Meanwhile, during the tedious fast observed by all classes in commemoration of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin1, the king continued his residence at Machal-wans. On such occasions. His Majesty2 seeks the retirement3 of a country seat, and subsists4 upon raw fish, with vegetable oil and pepper. He is moreover averse5 to occupy the palace at Ankóber in the rainy season, when the elevated position of the isolated6 peak whereon it stands becomes a fearful mark for lightning, by which it is often struck; whilst huge masses of rock, loosened from the adjacent heights, come thundering into the valley, to the annihilation of every house that opposes their headlong course. The greater part of the court, however, continued to reside at the capital, and many were the demands made for presents by public officers of the state, amongst whom the Abyssinian habit of begging is sufficiently7 rife8.
“There be pleasing things in my country which are not in yours,” was the usual form of application, “and fine things in your country which are not found in mine.” Well assured that no return would be accepted for what they coveted9, many had recourse to a species of refinement10 in the art of begging—the offer of block salt—and ámole in hand, they desired that the wares11 brought for sale might forthwith be exposed. Others tendered mamálachas, or trifling12 offerings, which, if once accepted, are considered to establish a claim to ready acquiescence13 in demands the most preposterous14. Broken decanters were exhibited four times over by the domestics of the royal household, who, with tears in their eyes, entreated15 the price of the vessel16 as the only means of saving them from condign17 punishment. A shield was never defaced, nor a mule18 lost, that the delinquent19 did not refer himself to the Residency for the amount of the fine imposed; and one of the imperial footmen finally sought to place beyond all question his right to appropriate the very cloth upon the table. “I am the waiter in the great banqueting-hall,” quoth the modest applicant20, “and therefore I require this cloth as a dress.”
Nor were even the royal family idle during this interval21. Belete-Shatchau, “superior to all,” a notable shrew lately divorced by the governor of Mans, and daughter of the queen by a former marriage—first in order—and then Worka Ferri, “golden fruit,” another of the princesses royal—established their respective claims to articles of British manufacture, beads22, chintz, and tinsel, by the presentation of potent23 hydromel in long-necked barilles, screened under wicker cases. Their example was speedily followed by the illustrious Queen Besábesh, “thou hast increased,” who begged to be informed what “delighting things” had been brought for her acceptance. But the report of this fact being immediately conveyed to the despotic ears, His Majesty lost not a moment in hinting “that it were desirable that all presents intended for the palace, should pass through his own hands.”
It is not permitted to any subject of the realm to receive the smallest gift without submitting it forthwith to the Negoos, who either appropriates it with an “Egzihér istikh!” “May the Lord reward thee!” or accords permission to its retention24; and concealment26 is sure to be visited, on discovery, with the severest punishment. Birroo, the son of a defunct27 nobleman, and the especially favourite page of the king, had been appointed báldoraba, or “introducer” to the Embassy, and in this dignified28 capacity had occasion to pay me almost daily visits with messages or commissions from the throne. Dilapidated matchlocks and swivels were to be restocked by the carpenters of the European escort, musical boxes to be repaired, garments were to be embroidered29, or state umbrellas to be renewed; and every task had fortunately been achieved to the entire of the royal satisfaction. Before taking leave, the court favourite never failed to beg for something, and, being a pet with all, he never asked in vain; but it shortly became matter of public notoriety that he had been disgraced, and thrown into durance, upon being detected in the act of burying the dollars and other presents that he had received.
The king commanded that a portion of the gifts which had led to this disaster should be returned to me, and I entreated pardon for the juvenile30 indiscretion of the page. “Birroo has been degraded,” replied His Majesty, “but you must not be concerned thereat; for not only did he conceal25 from me all that you had given him, but, on being detected, swore falsely upon my own life that he had received much less than proved to be the case. I have dismissed him for ever from my presence, but his punishment is light when compared with the enormity of his transgression31.” The delinquent was, however, released upon a second representation, and restored to the possession of his gun, which had been forfeited32; and although not reinstated in the royal confidence, he was subsequently appointed one of the adrásh adáree, or “keepers of the great room.”
The first visit that we paid to Machal-wans was on the occasion of the king’s indisposition. The high-priest, the chief eunuch, the purveyor-general, Wulásma Mohammad, and ten or twelve other of the courtiers, were in attendance; but they were dismissed after the customary compliments had passed; and His Majesty, reclining as usual upon the throne, thus proceeded, through the interpretation33 of the Reverend Dr Krapf, to detail the long catalogue of his ailments34.
