PORTAL (Gerald H.)
An Account of the English Mission to King Johannis of Abyssinia in 1887.
Very scarce memoir preceding the published work by about four years. Portal was charged with defusing tensions between the Italy and Abyssinia, after the massacre of Italian troops at Dogali. As a result of the mission war was at least delayed to 1894 when hostilities broke out . Portal’s privately printed account, obviously much scarcer than the published version, after a brief political synopsis , gives an entertaining personal account of his journey to and from the King\s near Lake Ashangi. Despite calls for him to be put to death as an enemy and ally of the hated Italians, Portal succeeded in subduing Abyssinian outrage Portal was allowed to return to safety, only after some hair raising adventures and diplomatic intrigue.
