ABYSSINIA: Coronation

Chained like dogs to the Coronation dais of Abyssinia’s Emperor and Empress, five full-grown lions with great golden manes snarled and roared last week, drew misgiving looks from the No. 1 Coronation guest, Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester, third son of George V.

Swaying their supple bodies violently, Coptic Christian priests followed their Archbishop up the aisle of St. George’s Cathedral in Addis Ababa (New Flower), Abyssinian capital. The chill air, blue with incense, reeked with the smoke of native tallow candles, throbbed to wild strains. Cried the Archbishop, lifting high the crown, “God has anointed thee to rule with Justice!”

Placing the 3-lb. golden circlet of sapphires, rubies and diamonds upon the Emperor’s woolly head, he continued, “Gird the sword upon thy loins, yet rule in Peace! May the Lord God, supreme ruler of men, bless and glorify thy reign, and may He ever keep thee and thy consort in His bosom.”

Thus was crowned Tafari Makonnen, King of Kings, Conquering Lion of Judah, the Elect of God, the Light of the World, Power of Trinity I, Emperor qf Abyssinia. For his spouse, the Queen of Queens, their Coronation was almost a coming out party. She is a chunky, chocolate amazon, he a small, slender, olive-skinned African Disraeli who astutely keeps her hidden. But they have much in common. Both looked on with glistening-eyed approval as “The Feast of Raw Meat” began. Lowing oxen had been driven into the courtyard of the palace until it was almost full. His Majesty’s loyal soldiers were to eat first. Beaming upon these fine fellows, Power of Trinity I personally opened the courtyard gate. In swarmed the hungry troopers, fell upon the oxen with their swords, drank the warm, rich blood, tore the raw meat (Abyssinia’s national delicacy) from gory flanks which in some cases had not ceased to live. Began seven days of raw meat gorging for the populace in general.