The hereditary provinces subject to Sahela Selassie are comprised in a
rectangular domain of one hundred and fifty by ninety miles, which area
is traversed by five systems of mountains, whereof the culminating point
divides the basin of the Nile from that of the Hawash. The Christian
population of Shoa and Efat are estimated at one million of souls, and
that of the Mohammadan and Pagan population of the numerous dependencies
at a million and a half. Without including tribute in kind, the royal
revenues are said to amount to about eighty or ninety thousand German
crowns, accruing chiefly from import duties on slaves, foreign
merchandise, and salt. The annual expenses of the state not exceeding
ten thousand dollars, it is probable that His Christian Majesty, during
his long reign of nearly thirty years, must have amassed considerable
treasure, which is carefully deposited underground, and not lightly
estimated by its possessor.
Nearly in the centre of the kingdom presides Zenama Work, "the golden
rain," relict of Woosen Suggud, and mother of the reigning monarch. The
seat of her government, it has already been said, is at Zalla Dingai,
"the rolling stone;" and she rules over nearly the whole of the
north-west, or in fact over almost one half of the realm--appropriating
in reversion to the crown the entire revenues of her dependent
territories, and appointing her own governors with the royal approval.
Judge in her own dominions, her decisions nevertheless lie under appeal
to the throne; and even as queen-dowager, she is debarred participation
in certain privileges which form the exclusive prerogatives of her son,
over whose mind she exerts an influence, compared by the people of Shoa
to that which they believe the holy Virgin to exercise over the
Redeemer.
Long tired of the world and of its vanities, the venerable lady has made
numerous applications for permission to retire to a convent, and assume
the veil, the royal entreaties to the contrary having alone delayed the
execution of the design. Many years barren, she sought the benediction
of the wandering "Wato," and her nuptial couch being shortly crowned by
the birth of Prince Menilek, the happy event was ascribed to necromantic
intervention. Thus the tribe of the soothsayer is to this day left in
peaceful occupation of its mountains on the bank of the wooded Hawash,
whilst the destroying hand of the Amhara presses in wrath upon the head
of the surrounding heathen.
Four hundred governors, styled _Shoomant_, are appointed under the crown
of Shoa, and these with fifty _Abogasoch_, or guardians of the frontier,
literally "fathers of war," corresponding with the margraves of Germany
in olden times, conduct the affairs of the kingdom and its dependencies.
Some few of these appointments are hereditary; but the majority are
purchased by the highest bidder, and the tenure is at best extremely
precarious. A governor on his appointment is invested with a silver
sword as a badge of office, and is bound to appear with his contingent
of militia, whensoever summoned for military service. His grants are
regulated by the amount of his levy; and as he rises in the royal
estimation, so he receives badges also for subordinates, who may have
distinguished themselves by their zeal, activity, or valour.
No courtier or great man can, after a long absence, approach the throne
empty-handed. Thousands of stern warriors bend down with profound and
slavish abasement before the fellow-mortal who presides over their
sublunary destinies; and even the nobles of the land twice prostrate
themselves, and kiss the dust in a manner the most abject and
humiliating. All public officers make oblations from time to time in
kind; and the king is, besides, in the habit of requiring arbitrarily
from those in charge of districts, tribute in honey, clarified butter,
cloth, or whatever else he may happen to require. Weak, and at the same
time cunning--suspicious of every one, and placing not the smallest
confidence in any of his functionaries--he sometimes precipitates them
from affluence into a dungeon, when they believe themselves in the
enjoyment of the largest share of favour. Resolved to disgrace a
nobleman, he either sends for or visits the doomed personage, treats him
with marked kindness and condescension, in view to dispel alarm; and
embracing a favourable moment when no resistance can be offered, gives
the fiat to those in attendance to secure their prisoner.
If not retained by fees and oblations, governments are constantly
forfeited and resold. Frequent changes are also made with the design of
counteracting collusion and rebellion. Although the power of the Negoos
is absolute, it is subdivided amongst all who execute his orders, and
little despots arise in all the numerous governors of provinces--each
actuated by the same desire of being the executor of his own supreme
will. Still they bear a heavy responsibility, and the slightest error
in judgment, or, even in the absence of all delinquency, the mere whim
of the monarch, may involve them in destruction when least anticipated.
