THE LION OF THE LORD. 



219 



with emaciated frame, a beardless, wrinkled face 

 like a grandam's, a shaven head, disfurnished 

 jaws, and hands and feet stained with leprous 

 spots. We saw nothing of the 'Kon-like royal 

 personage,' the ' tall and corpulent form with en- 

 gaging features,' and the ' large eyes, red and 

 penetrating, which cast a powerful look ' upon Dr 

 Krapf in September, 1848, when the 'king' visited 

 him, with a Highland tail and heralds singing 

 out, ' Lion ! ' His subjects declare him to be a 

 centagenarian, and he is certainly dying of age 

 and decay — the worst of diseases. The royal 

 dress was a Surat cap much the worse for wear, 

 and a loin-wrap as tattered. He was covered, as 

 he lay upon his J agd, or cot of bamboo and cow- 

 skin, with the doubled cotton cloth called in 

 India a ' do-pattd,' and he rested upon a Persian 

 rug apparently coeval with his person. 



The hut resembled that of a simple cultivator ; 

 possibly it was as good as the palace of wicker- 

 wattles occupied by Henry II. at Dublin. It 

 was redolent of high dignitaries, dirty as then' 

 prince, some fanning him, others chatting, and 

 all puffing from long-stemmed pipes with small 

 ebony bowls the Abnus, which, according to the 

 Baloch, is found growing all over the country. 

 Our errand was inquired, and we were duly wel- 



