98 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap. 



secretary, in spotless khaki uniform, mounted on two 

 fine grey ponies ; we four travellers in dress-clothes 

 and pumps, with felt hats and ulsters, riding four sorry 

 mules, which required much beating to get them along. 

 Accompanying us were Mr. Beru, the Abyssinian 

 interpreter to the Agency, and a Dr. Martin, who had 

 been taken as a child by our troops from iNIagdala after 

 the siege, was brought up and educated in India, and 

 is now a civilian surgeon in Government employ in 

 Burma. He had come here on leave, to see if he 

 could get employment in the land of his birth. Lead- 

 ing the way were two smart Indian sowars, while two 

 more brought up the rear of the little calvacade. We 

 left the British Agency compound at 3.20 p.m., and, 

 pushing along as quickly as possible (for we were 

 rather late), reached the outer stockade of the Gebi 

 just before four o'clock. After passing- through the three 

 muddy and untidy courtyards, filled with loafing crowds 

 of followers, we dismounted at the gate of the last 

 enclosure and left our great - coats in charge of our 

 servants. The day was cold and windy, and w^e 

 shivered in our thin dress -suits, but were not kept 

 waiting long. His Majesty having the reputation of 

 great punctuality. In a few minutes a court functionary 

 came to summon us, and following him, we entered the 

 inner court. When we arrived at the audience hall 

 described above, we filed up the left-hand staircase. 

 At the back of the room we now entered, we saw a dais, 

 that occupied about half its breadth, and was raised some 

 four feet above the general level. It was covered, like 

 the floor in front of it, with gaudily coloured European 



