A NARRATIVE OF CAPTIVITY IN

ABYSSINIA;

WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LATE EMPEROR THEODORE, HIS COUNTRY AND

PEOPLE.

BY HENRY BLANC, M.D., M.R.C.S.E., F.A.S.L., ETC.,

STAFF ASSISTANT-SURGEON HER MAJESTY'S BOMBAY ARMY, (LATELY ON

SPECIAL DUTY IN ABYSSINIA.)

CONTENTS

PREFACE

CHAPTER I.

The Emperor Theodore—His Rise and Conquests—His Army and

Administration—Causes of his Fall—His Personal Appearance and

Character—His Household and Private Life

CHAPTER II.

Europeans in Abyssinia—Bell and Plowden—Their Career and Deaths—

Consul Cameron—M. Lejean—M. Bardel and Napoleon's Answer to

Theodore—The Gaffat People—Mr. Stern and the Djenda Mission—State

of Affairs at the End of 1863

CHAPTER III.

Imprisonment of Mr. Stern—Mr. Kerans arrives with Letters and Carpet—

Cameron, with his Followers, is put in Chains—M. Bardel returns from the

Soudan—Theodore's Dealings with Foreigners—The Coptic Patriarch—

Abdul Rahman Bey—The Captivity of the Europeans explained

CHAPTER IV.

News of Cameron's Imprisonment reaches Home—Mr. Rassam is selected

to proceed to the Court of Gondar, and is accompanied by Dr. Blanc—

Delays and Difficulties in communicating with Theodore—Description of

Massowah and its Inhabitants—Arrival of a Letter from the Emperor

CHAPTER V.

From Massowah to Kassala—The Start—The Habab—Adventures of M.

Marcopoli—The Beni Amer—Arrival at Kassala—The Nubian Mutiny—

Attempt of De Bisson to found a Colony in the Soudan

CHAPTER VI.

Departure from Kassala—Sheik Abu Sin—Rumours of Theodore's Defeat

by Tisso Gobazé—Arrival at Metemma—Weekly Market—The Takruries

at Drill—Their Foray into Abyssinia—Arrival of Letters from Theodore

CHAPTER VII.

Entrance into Abyssinia—Altercation between Takruries and Abyssinians at

Wochnee—Our Escort and Bearers—Applications for Medicine—First

Reception by his Majesty—The Queen's Letter translated and Presents

delivered—Accompany his Majesty through Metsha—His Conversation en

route

CHAPTER VIII.

Leave the Emperor's Camp for Kourata—The Tana Sea—The Abyssinian

Navy—The Island of Dek—Arrival at Kourata—The Gaffat People and

former Captives join us—Charges preferred against the Latter—First

Visit to the Emperor's Camp at Zagé—Flattery before Coercion

CHAPTER IX.

Second Visit to Zagé—Arrest of Mr. Rassam and the English Officers

—Charges brought against Mr. Rassam—The former Captives are brought

in Chains to Zagé—Public Trial—Reconciliation—Mr. Flad's Departure

—The Imprisonment at Zagé—Departure for Kourata

CHAPTER X.

Second Residence at Kourata—Cholera and Typhus break out in the

Camp—The Emperor resolves to march to Debra Tabor—Arrival at

Gaffat—The Foundry transformed into a Palace—Political Trial at

Debra Tabor—The Black Tent—Dr. Blanc and Mr. Rosenthal seized at

Gaffat—Another Public Trial—The Black Hole—March with the Emperor

to Aibankab—Sent to Magdala, and Arrival at the Amba

CHAPTER XI.

Our first House at Magdala—The Chief has a "little Business" with us—

Feelings of a European when being put in Chains—The Operation

described—The Prisoners' Toilette—How we Lived—Our first Messenger a

Failure—How we obtained Money and Letters—A Magdala Diary—A

Rainy Season in a Godjo

CHAPTER XII.

Description of Magdala—Climate and Water Supply—The Emperor's

Houses—His Harem and Magazines—The Church—Prison-house—Guards

and Gaol—Discipline—A previous Visit of Theodore to Magdala—

Slaughter of the Gullas—Character and Antecedents of Samuel—Our

friends, Zenab the Astronomer, and Meshisha the Lute-player—Day Guards

—We build new Huts—Abyssinian and Portuguese Servants—Our

Inclosure is enlarged

CHAPTER XIII.

Theodore writes to Mr. Rassam about Mr. Flad and the Artisans—His

two Letters contrasted—General Merewether arrives at Massowah—

Danger

of sending Letters to the Coast—Ras Engeddah brings us a few

Stores—Our Garden—Successful Results of Vaccination at Magdala—Our

Day Guard again—Second Rainy Season—The Chiefs are Jealous—The

Ras and his Council—Damash, Hailo, Daily Life during Rainy Season—

Two

Prisoners attempt to Escape—The Knout in Abyssinia—A Dying Man's

Prophecy

CHAPTER XIV.

Second Rainy Season ends—Scarcity and dearness of Provisions—

Meshisha and Comfou plot their Escape—They succeed—Theodore is

robbed—Damash pursues the Fugitives—The Night Attack—The Galla

War-cry, and the "Sauve qui peut"—The Wounded left on the Field—

Hospitality of the Gallas—Theodore's Letter on the Subject—Mastiate's

Troubles—Wakshum Gabra Medhin—Sketch of Gobaz's Career—He

invites the Co-operation of the Bishop in seizing Magdala—The Bishop's

plan—All the rival Chiefs intrigue for the Amba—Mr. Rassam's Influence

overrated

CHAPTER XV.

