occasion twenty-seven, on another thirty-seven, native prisoners were dragged out of their prison-house to execution, and it was not long before they and one native were the sole occupants of the room. When the King left Debrataboor, in October last, en route for this place, they were each chained hand and foot, in the Shoa fashion, and had to march along in this manner as far as Aibunkub, a distance of thirty miles; at that place their hand chains were opened, and they were able, by the occasional loan of a mule, to proceed in a more comfortable manner. They arrived here, each chained to a native by the right hand, but expect to receive the same fetters as the rest of the European captives in a day or two. The native prisoners have fared still worse. They are nearly all dying

from torture and starvation."

"February 8.

"The districts of Daunt and Dalanta have given in their submission to the King; their only alternative was to desert their houses and fields, and they preferred submission. A few weeks before they pledged their allegiance to the Gallas, and the King has not forgotten this. He has informed a deputation from Daunt that, as soon as the cannons and heavy baggage are safely landed in Dalanta, it would be his Majesty's first duty to inflict due punishment on the tribes of the Wollo, until, to use his own expression, their bones were all white as onions on the plain.' The peasants of Dalanta have been visited still more severely with the royal displeasure."

"February 15.

"One of our principal doubts was solved this morning by the intelligence that the King was not only aware of the arrival of the British troops and of their disembarkation at Zoulla, but that he must have been cognizant of these circumstances fully two months ago. He has communicated his knowledge to his European artisans and to Mr. Flad, and has expressed his pleasure at the prospect of enjoying in a short time the sight of a disciplined force, comparing himself at the same time to Simeon when he held the infant Saviour in his arms."

Again, on the 8th of March he said, "The King while here sent polite messages to Mr. Rassam, and said that he knew the English troops were near, and that he was prepared to meet them. Near or not, we have had no further news of them. His Majesty is to-day employed in making a good road up the mountain for his big gun, which will probably arrive at the top in a week or ten days.'

"March 31.

"You will all be glad to learn that the day before yesterday the King was gracious enough to release Dr. Blanc and myself from our chains-an event for which we were quite unprepared. At 10 p.m. on Saturdaynight (28th) Blanc and myself were informed that we were to receive some other inmates in our room-Cameron, Rosenthal, and Kerans-and were to be strictly watched all night.

Four guards with lighted candles remained in the same room with us, and led us to suppose that we might expect something unpleasant on the morrow. We were, however, agreeably disappointed. In the course of the following day his Majesty visited the mountain. About half an hour after his arrival he sent Mr. Flad with a message to Mr. Rassam to the effect that he might expect an interview, and shortly after he was summoned to the presence of his Majesty. A silk tent had been pitched on the plain, carpets had been spread, and every thing had been done for the reception of the envoy in proper Ethiopian state. On Mr. Rassam's departure we naturally felt a little anxious, but were soon cheered up by the arrival of Mr. Flad, who informed us that at the solicitation. of Mr. Rassam our chains had been ordered to be opened. As soon as the irons had been knocked off we repaired to his Majesty's presence, and were most graciously received. All the conversation that passed I cannot remember, except that it may be described as being of rather a humourous character, his Majesty being in excellent spirits, and not the least in Cambyses' vein. We remained about a quarter of an hour with the King, drank a glass of tedj, and then departed, his Majesty's son, a fair little boy about seven years of age, and all the European artisans accompanying us home. It is a great relief to have the chains off, although in other respects we are watched as strictly as ever."

Mr. Rassam also wrote a long account, dated Magdala, April 5th, from which we extract the following passages:

"As soon as the King crossed the valley of the Bashilo, on the 18th ult., he sent me a polite letter, and ordered my chains to be struck off. He said that when he sent me to Magdala he did not intend to have put me in chains, but that the authorities of this fortress had done so without his orders, as a precautionary measure. I was extremely grieved that my fellow-captives, especially Mr. Prideaux and Dr. Blanc, were not similarly relieved, but to insist upon such a thing in a barbarous country would be like cutting one's throat and endangering the safety of one's companions in bondage. In my answer to his Majesty I solicited his granting the same boon to my party, but he gave no heed to my request then. On the 26th idem he reached Salamgee, a plateau below the north-western gate of Magdala, and the next day he came up here to settle some complaints which were made against some of the chiefs of this garrison for treason.

