The play consists of two acts and was firstly published in the newspaper Novoe vremia (1890); it was later slightly altered and staged at the satirical theatre Krivoe zerkalo (1908). The beautiful Vampuka, an African princess, is in love with a young man called Lodyre. Unfortunately, the Ethiopians are searching for her, as their king, Strofokamil, wants to marry her after having killed her father.