After a few minutes, Samuel told us
to come on; and, accompanied by the chiefs, escorted by their
followers, we were taken to a house near the Imperial fence. A fire
was lighted. To fatigued and dejected men the prospect of a roof,
after so many days passed in the rain, cheered us even in our misery,
and when the chiefs had retired, leaving a guard at the door, we
soon forgot - talking, smoking, or sleeping near the fire - that we
were the innocent victims of base treachery. Two houses had been
allowed to our party. At first we all slept in one of them, the
other being made over to the servants, and used as a kitchen.
CHAPTER XI.
Our First House at Magdala - The Chief has a "little Business"
with us - Feelings of an European when being put in Chains - The
Operation described - The Prisoner's Toilet - How we Lived - Our
first Messenger a Failure - How we obtained Money and Letters - A
Magdala Diary - A Rainy Season in a Godjo.
It was already dark when we had arrived the evening before. Our
first thought in the morning was to examine our new abode. It
consisted of two circular huts, surrounded by a strong thorny fence,
adjoining the Emperor's Enclosure.
