fifteen miles, the female cooks
halted, like a flight of flamingoes, in a pretty, secluded valley. It was
evident that the day's march was now at an end, and the army halted to
bivouac for the night. In the centre of this straggling camp, which could
not be less than five miles in diameter, was raised a suite of royal tents,
consisting of a gay party-coloured marquee of Turkish manufacture,
surrounded by twelve ample awnings of black serge, over which floated five
crimson pennons, surmounted respectively by silver globes. There was
something of African, or perhaps European, pomp in this proceeding. Until
the royal tents were enclosed from the vulgar eye, the Negoos, ascending
an adjacent eminence with his chiefs and an escort of picked warriors,
remained seated on cushioned _alga_, and under the crimson canopy of the
state umbrella.

When night fell, rockets were fired by the royal command, "to instil
terror into the breasts of the Galla hordes;" and the peak which ran near
the headquarters, was chosen as the most central spot for the display. The
effect, brilliant every where, was here all that even Majesty could have
desired. The "fire-rainers" (the picturesqe name which, we presune, Major
Harris has adopted from the natives) produced delight, wonder, and terror,
in all their degrees; and if the Galla nation were present, they must, to
a man, have solicited chains, rather than be roasted alive by those flying
monsters, which the people seem to have taken for the works of magic, if
not magicians themselves. The display was followed by a repast in the old
heroic style, and which will not be forgotten, should Abyssinia ever give
the world a sable Homer.

"The chiefs and nobles sat down to their feast in the royal pavilion,
where hydromel, beer, and _raw_ flesh were in regal profusion!! After
supper, speeches were made in the Homeric style, boasting of what the
warriors had done, and intended to do. A fragment of one of the
speeches; addressed to the English as the party broke up, gives a
fair idea of Abyssinian table eloquence, 'You are the adorners,' (the
orator had been decorated with a scarlet cloak;) 'you have given me
scarlet broadcloth, and behold I have reserved the gift for this day.
This garment will bring me success; for the Pagan who sees a crimson
cloak on the shoulders of the Amhara,' (Abyssinian,) 'believing him
to be a warrior of distinguished valour, will take, like an ass, to
hi