“You may listen. I am not now so hale as in my younger days. Mine eyes trouble me day and night. I have pains in the neck. My teeth have grown long and become loose from fever, and my body has wasted away. Draw nigh whilst I recount the particulars of my late illness.
“I was returning from the expedition against the rebel Galla. I felt suddenly unwell. My head grew giddy. The earth turned round. It became blue under my feet. I fell from my mule. I believed myself dead. I was no longer sensible. My gun-men became afraid. They ran away to a man. The enemy made a show of attack. The army was in confusion. A governor rebelled. He sought to place his son upon the throne. The people dashed cold water over me. I recovered my senses. I was able to resume the command, and order was restored.”
Priest-ridden and superstitious35 to the last degree, the monarch36 undertakes nothing without first consulting the superiors of the Church, and is deterred37 from change of residence, or from projected military expeditions, by their prophecies and pretended dreams, which are of course modelled according to the bribes38 that have been received from parties interested. On two occasions only is he said to have acted in opposition39 to the ecclesiastical counsel. The first cost him eight hundred warriors40, who were cut up by the Galla during the passage of a morass41, and the second the severe indisposition of which he still felt the effects.
The royal swoon, thus amusingly narrated42, had been followed by the consignment43 to captivity44 for life in the dungeons45 of Góncho, of the traitor46 who had so prematurely47 sought the elevation48 of his son, and who was the proprietor49 of the Residency. Medicines administered to the king are invariably tasted by the physician in the presence of the patient, and on a phial of goulard lotion50 being now sent to the palace for external application to the despot’s neck, it was returned in consequence of its being labelled “Poison.” Of this he entertains the most undisguised dread51, and it was not possible to overcome his apprehensions52 that a drop might find its way into his mouth during the hours of repose53, and so cut short his reign54.
But although living in perpetual alarm of assassination55, and never moving abroad without weapons concealed56 under his garments, or unaccompanied by a numerous and trustworthy escort. His Majesty’s fears did not extend to his British guests; and during our subsequent visits to Machal-wans, he hesitated not to trust us all about his person with loaded fire-arms, when none of his attendants were present. Many were the curious discussions held at these confidential57 interviews. Portraits were executed by the royal command—architectural plans prepared—and hunting expeditions or wars of extermination58 plotted against colonies of baboons59 and monkeys, the only quadrupeds of which the country can boast. Magazines were exploded by means of detonating shells—seven-barrelled pistols and stick-guns for the first time introduced at court—and a liege subject of the realm was nearly shot dead by the royal hand, when clumsily making trial of an air cane60, from which a wax bullet had previously61 been fired through the wicker table.
“My son,” quoth the king, “I am old, and have but few years more to live. I have seen many strange things from your country, but none that surpass this engine, which without the aid of gunpowder62 can destroy men. Sorrow were it that I should have died and gone down to the grave before beholding63 and understanding so wonderful an invention. It is truly the work of a wise people who employ strong medicines!”
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1
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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2
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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3
retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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4
subsists
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| v.（靠很少的钱或食物）维持生活，生存下去( subsist的第三人称单数 ) | |
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5
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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6
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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7
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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8
rife
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| adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的 | |
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9
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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10
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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11
wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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12
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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13
acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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14
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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15
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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17
condign
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| adj.应得的，相当的 | |
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18
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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19
delinquent
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| adj.犯法的，有过失的；n.违法者 | |
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20
applicant
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| n.申请人，求职者，请求者 | |
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21
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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22
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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23
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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24
retention
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| n.保留，保持，保持力，记忆力 | |
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25
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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26
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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27
defunct
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| adj.死亡的；已倒闭的 | |
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28
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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29
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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30
juvenile
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| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
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31
transgression
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| n.违背；犯规；罪过 | |
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32
forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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34
ailments
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| 疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 ) | |
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35
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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36
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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37
deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
bribes
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| n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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39
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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40
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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41
morass
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| n.沼泽，困境 | |
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42
narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
consignment
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| n.寄售；发货；委托；交运货物 | |
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44
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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45
dungeons
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| n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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46
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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47
prematurely
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| adv.过早地，贸然地 | |
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48
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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49
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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50
lotion
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| n.洗剂 | |
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51
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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52
apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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53
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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54
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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55
assassination
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| n.暗杀；暗杀事件 | |
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56
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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57
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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58
extermination
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| n.消灭，根绝 | |
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59
baboons
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| n.狒狒( baboon的名词复数 ) | |
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60
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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61
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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62
gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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63
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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