>>> YOU ARE VIEWING A 200 LINE SAMPLE OF EBOOK# E05557 <<< TITLE: A NARRATIVE OF CAPTIVITY IN ABYSSINIA AUTHOR: HENRY BLANC EBOOK: E05557 (O'Briens Book Cellar) LANGUAGE: ENGLISH A NARRATIVE OF CAPTIVITY IN ABYSSINIA; WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LATE EMPEROR THEODORE, HIS COUNTRY AND PEOPLE. BY HENRY BLANC, M.D., M.R.C.S.E., F.A.S.L., ETC., STAFF ASSISTANT-SURGEON HER MAJESTY'S BOMBAY ARMY, (LATELY ON SPECIAL DUTY IN ABYSSINIA.) CONTENTS PREFACE CHAPTER I. The Emperor Theodore--His Rise and Conquests--His Army and Administration--Causes of his Fall--His Personal Appearance and Character--His Household and Private Life CHAPTER II. Europeans in Abyssinia--Bell and Plowden--Their Career and Deaths--Consul Cameron--M. Lejean--M. Bardel and Napoleon's Answer to Theodore--The Gaffat People--Mr. Stern and the Djenda Mission--State of Affairs at the End of 1863 CHAPTER III. Imprisonment of Mr. Stern--Mr. Kerans arrives with Letters and Carpet--Cameron, with his Followers, is put in Chains--M. Bardel returns from the Soudan--Theodore's Dealings with Foreigners--The Coptic Patriarch--Abdul Rahman Bey--The Captivity of the Europeans explained CHAPTER IV. News of Cameron's Imprisonment reaches Home--Mr. Rassam is selected to proceed to the Court of Gondar, and is accompanied by Dr. Blanc--Delays and Difficulties in communicating with Theodore--Description of Massowah and its Inhabitants--Arrival of a Letter from the Emperor CHAPTER V. From Massowah to Kassala--The Start--The Habab--Adventures of M. Marcopoli--The Beni Amer--Arrival at Kassala--The Nubian Mutiny--Attempt of De Bisson to found a Colony in the Soudan CHAPTER VI. Departure from Kassala--Sheik Abu Sin--Rumours of Theodore's Defeat by Tisso Gobaze--Arrival at Metemma--Weekly Market--The Takruries at Drill--Their Foray into Abyssinia--Arrival of Letters from Theodore CHAPTER VII. Entrance into Abyssinia--Altercation between Takruries and Abyssinians at Wochnee--Our Escort and Bearers--Applications for Medicine--First Reception by his Majesty--The Queen's Letter translated and Presents delivered--Accompany his Majesty through Metsha--His Conversation _en route_ CHAPTER VIII. Leave the Emperor's Camp for Kourata--The Tana Sea--The Abyssinian Navy--The Island of Dek--Arrival at Kourata--The Gaffat People and former Captives join us--Charges preferred against the Latter--First Visit to the Emperor's Camp at Zage--Flattery before Coercion CHAPTER IX. Second Visit to Zage--Arrest of Mr. Rassam and the English Officers --Charges brought against Mr. Rassam--The former Captives are brought in Chains to Zage--Public Trial--Reconciliation--Mr. Flad's Departure --The Imprisonment at Zage--Departure for Kourata CHAPTER X. Second Residence at Kourata--Cholera and Typhus break out in the Camp--The Emperor resolves to march to Debra Tabor--Arrival at Gaffat--The Foundry transformed into a Palace--Political Trial at Debra Tabor--The Black Tent--Dr. Blanc and Mr. Rosenthal seized at Gaffat--Another Public Trial--The Black Hole--March with the Emperor to Aibankab--Sent to Magdala, and Arrival at the Amba CHAPTER XI. Our first House at Magdala--The Chief has a "little Business" with us--Feelings of a European when being put in Chains--The Operation described--The Prisoners' Toilette--How we Lived--Our first Messenger a Failure--How we obtained Money and Letters--A Magdala Diary--A Rainy Season in a Godjo CHAPTER XII. Description of Magdala--Climate and Water Supply--The Emperor's Houses--His Harem and Magazines--The Church--Prison-house--Guards