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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To Please Them, He Led Them Towards Foggara, A Fertile Plain To The
North-West Of Begemder; But He Found Hardly Anything There.
All the
grain had been buried, and the cattle removed to distant parts of
the country.
One of our messengers sent to him by Mr. Rassam found
him there, and on his return, gave us the most dreadful description
of the Emperor's temper: floggings, beatings, and executions were
going on all day, and he was so badly off for money, that he had
imprisoned several of his own personal attendants, fixing their
release at 100 dollars each. During his absence, the Gaffat people
had consulted amongst themselves as to the best means of regaining
the Emperor's favour, and decided on proposing to cast an immense
mortar for him. Theodore was delighted. A foundry was erected, and
the "Great Sebastopol," which was destined to be the crushing blow
for him, and the means of our salvation, was begun.
CHAPTER XVII.
Arrival of Mr. Flad from England - Delivers a Letter and Message
from the Queen - The Episode of the Telescope - Our Property
taken care of - Theodore will not yield except to force - He
Recruits his Army - Ras Adilou and Zallallou desert him - He
is repulsed at Belessa by Lij Abitou and the Peasants - The
Expedition against Metraha - His Cruelties there - The "Great
Sebastopol" is Cast - Famine and Pestilence compel the Emperor
to raise his Camp - The Difficulties of his March to Magdala - His
Arrival in Dalanta.
Soon after the Gaffat people had been sent to Debra Tabor, Mr. Flad
arrived from England, and met Theodore in Dembea on the 26th of
April.
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