the hill were completely obliterated. The desolation had spread for
miles along the great range: houses, with their inmates, had been
hurried away."

Before the mission took its departure, it did honour to the character of
its country by one act which alone would have been worth its time and
trouble. The horrid policy of African despotism condemns all the brothers
of the throne to the dungeon, from the moment of the royal accession. The
king had exhibited qualities of a very unexpected order in an African
despot, and, under the guidance of the mission, had made some advances to
justice, and even to clemency. At this period, he was suddenly seized with
an alarming spasmodic disorder, and he apprehended that his constitution,
enfeebled by the habits of his life, was likely to give way. On his
recovery being despaired of by both priests and physicians, he suddenly
sent for the British mission.

"'My children,' said his majesty in a sepulchral voice, as he
extended his burning hand towards them, 'behold I am sore stricken.
Last night they believed me dead, and the voice of mourning had
arisen within the palace walls; but God hath spared me until now.'"

It seems to be the custom for the king's physician to taste the draught
prescribed for him, and an attenpt being made to do this by the British,
the sick monarch generously forbade it.

"'What need is there now of this?' he exclaimed reproachfully. 'Do I
not know that you would administer to Sahela Selasse nothing that
could do him mischief?'"

The reader will probably remember an almost similar act of confidence of