Although we had found small reason to be flattered with our first reception in the kingdom of Shoa, at the hands of a Christian2 ruler who had sought alliance with Great Britain, it was nevertheless matter of notoriety that no previous visitors had, under any circumstances, been treated with one-hundredth part of the same courtesy and condescension3, or had experienced such unequivocal marks of confidence and favour. Formed on the most liberal scale, and supplied with all that was likely to add to its weight in such a country, the embassy was almost from the outset admitted to terms of perfect equality with the haughty4 despot, yet numberless diplomatic troubles were still interposed by the general ignorance of the many, and by the envy and jealousy5 of a few. No veil had been thrown over the deep-rooted enmity of the bigoted6 and powerful priesthood, who, to serve their own sinister7 purposes, cunningly contrived8 to construe9 the costly10 gifts of the British Government into tribute to the illustrious descendant of the house of Solomon; but the assertion carried its own refutation. In a weak moment Comus Unquies, “the king’s strong monk,” so far forgot the dignity due to his station, as to barter11 his bishop’s staff to the heretic Gyptzis for a pair of Birmingham scissors! European medicines had rescued three thousand patients from the jaws12 of death; and improved intercourse13 with the monarch14 finally dispelled15 the jealousy created in a suspicious breast by the treasonable designs imputed16 to the foreign visitors, who were found to have brought no king or queen in a box, and to entertain designs neither upon the sceptre nor upon the church of Ethiopia.
The opposition17 of inimical functionaries18 dressed in fleeting19 authority, exposed us to a train of persecutions, trifling20 perhaps in themselves, but amounting in the aggregate21 to more than martyrdom. Few of the commands issued were obeyed so much in the spirit as to the letter. Eshee, or Basanye (i.e. “Very well.”), although doubtless signifying assent22, did not always bring compliance23 with even the most trifling application for assistance. The king was too polished to say “No,” when he had inwardly resolved to do nothing; and an uneducated despot, who has never known any law but his own absolute will, and who lives for himself alone; who considers and claims as his property every thing in the country over which he wields24 the arbitrary sceptre, and whose only idea of wealth, power, and happiness, is centred in individual existence, can so ill understand the wants of others, that His Majesty25’s offences towards his guests, founded in Oriental suspicion, might rather be termed sins of omission26 than of commission.
Covetous27, and eager for novelties, Sáhela Selássie never fails to wish for every thing that comes under his observation, but, like a child with a new toy, soon weary of looking at the bauble28, though still vain of its possession, he casts it aside to be hoarded29 in the mouldy vaults30 of some distant magazine. The savage31 is the same under every possible form, and in every grade and position—the one stealing what he covets32, whilst another, seeking plausible33 pretexts34, obtains possession through low cunning and stratagem35. Among such a nation of beggars as the people of Southern Abyssinia, it was not always easy to satisfy the rapacity36 of fastidious extortioners. All wanted “pleasing things”—many demanded dollars to defray the cost of slaves that they had purchased, but for whom they could not pay; and for months after my arrival, requisitions for our own private property were unceasing on the part also of the monarch.
Neither compulsory37 measures nor direct applications were ever employed; but the means resorted to were not the less certain of success. With that duplicity and want of candour which ever marks uncivilised man, he was wont38 to send underhand communications, or meanly to depute his emissaries to reveal his desires and his intentions in a manner which, in so despotic a land, could leave no doubt of authenticity39; and an offer of the article coveted40 being forthwith made, His Majesty hesitated not, in the presence of his agents, to deny all cognisance of the transaction, or to swear by the saints that he never sought the property tendered for his acceptance. Persuasion41 would not induce him to receive it at once, and thus to terminate the matter; but no sooner had it been removed from his sight, than his creatures were again at work with even greater activity than before; and rude taunts42 of breach43 of promise, with not-to-be-mistaken hints, veiled under the cloak of friendship, were certain to instigate44 a second and a third offer, which invariably elicited45 an avowal46 of the disinclination entertained to “receive the property of his children,” but uniformly ended in his accepting it “as a free gift from the heart,” acknowledged in all gratitude47 by the benediction—“God restore it to thee, my son! May the Lord glorify48 and reward thee!”
