xvii ARRIVAL OF A DIVISION 179 



Jibuti was shorter and safer, and that supplies were more 

 easily obtainable there than on the long route north, 

 which was not suitable for such a distinguished Minister 

 and his suite. As my leave had not been stopped, it 

 seemed more than ever desirable that I should carry out 

 my plans if possible. The same mail brought the news 

 from Europe that the Emperor Menelik had left the 

 capital with a huge army, his destination being unknown, 

 but it was believed that, after being joined by his vassals 

 from the north, he intended striking a blow beyond the 

 frontier. This is the usual style of intelligence that it 

 apparently pays some persons to telegraph home about 

 the Emperor. 



On the day arranged for my start half my muleteers 

 did not turn up, and those that did had not brought their 

 flour, which they said was being ground and would be 

 ready that evening, so that my start had to be put off 

 another day. On this day a division of the Abyssinian 

 army, some 3000 strong, marched in and camped on 

 the plain not far from the Agency. They had been 

 quartered in the new provinces towards the Omo, but, 

 finding it impossible any longer to draw food from the 

 country owing to the famine, their commander had 

 decided to return to Adis Ababa and report to Menelik 

 that, if he was to continue to occupy the territory, he 

 must raid the neighbouring tribes for supplies. By 

 bringing the greater part of his army with him he 

 ensured a favourable hearing. They were a motley 

 looking lot, quite as many women as men, for no 

 Abyssinian army will travel without its women. The 

 commander's circular, umbrella-like tent, made of thick 



