SPORT IN ABYSSINIA. 33 



as far as it is cultivated by the Shoho Arabs who 



dwell in the village. Elephants arc found here after 

 the rains, but the place is rather unhealthy at that 

 time, and most of the natives, who are miserable 

 creatures, suffer from fever. 



I should state that the Governor had provided us 

 with a guard of six irregular Egyptian soldiers and a 

 non-commissioned officer. In the middle of the night at 

 Sahatee, we had heard the loud report of the Egyptian 

 corporal's carbine. We thought we were going to be 

 attacked ; but it turned out, next morning, that he 

 had fired at a pig, in hopes of securing some fresh 

 meat. 



These poor soldiers' pay is four dollars a month ; 

 they find themselves in clothes and food, but are 

 provided with arms, and all military service is com- 

 pulsory with the Egyptians. 



Our cameleers and Naib Abdul Kerim — the man 

 whom Arrekel Bey, the Governor, had given us to guide 

 us through the country and manage our transport as 

 far as Adowa, the capital of Abyssinia — wanted 

 us to camp near a large tree just outside the house 

 of the Sheik of the village of Ailet. H. and I, how- 

 ever, agreed to go on, so as to get to the hot springs 

 of Ailet, as it was early in the day and we should 

 be a little farther on our journey ; we should also 

 be farther away from the village and more likely 



D 



