THE LAST DAYS OF RAS MEKONEN - an Ethiopian heroes untimely death according to an eyewitness We did not enter by the main palace gate, surmounted by elongated crouching lions, but we went through a back entrance, first through a court, the walls of which were decorated with Gras rifles, spears and circular shields ; then from a second court we mounted the staircase of a modest building. On the first floor, at the door of a whitewashed room of the simplest description, Ras Makonnen greeted us with effusion. He beckoned us to sit down, and he seated himself between two large red cushions upon a low divan. He looked quite worn and ill, and he had the pathetic look upon his face of a man whose end is near. He seemed absorbed in deep thought, almost as if he were in a trance. He breathed heavily, and it was an effort for him to speak, but he struggled through it. With long pauses between, he spoke in a faint voice. How are your King and the Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children? The English King was very good to me. We must drink his health in Abyssinian wine. ... I am very glad to see you in my country, and I want you to accept one of my favorite horses as a remembrance of your visit to me. It is a good ambling horse, and you will find it easy to ride on your journey to the capital Yes, England and Abyssinia are good friends, and my wish is that our friendship may continue for ever. The Ras seemed quite exhausted. There was a long pause, during which I examined our surroundings. The only decorations in the rooms consisted of a few rugs upon the floor, one solitary Japanese fan nailed to the wall and a cheap glass globe lamp. We sipped hydromel from tall unwashed tumblers, and when the Ras lifted his head again, I told him how much we in England admired his great courage in battle, as well as the sensible way in which he administered the country. The Ras bowed modestly — for, indeed, this great fighter was in his manner as humble, gentle and modest as a maiden. He was intensely unaffected and soft- spoken, and upon his lips an occasional sad smile lighted temporarily his sympathique countenance. It was enough to see the Ras to be struck at first glance by the intelligence of his face and by the extreme kindness and firmness of his character. I want you to meet my son, said the Ras, and he despatched a servant to fetch his boy, Deziazmatch (General) Tafari, a little fellow of twelve, with large, soft pensive eyes and a sad girlish face of refined lines. He spoke excellent French, and, like his father, was most charmingly simple in manner. Ras-Makonnen insisted on rising, as he wished to show me the interior of his palace. He took us to his bedroom — in European style — occupying the highest and loftiest room in the building. Behind a curtain dividing the room in two was a solid brass bed, of ample dimensions, with silk curtains of somewhat ill-matched colours and a silk counterpane. Coloured glass panes of bilious yellow, green and red tints in the windows, let in as unpleasant a light to the interior of the room as one could wish to have when the powerful rays of the sun penetrated through. I could not help being amused at the great fear of the sun the Ras and his son had, when I took them out on a balcony in order to photograph them. After many compliments and good wishes for a happy journey, I took my leave of the Ras, and returned with Gerolimato to the place where I had put up. I think the Ras will not live long, I remarked to the consul. He is sinking every day, was the reply. He is going out like a light that has once been brilliant, but is now fading away. He will be a great loss to this country. Neither Gerolimato nor I believed, however, that the end would come so soon. A few weeks later this the greatest of all Abyssinian chiefs was dead. ACROSS WIDEST AFRICA AN ACCOUNT OF THE COUNTRY AND PEOPLE OF EASTERN, CENTRAL AND WESTERN AFRICA AS SEEN DURING A TWELVE MONTHS JOURNEY FROM DJIBUTI TO CAPE VERDE * j* j* BY A. HENRY SAVAGE LANDOR AUTHOR OF In the Forbidden Land, Tibet and Nepal, China and the Allies, Across Coveted Lands, &c. Illustrated by 160 Half-tone Reproductions of Photographs and a Map of the Route Volume I LONDON HURST AND BLACKETT LTD.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 00:02:40 +0000
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