CHARGE OF THE STORES. 69 



Wans deserves no higher title. I can easily com- 

 prehend, therefore, the astonishing fact that after 

 flowing the short distance of two hundred and fifty 

 miles, the river Abi should be found by Dr. Beke 

 not more than three thousand feet above the level 

 of the sea, although flowing through a table land, 

 the general elevation of which exceeds nine thou- 

 sand feet. 



On the fourth morning of my stay at Angolahlah, 

 a page came from the King to desire Capt. Harris 

 to attend at the palace. Shortly after this was 

 complied with, another summons arrived for one of 

 the soldiers, who was employed as a carpenter, to 

 follow also. In about half an hour, the whole 

 party returned, the interpreter, Ibrahim, carrying 

 in his cloak the torn-up, tarpaulin-covered packages 

 of letters. I now learnt that the Negoos had com- 

 manded that the boxes and other things should be 

 burst open in his presence. This arbitrary com- 

 mand being immediately complied with, after the 

 first few were examined, he graciously gave per- 

 mission for the whole to be removed to the tents of 

 the Embassy, being satisfied with the willingness 

 shown to gratify him in his most unreasonable 

 demands. This humiliating concession, I am con- 

 vinced, would not have been required had not the 

 monarch felt some jealous misgivings as to the 

 amount of prerogative he had curtailed himself of 

 by attaching his signature to the treaty of com- 

 merce ; the first fruits of which had been the 



