viii MONSIEUR ILG 73 



obtained a year's leave from the I'lmperor. This gentle- 

 man, an engineer by profession, has spent some twenty- 

 six years in Abyssinia, where he originally came to seek 

 his fortune. By hard work, and a natural capacity for 

 adapting himself to his surroundings, he has proved 

 himself so useful to the Emperor that no affiiir of State 

 is decided upon without his advice. lie is Councillor 

 of State for Foreign Affairs ; and all matters affecting 

 Menelik's relations with European po\vers pass through 

 his hands. Rumour says that, when the Emperor was 

 inclined to give way to Italy's demands, M. Ilg, being 

 convinced that this would mean the entire subjugation of 

 Ethiopia, counselled Menelik to fight, in the belief that 

 he could successfully meet the troops Italy had in the 

 held. Although M. Ilg has obtained some x'aluabK; 

 concessions for himself, notably the railway from Jibuti 

 to Harrar, and another for gold mining, I heard on all 

 sides how well he guards the Emperor's interests, and 

 how fairly he exercises his influence, considering the 

 difficult position he holds. We had a few minutes' 

 conversation, in the course of which he told us that the 

 Emperor was expecting us, and that we might rely on 

 receiving his permission to go to Rudolf to shoot; on 

 the other hand, he confirmed the news of the drought 

 and famine on the Omo. 



After a halt of nearly two hours, we moved on to 

 Chaffe Dunsa, which is one of the regular stopping- 

 places for caravans to and from the capital, where we 

 rested at mid-day under some trees. I felt very seedy, 

 the result of the sour native bread and a chill. We 

 marched again in the afternoon, and, long after dark. 



