THE RECONOUEST OF THE SOUDAN. 7
whom they identify with a far-off ruler ofShoa. Menelek had fought against Theodore,andhad been a turbulent vassal of Johannes. He took
advantageof his death to assert his claim to the overlordship of the other chiefs, and waspolitic enough to play into the hands of the Italians,
who thought they had in him a secure ally against Alula and thechiefs of the north. They evengaveMenelek aquantity of breech-loading rifles, Remingtons and Vetterlis, and supplies of ammunition,with which to equip the forces of Shoa and Amhara. Menelek is a tall strong man, with little education,but plenty of native
shrewdness and cunning. He understands per- fectlywell the art ofplay-
the Italiancolony, were welcomed, and some of them settled down permanently to supervise the armament and training of the Abyssinian army. After the Italian occupation of Kassala, Mene- lek's attitude became even more friendly to the non-Italian element. The fact was,he had in-
tended himself to avenge the defeat of the Abyssinians by the Dervishes,he hoped to have Kassala tor a frontier fortress, and he haddreams
of a new Abyssinian or " Ethiopian" empire stretching to the Nile.
One day in1803 aFrench visitor to his court at Addis Abeba showed him the Italian" Green Book," and explained to him the exact force of
the treaty of Uccialli as there set forth. The king, as soon as he understood it, burst into a frenzy of passion, seized the book
and tore it to pieces, scattering it round the room. A note to Rome
followed, disclaiming the Italian interpretation of
the treaty. Count An- tonelli hurried back to Abyssinia lo try to ar- range matters with the angry Negus. But his mission was an utter failure. Then followed a circular to the Powers,by
which Menelek declared his complete independ- ence ofItaly.
ing off one rival against
another. His wife Taitu, a lady who has repeat- edly appeared mounted and armed on the battle-
field, is a fit mate for her lord, and according to some accounts is the in- spirer of most of his ambitious plans.
Count Antonelli, who representedItalyin Abys- sinia, concluded a treaty
with the new Negus, which according to Abys- sinian accounts was a treaty of alliance, but which Crispi, the Italian Premier, represented as the acknowledgmentof a
ueen taitu.
protectorate over Abyssinia. As such he communicated it to the European Powers. The whole dispute that subsequently arose as to its meaning turned upon a single word. In the Italian version, contained in an official " Green Book," the principal clause read that Menelek in his dealings with other Powers was bound to use Italy as an intermediary. But it is said that in the version written in his own language, which was submitted to Menelek for signature, the word used meant simply that in
dealing with other Powers Abyssinia might use
the good offices of Italy. For a while, how- ever, matters went on smoothly enough. But
the Italians began to notice with some dis- quietude that Menelek had other foreigners at his court, and showed them even more favour
than the countrymen of Crispi and Antonelli. Russian explorers, French and Swiss engineers
whocameup from Obok,withoutpassingthrough
But he did not confine his protest to mere words. The Italians had a strong garrison in the north of his kingdom. He began hurried preparations for their expulsion. By great efforts he paidback a loan of four millionfrancs he had received from the Italiantreasury. The
money was largely supplied from France in re-
turn for a railway concession. Then in the first days of 1895 he sent Ras Mangasha (a son of Johannes, now in his service) across the Mareb river with 10,000 men. Mangasha was badly beaten at Koatit by Baratieri on January 14. Then the Italians pushed their garrisons out southwards into Tigre, while Menelek prepared
to renew the attack withabetter-equipped and larger army. The French Government gave him very valuablehelp. Mules were wanted for
the Madagascar expedition. A large number were supplied from Shoa and embarked at Obok, France repaying Menelek by givinghim