64 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



a group of acacias, near some wells of fresh water. 

 At this place they were provided by the natives 

 with a sort of sandal, for walking on the salt, 

 made of the Jeaves of a dwarf palm. 



tC The plain lies perfectly flat, and is said to 

 be four days' journey in length. The first half 

 mile was very slippery, and the feet sank at 

 every step into the mud. After this, the surface 

 became strongly crusted, resembling, in appear- 

 ance, a rough coat of ice, covered with snow. 



" On the Assa Durwa side of the plain, a 

 number of Abyssinians were engaged in cutting 

 out the salt, which they accomplished by means 

 of a small adze. The salt lies in horizontal 

 strata, so that when the edges are once divided, 

 it separates without any great difficulty : that 

 which is immediately under the surface is ex- 

 ceedingly hard, white, and pure ; but as the 

 workmen advance deeper, it becomes of a 

 coarser quality, and much softer. In some 

 places it continues tolerably pure to the depth 

 of three feet, below which it becomes mixed 

 with the soil, and consequently unfit for use. 



" This salt plain, from which the whole of 

 Abyssinia is supplied, is infested by a cruel race, 

 who make it a practice to lie in wait for the 

 individuals engaged in cutting it. These poor 

 fellows, in the absence of their guards, lie down 

 flat on the surface, when working, that they may 

 escape the observation of their barbarous ene- 