Accountable for every event, whether probable or improbable, assiduity
in the management of affairs does not always avail. Talents and bravery
are sometimes displayed in vain, and mere caprice may hurl the possessor
of both from his high estate to the deepest ruin and disgrace.
Armed with the delegated authority of the despot, each governor,
enacting the autocrat in his own domains, fashions his habits and
privileges after those of his royal master. His fields are cultivated
in the same manner, and he possesses the advantage of being able to
extort from the inhabitants, for a very inadequate compensation in
grain, many days of extra labour in each of the great agricultural
operations. A fluctuating tribute in kind, regulated by his will and
caprice, is exacted from all land-holders, to meet the demands of His
Majesty, who, in addition to an inauguration fee of from four to six
hundred dollars, is, unless voluntary offerings be frequently made, ever
sending requisitions for live stock and farm produce. This system falls
heavily upon all classes. A governor trusting to his own resources is
speedily impoverished; whilst he who taxes too roughly is certain to be
stripped of authority and property, on representation made to the
throne.
But the Abyssinian is never loth to climb up again whence he has fallen,
and the humbled grandee, although impoverished and shunned by the
servile crowd, strives again to ingratiate himself with his sovereign--
frequently succeeds by long and patient attendance, and once more girded
with the silver sword of authority, he attains that perilous and giddy
pinnacle, where the weapon of destruction hangs over his head suspended
only by a single hair.
The essence of despotism pervading the land to its very core, the Negoos
is the true God of its adoration. All the best portions of the soil
pertain to His Majesty, and the life as well as the property of every
subject is at his sole and absolute disposal. Every act is performed
with some view to promote his pleasure, and the subject waits on his
sovereign will, for favour, preferment, and place. All appointments are
at the king's disposal--all rewards and distinctions come from the
king's hand. In years of famine, food itself is only to be obtained
from the royal granaries; and it is not therefore surprising that those
over whom one so absolute presides should be mean, servile, and
cringing, and that they should, in their aspirations after power and
place, mould every action of their life according to his will.
Concealment of any acquisition, howsoever small and valueless, is
invariably visited with loss of office and confiscation of property.
Gold forms the exclusive privilege of royalty. Personal ornaments and
coloured raiment have until now been restricted by the severest
sumptuary laws, and none, except the highest chiefs and warriors of the
land, were ever honoured by an exemption from the rule. But these harsh
prohibitions, which exist under no other government in Abyssinia,
originated long before the present reign, and have been enforced during
so many generations, that they are now little irksome to the people.
Shoa has hitherto stood exempt from the unceasing endeavours to acquire
ascendancy on the part of all the various chieftains who divide the
sceptre in the north--allied to-day in bonds of the closest amity, the
next arrayed in the most bitter animosity. Engaged in perpetual strife,
the march of any one prince beyond the border of his own territories
proves the signal to the nearest of his neighbours to carry fire and
sword into the heart of his undefended domain; but although torn by
civil war from one extremity to the other, the bond of the ancient
Ethiopic empire is still not entirely dissolved; and notwithstanding
that the "king of kings" has dwindled into the mere spectre of imperial
dignity--is deposed and restored to the throne at the caprice of every
predominant ruler--his name at least is deemed essential to render valid
the title of Ras, and through the latter, of the governors of all the
dependent provinces of Abyssinia.
But herein the King of Shoa forms an exception; and fortunate it is for
His Majesty as well as for his dominions, that the surrounding Galla
tribes, united with natural defences, should have so completely shut him
out from participation in the intestine disturbances which have ravaged
and laid waste every other province of this beautiful and once
prosperous land. Although he propitiates the leader of every party, and
pursues a conciliatory policy, it would be in his power to mediate with
a high hand for the advantage of all; yet is it curious to observe with
what tenacity the Abyssinians adhere to preconceived opinions. The
kingdom of Shoa, which was formerly a portion of the empire, still
continues in general estimation to form an integral part thereof; and
Sahela Selassie is therefore, but in name only, regarded as a vassal of
the puppet Emperor of Gondar, notwithstanding that he is, _de facto_, an
independent monarch.
Volume 3, Chapter VI.