Abyssinia
In 1867, King Theodore II of Abyssinia made a request to the British for munitions and military experts and dispatched a letter to Queen Victoria asking for help.
King Theodore II
As time passed by, it became clear that the British Foreign Office had completely ignored this particular request. This did not please the King at all. Exasperated by this antipathy of the British, King Theodore decided to hold the British Consul Captain Cameron, and others, as hostages until he received a reply to his letter.
The Hostages
In Britain, preperations were duly made to punish the petulant King in what was a classic case of the Victorian 'Small War'
Troops were dispatched from India with instructions to storm the King's fortress at Magdala, and rescue the hostages.
After an incredible logistical exercise, and using camels and elephants to transport arms and provisions, on 15th April 1868 Magdala was stormed and the hostages released.
The body of King Theodore was discovered by soldiers near to the gate. He had committed suicide by discharging a pistol in his mouth. Ironically, this pistol had been a present from Queen Victoria. The remainder of King Theodore's forces were rounded up and the fortress was cleared out. A few days later, the engineers destroyed the gates, the remainder of any ammunition and the city was torched.
Captain Cameron returned to Scotland and built a house here, naming it after the country he loved but to which he would never return.
The full story of the conflict can be found here:The Abyssinian Conflict
Allow 2½ to 3 hours for this walk, then on to The Captains Log and back
Deer Stalking takes place in this area from mid August to 20th October, although much further up the hill than where the cache is hidden.
FTF - FlyFishermanBob 
STF - Shunter 
TTF - Pooter