible. A league from the camp, Mr. de Cosson was met by a company of the King's guard,—COM - mended by a little lieutenant, who gave orders in English to the stalwart men, whose long rifles were decorated with jackals' tails,—and so escorted to the confines of the far-spreading camp, with its numberless tents ; the King's tent and audience- hall, enclosed by a stout fence, standing on an elevated spot just below the grey craggy cone of the mountain. Here the traveller was met by the King's interpreters, Murcher and Maderakal, at- tired in long silk robes of honour, the King's gift; who conducted him to a tent close to the ICing's enclosure, which had been pitched expressly for the traveller, and spread with rich carpets from the royal treasury. So far, all was very dignified and grand ; though the effect is a little injured, perhaps, by the interpreter communicating to the honoured visitor the fact that, the Lent fast having come to an end on the previous night, they had all devoured so much raw meat, that to-day everybody was at home in bed, sleeping off the ill-effects of the change from vegetable to animal food, but that on the morrow the King would receive his visitor, and celebrate Easter with a great State banquet. When Mr. de Cosson had taken possession of his tent, the King sent him two jars full of a dreadful drinkable, called tedye, fifty breads," an antelope's horn full of salt and pepper, and a live cow, which was killed and cut up before his eyes, and the meat piled up inside the tent, He subsequently visited Murcher's house, which was, like all the Abyssinian houses, constructed of wood and branches ; and there he saw a pretty sight, that of Murcher's horse forming one of the family circle. The beautiful, intelligent animal was lodged in a little thatched stall opening into the house, his neck adorned with a handsome chain, his food and drink given him at regular intervals in a clean earthen dish, the corn being the same as that of which the household bread was made ; he was regarded as a cherished friend and comrade. After the civilities of the king's interpreters came the good offices of the king's cook, who sent the honoured guest four dishes of curry. The king's cook, who also acts as taster, is a great personage ; he must be a priest, must have always led an irreproachable life, and is never permitted to marry. Next day at dawn (same one of the officers called "Likamanguas," splendidly dressed in a robe of flowered silk, with an India muslin kaarie, and silver-mounted pistols in his sash, to inquire after the traveller's health in his Majesty's name. He was one of those who have the privilege of wearing the same dress as his Sovereign, and the dangerous distinction of going into battle simi- larly armed, so that the royal person may not be distinguished. Early in the afternoon cause Maderakal, attended by an esquire, bearing the royal sword and shield, to conduct the stranger to the King's banqueting-hall. Drums and trumpets sounded ; a salute was fired from a battery of brass howitzers as the guest entered the wooden, rush-roofed building, of oblong form and vast extent, with a double colonnade of tree-trunks leading to the centre, where, on a divan, raised high, and draped with purple velvet, sat King John of Ethiopia, cross-legged, a pair of English rifles, cocked and loaded, resting on the cushions to left and right of him, and his slippers of solid silver filigree on the carpet before him. By his side was a beautiful sword, with a sheath of velvet and enamel ; on his head the great triple crown of Ethiopia flashed with gold and jewels ; his robe was of cloth of silver, and over his brows hung a long veil of crimson silk, worn under the crown, and falling in heavy folds round the face. The barbaric splendour of that scene was perfect in every respect. Here are Mr. de Cosson's words, which fall, he says, far short of his impressions :—" On either side of the throne stood two gigantic eunuchs, clad in shirts of purple and green silk, and holding drawn sabres. A swarthy guard of honour, dressed with equal magnificence, stood, also with drawn sabres, behind ; while all around crowded the great officers of State and noted warriors, in long robes of silk and velvet of every colour, the scarlet scabbards of their swords gleaming with gold and silver filigree, and their necks adorned with the skins of the lion and black panther. The air shook with the wild notes of the trumpets and the roll of the drums." When Mr. de Cosson reachea the throne and bowed, King John shook hands with him, and bade him wel- come. Then the whole company seated themselves on the car- pets (some which our Queen had sent to Kassa, Prince of Tigre) and the next arrival was of special interest. It was that of Ras Warenia, who had ruled over all Amhara as an absolute prince until subdued by King John. He presented a most Striking figure, as he walked up the centre of the hall, a rifle in one hand and a richly ornamented shield in the other. The conquered