The hereditary1 provinces subject to Sáhela Selássie are comprised in a rectangular domain2 of one hundred and fifty by ninety miles, which area is traversed by five systems of mountains, whereof the culminating point divides the basin of the Nile from that of the Háwash. The Christian3 population of Shoa and Efát are estimated at one million of souls, and that of the Mohammadan and Pagan population of the numerous dependencies at a million and a half. Without including tribute in kind, the royal revenues are said to amount to about eighty or ninety thousand German crowns, accruing4 chiefly from import duties on slaves, foreign merchandise, and salt. The annual expenses of the state not exceeding ten thousand dollars, it is probable that His Christian Majesty6, during his long reign5 of nearly thirty years, must have amassed7 considerable treasure, which is carefully deposited underground, and not lightly estimated by its possessor.
Nearly in the centre of the kingdom presides Zenama Work, “the golden rain,” relict of Woosen Suggud, and mother of the reigning8 monarch9. The seat of her government, it has already been said, is at Zalla Dingai, “the rolling stone;” and she rules over nearly the whole of the north-west, or in fact over almost one half of the realm—appropriating in reversion to the crown the entire revenues of her dependent territories, and appointing her own governors with the royal approval. Judge in her own dominions10, her decisions nevertheless lie under appeal to the throne; and even as queen-dowager, she is debarred participation11 in certain privileges which form the exclusive prerogatives12 of her son, over whose mind she exerts an influence, compared by the people of Shoa to that which they believe the holy Virgin13 to exercise over the Redeemer.
Long tired of the world and of its vanities, the venerable lady has made numerous applications for permission to retire to a convent, and assume the veil, the royal entreaties14 to the contrary having alone delayed the execution of the design. Many years barren, she sought the benediction15 of the wandering “Wáto,” and her nuptial16 couch being shortly crowned by the birth of Prince Menilek, the happy event was ascribed to necromantic17 intervention18. Thus the tribe of the soothsayer is to this day left in peaceful occupation of its mountains on the bank of the wooded Háwash, whilst the destroying hand of the Amhára presses in wrath19 upon the head of the surrounding heathen.
Four hundred governors, styled Shoomant, are appointed under the crown of Shoa, and these with fifty Abogásoch, or guardians20 of the frontier, literally21 “fathers of war,” corresponding with the margraves of Germany in olden times, conduct the affairs of the kingdom and its dependencies. Some few of these appointments are hereditary; but the majority are purchased by the highest bidder22, and the tenure23 is at best extremely precarious24. A governor on his appointment is invested with a silver sword as a badge of office, and is bound to appear with his contingent25 of militia26, whensoever summoned for military service. His grants are regulated by the amount of his levy27; and as he rises in the royal estimation, so he receives badges also for subordinates, who may have distinguished28 themselves by their zeal29, activity, or valour.
No courtier or great man can, after a long absence, approach the throne empty-handed. Thousands of stern warriors30 bend down with profound and slavish abasement31 before the fellow-mortal who presides over their sublunary destinies; and even the nobles of the land twice prostrate32 themselves, and kiss the dust in a manner the most abject33 and humiliating. All public officers make oblations from time to time in kind; and the king is, besides, in the habit of requiring arbitrarily from those in charge of districts, tribute in honey, clarified butter, cloth, or whatever else he may happen to require. Weak, and at the same time cunning—suspicious of every one, and placing not the smallest confidence in any of his functionaries—he sometimes precipitates34 them from affluence35 into a dungeon36, when they believe themselves in the enjoyment37 of the largest share of favour. Resolved to disgrace a nobleman, he either sends for or visits the doomed38 personage, treats him with marked kindness and condescension39, in view to dispel40 alarm; and embracing a favourable41 moment when no resistance can be offered, gives the fiat42 to those in attendance to secure their prisoner.
If not retained by fees and oblations, governments are constantly forfeited43 and resold. Frequent changes are also made with the design of counteracting44 collusion and rebellion. Although the power of the Negoos is absolute, it is subdivided45 amongst all who execute his orders, and little despots arise in all the numerous governors of provinces—each actuated by the same desire of being the executor of his own supreme46 will. Still they bear a heavy responsibility, and the slightest error in judgment47, or, even in the absence of all delinquency, the mere48 whim49 of the monarch, may involve them in destruction when least anticipated. Accountable for every event, whether probable or improbable, assiduity in the management of affairs does not always avail. Talents and bravery are sometimes displayed in vain, and mere caprice may hurl50 the possessor of both from his high estate to the deepest ruin and disgrace.
Armed with the delegated authority of the despot, each governor, enacting51 the autocrat52 in his own domains53, fashions his habits and privileges after those of his royal master. His fields are cultivated in the same manner, and he possesses the advantage of being able to extort54 from the inhabitants, for a very inadequate55 compensation in grain, many days of extra labour in each of the great agricultural operations. A fluctuating tribute in kind, regulated by his will and caprice, is exacted from all land-holders, to meet the demands of His Majesty, who, in addition to an inauguration56 fee of from four to six hundred dollars, is, unless voluntary offerings be frequently made, ever sending requisitions for live stock and farm produce. This system falls heavily upon all classes. A governor trusting to his own resources is speedily impoverished57; whilst he who taxes too roughly is certain to be stripped of authority and property, on representation made to the throne.
But the Abyssinian is never loth to climb up again whence he has fallen, and the humbled58 grandee59, although impoverished and shunned60 by the servile crowd, strives again to ingratiate himself with his sovereign—frequently succeeds by long and patient attendance, and once more girded with the silver sword of authority, he attains61 that perilous62 and giddy pinnacle63, where the weapon of destruction hangs over his head suspended only by a single hair.
