ETHIOPIA: Child in Chains

Almost unnoticed in the crowds of bearded, bedizened chieftains hurrying through Addis Ababa with their yelling followers fortnight ago was one Fitaurari Shimels, trusted adviser of Haile Selassie. Up from Harar, he stayed two days in the capital closeted with the Emperor, then departed. His powwows with the King of

Kings, however, were enough to turn the world spotlight briefly on one of the strangest figures in all Ethiopia, Lij Yasu (literally “Child of Jesus”), Emperor of Ethiopia from 1913-16, and for the past 14 years a jealously-guarded prisoner in

chains.

On the death of his grandfather, the late great Menelik II, Lij Yasu seized the throne of Ethiopia, won a grudging allegiance from the most important Rases. Almost immediately he got into difficulties. None too ardent a Christian, he attempted to bolster his reign by organizing a federation of tributary Mohammedan States. He promptly found himself excommunicated by the Coptic Church, and shortly thereafter pushed from the throne by his aunt, Zauditu (Judith) with the aid of his cousin, wily Ras Tafari, the present Haile Selassie.

In 1921 the ex-Emperor was imprisoned in a fortress on Gara Mulata. There he was allowed luxurious furniture, rich foods and the run of his prison—but night & day he remained chained to the wrist of a guard. Even so he managed to escape in 1932 disguised as a woman. Since then Fitaurari Shimels, who fortnight ago was in Addis Ababa for orders, has been Yasu’s special keeper.

Right in the path of the Italian advance lies the fortress of Gara Mulata. Therefore Emperor and jailer took good care last week that Italy should have no chance to rescue Child of Jesus, set him up on Haile Selassie’s throne. Secretly their prisoner was moved hundreds of miles to the southwest, to Bako where he could contemplate life and his chains near the craggy shores of Lake Rudolf.