and Gaol--Discipline--A previous Visit of Theodore to Magdala--Slaughter of the Gullas--Character and Antecedents of Samuel--Our friends, Zenab the Astronomer, and Meshisha the Lute-player--Day Guards--We build new Huts--Abyssinian and Portuguese Servants--Our Inclosure is enlarged CHAPTER XIII. Theodore writes to Mr. Rassam about Mr. Flad and the Artisans--His two Letters contrasted--General Merewether arrives at Massowah--Danger of sending Letters to the Coast--Ras Engeddah brings us a few Stores--Our Garden--Successful Results of Vaccination at Magdala--Our Day Guard again--Second Rainy Season--The Chiefs are Jealous--The Ras and his Council--Damash, Hailo, Daily Life during Rainy Season--Two Prisoners attempt to Escape--The Knout in Abyssinia--A Dying Man's Prophecy CHAPTER XIV. Second Rainy Season ends--Scarcity and dearness of Provisions--Meshisha and Comfou plot their Escape--They succeed--Theodore is robbed--Damash pursues the Fugitives--The Night Attack--The Galla War-cry, and the "Sauve qui peut"--The Wounded left on the Field--Hospitality of the Gallas--Theodore's Letter on the Subject--Mastiate's Troubles--Wakshum Gabra Medhin--Sketch of Gobaz's Career--He invites the Co-operation of the Bishop in seizing Magdala--The Bishop's plan--All the rival Chiefs intrigue for the Amba--Mr. Rassam's Influence overrated 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 behavior --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 CHAPTER XVI. Theodore's Proceedings during our stay at Magdala--His treatment of Begemder--A Rebellion breaks out--Forced March on Gondar--The Churches are plundered and burnt--Theodore's Cruelties--The Insurgents increase in Strength--The Designs of the Emperor on Kourata frustrated--Mr. Bardel betrays the new Workmen--Theodore's Ingratitude towards the Gaffat People--His Raid on Foggara unsuccessful 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 CHAPTER XVIII. Theodore in the Vicinity of Magdala--Our feelings at the Time--An Amnesty granted to Dalanta--The Garrison of Magdala join the Emperor--Mrs. Rosenthal and other Europeans are sent to the Fortress--Theodore's Conversation with Flad and Waldmeier on the Coming of the Troops--Sir Robert Napier's Letter to Theodore reaches us--Theodore plunders Dalanta--He abuses Mr. Waldmeier--Reaches the Bechelo--Correspondence between Mr. Rassam and Theodore--Mr. Rassam is released from his Fetters--Theodore arrives at Islamgee--His Quarrel with the Priests--His First Visit to the Amba--Trial of the two Chiefs--He places a new Commandant over the Garrison CHAPTER XIX. We are counted by the new Ras, and condemned to Sleep in one Hut--Theodore's Second Visit to the Amba--He sends for Mr. Rassam, and gives orders that Prideaux and myself should have our Chains taken off--The Operation described--Our Reception by the Emperor--We are sent for to see "Sebastopol" landed on Islamgee--Conversation with his Majesty--The remaining Prisoners are freed from their Fetters--Theodore is unable to plunder his own Property CHAPTER XX. All the Prisoners leave the Amba for Islamgee--Our Reception by Theodore--He harangues his Troops, and releases some of the Prisoners--He informs us of the Advance of the English--The Massacre--We are sent back to Magdala--Effects of the Battle of Fahla--Messrs. Prideaux and Flad sent to Negotiate--Release of the Captives, and their narrow Escape--Their Arrival in the British Camp * * * * * CONCLUSION * * * * * <<< END OF SAMPLE... (THE FULL EBOOK HAS 590848 TOTAL CHARACTERS) >>>