ABYSSINIA. 



Cameron, on October 31, 1868, reported that 

 he had been received with all honor by Theo- 

 dore. Mr. Cameron committed the blunder of 

 refusing to accept the King's presents, although 

 he knew the refusal was of the nature of an 

 insult. "His Majesty," wrote the consul, 

 " made no reply for half an hour." On his 

 return from Abyssinia, January, 1863, Consul 

 Cameron was intrusted with a letter from 

 King Theodore to Queen Victoria, asking for 



a safe passage for his ambassadors. The King 

 stated that he wished an answer by Mr. Came- 

 ron, who would conduct his embassy to Eng- 

 land. This letter, received by Earl Russell, 

 February 12, 1863, was never answered. In 

 place of returning to Massowah with the 

 King's letter to Queen Victoria, and to his 

 consulate, Consul Cameron, March 31, 1863, 

 proceeded to some of the Turkish tribes on 

 the frontier, who were Theodore's bitter 



rn<\ 



A. i nnw/A \ 



enemies. He is accused of having spoken very 

 unadvisedly of the King of Abyssinia when on 

 this journey. On April 22, 1863, Earl Rus- 

 sell wrote to Consul Cameron, disapproving 

 his meddling in the affairs of Abyssinia, and 

 telling him he ought to have returned to Mas- 

 sowah when ordered to do so. Another and 

 sharper rebuke was sent to Consul Cameron 



by Earl Russell, on September 8, 1863, and he 

 was told to return to Massowah. Toward the 

 close of the year 1863, Mr. Cameron returned 

 to Gondar to the King of Abyssinia, without 

 any answer to the letter written by the latter to 

 the Queen. On Mr. Rassam's arrival in 1864,* 



* On Mr. Raseam, see ANNUAL CYCLOPAEDIA for 186T, p. 2. 



