ABYSSINIA'S RULER.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12806, 30 May 1910, Page 3

ABYSSINIA'S RULER.

-1 -a> I The reported death of Menelik IL recalls the fact that Monelik 1., act cording to Abyssinian tradition, was the son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. No doubt the late Emperor had the circumstance in mind when he chose the title under which he ruled. Monelik was a magnificent specimen of a man, powerfully built and standing six feet high, and all observers have noted the extraordinary intelligence and vivacity which used to Hash from , lus eyes. A&yssuua is a feudal couTvtry, oik! 1 its cuvumstanices recall t_osc< of. France under Louis XI. There arc three great fiefs, Shoa, Tigre, and .Imliara, whose allegiance to the Negus is about as shadowy as that of Charles of Burgundy to the French King, and whenever the throne is vacant the rulers' of those sub-king-Joms are accustomed to strugglp.for.it. among themselves. To nothing did Menelik pay more attention than to the training of his troops, and ho set great store by any remarkable exhibition of personal brayory. To any, man who showed himself especially courageous in battle, he gave a lion's skin, which was worn with at least as much pride as our own heroes wear the Victoria Cross. At reviews he had an. unpleasant habit of ordering his men to fire ball-cartridges into the air, and in consequence villages in the neighbourhood were apt to find themselves suddenly subjected to a storm of leaden hail. --