94 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap, x 



yard, reminding one of a street in Pekin. It is flanked 

 on either side by a range of low, tliatched buildings, 

 while at the further end a narrow door gives access to 

 a larger yard lying to the west, and across which the 

 paved road runs diagonally to another door leading- to 

 a third courtyard. After crossing this, one dismounts 

 and leaves one's pony and escort in the shadow of the 

 Hall of Justice, where the Emperor or the Affar Negus 

 (Lord Chief Justice) sits as supreme judge of appeal. 

 A doorway in the wall of the courtyard, close to this 

 building, leads into a small, neatly kept court ; to the 

 right is the Saganet, or clock-tower, from the side of 

 which a short passage between high walls leads to the 

 Aderash or great hall. Facing the clock (which has 

 long ceased to go) is the hall of audience, the open front 

 of which is raised some height above the ground and 

 approached by two wooden staircases. 



The room is about 20 feet square. Towards the back, 

 on the left, a private exit opens on to a flight of steps ; at 

 the bottom of this a path leads past several terraces, 

 which were being laid out with flower-beds and fountains, 

 to the private apartments of the palace. In general 

 aspect this building resembles a Swiss chalet, while the 

 ornamentation — more especially the wood -carving — is 

 distinctly Indian in style. It is of octagonal form, and 

 two storeys high ; round the upper one runs a partly 

 closed-in balcony, which, towards the east, is connected 

 by a covered gallery with an unfinished stone tower. 

 The Empress's apartments are situated on the southern 

 side of the main portion and include a square summer- 

 house, built upon an artificial mound, so as to be on the 



