{"product_id":"2940015773019","title":"British Expedition Against King Theodore of Abyssinia","description":"Kindle version of vintage monograph originally published in 1868.  Contains lots of great info and illustrations seldom seen in the last 150 years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRead excerpt -\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTheodore commenced to reform the administration of the country. He paid his soldiers regularly, and thus prevented them from plundering his subjects. He suppressed the slave-trade, and even purchased Christian slaves from Moham-medan dealers in order to set them free. He introduced decent habits of dress into Abyssinian society, and furnished an example of conjugal fidelity which might well have put to shame the Coptic Abuna. As far as possible he dispersed the banditti who had infested the country from time immemorial. He deprived the feudal chiefs of their despotic power, and placed the country under a responsible government. He also very much weakened the powers of the priesthood.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKing Theodore's personal appearance is described by Mr. Dufton, who represents him as \"of middling stature, and of a well-knit but not over-powerful frame, conveying more the idea of being tough and wiry than of strong physical development. His complexion is dark, approaching to black, but he has nothing of the negro about him; his features are altogether those of a European. His head is well-formed, and his hair is arranged in large plaits extending back from the forehead. The forehead is high, and tends to be prominent. His eye is black; full of fire, quick, and piercing. His nose has a little of the Roman about it, being slightly arched and pointed. His mouth is perfect; and the smile which during the conversation continually played upon it was exceedingly agreeable, I may say fascinating. He has very little mustache or beard. His manner was peculiarly pleasant, gracious, and even polite; and his general expression, even when his features were at rest, was one of intelligence and benevolence.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHis method of administering justice was peculiar. He instituted himself as the highest authority in the land to whom all the discontented could appeal, appearing before him with the cry, \"Dschan-hoi\" (majesty). There was a wild sort of justice in his decisions, usually given in the morning before his tent. For instance:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe was sitting at the door of his tent, when an Arab approached with the cry \"Dschan-hoi, Dschan-hoi! Justice, 0 King!\" Being asked his complaint he replied:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Three days ago I returned home from the bazar; ‘Fatmeh,’ I cried, ‘Fatmeh!’ but no answer. For know, 0 King, Fatmeh is my wife, my pearl. She has vanished. Allah akbar, God is great; I supposed she had visited her sick mother. The stars begin to pale, the sun returns, but Fatmeh comes not. I hasten to her mother; she has not been there! Dschan-hoi, I want my wife'!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Good,\" replies the king, \"you shall have her; be ready in an hour's time to receive me in your house.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePromptly appearing the king asks to be shown the dresses of the missing wife. So all the faithless Fatmeh's pomps and vanities are exposed, and finally a pair of wide-flowing silken trousers are brought to light, and the astonished husband cannot recognize them as a part of his wife's wardrobe. All the tailors in Gondar were then summoned, one of whom identified the trousers as made by him for a rich young nobleman, Ras Michal. Then follows the seizure of the Ras and the discovery of Fatmeh. Both were brought before the king.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"There is your wife,\" said Theodore; \"take her; I have kept my promise.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Excuse me, Dschan-hoi,\" said Abdallah; \"a woman who has slept three nights out of my house is no longer my wife.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You have spoken well,\" said the king. \"Take this purse and buy yourself another one. As for you two,\" he thundered, \"you cannot marry here, as one woman cannot have two husbands, but you can be united in heaven if you like!\" Thereupon he gave the order for their immediate execution, which was carried out the same day.","brand":"history-bytes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47080926740720,"sku":"2940015773019","price":5.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940015773019_p0.jpg?v=1763624555","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940015773019","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}