76 the king's gunmen. 



to them and they become tenants of the King, only 

 called up for suite and service on the occasions of 

 the " zemitcharoitsh," or expeditions. The grown 

 up sons who fill their places as guardsmen generally 

 reside with their fathers, and in that case their guns 

 are allowed to be taken home with them ; but the 

 general rule is, that they should deposit them, after 

 the term of duty has expired, in the armouries 

 attached to the palaces, where they remain under 

 the charge of the Atta Habta, the chief blacksmith. 

 The gunmen have but one superior officer, who is 

 termed "Ulica," or " Shoom." The name of the 

 present colonel, if he may be so termed, is 

 Kattimah. By courtesy he is styled "AttaKat- 

 timah," Atta being a title of distinction applied 

 generally to all courtiers of high rank. 



The gunmen, whilst on duty at the palace, receive 

 daily two double handsful of some kind of grain or 

 other ; a kind of admeasurement that reminded me 

 strongly of a similar custom of giving rations to slaves 

 among the ancient Romans. Beside this, however, 

 they get one good meal a-day at the King's own 

 table ; at least, in an apartment where he superin- 

 tends this diurnal feast of his attendants, who are 

 plentifully regaled with large teff crumpets and a 

 quantity of ale. With the bread is always pro- 

 vided some cayenne paste, called " dillock," com- 

 posed of equal parts of the red pods of the pepper 

 and common salt, mixed with a little " shrow," or 

 the meal of peas. This is placed in a number 



