translate it into Arabic, the interpreter and Samuel then retranslating it to the Chief Scribe in Amharee.

Very early next morning (29th January) the King sent for them. They found His Majesty standing outside the royal pavilion, and after being welcomed, they were invited to enter. When all the attendants, except Ras Engada, the Chief Scribe, Samuel, and Mr. Rassam's Mahomedan Interpreter had been ordered to withdraw, the King again recounted his complaints regarding the misconduct of the European prisoners. He then expressed himself much pleased at having at last seen Mr. Rassam, and said that the friendly intentions of England towards himself had been proved by Mr. Rassam's patience and good conduct; and concluded by ordering the Chief Scribe to read the letter which he had written to Her Majesty. This letter, which was afterwards sent to Mr. Rassam to be translated into English, was to the effect that the King had forgiven the European prisoners and made them over to Mr. Rassam; but the exact contents were not at this time mac public.

The afternoon of the same day had been appointed for receiving the presents which Mr. Rassam had brought. He accordingly, about 5 P.M., brought the presents, and after making a suitable speech presented them to the King. His Majesty appeared much pleased, and, after making an appropriate answer, said that he accepted the gifts not for their value, but for the sake of the Giver, and in token of the renewal of friendship between himself and the British nation. Next morning (30th January) the King intimated to Mr. Rassam that he intended him to go to Korata where he was to wait till the prisoners should be brought from Magdala. Korata is a large town, situated on the extreme limit of the S. E. side of the lake Suna, at an elevation of about 6,000 feet above the sea; and the Emperor had chosen it as the residence of his visitors on account of the cool breeze from the lake, and because they could there pass their time in fishing and shooting. They afterwards found the climate of Korata neither very hot nor very cold, the temperature averaging 75° in the day and 55° at night, but they did not find it as invigorating as they expected.

His Majesty had determined to accompany them on their way for one or two stages, and accordingly marched that morning as far as Sakala, accompanied by the whole army, estimated at about 45,000 fighting men, with about an equal number of followers, male

and female. The whole army is divided into four divisions, which always encamp round the Court in separate regiments, the favourite division being placed on the right side of the King. Most of the troops on this occasion had not their tents with them, so that every day the soldiers had to build grass huts for themselves. These huts are constructed with wonderful rapidity and with great attention to order and neatness, the huts of the privates being arranged in a circle with the huts or tents of the Officers in the centre. Every time they march, though it be only for a mile or two, the soldiers set fire to their huts, so that on leaving a place hardly any trace of the encampment is left.

On the morning of the 31st they marched from Sakala to Bugata in the Metcha District. The King's tent was here pitched on the top of a high hill overlooking parts of the Districts of Damont and of Metcha. These unhappy districts are under the wrath of His Majesty for having proved rebellious, and consequently he has determined to destroy them and leave them a waste, as a warning to the disobedient.

For the first two days of the march Mr. Rassam and his companions had followed in the rear of the army. As the King found that they had been considerably inconvenienced by the crowding and turmoil of the troops, he on the third day (1st February) invited them to ride with him at the head of the army. The king rides most gracefully, and it was a fine sight to see the whole army following him at a rapid pace, stopping when he stopped, and turning to the right or the left as he turned, as though the movements of this great mass had been directed by machinery. Those who rode with His Majesty were Ras Engada, Mr. Rassam, Dr. Blanc, Mr. Prideaux, Samuel, and the King's arm-bearers. On the march the King showed himself extremely kind and hospitable, sending them rations from his kitchen, and directing their tents to be pitched near his own on a spot which he himself pointed out.

Next day (2nd February) they marched soon after sunrise, and about 1000 yards from the encamping ground came to the river Abai (the source of the Blue Nile). His Majesty crossed the river on foot, and made Mr. Rassam and his companions ride, but as Mr. Rassam's mule found it difficult to carry him up the opposite bank, which was steep, the King told him to dismount, and while he was trying to climb the bank, condescendingly caught him by the arm and pulled him up,

saying in Arabic "ibshin la takhaf," that is, "Be of good cheer, be not afraid." He then remained standing on the bank, till he saw the road made sufficiently good for the army to pass. This day they halted at Omka, where there was a tremendous shower of rain. The thunder and lightning were frightful.

Next day (3rd February) the march was in the direction of Agan Modar, the last District through which the Mission had passed before reaching the King. The King on this day conversed with Mr. Rassam on various topics-the American war; the Ashantee war; the barbarity of the king of Dahomey; and the government of Madagascar. He also said to him, "The reason I did not at first give you an answer was because since the death of Messrs. Plowden and Bell all the English and Franks who visited my country proved to me insincere, ill-mannered, ill-behaved, and ill-tempered. I said to myself I must not see this English Agent before I find out that he is of a different temperament from those who created a breach between me and your Queen, my Friend. Your patience in waiting so long for an answer convinced me of your worth, and now as you have happily established the renewal of friendship between my country and England, I wish you to carry to your Queen my Friend, and to her Council, my anxiety to cultivate the friendship of England, which I have been longing for ever since I ascended the throne of Abyssinia." This day's march brought them to Fugata, passing through the well-cultivated and peaceful country of Agan Mudar, and it was most cheering to see how well His Majesty protected the crops of his faithful subjects, sending parties commanded by officers to guard the corn fields and villages against the ravages of the soldiery.