"On the 29th the King came up again here in the afternoon for the purpose of counting the reinforcement he had sent up the day before yesterday with Bitwadid Hasanee. Before he did so, however, he sent and told me that he wished to see me. A silk tent was pitched in the plain in front of our compound for my reception. When he came up he was in an awful rage, and every one feared that I should have a bad reception. When he passed our compound he sent to me by Mr. Mayer (one of the European artisans) to say that the reason he had ill-treated me was because

he wished my brethren (British army) to come against him. They are now coming to take you out,' said he,' and I am ready to meet them.' His Majesty asked me to appear before him in my uniform, as I used to do before. No sooner was I dressed than Bitwadid Hasanee came to say that his Majesty was ready to receive me. Messrs. Flad and Mayer accompanied me to the royal pavilion. On going out of the compound I found about 400 officers in attendance in front of the silk tent, and his Majesty was inside with his European servants. No sooner did I approach the enraged monarch than he changed his demeanour and welcomed me in a most polite style. He shook hands with me in the European custom, standing, and then sat down on a silk carpet worked with gold thread, and asked me to sit by him on his right hand. He said the reason he did not allow the throne to be placed there was because he did not like to sit higher than me, I being his friend and the representative of the great Queen of England. He then opened the subject of the war, and said that, whether victorious or not, he would always consider me as his true friend, but other Europeans he complained of for having abused him. He then said that I had brought two persons with me (Dr. Blanc and Mr. Prideaux) to this country, for whom he had neither love nor hatred, but if I became security for their good behaviour he would release them from their chains for my sake. I replied that it would delight me greatly if he did so, and that I would hold myself responsible for all their acts. 'If they do any thing to displease your Majesty,' I said, 'the whole blame shall fall on me, and you can then say Mr. Rassam has committed the fault, and not Dr. Blanc or Mr. Prideaux.' He immediately sent Mr. Flad and Aitoo Samuel to release them and to bring them to join me.

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"On the 2nd inst. the King sent for me to go down with my companions, Dr. Blanc and Mr. Prideaux, and see the great mortar being brought up to Salamgee. We went down very early, and saw his Majesty superintending the making of the new road for bringing up the guns and mortars which had been brought up from Debrataboor. He received us most politely, and asked us to sit behind him on some loose stones or the edge of a precipice overlooking the soldiery who were pulling up the gun-waggons. As soon as the large mortar, which is called Sevastopol,' reached the turn of the road below us, where' we could see it plainly, his Majesty asked me what I thought of it. I replied that it was most magnificent, and added that I hoped that it would not be long before my brothers (British troops) would be looking on it with the same friendly pleasure which I then experienced. He smiled and said, 'I hope so, too.' After that I asked him to gladden my heart by ordering my remaining five fellow-captives to be released of their chains. His Majesty at once acceded to my request, and sent and had them unfettered.

"His Majesty asked me first about European warfare, and how peace was concluded among kings at the termination of a war;

how far the rifles of our soldiery carried, and how the word of command was given. After I had answered these questions he asked me what number of troops had been sent by England against him. I said I had heard that about 12,000 men had been sent, but I did not think that more than 6000 or 7000 would come here. I then told him about the elephants and the bands, and said that I thought his Majesty would be very much pleased when he heard their music. He replied that had he been as powerful as he once was he would certainly have gone down to the coast to meet our people on landing, or he would have sent and asked them what they wanted in his country. But now,' he added, 'I have lost Abyssinia, excepting this rock, and it would be quite foolish of me to say any thing; however, I am ready to meet them here, and I must submit to the will of my Creator.' He then spoke about the return of Captain Cameron to Abyssinia without an answer to his letter which he had sent to our Queen. He said, 'After he returned to my country I waited five days before I knew that he had returned without an answer. I then sent and asked him why he came back without a reply.'

