ABYSSINIA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 19, 20 June 1868, Page 1 (Supplement)

ABYSSINIA.

Abyssinian letters state that while Napier was approaching Magdala, Theodorus ravaged the Gallas country with fire and sword, and killed 300 chiefs with his own hands. Scarcely any booty was found at Magdala, with the exception of weapons. In the palace were found pianos, harmoniums, musical boxes, and Brussel* carpets. The closing scene of the assault at Magdala is told as follows by the correspondent of the " Times of India " :—: — " Sir R. Napier could see that the defence of the garrison was not likely to be desperate. When either shell or rocket fell among the group of housea near the gate, where the defending forces might have been expected to be, a rush of women and children from the spot was all that could bo discerned. He humanely forbade artillery to be advanced, as the butchery of the innocent and defenceless would have been wholesale. The guns were silenced, and the order of assault was formed about four o'clock, in the following manner — the Royal Engineers and the Bombay and Madras Sappers went first ; then the 33rd Regiment ; after the 45th Regiment. The 4th (King's Own) was in reserve, with the Beloochees supporting. The batteries, which also moved forward, now and again cleared the neighborhood of the gateway with shells. The storming party advanced close to the natural wall of Amba before firing a shot, and then the Sniders opened fire. On the approach of our columns, Theodorus sounded his last rallying cry, and gathered his men around him for one more desperate effort. The bullets came whistling thick and fast over our heads, but as our squadrons closed on their centre, all that was over. A party had taken refuge behind the gate, from whence they kept firing upon the Engineers, who were busy belaboring th» fabric. On either side of the gate was a loop-holed wall, flanked by a strong thick fen«e, composed of horizontal pointed stakes, through which it was impossible ! to force one's way, and the slightest slip j involved a fall of 80 or 100 ft. A narrowtrack, fit only for goats was discovered, and a few daring fellows scrambled along the narrow track, hauled up the scalingladder, crossed the fence, chased the, Abyssinians from behind, and assailedthe gate, while the 33rd swarmed rapidlyafter them. Some woodwork then g»v», way, whereupon it was discovered iii what the strength of the entrance consisted. The doors were double, and th* space of 20 ft. between them was strongly built up with large stonea. Inside th« gate lay a group of dead and wounded, mostly ohiefa. But another and narrow ascent had yet to be faced, which was defended by strong doors at the top, and commanded by loop-holed battlements all round. Up this the 33rd swarmed in single file, or climbed over huts, houses, and wall, into the fort, bayoneting and shooting every armed s~~ man in the way. Magdala was taken. The firing had ceased. Theodorus lay dead beside the inner gate. The captives -were crowding round the hands and. feet of their deliverers, and the wo»M| w«r« chanting noto of wrioom*."