Daily Telegraph 6 December 2001

A SACRED religious artefact seized by British soldiers more than 130 years ago is to be returned to Ethiopia after it was discovered by accident in a church cupboard.

The Rev John McLuckie found the carved piece of wood known as a "Tabot" while he was looking for a communion set at St John the Evangelist Church in Princes Street, Edinburgh.

He once worked in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, and recognised the holy relic, seen only by priests. It represents the Ark of the Covenant, which the Israelites used to carry the Ten Commandments.

The African country has been campaigning for years for the return of its plundered artefacts and treasures and Fisseha Adugna, the country's charge d'affaires in London, said he was "hugely grateful" for the decision by the Scottish church.

The Tabot, thought to be around 400 years old, was taken during the British battle of the mountain fortress of Magdala in 1868.

The fort was surrounded after Emperor Theodore II imprisoned British citizens. An American journalist who witnessed the attack said the emperor's body was stripped, after he had committed suicide, and 15 elephants and 200 mules were loaded with loot including 1,000 sacred manuscripts and gold crowns.

Some of the treasure was auctioned to senior officers and one bought the Tabot, set it on a plinth and presented it to his church in Edinburgh.

Historians have described the Magdala plunder as Ethiopia's "Elgin Marbles". A delegation is expected in Edinburgh next month to collect the artefact.