Abyssinian despots sully not their dignity by condescending1 to divulge2 even the smallest design to the most confidential3 of their courtiers. In elegant Amháric phraseology “the belly4 of the master is never known;” and thus it occurred that had any possessed5 the inclination6 to predict the probable period of detention7, none could boast the ability. A fortnight rolled tardily8 away, and the burning curiosity of the savage9 having meanwhile overcome the scruples10 dictated11 by state policy, it became matter of public notoriety that the king had taken up his residence at the adjacent palace of Machal-wans, where preparations were actually in progress towards the long-desired audience.
The reappearance of the commander-in-chief of the body-guard, with the escort of honour, was the first welcome sign of approaching release from the vile12 market-town of Alio Amba; and the most illustrious peer of the realm, attended by a junto13 of scribes, and a host of reluctant porters, was not far behind him. Penmanship being so extremely tedious a process, it is not the court etiquette14 to endite letters when a verbal communication will answer the purpose; and the visitors were accordingly charged with abundant compliments, and with an invitation to behold15 the royal person on the ensuing Sabbath, which had been pronounced by the astrologers “a day of good omens16.”
“Tarry not by day, neither stay ye by night, for the heart of the father longeth to see his children. Hasten that he be not again disappointed.”
But, unfortunately, the hour selected by the skill of “those who read the stars” did not find approval in the sight of the guests; and in order to gratify the royal impatience17, it was therefore proposed that the interview should take place one day earlier. His Majesty18, however, laboured under the effects of cosso, a drug resorted to by all who revel19 in raw diet; and feeling yet unequal to appear in public, it was finally arranged that audience should be deferred20 until the Monday following. A fresh inventory21 of boxes was immediately commenced; and, after much opposition23, those intended for presentation to the throne were separated, and sent off to await arrival at a hamlet distant two miles from Machal-wans.
The next labour was to dismantle24 the structure of bales and packages which during the detention at Alio Amba had been piled in view to the economy of space, so as to admit of some of the party occupying the tier next the roof, whilst others had slept in cabins formed below, or upon, or underneath25, the table. But no sooner had the king’s baggage departed than the Wulásma came to announce that there were no more porters, and that if any thing still remained it must be left behind. Another battle followed, and a war of words, which lasted a full hour and a half, was again crowned with victory.
Ayto Kálama Work, who had been the chief instigator26 of this opposition, is charged with manifold affairs. Independent of his important duties at the seat of his authority, where he is responsible for all tribute in salt, in honey, and in specie, he is entrusted27 with the treasures lodged28 in Ankóber, Arámba, Debra Berhán, and Kondie, and is expected to be present on all state occasions at the palace. To assist in the discharge of these onerous29 and multifarious duties, he has many stewards30 and subordinates, of whom the chief, who superintends the ghemdjia house, or royal wardrobe, wherein the most costly31 manufactures are deposited, had already proceeded in advance to spread the carpets in the great reception hall. He was accompanied by Déftera Sena, the secretary, whose business it is to receive and register all transfers to the state revenues, and who had been for the last fortnight almost incessantly32 busied with his pen.
Liberated33 from irksome captivity34, the utmost difficulty was next experienced in procuring35 mules—no steps to supply the place of those destroyed having been taken by the inimical functionaries37 whose express duty it was. The few survivors38 of the late numerous drove were mustered39, but only one proved in a condition to proceed, and it was not until a messenger had actually set out with a complaint to the king, that measures were taken to supply the number required. A clamorous40 mob now assembled in order to witness the difficulties raised in the way of the foreigners; and it required the utmost exertion41 on the part of Guba?yo, both with his long stick and still longer tongue, to keep the idle crowd at a respectful distance.
Mounted at length, the party turned their backs towards the market-place, and entered upon a circuitous42 path, winding43, by abrupt44 declivities and steep ascents45, over three mountain torrents46, towards the village of Sallal Hoola, at which the night was to be passed. Kind nature had everywhere spread the ground with her gifts in inexhaustible profusion47 and variety, supplying all the more immediate22 wants of mankind, yet enforcing the doom48 of labour so wisely imposed upon her lazy children. Rich acres of com by the wayside were interspersed49 with quiet hamlets, and with luxuriant meadows abounding50 in trefoil and a vast variety of red and white clover. Crystal brooks51 leapt in numerous cascades52, and hedge-rows gay with endless flowers, the dog-rose and the fragrant53 jessamine, imparted to the rural landscape an aspect quite European.
Southern Abyssinia proper commences with Efát, at the foot of the first range of hills, which continue to increase both in altitude and fertility to the summit of the lofty barrier that stretches north and south to form the brink54 of the elevated table-land of Shoa. Violent storms of thunder and lightning, which usher55 in the rainy season, are attracted to this region as well by the great elevation56 of the mountain as by the highly ferruginous nature of the rocks. It is a land of hill and valley, smiling under the influence of the copious57 deluge58; and so striking a contrast does it present to the general character and climate of the torrid zone, that at first sight the delighted traveller might believe himself transported by some fairy agency to his northern home.
Ayto Wolda Hana, although loquacious59 enough, had been somewhat subdued60 by the temperature of the low country, to which, as well as to every thing Mohammadan, he evinced an insuperable disrelish; but once again within the influence of the cold mountain breeze beyond the limits of the Wulásma’s jurisdiction61, and he was in his glory. Two running footmen kept pace with his gaily-caparisoned mule36. Immediately behind him rode a confidential henchman carrying the emblazoned shield and decorated lances which denoted his position in society; and in the height of Highland62 anarchy63 the tail of the McGregor was seldom of longer dimensions than that of the pompous64 governor of Ankóber.
