180 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
The 2nd Brigade had meanwhile been sent for; leaving the Beshilo at 
11 pan., it occupied a position along the road about half a mile in our 
rear. Between 2 and 4 p.m. the troops of 1st Brigade were moved to 
the ground originally selected for camp; the 2nd Brigade retaining the 
position they then occupied. The whole of the division suffered much from 
want of water and provisions. 
Orders to assault Falla were eagerly looked for, but shortly after sunrise 
a party under a dag of truce was observed descending the hill. 
The death of Theodore's “leader of the vanguard" with 700 of his 
bravest troops, and the continued absence of very many of his followers, 
had so far humbled him that he had authorized Messrs Prideaux and Flad 
to make terms for him at any cost. Sir R. Napier sent him a letter to 
the effect “ that he considered him a brave soldier, beaten rather by the 
superiority of our arms than through any fault of his own," but at the same 
time, he demanded an “ unconditional surrender." The envoys, on their 
return found the mighty ee Negus " sadly out of temper, and narrowly 
escaped his anger. He, however, again despatched them with a communi¬ 
cation to this effect, “ Who are you, the servant of a woman, that you should 
write to me ? " Sir Robert's letter being returned. 
He would then appear to have considered his case a hopeless one, and 
attempted suicide. As one of his chiefs turned the pistol he used to one side, 
his intention changed, and imagining himself reserved for a better fate, 
he determined to despatch the whole of the British prisoners to our camp. 
Messrs Prideaux and Flad returning with heavy hearts that evening with a 
message from Sir Robert “ that his instructions precluded him from treating 
further until the whole of the prisoners were in our camp," did so under 
fear of their lives, but were overjoyed to meet their fellow captives (Mrs 
Flad excepted) on their way down the hill. At 8 p.m. the whole party 
were passed through our pickets, and the anxiety for their safety felt 
throughout the day was relieved. 
Theodore felt so confident that by releasing our captives he would secure 
the good will of our chief, that on Sunday morning he sent a large present 
of cattle, &c. which was detained outside the pickets, but he shewed no 
symptom of surrender. During Sunday the guns of G/14th R. A.were brought 
up on elephants, and placed in position on the knoll occupied by the Naval 
Brigade on Friday. The 8-inch mortars were at the same time placed in 
rear of the 1st Brigade camp, and two steel guns formed a picket, covering 
the road communicating with the 2nd Brigade camp. On the 12th, the 
German artisans and their families were sent into camp, but Theodore 
refused to surrender, saying that “ Child of man had never conquered him." 
Early on the morning of the 13th, several chiefs came into camp and 
reported that Theodore had made an attempt to escape, but that failing to 
persuade his chiefs to follow him, he feared falling into the hands of the 
Gallas, who swarmed round Magdala, and had returned. 
The division was then ordered to form on the plateau of Arogee, and the 
advance up the road to Falla commenced; a position for the Artillery in 
the event of an assault had been selected on Sunday. Four guns G/14th 
R.A. and the two 8-inch mortars from the foot of the hill could play on 
the saddle between Falla and Islamgee. The “A" Mountain Battery occupied 
a position at the end of a spur running out from Falla, some 500 yards up 
