74 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
Fred and I dismounted from our mules as we reached 
the gate, and, marching through a double line of soldiers, 
with our fifteen Somali boys, were escorted to a spot where 
we were to camp. A fat ox was presented to us, and 
large quantities of honey, darde, spiced cakes, and various 
Abyssinian dishes composed of meal. Certainly the 
Abyssinians endeavored to entertain us in every way in 
their power. As soon as our tents were up, the natives 
heaped about them loads of sweet-smelling grass, showinga 
refinement in their tastes that took me quite by surprise. 
Hazach Jarro inquired almost at once why we had not 
brought our wives along. Upon our telling him that, 
although we were willing to risk our own lives, we did 
not wish to endanger those of women by taking them 
through a country we knew nothing of, the old interpreter 
asked us if he could not provide us with some of the 
fair sex from his own village. He seemed much aston- 
ished when we told him we were quite content with the 
good things which had already been lavished upon us. 
Many slaves were appointed to do our bidding, causing 
great delight among our Somali boys, as they had no work 
to do except to sleep and eat. I did not see Wal-da- 
Gubbra until the next morning, when he sent for us 
before Fred and I had finished breakfast. Wedetermined, 
however, not to leave our meal, but delayed a quarter of an 
hour, after which we were escorted, with the Somali inter- 
preter, Ahamed Noor, who spoke Galla as well as Somali, 
into the principal courtyard of the town, where Wal-da- 
Gubbra had his audience tent. Here was much display. 
Over two hundred soldiers, with their rifles, lined the 
enclosure. At one end was a large circular tent of black 
cloth, with the side and front curtains raised to form wings. 
In and about this were throngs of Abyssinian officers, in 
their beautiful red-and-white cloaks and with long curved 
