122 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap. 



members of which carried their rifles in red cloth bags. 

 We at once dismounted and saluted, but were uncertain 

 whether to follow him or not, as we had not been invited 

 to any function except the lunch. But our doubts were 

 soon set at rest by a master of the ceremonies, who 

 approached, and, making a way through the crowd, 

 conducted us, past a large circular tent pitched on 

 the plain, to the Emperor, who received us with a 

 gracious smile and placed us on his left, next to the 

 Chief Justice, who, owing to gout, was seated on a rug 

 on the ground. 



The Emperor was installed in a small state-chair, 

 with a carpet spread at his feet. He was dressed in 

 white trousers, brown, clocked socks, very large patent- 

 leather dress-shoes without laces, a long coat of green 

 silk with yellow stripes, and a black satin burnous 

 embroidered with gold down the front and the hood 

 lined with pink silk. In the left ear he wore a rose-cut 

 diamond stud. His head was bound with a piece of 

 white muslin, drawn tightly across the scalp, with the 

 edges rolled up and tied behind. On the top of this was 

 placed a large -crowned, broad -brimmed straw hat, 

 covered with gold leaf, the band dotted round with rubies 

 and sapphires. On the little finger of his left hand 

 gleamed a' gipsy - set diamond ring and another set 

 with a miniature watch. Over the Emperor was held a 

 red silk umbrella, heavily embroidered and fringed with 

 gold. On his right was seated the Abuna (archbishop) 

 Mathios, dressed in a black burnous, over whom an 

 attendant held a plain, red silk umbrella, which later on 

 was replaced by one much the same as the Emperor's, 



