New Year’s Day, which fell on the 10th of September, was, according to the Abyssinian calendar, the eighteen hundred and thirty-fourth since the nativity of Christ, and it was celebrated1 with much rejoicing and festivity. Betimes in the morning came a summons to the presence of the Negoos, who, seated in the portico2 of the audience chamber3, was enjoying the genial4 warmth of the rising sun. The interior of the hall was strewed5 throughout with newly-plucked rushes, and under a large iron chafing-dish, with a cheerful wood-fire, basked6 a whole host of sleek7 cats in couples—a portion of the dower received with the fair daughter of the Galla Queen of Moolo Fálada.
The king was particularly affable, and in the highest spirits. His hand having been extended to each of us in turn, with the usual inquiries8 relative to our “safe entrance,” the congratulations of the season were offered to His Majesty9, according to the customary form: “As the departed year of Saint Matthew has closed happily upon your auspicious10 reign11, so also may the coming year of Saint Mark! May God prolong your days, and continue the throne in the line of your ancestors unto your children’s children, to the end of time! May He extend the boundaries of your dominions12, and cause your spear to prevail over the lance of the enemy! May He endow you with wisdom to judge your subjects aright, and move your heart unto clemency13; and may He cause high and low alike to understand and to appreciate the equitable14 sway of the Father, whom Heaven has appointed to rule over them!”
Elaborate models of a domed15 palace, completely furnished, and an English saddle and bridle16, were next presented, and received with every manifestation17 of delight, coupled with a prayer from the royal lips that “God might glorify18 the donor19.” A long and minute scrutiny20 led to an infinity21 of questions, not easily answered, as to how the shield was to be slung22 to the pommel, and why the entire foot, instead of the great toe only, should be inserted in the stirrup? “The sun in different countries shines with more or less brilliancy,” exclaimed His Majesty, with truly royal eloquence23, as he concluded the examination—“the birds and the beasts are different, and so are the plants. I am fond of new inventions, if it be only to look at them, and although they should prove on trial to be inferior to old ones.”
Abd el Yonag, the chief of the Hurrur slave-merchants, was seated, rosary in hand, during this conversation, and in his weather-beaten countenance24 were displayed all the cunning lineaments of the petty retailer25 in small wares26, curiously27 contrasted with the sagacity of the extensive dealer28 in politics, who had succeeded in obtaining an accurate measure of the monarch29’s foot. The knave30 too protested to have seen the world, and gave out that with his own grey eyes he had beheld31 the glories of Britain’s eastern possessions.
To support his widely circulated character for universal knowledge, the Moslem32 miscreant33 now seized between his bony fingers two handsome pieces of sprigged muslin, fresh from the looms34 of Manchester, which I had presented for Queen Besábesh, and throwing them contemptuously towards the corner of the throne, muttered betwixt his lips the word “Bombay.”
“What’s that, what do you say?” cried the king, in his usual abrupt35 manner.
“May it please your Majesty,” returned the turbaned traveller, to our great diversion, “’tis the name of this cloth—it is called Bombay.”
But an opportunity presently occurred of laughing at the beard of the irreverent pedlar, nor was it suffered to pass unheeded. The despot exhibited a silver sword scabbard, which had been curiously enamelled to represent one of the scaly36 inhabitants of the deep, and it was acknowledged nemine contradicente that the artist had succeeded in producing a highly creditable resemblance to a fish. “A fish,” quoth the man of Hurrur, “what is that?” Even the monarch smiled when the explanation was rendered. “Fishes live in the great sea between Abyssinia and Bombay, and he whose eyes have not suffered under Oubié’s searing irons, might behold37 numbers every day of the voyage.” “Istigh-far-allah,” “Heaven defend me,” growled38 the discomfited39 Wurj, as he slunk into a corner—“’tis passing strange that Abd el Yonag should have never seen the wild beast of the water.”
Attended by the dwarf40 father confessor, and holding deep consultation41 with several of the household priests, the king presently led the way through the secret door on the north-eastern side of the palace enclosure. Two umbrellas of crimson42 velvet43, surmounted44 by silver globes and crosses—his never-failing attendants on all occasions of state—were supported by sturdy slaves, and twelve richly caparisoned steeds, representing the months of the year, were led by the royal grooms45. A numerous and motley retinue46 of dismounted cavaliers followed, and on reaching the meadow, the brows both of monarch and subject were bound by the monks47 with green fillets of a wiry grass, styled “enkotátach” whence the festival takes its appellation48.