We need not give the details of the difficult march of the army over the rocky highlands of Abyssinia, which would be a tremendous country to traverse in the face of a brave and active enemy. But the troops met with no opposition whatever, and the disposition of the inhabitants seemed quite friendly. They readily supplied provisions when they found that they were paid for; and some of the chiefs gave active assistance. The troops reached the deep ravine through which the river Bashilo flows, early in April. The following description conveys a good idea of it:-" At the foot the Bashilo river flows in an apparently muddy stream, and larger than any we have hitherto met on the line of march. On the south side, or that next Magdala, the ascent is much more gradual, but the whole country is broken up into deep ravines and high hills. They are very bare, and almost denuded of brushwood or trees, so that in a military point of view they are deprived of a formidable difficulty we might have encountered if the enemy had been able to conceal themselves in the hills and annoy us on our line of march. With this exception, I have never seen more difficult marching ground or a portion of country less suited for manoeuvring troops of all arms. The hills, of which Magdala forms one, are a group of three separated from the Talanta plateau by the Bashilo ravine, and from the Tanta plain to the south and west by a valley equally formidable and apparently about ten miles in breadth. Of this isolated cluster Magdala is the most distant from us, and seems to have the largest table-land on its summit. The two other mountains, Selassee and Fahla, are nearly parallel to the Bashilo, and are separated by a saddle which is nearly a mile in length. Fahla is nearest to our line of march, and is crowned by a scarp along the side next to us. On the top of it there is a small clump of trees which forms a good point of obser.

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vation. There is a good encamping ground close under Fahla, where water is obtainable, and it is about two and a half miles from Theodore's camp, so it is probable that this point will be occupied before an attack is made. Selassee is a mountain with a high scarp all round the top, and three other small ones at intervals down the sides. Between these small scarps, which, judging from their appearance through a field-glass, are from twenty to thirty feet high, Theodore's army is encamped. They are close to the saddle, between Fahla and Selassee, at a portion of the hill called Islamgee. The road to Magdala passes over the saddle between Fahla and Selassee, and close to Theodore's camp, which latter commands it. Magdala is seen between the two hills, about a mile behind them. A small scarp surrounds the top of the former, and houses and trees are seen distinctly upon it. The Kokiburg gate is on the side next Selassee, and is seen from the Talanta plateau. The road, after passing near the King's camp, dips between Selassee and Magdala, and is not seen. Close to the Kokiburg gate it again appears in view, ascending into Magdala at a very steep gradient."

On Good Friday Colonel Phayre was ordered to cross the Bashilo with a reconnoitring party, and avoiding the road made by Theodore up through the Arogee Pass to the foot of Fahla, to ascend the two mountain spurs which lay on the right of that road between the Bashilo river and Magdala. The following describes the locality: :- "Up to the head of the Bashilo Pass, where we were encamped, the ground is perfectly level table-land, but the plateau suddenly breaks in some places as precipitously and sharply as if it had been cut with a knife, and the whole country between it and Magdala, and indeed in almost every direction as far as the eye can reach, presents one huge, tangled, inextricable mass of hills, scarps, and ravines, lying, as it were, like the labyrinth which protected fair Rosamond, between any invader and Magdala. However, Theodore's road threads the mazes of this labyrinth, runs up to the top of Fahla, and thence turning sharply to the left, or east, connects Fahla with Islamgee (the site of the King's camp), and Selassee and Magdala. Fahla, Selassee, and Magdala prove, on close inspection, to form one large three-cornered amba, being of nearly the same elevation, though differing materially in the steepness of their approaches, and mutually protecting and flanking each other. The distance between the extremest points of this amba, originally estimated at two miles and a half, can scarcely be more than a mile and a half."

Colonel Phayre, however, instead of marching with his whole force to the right after he had crossed the Bashilo, divided his troops and sent a body of troops and a mountain battery, under the command of Colonel Milward, up the Arogee Pass. He himself, with a larger body of men, proceeded over broken precipitous ground to the right. At the top of the Arogee Pass stood the hill of Fahla, occupied by King Theodore, who opened fire upon the advancing column under Colonel Milward.