Suddenly leaving the party, the great man was observed to dive into a village by the road-side, whence in a few minutes he returned, issuing a variety of orders in a far from melodious65 tone of voice, which evidently had reference to the mulberry steed already mentioned as having been brought from Aden. The animal had not been seen for many days, and every application regarding it had been so dexterously66 evaded67, that, although the tail had not been brought in, it was believed to have gone the way of all flesh. To the surprise of every one, the charger, prancing68 and neighing, was now led forth69, in the best condition, by one of the King’s grooms70. So thoroughly71 had the worthy72 functionary73 been impressed with the erroneous conviction, that it formed a part of the present designed for his royal master, that the fortunate beast had been turned into clover, and duly fed with the choicest barley74, whereas all its companions, although surrounded by plenty, had been suffered to starve.
At Sallal Hoola, another hovel had been provided by the royal bounty75, smaller in dimensions, more dark, dirty, and dismal76, and infinitely77 better garrisoned78 with vermin than the abode79 wherein the last fortnight had been passed. Environed by miry swamps and stagnant80 pools, it presented an appearance the most gloomy and wretched, whilst the materials for comfort were, as usual, denied by the officious functionaries, who had taken care to deposit the baggage most needed in quarters of the village where, at so late an hour, free access was impossible. The gloomy recesses81 of the veranda82 were crowded with female slaves, occupied in the various processes of preparing bread, which the population had been called upon to supply in large quantities to the palace against the approaching arrival of the foreigners. In one corner, two old women who alternately plied83 their pestles84 to a most monotonous85 ditty were pounding grain in a wooden mortar86. In another a group of buxom87 lasses were rocking themselves to and fro over mills fashioned like the high-heeled slipper88 of the days of good Queen Bess, upon the inclined surface of which they contrived89, with a stone and great personal labour, to convert the grain into a form something resembling flour. It trickled90 in a scanty91 stream into a vessel92 placed below the depressed93 plane for its reception, and was presently wrought94 into thick cakes, full a foot and a half in diameter. These were merely shown to the fire, and a crude substance was thus produced, which by a well-fed Indian elephant would certainly have been rejected with a severe admonition to his keeper.
In this dreary96 and soul-depressing spot, destitute97 of beds and not overburdened with food, were experienced the very opposite of the delights of the Salt Lake—cold, damp, and wet in perfection; but the glad prospect98 of an interview with His Majesty on the morrow buoyed99 up the spirits of all, and misery100 was disregarded. Ayto Kátama had proceeded in advance to Machal-wans to seek at the royal hands permission to fire a salute101 of twenty-one guns on the British Embassy reaching the royal lodge—a point previously102 urged, but without success. It had already been brought to the King’s notice that the foreigners partook of food which had been prepared by Mohammadans—a proceeding103 which in Shoa is reckoned equivalent to a renunciation of Christianity. Ideas the most extravagant104 were, moreover, in circulation relative to the powers of the ordnance105 imported, the mere95 report of which was believed sufficient to set fire to the earth, to shiver rocks, and dismantle mountain fastnesses. Men were said to have arrived with “copper legs,” whose duty it was to serve these tremendous and terrible engines; and in alarm for the safety of his palace, capital, and treasures, the suspicious monarch106 still peremptorily107 insisted upon withholding108 the desired licence, until he should have beheld109 the battery “with his own eyes.”
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1
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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divulge
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| v.泄漏(秘密等)；宣布，公布 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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7
detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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tardily
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| adv.缓慢 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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junto
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| n.秘密结社；私党 | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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omens
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| n.前兆，预兆( omen的名词复数 ) | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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21
inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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22
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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dismantle
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| vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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instigator
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| n.煽动者 | |
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27
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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29
onerous
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| adj.繁重的 | |
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30
stewards
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| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
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31
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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32
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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33
liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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35
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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36
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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37
functionaries
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| n.公职人员，官员( functionary的名词复数 ) | |
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38
survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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39
mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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40
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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41
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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42
circuitous
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| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
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43
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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44
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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45
ascents
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| n.上升( ascent的名词复数 )；（身份、地位等的）提高；上坡路；攀登 | |
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46
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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47
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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48
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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49
interspersed
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| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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50
abounding
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| adj.丰富的，大量的v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的现在分词 ) | |
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51
brooks
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| n.小溪( brook的名词复数 ) | |
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52
cascades
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| 倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西 | |
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53
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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54
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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55
usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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56
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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57
copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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58
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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loquacious
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| adj.多嘴的，饶舌的 | |
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60
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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jurisdiction
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| n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权 | |
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highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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anarchy
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| n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序 | |
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64
pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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67
evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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68
prancing
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 ) | |
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69
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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70
grooms
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| n.新郎( groom的名词复数 )；马夫v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的第三人称单数 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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72
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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functionary
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| n.官员；公职人员 | |
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barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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75
bounty
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| n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与 | |
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76
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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garrisoned
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| 卫戍部队守备( garrison的过去式和过去分词 )； 派部队驻防 | |
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79
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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81
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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83
plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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84
pestles
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| n.（捣碎或碾磨用的）杵( pestle的名词复数 ) | |
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85
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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86
mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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87
buxom
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| adj.（妇女）丰满的，有健康美的 | |
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88
slipper
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| n.拖鞋 | |
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89
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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90
trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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91
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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93
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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94
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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96
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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97
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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98
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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99
buoyed
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| v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神 | |
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100
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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101
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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102
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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103
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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104
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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105
ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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106
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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107
peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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108
withholding
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| 扣缴税款 | |
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109
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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