68 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
sand eight hundred feet we came to a large field of durrha 
and one of pumpkins; it was much damper, moss growing 
on most of the trees. Up the steepest path we proceeded, 
great chasms of red earth yawning on either side, or else 
the mountain going sheer down from the feet of the mule. 
“ From the top of the pass we descended three hundred 
feet to where we camped. This spot, heavy with mois- 
ture and reeking with wet, is another farm worked by Galla 
hands for Shoan mouths, durrha, wheat, and pumpkins 
growing in large patches,—the houses of the Shoans 
being surrounded by a high stockade, and the huts of the 
Gallas being made with wooden posts and thatched roofs. 
The best place we could select for our camp was a perfect 
swamp; and from it we could see into the plain on the 
other side of the range, and in the distance, about thirty- 
five miles off, the Daro and Hawatu hills, the latter being 
formed of upright columns of rock, which give it a curious 
appearance. Hearing that our camel was unable to bring 
up its load, the Shoans despatched Gallas to carry up our 
things, and whilst waiting for them the boys held evening 
prayers, and I shot a dove for my supper. We were very 
well treated, the Gallas being made to bring us wood, 
honey, milk, and durrha meal, — the honey being chiefly 
wax, and the milk having a peculiar flavor, caused, I fancy, 
by the animal having eaten some spruce, which I found 
growing here. 
“ Owing to several showers of rain, we did not get off the 
following morning till 7 A.M., when, the road being said to 
be too bad for our camel to go loaded, eight Gallas were 
pressed into carrying our things, much to their disgust (but 
on the first sign of rebellion the Shoans clouted them 
over the head and forced them to pick up their loads). 
Our path, leading in a southeast direction, took us down 
into the plain, where we came to a village, and found a 
