CHAP. X VISIT THE EMPEROR 97 



same level as the first floor ; the privacy of this part of 

 the palace is ensured by high stone walls built out from 

 the main building. 



Returning to the main entrance gate, and turning to 

 the north-east, we pass on the left a series of yards, in 

 which are situated the different workshops, including the 

 blacksmiths' and carpenters', also stores of all sorts ; next 

 these comes the brew-house, where all the tej, tala, and 

 araki are prepared for the royal household. Close to this 

 stands the largest store-house — a stone building of two 

 floors, roofed with tiles ; in this are kept the Emperor's 

 more perishable treasures. Beyond lies the woodyard, 

 filled with beautifully built stacks of fuel and thatching- 

 grass, besides piles of building timber. On the right lie 

 the royal gardens, containing many European fruit-trees 

 and vegetables of all sorts ; in these, it is said, the 

 Emipress takes a special interest. It is, presumably, 

 the narrow steep paths of this garden that an imagina- 

 tive French writer described as the Emperor and 

 Empress's favourite bicycling ground! Lying next the 

 woodyard is a paddock, which is entered by a gate in 

 the main stockade ; from its further end a lane leads 

 to the Emperor's private chapel. 



There had been a heavy fall of rain during the 

 previous night, so there was every prospect of a wet 

 ride to the palace. Menelik usually grants audiences 

 at an early hour in the morning, but having heard that 

 Captain Harrington does not, as a rule, rise before 

 dawn, he now receives English visitors in the afternoon. 

 We were a party of six : Captain Harrington, H.B.M.'s 

 Agent at the court of Menelik, and Mr. Baird, his 



