CHAPTER X 



Menelik's palace — The Emperor receives us — He grants us leave to travel 

 — A natural history book — His military power — His attention to 

 details — How he snubbed a braggart — English and French visitors — 

 The Empress. 



Friday, 5th January, was the day on which the Emperor 

 had consented to receive us ; but before I proceed to 

 describe what took place on this occasion, it will be well 

 to make the reader acquainted with the locality and dis- 

 tribution of the Imperial premises. The low hill on 

 which the palace buildings stand is entirely surrounded by 

 an unclimbable stockade, consisting of a dwarf stone wall, 

 with upright poles built into it and laced together. The 

 whole of the lower part is protected with thorn bushes, in 

 addition to a row of sharply pointed stakes projecting 

 outwards. There are six principal gates, but the one to 

 the north-west, facing the market, is that in everyday use, 

 and when the Emperor is in the capital is thronged 

 from morning till night. The short, steep ascent to 

 this gate is roughly set with large blocks of slippery 

 stone, the door-sill consisting of a tree trunk, which 

 has to be climbed over ; within, a pathway paved with 

 flagstones runs down the middle of a narrow muddy 



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