Having given Tinta the required information, which was all carefully written down by the duptera, they left Walderheros and myself for a few moments, whilst they went in to the Negoos, with the improved report. In a very few minutes Tinta returned, and beckoning for me to come, as he appeared at the wicket in the second enclosure, I got up, and followed by Walderheros, entered the inner court, where I found the Negoos reposing upon a couch placed on one side of the porch, that leads into the principal apartment of the palace. All the buildings were of the same description as those of the other Royal residences, consisting of a wall of splintered ted, six or seven feet high, plastered inside with common red clay, and thatched. Outside from the projecting eaves were hung in great numbers, the disgusting trophies of Abyssinian warfare stuffed with dry grass.
My memolagee, on the occasion of this visit was, the gunpowder, which, although Tinta had carried it in previously, with the written account of the mode of preparing it, had been returned to Walderheros, so that I might deliver it in person. The usual Arab word “kaphanter,” did duty for “How do you do?” and, disfigured as the countenance of the monarch is by one sightless orb, which is more striking from its mottle pearly hue, contrasting with the dark brown colour of his face, still, I consider, the expression of the monarch’s features to be pleasing and good-natured. He received the bottle containing the gunpowder, and uncorking it, poured out a little into the palm of his hand, and examined it attentively, and evidently with the eye of a man of business. Sahale Selassee, in fact, is particularly interested in the production of a good article of the kind, as, could he command a good supply of gunpowder, he would, I am convinced, greatly extend his conquests. After some examination, he pronounced it to be genuine; and I then found that he questioned, or at least, suspected, that it might he adulterated. A previous traveller had attempted to practise upon the Negoos, by representing as having been made in Shoa, some gunpowder he had brought with him from Europe, and who had been detected by the knowledge of a little fact, which it had been presumed, that the clever monarch was not aware of. The saltpetre obtained in Shoa, although very plentiful, abounds with another salt, that not decomposing by explosion leaves a residium of white globules which, besides fouling the barrels of the guns, deteriorates, considerably, the exploding effects of the powder; so much so, that an ordinary charge for a common musket, is two or three large handsful, and it is nothing unusual to see the ram-rod, after loading, projecting twelve, or even eighteen inches beyond the muzzle. The presence of this salt occasions the powder to be of a very light grey colour, not unlike wood-ashes. From not possessing any chemical tests, I was unable to decide its mineral character, but I supposed it to be the nitrate of soda.
Besides the gunpowder, I had taken with me, not as a memolagee, but as a present for the Queen, a beautifully worked black lace veil, which had been made for a very different personage, and for a more suitable character, a bright-eyed daughter of Spain. Not, however, having been thrown upon the southern coast of that country during the past three years, and considering it was not very likely that I should be for the next two or three more, I determined to return the politeness of the Queen of Shoa, by presenting it to her, as she had sent me presents of wheaten bread, with inquiries after my health, several times during the last month. Of course, I had no chance of giving it into her own hands as, like all the other of the Royal wives and concubines, she is carefully secluded from the gaze of ordinary mortals. Her name, Bashabish, conveys a compliment of no little meaning, being literally, “By thee I have increased,” which alludes to the two sons with which she has blessed Sahale Selassee; the elder, named Hylo Malakoot, and the younger, Safie Selassee, or the “Sword of the Trinity,” as his father’s name signifies the “Given of the Trinity.” The latter is the favourite son, and as the crown is not hereditary, but the King nominates his successor; as David, we are told, in like manner, chose his son Solomon, above all his elder brethren; so, to all appearances, Safie Selassee, on the demise of his father, will succeed to the throne in prejudice to his brother. Besides these children, the Negoos has one or two daughters by his favourite wife, Bashabish.
When I presented the veil, it created quite a commotion, for its novel texture and the embroidered pattern surprised and gratified the Negoos exceedingly. He threw it over his face to look through it, tried the strength of the thread, and seemed much amused at the idea of its being merely a “guftah” (woman’s head dress), for he had taken it to be intended for some dignitary of the Church, to be worn over the shoulders. However, the usual “Egzeer ista,” and what I required from him, being asked, after I had stated that I had only to return my thanks for the house he had given to me, and had no request to make, the usual abrupt recommendation of me to the care of Heaven, and “you may go,” terminated the interview.