The essence of despotism pervading64 the land to its very core, the Negoos is the true God of its adoration65. All the best portions of the soil pertain66 to His Majesty, and the life as well as the property of every subject is at his sole and absolute disposal. Every act is performed with some view to promote his pleasure, and the subject waits on his sovereign will, for favour, preferment, and place. All appointments are at the king’s disposal—all rewards and distinctions come from the king’s hand. In years of famine, food itself is only to be obtained from the royal granaries; and it is not therefore surprising that those over whom one so absolute presides should be mean, servile, and cringing67, and that they should, in their aspirations68 after power and place, mould every action of their life according to his will.
Concealment69 of any acquisition, howsoever small and valueless, is invariably visited with loss of office and confiscation70 of property. Gold forms the exclusive privilege of royalty71. Personal ornaments72 and coloured raiment have until now been restricted by the severest sumptuary laws, and none, except the highest chiefs and warriors of the land, were ever honoured by an exemption74 from the rule. But these harsh prohibitions75, which exist under no other government in Abyssinia, originated long before the present reign, and have been enforced during so many generations, that they are now little irksome to the people.
Shoa has hitherto stood exempt73 from the unceasing endeavours to acquire ascendancy76 on the part of all the various chieftains who divide the sceptre in the north—allied to-day in bonds of the closest amity77, the next arrayed in the most bitter animosity. Engaged in perpetual strife78, the march of any one prince beyond the border of his own territories proves the signal to the nearest of his neighbours to carry fire and sword into the heart of his undefended domain; but although torn by civil war from one extremity79 to the other, the bond of the ancient Ethiopic empire is still not entirely80 dissolved; and notwithstanding that the “king of kings” has dwindled81 into the mere spectre of imperial dignity—is deposed82 and restored to the throne at the caprice of every predominant ruler—his name at least is deemed essential to render valid83 the title of Ras, and through the latter, of the governors of all the dependent provinces of Abyssinia.
But herein the King of Shoa forms an exception; and fortunate it is for His Majesty as well as for his dominions, that the surrounding Galla tribes, united with natural defences, should have so completely shut him out from participation in the intestine84 disturbances85 which have ravaged86 and laid waste every other province of this beautiful and once prosperous land. Although he propitiates87 the leader of every party, and pursues a conciliatory policy, it would be in his power to mediate88 with a high hand for the advantage of all; yet is it curious to observe with what tenacity89 the Abyssinians adhere to preconceived opinions. The kingdom of Shoa, which was formerly90 a portion of the empire, still continues in general estimation to form an integral part thereof; and Sáhela Selássie is therefore, but in name only, regarded as a vassal91 of the puppet Emperor of Gondar, notwithstanding that he is, de facto, an independent monarch.
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1
hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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4
accruing
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| v.增加( accrue的现在分词 )；（通过自然增长）产生；获得；（使钱款、债务）积累 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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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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amassed
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| v.积累，积聚( amass的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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prerogatives
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| n.权利( prerogative的名词复数 )；特权；大主教法庭；总督委任组成的法庭 | |
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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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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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15
benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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nuptial
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| adj.婚姻的，婚礼的 | |
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necromantic
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| 降神术的，妖术的 | |
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intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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19
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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20
guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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bidder
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| n.(拍卖时的)出价人，报价人，投标人 | |
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tenure
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| n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期 | |
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precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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contingent
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| adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队 | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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levy
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| n.征收税或其他款项，征收额 | |
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28
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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30
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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31
abasement
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| n.滥用 | |
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32
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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34
precipitates
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的第三人称单数 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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affluence
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| n.充裕，富足 | |
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dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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40
dispel
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| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
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41
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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42
fiat
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| n.命令，法令，批准；vt.批准，颁布 | |
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43
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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44
counteracting
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| 对抗，抵消( counteract的现在分词 ) | |
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45
subdivided
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| 再分，细分( subdivide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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47
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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48
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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49
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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50
hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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51
enacting
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的现在分词 ) | |
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52
autocrat
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| n.独裁者；专横的人 | |
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53
domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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54
extort
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| v.勒索，敲诈，强要 | |
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55
inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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56
inauguration
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| n.开幕、就职典礼 | |
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57
impoverished
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| adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化 | |
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58
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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59
grandee
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| n.贵族；大公 | |
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60
shunned
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
attains
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的第三人称单数 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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62
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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63
pinnacle
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| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
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64
pervading
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的现在分词 ) | |
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adoration
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| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
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66
pertain
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| v.(to)附属，从属；关于；有关；适合，相称 | |
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cringing
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| adj.谄媚，奉承 | |
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aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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69
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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70
confiscation
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| n. 没收, 充公, 征收 | |
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71
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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72
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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73
exempt
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| adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者 | |
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exemption
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| n.豁免，免税额，免除 | |
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75
prohibitions
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| 禁令，禁律( prohibition的名词复数 )； 禁酒； 禁例 | |
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ascendancy
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| n.统治权，支配力量 | |
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77
amity
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| n.友好关系 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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80
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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81
dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
deposed
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| v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证 | |
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83
valid
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| adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的 | |
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84
intestine
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| adj.内部的；国内的；n.肠 | |
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85
disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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86
ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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87
propitiates
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| v.劝解，抚慰，使息怒( propitiate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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88
mediate
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| vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成 | |
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89
tenacity
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| n.坚韧 | |
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90
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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91
vassal
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| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
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