188 NO RELAXATION OF HOME 



of even the most just superior, and that some 

 spirits will always be springing up among his 

 subjects, the more numerous the greater the oppor- 

 tunities may be, and who will endeavour to escape 

 from the bondage to which they have been born. 



It is just possible to conceive the relation between 

 the monarch of Shoa and his people by comparison 

 with the state and condition of the household of 

 some rich and powerful nobleman in England ; with 

 this difference, that in the latter case it is optional 

 on the part of the dependents to continue their 

 servitude ; whilst the Negoos possesses the stronger 

 hold upon the services and property of his subjects, 

 and consequently a greater power of exercising his 

 will, because they have no means of removing 

 themselves away from his power. If opportunities 

 of escaping from this authority w 7 ere afforded by 

 allowing free intercourse with other countries, this 

 would at once destroy that principle of dependence 

 which is the foundation of the kingly power in 

 Shoa, and which is perfectly understood to be so 

 by the Negoos, and every Shoan is also w r ell aware 

 of the fact. 



It can never be expected, therefore, that any 

 freedom of intercourse will be encouraged by Sahale 

 Selassee that is not connected with an increase of 

 his dominion. Give to him the ancient empire, 

 and he is our intelligent and useful ally ; but this 

 clever prince of a petty kingdom will never afford 

 facilities for its being absorbed in any other empire. 



