vI ad VISIT TO RAS MAKUNAN OF HARAR, 1893 159 
with a soft answer, I said, ‘This is also an English custom, to 
do you honour”; and so we parted, shaking hands; and I 
marched back my own men to my camp, and Banaguttsé crossed 
the valley to his zeriba, followed by his little army, 
In the afternoon an Abyssinian named Gabratagli came to 
me with a small escort, having just arrived from Darima, a 
village in the highlands about a day’s march distant. He was 
an agent of Menelek, and had been appointed to inspect routes 
and regulate caravan fees. He reported that Ras Makunan 
had just arrived at Harar after his visit to Shoa, but had not 
yet had time to hear of my coming. Gabratagli had, however, 
heard of it, and had come in haste from Darima to bid me 
welcome to the country on his own responsibility, as he knew 
of my correspondence with the Ras at Gildessa last year, and 
of Makunan’s wish to know British officers. Gabratagli be- 
haved with great courtesy, and assured me that Ras Makunan 
would be delighted to hear that I had come at last. He said 
that the people on the frontier were all mad, and suspicious of 
the English, but that now he had come all would go well with 
me. Gabratagli and his friends finished my small stock of 
whisky and cigarettes; and cheered by the comforts of my 
table, became very friendly and communicative. 
It appears that Banagusé is a Zaurari, or “ general command- 
ing the advance guard.”! He is in some ways an able man, 
1 The following titles were explained to me by an Abyssinian, and, though 
I eannot vouch for their accuracy of spelling, I jot them down :— 
Negisa Negust, the Emperor ; literally the “king of kings.” 
Negis, King. 
Ras-Bitédet and Rds, high titles ranking next to Negis. 
Dejasmatch, General of Division. 
Kanyasmatch, General of the Right. 
Gerasmatch, General of the Left. 
Fi Tauravi, General of the Advance. 
Balanbaras, Commandant of a fortress. 
Turk Basha, General of Artillery. 
Yeshi Alaka, Chief of a thousand. 
The combined camp of a large Abyssinian army is so arranged that the 
Emperor and various kings occupy the central camp. In front is that of 
several Rds, Dejusmatch, and Taurari ; to the right several Rds, Dejasmatch, 
and Kanyasmatch ; to the left several Rés, Dejasmatch, and Gerasmatch. 
Some idea of Ras Makunan’s importance as Governor of Harar may be 
gained from the fact that he has under him four Dejasmateh, eight Balanbaras, 
four Aunyasmatch, nine Gerasmatch, and five Lt Taurari. 
Any of the kings has apparently a chance of becoming Emperor. The 
present Emperor, Menelek, is also King of Shoa, 
