a, when a summons came from the monarch in these formal
words:--"Tarry not by day, neither stay ye by night; for the heart of the
father longeth to see his children, and let him not be disappointed."

They now ascended through a country of romantic beauty, to Machalwan, the
place appointed for the interview. The Abyssinian in charge of the embassy,
was now sent forward to obtain permission to fire a salute of twenty-one
guns on the arrival of the troop at the royal residence. This request
seemed to have alarmed his majesty in no slight degree. The most romantic
reports of the ordnance had gone before them. It was currently believed
that their discharge was sufficient to set fire to the ground, to shiver
rocks, and to dismantle mountain fastnesses. Men were said to have arrived,
with "copper legs," who served those tremendous engines; and in alarm for
the safety of his palace, capital, and treasures, the suspicious monarch
still peremptorily insisted on withholding the desired license, until he
should have seen the battery "with his own eyes." It rained incessantly
during the night which preceded the day of presentation, and until the
morning broke; when a great volume of white mist rose from the deep
valleys, and drifted like a scene-curtain across the summit of the giant
Mamrat. The whole troop now began to ascend the mountain; and, as they
approached within sight of the stockaded palace, the escort commenced to
fire their matchlocks. The view here is described as very lovely, and
giving some conception of European variety of vegetation, with tropical
luxuriance. Farm-houses, rich fields, foaming cascades, and bright green
meadows covered with flowers, met the eye on every side; and above all
towered the great Abyssinian range, some thousand feet perpendicularly
overhead, with its summits crested with clouds. The crowd of spectators
was immense, and were repelled only by strokes of the bamboo. At length a
large tent was pitched for the reception of the embassy, the floor was
strewed with heath, myrtles, and other aromatic shrubs; and the weather
having cleared up, "the mission, radiant with plumes and gold embroidery,
moved on." As they reached the precincts of the palace, the artillery
fired a salute, which equally awed and astonished the multitude, the
discharge being followed by universal shouts in the native tongue
of--"Wonderful English! Well done, well done!"

After several further stoppages, they entered the rece