Sultan or Pasha of Somalia's port city of Zeila (Zeyla) before it became part of the British Somaliland. In contrast, some scholars argue today that the new policies were all part of Iyasu's efforts to consolidate the imperial power such as by integrating marginal territories such as the Afar land. From the end of the 19th century, the members of this family lost their role as obligatory intermediaries in favour of European traders supported by their respective states. However, one of them, Naggadras Mahammad Abubakar, continued to enjoy the trust of Menelik, who was unwilling to rely solely on the Europeans. Furthermore, although Mersha was Christian, he did not adhere to the historically dominant Orthodox faith. Rather he was one of the first to convert to Catholicism and subjected to mistreatment like many of his fellow worshippers. Mersha's absence was a source of great concern to the railway company in part due to his long and dedicated service and reputation. This was obvious from one of the letters that Emperor Menelik wrote to him. The following comment made by Mr. de Mazérieux, the company's administrator, captures that sentiment: Avec Ato Marcha, qui était au courant des usages et des méthodes de la Cie, et qui lui était surtout absolumment dévoué, les difficultés etaient rapidement aplanies. Abou-Baker est trop connu en Abyssinie et à la Cie, pour qu’on puisse espérer, qu’il en sera de même avec lui. English translation: With Ato Marcha, who was very knowledgeable of the practices and methods of CIE (i.e., Compagnie Imperiale d’Ethiopie), and who was absolutely devoted, difficulties were quickly resolved. Abu-Baker is very well known in Abyssinia and Cie, so we hope that things will be the same with him. Mersha was restored to his position under Empress Zewditu, Menelik's daughter, who ruled Ethiopia from 1916 until 1930. Teferi Mekonnen was regent to the throne during this period and went on to rule Ethiopia as Emperor Haile Selassie I(1930–1974) when the empress died. A prominent Catholic Mersha was a well-known Catholic. He played an important role in the spread of the faith in Harar region and beyond. His wife Tedeneqyalesh was the daughter of Ato Mekbeb (also Mekev, Makeb and Makbeb) who was converted to Catholicism in the late 1860s by the Italian missionary Cardinal Guglielmo Massaja or Abba Messias as he was known in Ethiopia. Martial De Salviac, the French missionary who lived in