I was not taken back to the shed outside the palace courts, but into a much more comfortable apartment between the two stockades, where I found several priests sitting upon the ground on low chairs, employed perusing a book themselves, or attending to some boys, who, in the usual school tone, were practising a reading lesson, that I was told soon after I went in was a chapter of St. Luke. A few pupils were also receiving their first instructions in writing. It appeared that this was a religious institution connected with the palace, being the residence of these priests, who about midnight begin chanting their orisons, and keep the howling concert up until daylight. How it is possible for the Negoos, or any one residing within ear-shot of them, to sleep, I do not know, but I do not exaggerate when I say, that to my ears their holy exercises sounded a deal more inhuman, than the noise made by a pack of famished wolves. The priests, however, appeared a good-natured set, and soon spread an oxskin upon the loose dry grass, that appeared to be collected in large quantities for the purpose of forming soft beds for the holy fathers, all of whom, with their pupils, occupied this thatched apartment. I considered that it formed a good counterpart of the character of the college of Oxford in the days of King Alfred, and looked with interest upon its inmates, when I reflected, that probably their habits and feelings assimilated with those of the earliest teachers of our celebrated University.
A bright fire of wood crackled upon the low hearth, and I threw myself upon my littered couch by its side. No inducement existed to tempt me into the open air, for the sky had now become covered with low grey clouds, whilst a heavy mist hid the high romantic cliffs of Kundi, that close around the head of the valley of Myolones. Sometimes a puff of wind rolled along before it, a huge cloud of the condensed moisture, that for a few minutes enveloped the precincts of the palace in a dense fog. A thought of rain, however, did not trouble me, for I was in most comfortable quarters, on very good terms with the learned monks, and as Walderheros had been sent for to the palace, and returned with two bottles of the barilla tedge, I enjoyed myself exceedingly.
“A change came o’er the spirit of the dream,” for towards evening I began to feel exceedingly hungry, and urged Walderheros to prepare me something to eat, as not only had bread, honey, butter, onions, and, in fact, everything required to make a sumptuous repast, been sent from the palace, but a sheep also. I soon learnt that the reluctance on this occasion shewn by my servant to do as I desired him was, that the present time being a strict fast, the monks would not allow their place to be desecrated by anything like food being cooked in it. Not relishing the poor fare which, it seems, they are restricted to during this fast of fourteen days, I sent Walderheros to the palace requesting an indulgence; and in about half an hour he came back, bringing with him Goodaloo, who had remained outside all this time with the crowd of retainers and servants, who are not allowed the privilege of the entrée of the palace. They soon collected my bed-clothes and presents, having intimated to me that a fresh place had been appointed, where I could have the sheep killed and cook whatever I liked.
The monks were anxious that I should understand that it was public principle alone that occasioned their apparent inhospitality, and I readily excused it; for they could not have consistently enforced a strict observance of the fast among the household of the Negoos, and yet have allowed animals to have been slaughtered in their presence, and flesh meat cooked under their roof.
Tinta, as usual, appeared with his servants to superintend my removal, and after passing out of the outer gate and through the little belt of ted and wild olive trees that encircle the palace, we proceeded a short distance down the valley, where were three or four tents pitched, and I then saw one of these was intended for me. My illness, however, had made me rather particular, and instantly I saw that I was about to be quartered in such a residence as that, I objected, pointing very feelingly to the sloppy spongy turf, and the dirty-looking clouds that floated lazily above our heads. At the request of Tinta, however, I went to look at the accommodations, and was certainly better satisfied, when I found that one larger tent outside enclosed a very snug new one, leaving a large space between the two surfaces. Besides, a high and very commodious alga, or bedstead, had been brought, so that, excepting from the vapour rising from the moist earth, I could be in no danger of being exposed to any damp, and feeling pleased at the arrangements that had been made for my comfort, I raised no more objections, but took my place upon the bed, and after a bright fire had been lighted upon a temporary hearth of large stones, Tinta and his train departed, leaving me to enjoy myself, until Walderheros should have prepared supper, by reading a pocket volume of “Childe Harold” I had brought with me.
It was not long after the sun had set behind a high bank of clouds than a drizzling rain came on, and although I did not like this symptom of a wet night, I was satisfied by Goodaloo going and procuring a hoe, with which he soon pecked up, around the outside tent, a large gutter to carry off, and thus prevent the water that might fall, spreading over the floor inside. After seeing this done, and partaking of supper, I soon fell fast asleep, as comfortably as if I had remained in the warm close-thatched residence of my learned friends.