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 perfectlywell the art ofplaythe 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, Menelek's attitude became even more friendly to the non-Italian element. The fact was,he had intended 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 Antonelli hurried back to Abyssinia lo try to arrange 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 independence ofItaly.

ing off one rival against another. His wife Taitu, a lady who has repeatedly appeared mounted and armed on the battlefield, is a fit mate for her lord, and according to some accounts is the inspirer of most of his ambitious plans.

Count Antonelli, who representedItalyin Abyssinia, concluded a treaty with the new Negus, which according to Abyssinian 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, however, matters went on smoothly enough. But the Italians began to notice with some disquietude 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 return 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