228 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap. 



and that they had done so without fighting? Were 

 they a stronger nation than the ItaUans ? It struck me, 

 that some of these questions he could answer himself, 

 and that they were put merely to see if I spoke the truth 

 or not. 



He then asked me the size of London as compared 

 with other capitals, how many churches and clergy we 

 had, how they were supported, and what were the names 

 of English churches. " Did the people go to them as 

 the Abyssinians did, and had we an archbishop?" were 

 some among the numerous questions put to me. Many 

 of the answers seemed to surprise him, and I think in 

 the end most of those present were convinced that I must 

 be a Christian, though not quite up to the orthodox 

 standard of Habesh. 



After this, there was a long talk as to where I should 

 find shikar on my road, and it was finally arranged that 

 I should come up for a farewell interview next morning, 

 after the mules had left. That evening a further supply 

 of provender arrived. 



On the morning of 25th March, as soon as the 

 caravan was started, I went up the hill, and, skirting 

 round the stockade to the left, crossed some rough 

 ground in order to visit the new church which the Ras had 

 been building for the last three years. The Holy of 

 Holies was a massive square structure of stone, set in 

 mud and bound together with heavy wood ties. The 

 outer circular wall of the church was built in a similar 

 manner, with very massive door- and window-frames. 

 Outside this was a ring of pillars to carry the beams, 

 forming: the usual verandah. The Ras, who was attend- 



