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What goods did Arthur Rimbaud trade in Ethiopia?
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Arthur Rimbaud
Rimbaud, detail from āUn Coin de table,ā oil painting by Henri Fantin-Latour, 1872; in the Louvre, Paris
After leaving his literary career behind, Arthur Rimbaud spent his later years working as an explorer and trader in Ethiopia.12
During his time there, his trading activities included:
- Coffee: Rimbaud initially found employment in the service of a coffee trader based in Aden, which led to his work in the region.12
- Arms: He notably engaged in the sale of arms to Menilek II, the king of Shewa who later became the emperor of Ethiopia.1
While he was initially sent to HÄrer as an employee, he eventually established himself as an independent trader with the goal of amassing a fortune.1