WARS OF THE NINETIES. 42 Menelek was, to his evident delight, invested with the Order of St. Michael and St. George, an honour all the more acceptable because St.

George is the national patron of Abyssinia. The treaty wasthensigned, and the envoysbade the Negus farewell, it being understood that a permanent representative of her Majesty would be sent,to his court. Lieutenant Harrington, of the Indian StaffCorps, was chosen for the post. As the envoys rode away Menelek came out again to wish them good-bye, and sent his wardrums and a great body of his troops to accompany themon the first stage of their journey.

kerchief, fastened across the brow with ribbons of pale greenish-blue, with streamers hanging down the back ; a purple velvet cloak, richly ornamented with large silver plaques on each side, was thrown across his shoulders, and he bore on his breast and around his neck the ordersof Catherine of Russia and the Legion of Honour. He was seatedonrichly-embroidered cushions. He cordially shook hands with Mr. Rodd. His powerful, dark, andsmall-pox pitted face lit up with a pleasant smile as he greeted Her Majesty's Special Envoy, whilst he bowed to the several members of the mission", and beggedus allto be seated."

After somenegotiation a treaty betweenGreat Britain and Abyssinia was signed on May 14th. It stipulated freedom of trade betweenthe two countries, and a rectification of frontier which gave to Menelek a portion of the British sphere ofinfluence inSomaliland. It further included a declaration of the Negus that the Dervishes were the enemies of his empire, and he undertook to do all he could to prevent the importation of arms and ammunition destined for them through his dominions. At thefinal audience on the 14th May, at the palace of Addis Abeba, " There musthave beensomethinglike twenty thousand men to form ourescort," writesCount Gleichen. " As far almost as one couldsee there was a running crowd of riflemen, all in their best white clothes, and the chiefs in their most gorgeous garments. In this sea of brilliantlyclad men, broken on all sides by hundreds of gaily-coloured banners,ourlittle party of nine, in travel-stained khaki,felt almost engulfed. It was a wonderful sensation being thus carried along, and brought home to us the fact that a strongPower wasdoing us honour to the best of its ability."

LADO, ON THE WHITE NILE.