Death of Abouna Salama—Sketch of his Life and Career—Grievances of

Theodore against him—His Imprisonment at Magdala—The Wallo Gallas

—Their Habits and Customs—Menilek appears with an Army in the Galla

Country—His Policy—Advice sent to him by Mr. Rassam—He invests

Magdala, and fires a feu-de-joie —The Queen's behavior —Steps taken by

the Chiefs—Our Position not improved—The Effects of Smoke on Menilek

—Our Disappointment followed by great Joy—We receive news of the

Landing of British Troops

CHAPTER XVI.

Theodore's Proceedings during our stay at Magdala—His treatment of

Begemder—A Rebellion breaks out—Forced March on Gondar—The

Churches are plundered and burnt—Theodore's Cruelties—The Insurgents

increase in Strength—The Designs of the Emperor on Kourata frustrated—

Mr. Bardel betrays the new Workmen—Theodore's Ingratitude towards the

Gaffat People—His Raid on Foggara unsuccessful

CHAPTER XVII.

Arrival of Mr. Flad from England—Delivers a Letter and Message from the

Queen—The Episode of the Telescope—Our Property taken care of—

Theodore will not yield except to Force—He recruits his Army—Ras

Adilou and Zallallou desert him—He is repulsed at Belessa by Lij Abitou

and the Peasants—The Expedition against Metraha—His Cruelties there—

The great "Sebastopol" is cast—Famine and Pestilence compel the Emperor

to raise his Camp—The difficulties of his March to Magdala—His arrival in

Dalanta

CHAPTER XVIII.

Theodore in the Vicinity of Magdala—Our feelings at the Time—An

Amnesty granted to Dalanta—The Garrison of Magdala join the Emperor—

Mrs. Rosenthal and other Europeans are sent to the Fortress—Theodore's

Conversation with Flad and Waldmeier on the Coming of the Troops—Sir

Robert Napier's Letter to Theodore reaches us—Theodore plunders Dalanta

—He abuses Mr. Waldmeier—Reaches the Bechelo—Correspondence

between Mr. Rassam and Theodore—Mr. Rassam is released from his

Fetters—Theodore arrives at Islamgee—His Quarrel with the Priests—His

First Visit to the Amba—Trial of the two Chiefs—He places a new

Commandant over the Garrison

CHAPTER XIX.

We are counted by the new Ras, and condemned to Sleep in one Hut—

Theodore's Second Visit to the Amba—He sends for Mr. Rassam, and gives

orders that Prideaux and myself should have our Chains taken off—The

Operation described—Our Reception by the Emperor—We are sent for to

see "Sebastopol" landed on Islamgee—Conversation with his Majesty—

The remaining Prisoners are freed from their Fetters—Theodore is unable

to plunder his own Property

CHAPTER XX.

All the Prisoners leave the Amba for Islamgee—Our Reception by

Theodore—He harangues his Troops, and releases some of the

Prisoners—He informs us of the Advance of the English—The

Massacre—We are sent back to Magdala—Effects of the Battle of

Fahla—Messrs. Prideaux and Flad sent to Negotiate—Release of the

Captives, and their narrow Escape—Their Arrival in the British

Camp

* * * * *

CONCLUSION

* * * * *

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PASS OF LOOKUM (Frontispiece).

FORT, MISSION HOUSE, AND TOWN OF MASSOWAH

GROVE HOUSE AT MONCULLOU

VILLAGE OF DANKORA IN ATCHEFUR

CHURCH OF KEDUS GEORGIS AND VILLAGE OF NEFASA, AGAU MEDAR

VILLAGE OF KANOA IN WANDIGÉ

VIEW FROM WANDIGÉ OF LAKE TANA

SUMMIT OF ZER AMBA, A FORTRESS NEAR TSCHELGA

* * * * *

The Fetters on the Cover of this Volume represent the Leg-chains worn by

Dr. Blanc. Their weight is about seven pounds.

PREFACE.

* * * * *

With a view of gratifying the natural curiosity evinced by a large circle of

friends and acquaintance to obtain accurate information as to the cause of

our captivity, the manner in which we were treated, the details of our daily

life, and the character and habits of Theodore, I undertook the task of

writing this account of our captivity in Abyssinia.

I have endeavoured to give a correct sketch of the career of Theodore, and a

description of his country and people, more especially of his friends and

enemies.

In order to make the reader familiar with the subject, it was also necessary

to say a few words about the Europeans who played a part in that strange

imbroglio—the Abyssinian difficulty. My knowledge of them, and of the

events that occurred during our captivity, was acquired through personal

experience, and also by intercourse with well-informed natives, during long

months of enforced idleness.

In preparing this work for the press, I found it necessary to the

completeness of the narrative, to incorporate some portions of my Report to

the Government of Bombay on Mr. Rassam's mission, which appeared in an

Indian newspaper, and was subsequently republished in a small volume.

For the same reason I have also included a few articles contributed by me to

a London newspaper.

The sufferings of the Abyssinian captives will be ever associated, in the

annals of British valour, with the triumphant success of the expedition, so

skilfully organized by its commander, whose title, Lord Napier of Magdala,

commemorates the crowning achievement of a glorious career.

London, July 23, 1868.

A NARRATIVE OF CAPTIVITY IN ABYSSINIA.