SFOR T IN ABYSSINIA. 3 5 



to us ; he said that they had only just finished 

 building their house, and he hospitably invited us to 

 stay there, but we declined, with thanks. 



H. said he would go out shooting, but I stopped 

 in camp to settle things, and before dinner I went up 

 and bathed in the hot spring. My readers must 

 know that this is the fashionable Spa of Abyssinia, 

 whither invalids afflicted with scrofulous and other 

 complaints come to bathe. It is held in great repute 

 all through the country, and I believe with good 

 reason. 



The spring was almost too hot to sit in, but I had 

 taken up my big sponge, and douched myself well ; 

 the bath was very soothing after the heat and march 

 of the day. 



This evening it began to rain ; this will give the 

 date of the beginning of the rains in the hills lying 

 between the sea and Asmarra, the first table-land in 

 Abyssinia that one comes to on this road. These 

 rains must not be confused with the rains that pour 

 down in Abyssinia, supplying the Nile tributaries that 

 Sir Samuel Baker has explored, and which begin in 

 the month of May. 



Directly the rain began the servants and myself 

 busied ourselves in making a little trench around the 

 tent ; this is a precaution everybody ought to take 

 where there is the least chance of rain. I also irot mv 