Unlike the rugged49 mountains of Ankóber, which can alone be traversed by the sure-footed mule50, the country around Debra Berhán is well adapted for the equestrian51, and the bright azure52 of the sky, mottled by fleecy clouds, the fresh verdure of the turf, and the elasticity53 of the air, all lent their aid to the coming tournament. Armed with a slender staff, the king mounted his charger, and bounding over the green-sward, opened the sports of the day. Groups of wild savages54 were instantly to be seen scouring55 in every direction, engaged in the gombéza, or joust56, but His Majesty in flaunting57 striped robes shone conspicuous58. Well mounted, a fearless horseman, and admirably skilled in the use of the spear, he had on no previous occasion been seen to so great advantage as during his participation59 in the warlike exercises of the new year—now pursuing, and now in turn pursued by the warrior60 whom he had honoured by selection as his antagonist61 in the tilt62.
“Guebroo is sick,” quoth the monarch, the moment this display was over; “he has received a severe wound in the head during a skirmish with the rebel Galla, and I am desirous that you should now visit him, taking with you the medicine for putrid63 sores!”
Ayto Berkie, the governor of Bulga, volunteered his escort to Dalúti, the abode64 of his invalid65 brother. Crossing the serpentine66 Beréza, the road led through swampy67 meadows, and over little cultivated knolls68 destitute69 of either tree or shrub70, towards Angollála, which, after a gallop71 of seven miles, opened in the distance. On the summit of a tabular eminence72 rose the king’s two-storied palace, above churches and conical houses; and five distinct knolls, forming an arc in the intermediate and otherwise level landscape, were severally crowned by the abodes73 of favourite courtiers—that on the extreme right, embowered in luxuriant trees, pertaining74 to Ayto Guebroo, governor of Mentshar.
Ascending75 the tumulus by a steep and stony76 path, and passing through a muddy court-yard, we reached to the abode of the great man. Surrounded by mournful attendants, he reclined on an alga before a fierce fire, his right eye screened by a shade of blue calico, and his comely77 partner sobbing78 violently at his feet. The Gillé and Loomi Galla, bordering on the ancient province of “Fátigar,” having revolted, the warrior had taken the field with his contingent79, and becoming opposed to a rebel in hand to hand combat, had received the first spear on his buckler, which was now ostentatiously displayed. The horse of his adversary80 fell under a well-directed lance, and the dismounted pagan sued for quarter; obtaining which, he treacherously81 launched his remaining shaft82, which had cleft83 the forehead, and passed through the corner of the eye, although without destroying the vision.
The patient having pledged himself to submit to the prescribed treatment, which few in Abyssinia will do, an operation was successfully performed by Dr Kirk. Drying her tears, the hostess had meanwhile slaughtered84 a ram85, and made extensive preparations for a repast. Piles of thin teff cakes, which loaded the low wicker table, were flanked by decanters of mawkish86 old honey wine; bowls of pepper porridge smoked at the place appointed for each guest, and lumps of raw meat were in profusion87; nor was it without infinite surprise that the hospitable88 entertainers and their domestics beheld the chops submitted in the first instance to the influence of the hot embers. “Do all of your nation thus burn their meat?” inquired the lady, after long and attentive89 observation: “I was told that such was the case, and that you burnt the king’s bread too, but could never have believed it.”
No small difficulty was experienced by the despot in comprehending how an eye could be restored by the use of the knife; but His Majesty was at a still greater loss to understand by what means a subject had been cured, whilst himself remained in partial blindness. Ayto Kátama was present at this observation, and turning to one of the party, he whispered, “You must not suppose that the Negoos is blind of that eye: may Sáhela Selássie die, he sees better with it than with the other!” Like -sop of old, who was once a bondsman, the general of the body-guard still retained the grovelling90 spirit of slavery, varnished91 with the address of the artful courtier; and he thus invariably followed the advice given to Solon by the hunchback author of the Fables92, “that we should either not come near crowned heads at all, or speak those things only that will prove agreeable to them.”
