94 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
donaldsont. A very striking bird it was with its red, 
green, and blue markings, but its cry was harsh and loud, 
resembling a parrot’s screech. 
On the 9th of November two bullocks were brought into 
camp as a present from Wal-da-Gubbra, with a message 
from the general to the effect that he would send me 
twenty-six camels in the morning, and a guide to take us 
west. This news was too good to be true. Nothing was 
said about Emperor Menelek’s answer, and the fact of the 
two bullocks coming, meant that the Abyssinians were 
simply wishing to detain us. The prospect seemed gloomy 
indeed. We had waited now a month in this country 
owing to the Abyssinians. The camels were dying, and 
my supply of cloth was being gradually used up. It 
seemed as though the Abyssinians were determined to 
prevent our going on; but if they intended stopping us, it 
was best to bring about the issue at once. Accordingly 
we started west on the morning of November 11 with 
anything but cheerful forebodings. Following a good 
road that leads all the way from Ginea to the capital of 
Abyssinia, we marched over a beautiful grassy and hilly 
country, where there were but few trees and bushes, and 
finally up a very steep pass. When we reached the sum- 
mit we found ourselves on a broad grassy plain, eight 
thousand feet above the sea, called the Budda. 
This plain extends west fifty miles, according to native 
report, and is then broken by the valley of the Shebeli 
River, while beyond it the country rises higher and higher 
until New Antoto is reached. 
