RAINS A T AD IS ABABA 



173 



fallen tent partly put up. Then we visited the stables. Only two 

 horses had got wet, but the Honorary Attache's mules stood outside in 

 nearly a foot of water. We made room for them under cover. 



It was during the hammering of the tent-pegs, and the setting up of 

 the fallen tent, that we were struck with the usefulness of Powell-Cotton, 

 and decided to add him to the staff. Assuming a commanding attitude, 

 a lamp in one hand, and the other waving like a semaphore, tirelessly, 

 he issued his orders in a firm, sharp English voice, to a crowd of 

 shivering Abyssinians ; the words they did not all understand, but the 

 attitudes, the je ne sais qiioi of the militiaman on the job, left no 



The British agency, Adis Ababa. 



Photo by Lieut. -Col. Harrington. 



doubt in the minds of the poor savages as to the intentions of the 

 terrible officer, should they fail to carry out his orders quickly. 



The kitchen fires had, of course, been put out, and a pond, inches 

 deep, held the place of the floor. One of the store-room doors, 

 padlocked through an iron hasp, had been blown in by the force of the 

 gale. The whole compound had become a swamp. 



At nine o'clock we dined off tinned soup, sardines, and cold plum- 

 pudding. Afterwards we assembled in my tucul, and consoled our- 

 selves with hot toddy. Five grains of quinine were served out to all 

 hands. By this time the storm was over, but the roofs continued to 

 drip, and outside all was marsh. 



This morning we heard that the following casualties occurred : — 



Two men who tried to cross on mule-back a small trickle, which 

 separates the palace from Mons. Ilg's, were carried away and drowned, 

 mules and all complete. 



