Abyssinia must be a very oratorical country. Last of all, came the tall,
martial figure of Abegoz Moreteh, chief of the tributary Galla of the
south, at the head of his legion, three thousand in number: this "sea of
wild horsemen" moved in advance, to the sound of kettle-drums, their arms
and decorations flashing in the sun, and their ample white robes and long
sable hair streaming in the breeze. At the war-hoop of their leader, "with
the rush of a hurricane the moving forest of lances disappeared under a
cloud of dust." From _eight to ten thousand_ cavalry were in the field;
and the spectacle, which lasted from nine in the morning until five in the
afternoon, was "exceedingly wild and impressive." But the most impressive
display of all was to be supplied by the British. With fire-arms the
people were acquainted already. The "brass galloper," though viewed with
"wonderful respect," was still only an engine on a larger scale than those
to which they were familiarized. But the rocket was a formidable and
splendid novelty. Night had now thrown her mantle round the field, and, by
the king's command, the rocket practice began; the first brilliant rush
into the air was matter of amazement to all. When the rocket started with
a roar from its bed, men, women, and children fell on their faces--horses
and mules broke from their tethers--and the warriors who had any heart
remaining shouted aloud. The Galla tribes, who witnessed the explosion,
ascribed the phenomenon to "potent medicines," and declared, that since
the Gyptzis (British) could, at pleasure, produce comets in the sky and
rain fire down heaven, there was nothing for them but submission to the
king's command.

The review was followed, at some interval of time, by a more substantial
display. Thrice in the year the king summons his rude militia for an
inroad into some of the neighbouring lands; and, as he was particularly
anxious to have the presence of the embassy on this occasion, and as they
conceived it to offer the best opportunity of seeing the country, they