Chief of all the sycophants49 who bask50 in the favour of the monarch, may be ranked Wulásma Mohammad, who, in finesse51, plausibility52, and the manifold specious53 devices that are employed to cover total want of sincerity54, can find no equal in the kingdom of Shoa. Lavish55 in professions of friendship, he never suffered to escape an opportunity of gratifying his inwardly-cherished animosity. Presents were frequently exchanged—the sugarcane and the bunch of green gram, which are the symbols of hearts knit together in the bonds of unity56, arrived with the same regularity57 as the week, coupled, of course, with a description of some “pleasing thing” that was not to be found in Góncho. The lemon, denoting by its aromatic58 fragrance59 the beauties of permanent amity60, was ever sure to follow the receipt of the desired article.
Professions daily grew more profuse61, and complimentary62 inquiries63, which constitute the very essence of friendship, waxed more and more frequent; but although the regard entertained “amounted even to heaven and earth,” and although every aid and assistance was volunteered, no packet of letters ever arrived to the address of the Gyptzis, neither did any courier ever depart for the sea-coast without being subjected to a tedious detention64 on the frontier at the hands of the despotic state-gaoler.
On the first of these occasions, the king, before sending the packet to the Residency, had taken the trouble of breaking the seal of every individual cover with his own royal fingers; and a protest having been entered against a procedure so utterly65 foreign to European ideas of propriety66. His Majesty inquired, with well-feigned simplicity67, “Of what use should my children’s letters be to me, who understand not their language?” Remonstrances68 were in like manner made to the Abogáz touching69 his interference in such manners; but as the crafty71 old fox screened himself behind total ignorance of the value attached to written documents, and volunteered better behaviour, the subject was set at rest.
But although letters were now thoroughly72 understood to be held in higher estimation even than fine gold from Guráguê, the evil, far from being abated73, became greater and greater, until at last it was no longer to be borne. Promises made, were made only to be broken; and a serious complaint was at last carried to the throne at Angollála, representing that another packet had been secreted74 during an entire fortnight in the fortified75 vaults of Góncho. After stoutly76 denying all knowledge of it, until convicted by incontrovertible evidence, and then declaring it to be deposited, for safety-sake, in the custody77 of his brother Jhália, who was absent on the frontier, the Wulásma was commanded to set out forthwith upon the quest, and to return at his peril78 empty-handed. “Our friendship has ceased for ever,” muttered the burly caitiff betwixt his closed teeth as he descended79 the ladder—“for through your means the king hath become wroth with his servant.” “Let his friendship go into the sea,” quoth His Majesty, who had overheard this appalling80 announcement—“Is not he an accursed Moslem81? Look only to me. Have I not always told you that my people are bad? Ye have travelled far into a strange land, and are to Sáhela Selássie even as his own children. Ye have no relative but me.”
The escape of the rebel Medóko had formerly82 led to the suspension of the Abogáz from rank and office for a period of two years, during which he danced attendance upon the monarch with shoulders bared, as is the wont of the disgraced noble. His troubles had now returned. “My ancestors owed a debt of gratitude to Mohammad’s father,” continued His Majesty, after a pause, “and I would fain overlook his faults; but this insolence83 is no longer to be borne. I have removed the drunkard from office, confiscated84 his goods and chattels85, and by the death of Woosen Suggud, I swear, that unless you intercede86, there can be no hope of his restoration to favour.”
Down came the ex-Wulásma in a furious passion, boiling with old hydromel, and flushed with his rapid ride:—“How should I know that you wanted these vile87 letters?” he exclaimed, throwing the packet scornfully upon the ground—“I have done nothing. What offence have I committed, that I am thus to suffer through your means?—There is a proverb, that ‘the dog of the house is faithful to its master, whereas he who cometh from beyond is worse than a hyena88.’”
But a week had wrought89 a wonderful change in the sentiments of the humbled90 grandee91, whose beeves were indeed grazing in the royal pastures, whilst his jars of old mead92 reposed93 in the royal cellars. He at whose sullen94 nod the subjects of Efát quailed95, and whose presence was as an incubus96 to the state-prisoners in Góncho, had been, at the representation of a foreigner, stripped of wealth and power, and, in accordance with the usage of the country, was now fain to wait during a succession of days upon those whom he had injured. Seating himself at the door of the tent in sackcloth and ashes, he sent in two friends, who came, according to the custom of the country, to serve as mediators. “Behold, I am reduced to the condition of a beggar,” was his abject98 message, “and have no support but in your intercession. My children are deprived of their bread, and they starve through the faults of their father.”
