XX A/y MKX A RE I-EA S TED 2 1 1 



man and Adarar, attired in their best, with the Em- 

 peror's letter to Tecla Ilaymanot, and to announce my 

 arrival. On my return to camp, while awaiting my 

 messengers I looked over the skins, and found that 

 Hussein had been neglecting his work. When I came 

 on one skin, which had turned green from not having 

 been spread out, 1 fairly lost my temper and threw the 

 skin at the offender, who, muttering something, snatched 

 up a spear, Avhen the other Somalis sprang on him and 

 disarmed him. I was for handing him over to the 

 authorities to send back to Adis Ababa, but his tribes- 

 man, Ali, begged so hard for him, that, in consideration 

 of his faithful services on a previous trip, I forgave him. 

 Presently, my headman, Nasser, returned from the palace 

 with the news that both King Tecla Haymanot and 

 Queen Wisseron Lacutch were away, the former being 

 still in the field against the Gallas to the west, while the 

 latter was then on her way back to the capital, and was 

 expected in a couple of days. Fitaurari Notoro, the 

 civil governor of the town, had however sent the letter 

 on to the king's camp, and asked that I would come and 

 see him in the morning, as his orders were not to quit 

 the palace compound. Later on, his steward came down 

 with a string of female slaves carrying the usual pro- 

 visions, including four thin wax candles, 22 inches 

 long, and several jars of tej. I sent them all away 

 delighted with the present of a salt each. At night- 

 time my men had a great drinking-bout, and the noise 

 they made, added to the attack of a legion of fleas, gave 

 me but little chance of getting any sleep. 



Soon after nine next morning, some men came down 



