NEW EMPIRE OF ABYSSINIA. 149 



Negus had employed the Gallas on these works, he formed a network of -well 

 made strategic roads, especially between Derra-Lahor and the river Abai. I can 

 bear witness in his praise that these Gallas, whose work-yards I have sometiuQes 

 Tisited, were well fed, regularly paid, saved money, and on the whole appeared 

 happy. 



The remainder of the year 1863 was devoted to fruitless operations at Godjam, 

 against the obstinate Tedla-Gualu, who, rendered strong by the sympathies of 

 the province, lived without anxiety upon the amba of Djibela, the ancient fortress 

 of Beurron Gocho or sugar-loaf, which, almost impregnable by nature, he had 

 also fortified. Djibela, surrounded by abysses, communicated with the neigh- 

 bouring plateau only by a very low path, in which only two men could walk 

 abreast, and above it were suspended three or four enormous rocks secured by 

 strong chains. Tedla had facetiously given them names from the calendar of the 

 Saints. "If ever the Ruaranga, said he, leads his troops into this path, I will 

 ■not fire a shot at him : it will be sufiicient to let loose Saint Michael in order to 

 sweep everything within 500 feet into the precipice." This country, oflfering no 

 great attractions in a military point of view, coincided, however, for the Negus 

 with circumstances which were destined to have a great influence over his future. 



I enter here upon a series of events much more delicate to relate as I have 

 been led to play a part in them which has not always been voluntary. The 

 reader will understand without diflSculty the repugnance which I feel in dwelling 

 upen these remembrances, and the feelings of propriety which oblige me merely 

 to mention facts rather than explain them. Summoned in 1862 to represent the 

 French government at Gondar and to carry out in Abyssinian affairs a policy full 

 of sympathy for the Ifegus, I arrived eight months afterwards at the court of 

 Theodore, who gave me a brilliant reception and did not conceal the joy which he 

 derived from this ofiicial proof of the good intentions of France. He had just 

 received a no less flattering proof of those of England. The foreign office, after 

 much hesitation, had resolved on appointing a successor to the skilful and unfor- 

 tunate Plonden. It had ch(«en, from many worthy applicants, an officer of the 

 Indian army, captain Duncan Cameron, who had become familiar with the East 

 through his resid ence at the consular post of Poti on the Black Sea, and who was 

 full of good will for the Negus and the new empire of Abyssinia. Theodore had 

 received him well, had assured him of his esteem for England, for France and 

 their sovereigns ; then he had spoken of the Emperor Napoleon III. as being 

 Wrongly prejudiced against him, and of his desire of forming closer relations 

 with the French government. Learning that Mr. Cameron had a French traveller 

 for a Secretary, he intrusted to him a very courteous and suitable letter for the 

 Emperor, and sent him away as soon as possible. Theodore II. has been accused 

 of thoughtlessuftSB in confiding such a message to an unknown tourist ; but the 

 Negus, after the provocations and the insults with which he had harassed Egypt, 

 feared that if Abyssinian envoys should enter the Egyptian territory, they would 

 be ill-treated by the impure hands of the infidels, and he knew that on the other 

 hand the European had nothing to fear. It was about this time that I arrived at 

 the court of the Negus, who received me, as I have said, very friendly, and 

 tJeaired me to accompany him in a new campaign which he was about to begin 



