Duf toil's Ahyssiiiiix 47 



inhospitable, but deceitful, lying, and insincere, a character which 

 unfortunately, seems only too well deserved. 



At Debra Tabor, Mr Dufton had an opportunity of forming a 

 personal opinion of the appearance and character of Theodorus, 

 King of the Kings of Ethiopia ; and his description would tend to 

 imply that his sable Majesty is not so black as he is painted. For 

 the following portrait the author is responsible : " His appearance 

 was that of a man of about forty-five, of middling stature, and 

 possessed of a well-knit but not over-powerful frame, conveying 

 more the idea of being tough and wiry than of strong physical 

 development. His complexion is dark, approaching to black, but 

 he has nothing of the negro about him. His features are altogether 

 those of a European. His head is well formed, and his hair is 

 arranged in large plaits, extending back from the forehead. The 

 forehead is high, and tends to be prominent. His eye is black, 

 full of fire, quick, and piercing. His nose has a little of the Roman 

 about it, being slightly arched and pointed. His mouth is perfect, 

 and the smile which, during the conversation, continually played 

 upon it was exceedingly agreeable, I may say fascinating. He has 

 very little moustache or beard. His manner was peculiarly pleasant, 

 gracious, and even polite, and his general expression, even when 

 his features were at rest, was one of intelligence and benevolence. 

 On the whole, the physiognomist would find no trace of fierce 

 passion, save in the lightning-glance of his eyes. I watched for the 

 keen shot of light coming from them at times, and reflected on 

 what he could be capable of, but they did not strike me as 

 treacherous eyes." 



If the above description be not overdrawn, it tends to confirm 

 the truth of the old adage respecting appearances, for it would 

 almost appear as if Mr Dufton had drawn his pen at a venture, and 

 produced a characteristic sketch of a Howard, a Wilberforce, or a 

 Peabody. The fact is — at least, we strongly suspect — that the 

 author was not a little thankful to have escaped the delicate atten- 

 tion of the amiable despot, and unintentionally (for throughout 

 the whole book there is a manifest impress of sincerity) he had 

 drawn too largely on a grateful memory in depicting the cold- 

 blooded tyrant who was capable of avenging the death of his 

 favourite, the Englishman Bell, on the field of battle, by the 

 mutilation of 1700 prisoners, whose hands and feet were chopped 

 off", and their bodies laid in a heap for wild beasts to devour. On 

 another occasion, we are told, after the suppression of a revolt in 