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1 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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2 portico | |
n.柱廊,门廊 | |
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3 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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4 genial | |
adj.亲切的,和蔼的,愉快的,脾气好的 | |
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5 strewed | |
v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 );散落于;点缀;撒满 | |
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6 basked | |
v.晒太阳,取暖( bask的过去式和过去分词 );对…感到乐趣;因他人的功绩而出名;仰仗…的余泽 | |
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7 sleek | |
adj.光滑的,井然有序的;v.使光滑,梳拢 | |
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8 inquiries | |
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 | |
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9 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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10 auspicious | |
adj.吉利的;幸运的,吉兆的 | |
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11 reign | |
n.统治时期,统治,支配,盛行;v.占优势 | |
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12 dominions | |
统治权( dominion的名词复数 ); 领土; 疆土; 版图 | |
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13 clemency | |
n.温和,仁慈,宽厚 | |
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14 equitable | |
adj.公平的;公正的 | |
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15 domed | |
adj. 圆屋顶的, 半球形的, 拱曲的 动词dome的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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16 bridle | |
n.笼头,束缚;vt.抑制,约束;动怒 | |
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17 manifestation | |
n.表现形式;表明;现象 | |
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18 glorify | |
vt.颂扬,赞美,使增光,美化 | |
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19 donor | |
n.捐献者;赠送人;(组织、器官等的)供体 | |
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20 scrutiny | |
n.详细检查,仔细观察 | |
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21 infinity | |
n.无限,无穷,大量 | |
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22 slung | |
抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 ); 吊挂; 遣送; 押往 | |
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23 eloquence | |
n.雄辩;口才,修辞 | |
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24 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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25 retailer | |
n.零售商(人) | |
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26 wares | |
n. 货物, 商品 | |
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27 curiously | |
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地 | |
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28 dealer | |
n.商人,贩子 | |
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29 monarch | |
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者 | |
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30 knave | |
n.流氓;(纸牌中的)杰克 | |
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31 beheld | |
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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32 Moslem | |
n.回教徒,穆罕默德信徒;adj.回教徒的,回教的 | |
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33 miscreant | |
n.恶棍 | |
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34 looms | |
n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现,阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 );隐约出现,阴森地逼近 | |
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35 abrupt | |
adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的 | |
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36 scaly | |
adj.鱼鳞状的;干燥粗糙的 | |
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37 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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38 growled | |
v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说 | |
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39 discomfited | |
v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词);使狼狈;使挫折;挫败 | |
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40 dwarf | |
n.矮子,侏儒,矮小的动植物;vt.使…矮小 | |
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41 consultation | |
n.咨询;商量;商议;会议 | |
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42 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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43 velvet | |
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的 | |
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44 surmounted | |
战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上 | |
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45 grooms | |
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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46 retinue | |
n.侍从;随员 | |
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47 monks | |
n.修道士,僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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48 appellation | |
n.名称,称呼 | |
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49 rugged | |
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
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50 mule | |
n.骡子,杂种,执拗的人 | |
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51 equestrian | |
adj.骑马的;n.马术 | |
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52 azure | |
adj.天蓝色的,蔚蓝色的 | |
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53 elasticity | |
n.弹性,伸缩力 | |
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54 savages | |
未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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55 scouring | |
擦[洗]净,冲刷,洗涤 | |
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56 joust | |
v.马上长枪比武,竞争 | |
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57 flaunting | |
adj.招摇的,扬扬得意的,夸耀的v.炫耀,夸耀( flaunt的现在分词 );有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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58 conspicuous | |
adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的 | |
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59 participation | |
n.参与,参加,分享 | |
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60 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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61 antagonist | |
n.敌人,对抗者,对手 | |
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62 tilt | |
v.(使)倾侧;(使)倾斜;n.倾侧;倾斜 | |
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63 putrid | |
adj.腐臭的;有毒的;已腐烂的;卑劣的 | |
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64 abode | |
n.住处,住所 | |
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65 invalid | |
n.病人,伤残人;adj.有病的,伤残的;无效的 | |
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66 serpentine | |
adj.蜿蜒的,弯曲的 | |
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67 swampy | |
adj.沼泽的,湿地的 | |
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68 knolls | |
n.小圆丘,小土墩( knoll的名词复数 ) | |
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69 destitute | |
adj.缺乏的;穷困的 | |
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70 shrub | |
n.灌木,灌木丛 | |
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71 gallop | |
v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔;飞速发展 | |
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72 eminence | |
n.卓越,显赫;高地,高处;名家 | |
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73 abodes | |
住所( abode的名词复数 ); 公寓; (在某地的)暂住; 逗留 | |
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74 pertaining | |
与…有关系的,附属…的,为…固有的(to) | |
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75 ascending | |
adj.上升的,向上的 | |
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76 stony | |
adj.石头的,多石头的,冷酷的,无情的 | |
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77 comely | |
adj.漂亮的,合宜的 | |
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78 sobbing | |
<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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79 contingent | |
adj.视条件而定的;n.一组,代表团,分遣队 | |
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80 adversary | |
adj.敌手,对手 | |
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81 treacherously | |
背信弃义地; 背叛地; 靠不住地; 危险地 | |
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82 shaft | |
n.(工具的)柄,杆状物 | |
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83 cleft | |
n.裂缝;adj.裂开的 | |
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84 slaughtered | |
v.屠杀,杀戮,屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85 ram | |
(random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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86 mawkish | |
adj.多愁善感的的;无味的 | |
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87 profusion | |
n.挥霍;丰富 | |
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88 hospitable | |
adj.好客的;宽容的;有利的,适宜的 | |
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89 attentive | |
adj.注意的,专心的;关心(别人)的,殷勤的 | |
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90 grovelling | |
adj.卑下的,奴颜婢膝的v.卑躬屈节,奴颜婢膝( grovel的现在分词 );趴 | |
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91 varnished | |
浸渍过的,涂漆的 | |
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92 fables | |
n.寓言( fable的名词复数 );神话,传说 | |
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