A Reception by the King of Abyssinia.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 67, 13 September 1884, Page 5

A Reception by the King of Abyssinia.

Mr O'Kelly, M.P., acting as special correspondent for the "Daily News," thus describes Admiral Hewett's interview with King Johannes : — Facing the entrance and against the circular wall of the hut, on a throne covered with violet satin cloth, and supported on either side by pillows of the same rich stuff, with the cross of Solomon worked in gold thereon, sat the "Negus Negusti" and King of Zion. On his right stood a servant with a silver-handled horsehair flyswitch, which he kept swaying to and fro to keep the flies from feeding off the butter on the Royal head, for in the habit of greasing doth his Majesty indulge as well as his lowly subjects, and the fat sparkled on his crisp hair, neatly plaited in three broad pieces stretched from the forehead over the Koyal cranium to the nape of the neck, where the plaits narrow, and are held together with a diamond-headed pin. Drawn up just over the tip of this nose, and totally covering the lower parts of his face and body, was the shcmma or toga similar to the one given by Allula to the Admiral, embroidered with various-coloured silks in a broad stripe down the centre of the cloth, which is the token of nobility. The King, who was indeed all eyes and ears, scanned us each suspiciously as we approached the throne and bowed. He shook hands with Sir Wm. Hewett and Mason Bey, this movement necessitating the partial uncovering of the body, showing the massive Order of Solomon gleaming on a gown of black silk ; but only for a moment was so much Royalty seen ;, and as the Admiral and the Egyptian representatives seated themselves on cane bottomed chairs provided for them a little distance on the left of the throne, the toga was up to his mouth again, as if our presence had suddenly made him feel very ill. So far was this illusion carried that one almost expected him to rush for the door or call the steward - and a dim vision of the far-off but dear old Calais packet appeared to many of us. The Admiral soon settled down to business, and rose to present the Queen's letter, which looked a very formidable epistle as it lay in the pretty blue silk case worked by Lady Strangford. Mason Bey followed with the Khedive's letter, and Captain Speedy with that of Lord Napier of Magdala. The Has took each letter and held them towards the King who only bowed. They were then handed to the Chancellor. Allula, who a few weeks ago was playing the haughty chieftain with surroundings more regal and a retinue as large as the King's, and muffled up to the nose as that monarch was to-day, now stood abashed and humble before his monarch with his shemma down to his waist and lowered head. The interview becoming slow and oppressive, the Admiral asked permission to go, expressing a hope that now his mission was nearly finished, and having waited the King's pleasure for five weeks, that His Majesty would allow him to return soon to the coast and his ships. The Negusti then opened his lips for the first time during the interview, and whispered the word "Echee," which in plain English means all right, or very well ; then the toga once more closed his mouth, and also our interview ; so we rose, bowed, and left the hut. On issuing into the courtyard, we found that all the presents had now arrived from our camp below, so the Admiral, to avoid another journey, resolved to deliver them at once, and again we found ourselves in the presence of the King. As servant alter servant brought in the numerous bulky presents, and placed them at the feet of the Negusti, a deep interest was apparent in his keen black eyes, and as the glittering plated weapons came to his view, as box after box was prised open, Johannes gradually dropped his toga from his mouth, and became visibly affected by the sincerity of a mission thus provided with such valuable arguments. Now placed on a better footing, the King even condescended to smile his thanks, which lightened up his otherwise gloomy face, and made it quite pleasant. It is lean and wan, broad just over the brows, which are perfectly arched, deep-seated large black eyes, a nose slightly Jewish but small, and a mouth and chin showing a weakness that belie the upper part of the face. His colour is almost negro in its blackness, and was much intensified against the whiteness of the shemma. During this second visit one had more leisure in noticing the surroundings of this monarch of Ethiopia. The interior of the hut had nothing to recommend it above other native interiors. The walls were of plain mud and stone, unevenly faced, and without any attempt at decorative art, or even draped with cotton cloth, as that of Allula's. The earthern floor was bare, with the exception of a few well-worn pieces of Brussels carpet leading from the entrance up to the foot of what served for a throne. There was no attempt at state ; a few domestics lolled against the walls, and on the left side of the throne stood a priest, whose seeming occupation was to keep the flies from his own nose with the aid of a piece of cow's tail. There appeared to bo no one in particular to keep the door or lift the cloth as one entered or passed out. And when we did the latter— after a cheerful good-bye from the King — we had to move it for ourselves. Out of the kingly presence an unruly mcb of soldiers and servants jostled us wherever we walked. Sometimes an indignant chief would lay about him with a stiff bamboo, and clear the way for a time, but they were like flies; their appetite for curiosity was all the more sharpened, and they swarmed around in larger numbers. In the compound I noticed that a large leafy bower had been erected to cover at least 500 men. This was where the warriors, chiefs, and courtiers of the King feasted. We were none of us invited during our stay to one of these entertainments, the King knowing full well that Europeans are not accustomed to the peculiar luxuries of an Abyssinian banquet. A small one I have seen, and for myself was heartily glad that he did not honour us with this mark of bis favour. The piece de resistance is generally raw meat.

A hen constructed of sheet-iron, and "got up " to the life, is the latest notion from across the Atlantic. It is the product of the fertile brain of an Ohio mechanic. He proposes it as a snare and a delusion to vermin of all kinds, furred and feathered, cats, rats, weasels, kites, hen-harriers, and other of the genus Baptores, with a weakness for domestic poultry. The arrangement is that when any of the above-named creatures pounces on the said hen, deluded by appearances, the pseudo-Dame Partlett at once oollnpsep, and crushes up the intruder against a spiked saw concealed about her person. After sundry whirrings and creakings the disjecta membra are cast forth, and behold once more an unassuming " tame fowl." A gallant Volunteer Colonel on parade informed his men the other day that they would be required to form a guard of honour for a soiree, but he couldn't say whether it would take place in the morning or evening. A novel mode of paying a visit occurred the other day at Albury (the Duke of Northumberland's place), when Mr BadenPowell, of the Scots Guards, accompanied by a brother officer, descended in his balloon in the park, having come from Aldershot just in time for lunch,