Ras, tall, stout, very handsome, wore a splendid tippet of black panther-skin, enriched with clasps and bosses of gold filigree, which the King had just given him ; a robe of the richest silk ; on his right wrist a silver-gilt gauntlet, studded with gems, an especial mark of the King's favour ; a splendid sword, and his carefully-plaited hair was covered with a thin piece of white muslin, attached by a golden pin. His feet, like those of all present, were bare. Among the wild and splendid crowd was a veteran warrior, the oldest of the King's personal attendants, whose ninety years bad not dimmed the fire in his dark eyes nor bowed the gaunt, tall figure, almost as straight as the silver matchlock in his hand ; whose grey beard mingled with the tawny mane of the lion's skin thrown over his shoulder, and whose locks were bound with a silver crown. It is difficult to imagine this splendid assemblage sitting about the throne of the King, who is a great soldier, a just Judge, and a powerful ruler ; of distinguished and refined appearance, a fine horseman, a master of all athletic exercises ; alike learned and practical in his religion, interested in other countries, and unquestionably the ablest prince who has been allotted to his own ; and after an Arabian Night-like incident—i.e., the passing of a long line of slaves bearing on their heads baskets covered with red cloth, containing fiat-cakes called " tef," of which they deposit one before each of the principal guests — all the effect of the beautiful and poetical scene being dispersed by the following proceedings :—" Meanwhile, several cows had been slaughtered on the threshold of the ball, and largo hunk e of the raw and smoking meat weresplaced on the baskets, the stranger guest being first served. Two attendants then went round, one distributing knives from a case he carried at his side, and the other offering an antelope's horn full of mixed salt and red pepper, for us to season the meat with. All the company then set to, and began to devour the raw cow's flesh with the greatest avidity." This barbaric banquet, with all its accessories of silken robes, beauti- ful weapons, delicate fabrics, rich gems, dark handsome faces, with gleaming eyes and teeth, and braided hair, the scene a camp, and the guests fierce warriors, a conquered chieftain, and an Eng- lish officer, is a combination whereon to exercise the liveliest fancy. The King sent his drinking-glass to Mr. de Cosson; it was a present from Queen Victoria, and had a head of Cupid painted on it. The glass was afterwards assigned to the guest's use during his stay, and he was frequently asked whether the head was not a portrait of her Majesty's eldest son ? After the feast, a party of natives came dancing to the foot of the throne, led by a man wearing a lion-skin, who, every now and then fired his gun in the air, and danced to his companions' chanting ; he had slain a lion single-handed (considered a greater feat than the killing half-a-dozen men in battle), and had come to boast of it before the King. Next day Mr. de Cosson was invited to dine with King John—who had sent a strong escort to bring on the other travellers and their baggage, detained by the ill-will of the heads of certain villagers—and found everything different. The King and the Court were simply clad in the universal garment of Abyssinia, a white blanket, or kuarie, with a crimson stripe. Red and white are the only colours worn in the country ; because " Our Lord, being innocent of all sin, was clothed in white until the day of his crucifixion, when blood flowed from his wounds and stained his garments red. In re- membrance of this, the crimson stripe of the kuarie is worn over the left breast, that being the side where the lance pierced the body of our Lord." King John's head was uncovered this time, a small diamond pin in his braided hair and a string of silver beads on each ankle were his only ornaments ; and this is Mr. de Cosson's description of the fiery soldier and clever politician, whom the writer in Blackwood treats as an ordinary savage, holding that his country would gain by being handed over to the civilising influences which have rendered Egypt BO free, to happy, so moral, and so rich, as all the world knows She is :—" King Johannes is about thirty-five, and his stature somewhat under the middle height ; his figure is perfectly proportioned, and indicative of great strength and endurance, his hands and feet are very small and delicately shaped. His face is delicately moulded, the brow slightly retreating ; the nose is aquiline, with very finely-formed nostrils ; the eyes deep - set, and not very large, but singularly courageous and penetrating ; the cheek-bones high for an Ethiopian ; the mouth and chin sharply chiselled, and the ears almost as tiny and shell-like as a woman's." Ile is grand to see, mounted on his beautiful charger, with its elegant bossed harness and saddle-cloth, carry- ing his spear and his shield, bare-headed and bare-footed, the great toe of each