AJV ILL-MANNERED RULER 



at Dedjatch Cubudda s village, turned up and told me 

 he did not think I should get a guide that day, as 

 the local Shum was away and Dedjatch Merrit had 

 no intention of helping me. There was therefore 

 nothing for it but to unpack and pitch camp again. 

 Later on, however, a message was sent to my headman 

 that the Dedjatch wanted a magazine -pistol. Other 

 messengers were also sent to say he wished to see me, 

 but I made excuses till the evening, when, on the third 

 summons, I once more climbed the hill. On my asking 

 why no guide had been sent, he said none of his men 

 knew the way, and that he was a military commander 

 and not a Shum (civilian governor) ; however, one 

 should be provided without fail next day. He then 

 asked me in a mocking tone if I intended getting 

 provisions for my men at Metemmeh, at which there 

 were roars of laughter from his followers. It was not till 

 long after that I understood the point of this exquisite 

 joke, when I learnt that the garrison at Metemmeh 

 were short of grain, and were themselves dependent 

 on the Nagadis from Gondar for a supply. Merrit had 

 been amusing himself by stopping every caravan he 

 could lay hands on, under the mistaken idea that, if he 

 could cut off the supply, the garrison at Metemmeh 

 would have to be withdrawn. Both Britain and Abys- 

 sinia claim this place, but, till the settlement of the 

 frontier line, it was mutually agreed that the Egyptian 

 troops should garrison the fort over which the British 

 and Egyptian flags fly, while the Abyssinian flag is 

 planted a little way off. As the Abyssinians have no 

 commissariat arrangements of their own — every man in 



V 



