70 THEODORE II. AND THE 



and the right of asylum, and of caravans sometimes violated, all that 

 was necessary, according to the victor of Dureskie, was to return to 

 the ancient royal code {tariJca nagast), and apply it with unsparing 

 vigour. 



The cares of Theodore, in the early part of his reign, were divided 

 between judicial and religious reform. The chief necessity of Abys- 

 sinia was the security of the roads and of the rural districts in 

 general, infested, in every part, by plundering bands. A royal pro- 

 clamation, dated from the camp of Ambadjara, near Gondar (August, 

 1855), ordered "that every one should return to the profession of 

 his father, the tradesman to his shop, the peasant to his plough." 

 The edict was executed with Draconian rigour ; and things, other- 

 wise impossible in Abyssinia, began to shew themselves. The people 

 of Tisbha, incorrigible bandits, whose village occupies a counter-fort 

 of the mountain of Ifag, came to the camp of Theodore, armed to 

 the teeth, and demanded from the Negus the confirmation of their 

 right to exercise the profession of their fathers, recognised by David 

 the G-reat. " "What is this profession ?" asked the Negus without 

 distrust. " Highway robbers," they replied insolently. " Now 

 listen to me," said Theodore, surprised, yet calm, "your profession 

 is a perilous one, and agriculture is more profitable. Come down to 

 the plain and cultivate it : the Lamghe is the finest land in the em' 

 pire. I will give you oxen and ploughs myself." They were immov- 

 able. The Negus ending by saying, "Yes," and sent them away. 

 While returning, proud, as they thought, of having intimidated the 

 sovereign, they were joined on the road by a squadron of cavalry, the 

 leader of which clearly proved to them, that if David the Great had 

 authorized them by charter to live upon the highways, there was a 

 decree of one greater, the holy king Lalibela, who authorized the 

 police to cut down all robbers. Thus, not one remained, and, for 

 my part, I was not annoyed in the least when I came to make a stay 

 in Tisbha, in January and in May, 1863. 



The judicature was very depraved. There was at Gondar a kind 

 of supreme court, that of the twelve liJcuouent* for the preservation 

 of the code, which was co-extensive with the imperial authority. 

 Several traits of jocular venality are recorded of it, as that of lih 

 Asgo, who, having accepted a pot of honey from tbe plaintifij and a 

 mule from his adversary, and then, having favoured the latter, replied 



* Plural of lik, judge. 



