mount the tableland.

Thus cut off for centuries from all other Christian Churches, the
Abyssinian religion remains to-day but little changed. Could Paul or
John return to earth, of all the Christian sects throughout the world,
the forms and tenets of the Abyssinian Church would be the only ones
they would find nearly all their own; for the ritual is older than that
of either Rome or Moscow.

And remembering the Abyssinian folklore tale of the twelve sons of the
chiefs of the twelve tribes of Israel sent by Solomon to Makeda as
attendants on Menelek I, it is most curious and interesting to know
that the heads of certain twelve Abyssinian families (none of whom are
longer notables, some even the rudest ignorant herdsmen), and their
forebears from time immemorial, have had and still possess inalienable
right of audience with their monarch at any time they may ask it, even
taking precedence over royalty itself. Indeed Mr. George Clerk, for
the last five years assistant to Sir John Harrington, British Minister
to the Court of Menelek, recently told me that he and other diplomats
accredited to Adis Ababa, were not infrequently subjected to the
annoyance of having an audience interrupted or delayed by the
unannounced coming for a hearing of one of these favored twelve.

Many of Menelek's judgments are masterpieces. Recently two brothers
came before him, the younger with the plaint that the elder sought the
larger and better part of certain property they had to divide.
Promptly Menelek ordered the elder to describe fully the entire
property and state what part he wanted for himself. It was done.

"And this," questioned Menelek, "you consider a just division of the
property into two parts of equal value?"

"Yes, Negus," answered the elder.

"Then," decreed Menelek, "give your brother first choice!"

Over wide territory beyond the Abyssinian border, Menelek's power is as
much feared and his will as much respected as among his own subjects.
Of this there occurred recently a most dramatic proof.

Bordering Abyssinia on the east is the Danakil country. It adjoins the
Province of Shoa, of which Menelek was Ras, or feudal King, before his
accession to the Abyssinian throne. The Danakils are a savage pagan
people of mixed Hamite (early Egyptian) and Ethiopian ancestry. They
are perhaps the most tirelessly warlike race in all Africa. Often
severely beaten by their Italian and Somali neighbors, they have never
been sub