Next day (4th February) the king had much conversation with Mr. Rassam, and ended by telling him that he proposed to send him next day to Karata, allowing him to choose whether he would stay at Karata or at Debra Tabor, till the prisoners arrived. And after he had returned to his tent, he sent Mr. Rassam a most polite note informing him that he had sent him some guns and pistols and also 5,000 German crowns to spend in any manner he wished, "except in a way displeasing to God." These presents Mr. Rassam was obliged to accept as be was told that it would displease the king if he refused them. Twice afterwards the king gave Mr. Rassam a present of 5,000 dollars for the same purpose, and with the same admonition.

The next day (5th February) they left for Karata and crossed the S. E. eastern side of the lake from Wandigat, and slept one night on the island of Dach. The Emperor afterwards came to Zazag on the S. W. side of the lake, and not more tham 10 miles from Karata by This was after he had destroyed the Districts of Damont and

water.

Metcha.

As Mr. Rassam and his companions were to await at Karata the arrival of the prisoners, the Emperor sent to Debra Tabor and brought his European artizans to keep them company. Orders for the release of Mr. Cameron and the other Prisoners, were given on the 29th of January, but they were not released till the 24th February owing to the difficulties of travelling. They arrived safely at Karata on the 12th March. Mr. Cameron was at first very weak but rapidly improved ; all the rest were in perfect health. 18 persons, including 3 children, were made over by the Emperor to Mr. Rassam to conduct to Aden, or to Egypt if they went viá Kharboum. The prisoners who were in chains at Magdala, were 4 English (one of them the wife of Mr. Rosenthal), 2 Germans, 2 Frenchmen, and 1 Italian; and the persons who were detained at Gaffat, near Debra Tabor, were six Germans (one of them the wife of Mr. Flad), and the three children of the latter.

During the whole of this time the Emperor treated Mr. Rassam with the greatest kindness and consideration. He would not allow him to make presents to any of the people of the Court who had been kind and civil, but said " keep your money for others of my people who render you service my friend, but if you wish to make any presents to those of my household, let me know the sum and I will pay it to them on your part." He, however, consented to allow him to invest those of his household with silk garments. He gave general orders that the servants of the Court should pay to Mr. Rassam the homage due to the representative of his Friend the Queen of England, and therefore when they presented themselves before him they always knelt and touched the ground with their foreheads. And when Mr. Rassam arrived by water at Karata, nearly 60 priests, dressed in canonicals, came out on the beach to meet him, bearing the symbols of the Abyssinian Church, chanting Psalms and praying for him. And this they did because the Emperor had commanded that they should receive Mr. Rassam with the same honours as they would

accord to himself. Every one, therefore, whether European or Abyssinian admitted that no sovereign could have been more attentive and gracious to the representative of a Foreign Government than Theodorus of Abyssinia was to Mr. Rassam.

The Emperor wished to see the released prisoners for the purpose of asking them before Mr. Rassam whether he was not right in what he did to them, in consequence of their misbehaviour. But Mr. Rassam fearing that their presence would irritate His Majesty, begged him to dispense with their presence. The Emperor accordingly agreed that Mr. Rassam should hold a court in his tent and have the charges read out to the released prisoners before all the European artizans of Gaffat, and before a number of the principal Abyssinian officers. The chief Amharee Scribe read out the charges. Then all the released prisoners confessed that they had done wrong, and begged that His Majesty, would forgive them as a fellow-Christian. And afterwards the Emperor wrote to Mr. Rassam and asked him to judge between him and the released prisoners: "If I have done them wrong, let me know, and I will remunerate them. But if you find them in fault, I will give them back my love." Further the Emperor ordered the translation of Her Majesty's letter and his answer thereto, to be read publicly by the chief Scribe. Then all heard what had been written in his letter. In the letter His Majesty asks that what has been done may be forgiven, and says, "In my humble position I am not worthy to address your Majesty, but illustrious princes and the deep ocean can bear anything. I being an ignorant Ethiopian hope that your Majesty will overlook my shortcomings and pardon my offences." And the letter ends thus: "Counsel me, but do not blame me, O Queen, whose Majesty God has glorified, and to whom He has given abundance of wisdom."

It was expected that Mr. Rassam and his party would leave after the Abyssinian Easter, which fell on the 8th April. But it was not certain what route they would take.