152 THEODORE II. AND THE 



mountains of Lagado, 'where we entered the enemies country. The rebels appear- 

 ed terrified and incapable of fighting ; but the invaded country passively resisted, 

 trying to remain neutral in the contest, and refusing tribute and subsidies to 

 belligerent powers. Theodore, who had neglected the commissariat was obliged 

 to confess his error when there was no longer forage for his horses. He became 

 furious, ordered the whole country to be pillaged and the villages to be burned. 

 Two hours afterwards, 22 villages were in flames in the mountains of Lagado and 

 Abizan. A peasant was led to the Negus who, posted at the door of a church 

 where the people of the district had concealed their valuables, had defended the 

 sacred place with arms in his hands and had wounded a plunderer. He stated 

 that he had been charged by the Ifegus himself with the guarding of the church. 

 "Who is this wretch," said Theodore, "who uses my name to tell a falsehood ?" 

 And he ordered his hand to be cut off. Such severe acts exasperated the inhabi- 

 tants and did not assist the expedition. A numerous force, rushing forward to plun- 

 der the rich country of Araga, and scattering in order to rob, was surprised by 

 the insurgent cavalry, vigorously pursued and lost several hundred men. After 

 six days hesitation, the Negus ordered a retreat. The discontent of the army was 

 shewn by numerous desertions. Theodore beat the country with masses of 

 cavalry who slew without mercy all the soldiers who were caught in the flagrant 

 crime of flight. 



From this difficult situation a plot arose, the most formidable which had yet 

 threatened the power and the life of Theodore. Several noblemen of distinction 

 resolved to surprise the Negus while on one of those wild expeditions which he 

 sometimes made, especially at night, and put him to death. The chief of the con- 

 spirators was the Governor of the province of Alga, and he, unfortunately for 

 himself, had confided the secret to his wife. When he was mounting to rejoin the 

 imperial camp, his wife came and desired him to purchase for her a valuable robe 

 which she desired. Her husband refused, and his wife told him very coolly : 

 " You shall suffer for this !" This circumstance caused him no uneasiness. She 

 kept, however, her word, for some days afterwards she came to the Negus and re- 

 vealed to him all the details of the conspiracy. Theodore, more surprised than 

 alarmed, looked her in the eyes and said : " Nothing is ever done without seme 

 motive. What is it that has urged you to disclose that which dooms your hus- 

 band and your son to death ?" " I thought," said she, " that some one of the con- 

 spirators would discover the plot to you and that then mine would be irrevocably 

 lost. In disclosing it to you, I obtain the right of begging the life of one of them, 

 of my son, whom I love." Theodore dismissed her without making any promise. 

 On the first of March, 1863, at 5 o'clock in the evening, in the midst of a battalion 

 drawn up in square, 18 conspirators were brought before the Negus and had their 

 hands and feet cut off ; then a prohibition was made that they should not receive 

 any care, and they all died' after sufferings more or less prolonged. The eon of 

 the prefect of Alaza was spared no more than the others. 



This abortive plot darkened the soul of Theodore, and had doubtless some 

 influence upon the events of the next day the 2nd of March, That day, on absurd 

 suspicions which I have never been able to explain, I was arrested by the com- 

 mand of the Negus and put in irons, as well as the Naib of Arkiko. He remained 



