148 THEODORE II. AND THE 



back into barbarism ; among others are Gindjero, Gouraque, and Kaffa, whieli! 

 baa given its name to the precious bean which Europe continues to buy from it, 

 under the name of Mocha coffee. The Negus who had never resigned his claim 

 to any of the ancient dismembered parts of the Abyssiuian empire, had boldly 

 announced his intention, as soon as the civil disturbances were settled, of recon- 

 quering all those kingdoms almost nominal, Gindjero, Bahagamo and many 

 others, whose names vary in our maps at the will of a thousand suppositions, and 

 of making Kaffa and Enarea tributary to him. 



Meauwhile he confined bis attention to that portion of the Galla race, which 

 inserted like a wedge into the very heart of Abyssinia, formed a permanent 

 obstacle to territorial unity .• these were the Ouollos, who had been so rudely 

 tried six years before. After the death of Adara Bille, they had been organized 

 under the command of a former page of the Negus, young prince Bechio, whose 

 patriotism had overcome his feelings of gratitude. Bechio had availed himself 

 of the troubles of Tigre to ravage, without mercy, the christian provinces. 



Theodore, leaving Negousie, marched rapidly in 1861 to the river Bachilo, 

 gained some success, but suffered much from a petty warfare in which the 

 enemy, thanks to his excellent cavalry and to a ground unfavourable to the 

 invader, had the final blow. The Negus was obliged to retire to Debra-Labor. 

 His enormous army, dying with hunger and fatigue, strewed the road with the 

 sick and wounded. The Ouollos shewed to these unhappy men generosity which 

 naturally astonished them ; they collected, tended and fed the implacable enemies 

 who had just burned their villages and carried off the children. The Negus, 

 having but little gratitude for such a noble action on the part of the " barbarians,' 

 recruited his army quickly at Bachilo, entered again in 1862 the territory of the 

 Ouollos, destroyed them by a war of extermination, and advanced as far as 

 Mount-Rollo, dragging after him poor prisoners whose hands and feet he caused 

 to be cut off in cold blood. The greater part died from the effects of this horrible 

 mutilation. " This act was done very speedily," said a native priest to me : each 

 soldier seized a man and butchered him as he would a sheep. Nothing so 

 atrocious had ever been witnessed before in Abyssinia. 



Whea Theodore II. repassed Bachilo, he left behind him nothing but a bloody 

 desert, covered with ruins, and traversed by some large bands, the remains of a 

 great people who had formerly played their part in the great drama of the world's 

 history. Vengeance was satisfied. The women and children had been divided 

 among the soldier's, who sold them to the Mussulmans ; therefore, in the month of 

 May of this year, Metamna, the great market of slaves on the Egyptian frontier, 

 was abundantly supplkd. The men were carried far into the interior of the 

 Empire and employed in the construction of roads. These roads are almost the 

 only substantial benefit whicV the Negus has conferred upon Abyssinia. Already 

 before this he had caused to be 'auilt a portion of a read near Drea-Tabor by way 

 of trial, and had employed soldiers upon it. On one occasion they murmured 

 and Theodore seeing this threw ofi the embroidered gown which he used as a 

 cloak, quickly seized a heavy stone and carried it to the side of the road. 

 " Now," said he, " let him who is too no\)le to do as I, tell me so." There is no 

 necessity of saying whether his example was followed. Afterwards, when the 



