282 
THROUGH SOMALILAND AND ABYSSINIA chap. 
The day of our departure from the capital will perhaps live 
longest in the memory of all of us. While breakfasting with 
Madame Ilg, we watched, from the verandah of her house, mass 
after mass of troops converging towards the King’s “ Gebi ” 
from the directions of their different camps. Then we rode 
down to the open space in front of the palace, w T here we found 
awaiting us the army of 20,000 men, with the chief officers of 
the Negus. We at once formed a procession : the Mission in 
the usual order, headed by the Imperial Guard (with rifles 
muffled in red cloth), and the King’s drummers, the presence of 
the latter being an unprecedented honour, accorded to no pre- 
vious mission. After having dismounted and saluted Menelik 
and Queen Taitu, who were sitting in the balcony of the palace, 
we marched for nine miles to Akaki, the host which formed 
our escort accompanying us for the first three miles, as far as 
Shola. 
So numerous was the assemblage, that it was practically 
impossible to see the grass on account of the masses of soldiers 
who, clothed in red and white, with hundreds of green, yellow, 
and red Abyssinian pennons, marched past us, company by 
company, in skilfully arranged movements, all carried out at a 
run. The orders of the captains, given in a shrill scream, were 
emphasised by blows of long flexible bamboos, laid over the 
heads of the awkward members of the regiment. 
Many of the higher officers carried shields — usually presents 
from the King — ornamented with strips of silver, those of the 
highest in rank being covered with black velvet and embossed 
with gold. All the officers likewise wore purple or violet silk 
shirts, and dark cloaks, also of fine silk. A considerable number 
of the soldiers had remarkably handsome leopard-skins thrown 
over their shoulders, the head of each skin being cut in three 
strips so as to hang down behind like coat-tails. I estimated that 
there were over two hundred head-circlets and capes of lion’s 
mane, with or without gold ornamentation. The rifles were of 
nearly every make, but with scarcely any exceptions good breech- 
loaders. The sword-scabbards — some of which were covered in 
purple velvet — were ornamented with silver bands. 
Altogether it was a grand sight and a splendid send - off, 
forming a fitting conclusion to Menelik’s kindness. Indeed, 
throughout its stay the Mission had been royally and cordially 
feted. 
Most of our Somdlis, of whom there were over twenty, were 