foot only in the stirrup, which is merely a silver ring. Ho is a splendid shot, and very fond of firearms. He is entirely devoid of the boastfulness and the vanity which distin- guish most " savage " princes, is very simple in his demeanour, of a secretive turn of mind and taciturn habit ; is of a studious disposition, well read in the laws of Ethiopia, and of remarkable sobriety and piety of life, This account of King John, being given by one who resided in his camp for weeks, and persuaded him to write the letters to our Government which conveyed his promise to suppress the slave-trade within his dominion, who had ample opportunities of studying the King's administra- tion, and learning the truth about his relations with Egypt, is much more convincing than the "Notes of a Staff Officer," who, perhaps, himself believes, but certainly wishes to make others believe, that Abyssinia is the aggressor in the quarrel with Egypt. "Facts," however, as Mrs. Gamp remarked, 66 bein' stubborn things, and not easy drove," it may be asked with some point, a propos of the imputed inroads of Abyssinia on Egyptian territory, how it happens that Galabat, where Mr. de Cosson afterwards attended a slave-market, wherein many Abyssinians and Gallas, male and female, were bought and sold, is now a frontier town of the Egyptian Soudan ? It belonged in 1862, and for a long time after, to the kingdom of Ethiopia ; and when Sir Samuel Baker presented his finnan to the Sheik Jumar, that personage told him that "this was Abyssinia, and the firman of the Viceroy of Egypt was a bad introduction, as the Egyptians forced them to pay tribute at the point of the bayonet, although they had no right to enter this country ; and that they paid taxes willingly to the King of*Abyssinia, who had a right to exact them." The Egyptian case has a strong flavour of the Wolf and Lamb of that marvellously happy fable, which has been interpreted, illustrated, and justified by all the ages.
In the camp at Ambachura, King John of Ethiopia lived in this wise. At 3 a.m. every morning he rose, and read the Psalms of David by candle-light for a couple of hours ; then he went to church, after which he frequently sat fasting in open court to hear all eases that might be brought before him. The Old Testa- ment-like effect which the entire description creates is especially strong when we thus see the King, as supreme judge, "sitting in the gate." He is a just judge, if severe, according to our notions. "'rho rest of the day was divided between the necessary hospi- talities of the camp, riding out to indulge in the martial game of goaks"—this resembles the djereed, as practised by the Moors while they still used the shield—" and in attending to State affairs. Two or three hours were reserved by his Majesty for study, while by nine he was in bed; as became one who rose so early."
It was afterwards General Kirkham's pleasant privilege to present to King John the great Abyssinian Book of Laws, which her Britannic Majesty's Government had entrusted him with to give to the King. It had been brought to England after the defeat and suicide of King Theodorus. King John received this recovered treasure with great courtesy and gratitude, and ordered a copy of the Queen's letter, in Abyssinian, to be placed in all the churches, that his people might know, as he said, the gracious- ness of "his Mother of England."
The whole story of the English officer's residence at the camp of King John reads—raw meat excepted—like one of the "Thou- sand and One Nights,"—nothing more so than the parting incident, when Maderakal came to the stranger's hut, followed by some of the King's pages, leading a beautiful cream-coloured horse, fully caparisoned in the Abyssinian fashion, the headstall and breastplate being profusely ornamented with plates and bosses of solid silver. "This was a present from his Majesty," says Mr. de Casson, "who also sent me one of his shields, richly ornamented with silver work ; a pair of the light spears or javelins with which Abyssinian horsemen are armed, and a mule, with a curiously-worked saddle of scarlet and green leather, which is called in Abyssinia the golden saddle,' and can only be conferred by the King, who permits none under the rank of Dedjatchmatch to use it." Why is not King John invited to visit England ? He is a princelier prince than the Shah, and a cleaner liver than any Sultan. He keeps his word when he has put it in writing, and he has made the most binding of oaths among his people,—" By the death of Yohannes." Let us hope we might not wean him from his old virtues of piety, early rising, and doing his duty in person, not by deputy, and that we might convince him that raw cow is vastly inferior as a festive viand to the roast beef of Old England. King John of Ethiopia at the Mansion House, calling cousins, per favour of King Solomon, with the Earl of Beaconsfield, would be in earnest, not in the least pour ripe, an edifying spectacle.
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