SPOR T IN ABYSSINIA. 5 3 



me some, and told me to put it in my eye ; it afforded 

 instantaneous relief. I do not think this cure is 

 known to the Abyssinians, as their woodcutters some- 

 times lose their eyesight. Later in the day, as we 

 reached a higher altitude, we saw no more of this 

 poisonous plant. We travelled on slowly through the 

 mist and rain, the bullocks slipping about over the 

 rocks, and frequently having to be reloaded, or 

 the leather thongs which bound their baggage 

 tightened up. 



At last v/e came to an open dell in the hills, one of 

 the camping-places on this road, called Mehdet. Kirk- 

 ham and myself with great difhculty, and after wasting 

 a number of matches, managed to light a fire, and we 

 warmed up some cold venison, frying it in oil that 

 Kirkham produced. H. did not like the dish, say- 

 ing that it tasted like hair grease ; he preferred the 

 venison au naturel : we ate a box of sardines, and 

 then started again. The road became very steep ; at 

 four in the afternoon we reached the top of the pass, 

 a narrow gully between high rocks : there would be 

 just room for two men to walk abreast. 



The road after this for a short way was very good, 

 like a good hill-road in the Himalayas. At the bottom 

 of this road was a small valley, called Maihenzee : this 

 was to be our camping-place for the night, and one of 

 the staees between Asmarra and Gindar. This was 



