A Narrative Of Captivity In Abyssinia With Some Account Of The Late Emperor Theodore, His Country And People By Henry Blanc
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Viz., The Throne, The Bishop, And The English Prisoners.
All
wanted Mr. Bassam, not merely to help them, but to give them
the mountain:
They were aware that the chiefs were on friendly terms
with us, and supposed that we were in possession of fabulous sums
of money, so that, by means of friendship and bribery, we might
open the gates to the candidate we selected.
Magdala could only become theirs by treachery: in their immense
armies, they could not have found twenty men with sufficient courage
to venture on an assault. Magdala had the reputation of being
impregnable; and, indeed, against natives badly armed, it was very
nearly so. Even Theodore only took possession of it because the
Galla garrison, through fear, evacuated the place during the night.
He had pitched his camp at the foot of the Amba, and attempted an
assault; but soon retired from his hopeless task before the shower
of missiles thrown from above. It was not until several days after
the Gallas had retired, that one of the chiefs, suspecting the place
to be empty, cautiously ventured to ascertain the fact, and returned
to inform Theodore that he might quietly walk in as the enemy had
disappeared.
CHAPTER XV
Death of Abouna Salama - Sketch of his Life and Career - Grievances
of Theodore against him - His Imprisonment at Magdala - The Wallo
Gallas - Their Habits and Customs - Menilek appears with an Army in
the Galla Country - His Policy - Advice sent to him by Mr. Rassam - He
invests Magdala and fires a feu-de-joie - The Queen's Behaviour
- Steps taken by the Chiefs - Our Position not Improved - The Effects
of Smoke on Menilek - Our Disappointment followed by Great Joy - We
receive News of the Landing of British Troops.
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