The Commander-in-chief of the Body-Guard was spokesman on behalf of the caitiff. He brought me, as a mamálacha, a huge Sanga horn, filled to the brim with the liquor that he loved, and ushered99 himself in with his customary string of complimentary enquiries, “Endiet aderachoon? Ejegoon dahenaderachoon? Dahena sanabatachoon? Dahena karamoon? Ejegoon dahena natchoon?” “How have you passed the night? Have you rested very well? Have you been quite well since our last interview? How have you spent the rainy season? Are you in perfect health?”
“Half the people of Hábesh,” he resumed, in his husky voice, when each of these points had been satisfactorily disposed of—“have ears like a hill, and they cannot hear—the residue100 are liars101. Furthermore, one-half are thieves and drunkards, and the remainder are cowards.” There was no refuting the arguments adduced in support of this position, and his eloquence102 proved quite irresistible103. A solemn oath was therefore administered upon the Korán, by which the suppliant104, who united in his own person all the attributes embraced in this able classification, became pledged never again to interfere70 with messengers bearing letters to or from the low country. His pardon was finally obtained; and he was once more invested with the silver sword of office: nor is it easy to determine whether the disgrace or the restoration of the fat frontier functionary105 created the greater sensation throughout the realm.
“What can you expect from that besotted old man?” inquired Ayto Melkoo, who had been a silent spectator of all that passed, and who hated both the Abogáz and his mediator97 with equal intensity106. “Did you never hear that the Negoos was once displeased107 with me, and that I passed a few months beneath the grates at Góncho; and furthermore, that when the royal order came to set me at large, the State-Gaoler was drunk, and never thought again of his prisoner for a full fortnight? Sáhela Selássie ye moot108! May the king die if it be not so!—the infidel may swear as long as he pleases, ay, and take his sacred book to witness; but how can you suppose that he will ever be able to think of these letters of yours?”
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1
tribulation
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| n.苦难，灾难 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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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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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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bigoted
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| adj.固执己见的，心胸狭窄的 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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8
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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construe
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| v.翻译，解释 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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barter
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| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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imputed
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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functionaries
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| n.公职人员，官员( functionary的名词复数 ) | |
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fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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21
aggregate
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| adj.总计的，集合的；n.总数；v.合计；集合 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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wields
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的第三人称单数 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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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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omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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bauble
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| n.美观而无价值的饰物 | |
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hoarded
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| v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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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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covets
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| v.贪求，觊觎( covet的第三人称单数 ) | |
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plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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pretexts
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| n.借口，托辞( pretext的名词复数 ) | |
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stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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rapacity
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| n.贪婪，贪心，劫掠的欲望 | |
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compulsory
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| n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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authenticity
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| n.真实性 | |
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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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41
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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42
taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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44
instigate
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| v.教唆，怂恿，煽动 | |
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45
elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
avowal
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| n.公开宣称，坦白承认 | |
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47
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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48
glorify
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| vt.颂扬，赞美，使增光，美化 | |
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sycophants
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| n.谄媚者，拍马屁者( sycophant的名词复数 ) | |
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50
bask
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| vt.取暖，晒太阳，沐浴于 | |
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finesse
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| n.精密技巧，灵巧，手腕 | |
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52
plausibility
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| n. 似有道理, 能言善辩 | |
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53
specious
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| adj.似是而非的；adv.似是而非地 | |
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54
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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aromatic
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| adj.芳香的，有香味的 | |
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fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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60
amity
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| n.友好关系 | |
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profuse
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| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
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complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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70
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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71
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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72
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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73
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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75
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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77
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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81
Moslem
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| n.回教徒，穆罕默德信徒；adj.回教徒的，回教的 | |
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82
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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83
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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84
confiscated
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| 没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
chattels
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| n.动产，奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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86
intercede
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| vi.仲裁，说情 | |
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87
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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88
hyena
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| n.土狼，鬣狗 | |
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89
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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90
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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91
grandee
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| n.贵族；大公 | |
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92
mead
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| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
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93
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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95
quailed
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| 害怕，发抖，畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
incubus
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| n.负担；恶梦 | |
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97
mediator
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| n.调解人，中介人 | |
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98
abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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99
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100
residue
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| n.残余，剩余，残渣 | |
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101
liars
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| 说谎者( liar的名词复数 ) | |
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102
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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103
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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104
suppliant
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| adj.哀恳的；n.恳求者，哀求者 | |
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105
functionary
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| n.官员；公职人员 | |
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106
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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107
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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108
moot
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| v.提出；adj.未决议的；n.大会；辩论会 | |
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