68 SPORT IN ABYSSINIA. 



A large and most beautiful tree, of the species Fictis 

 Indica, spread its branches near the stream. From 

 this we drank excellent water, and then went up to 

 the village. After a little wandering about we found 

 where H. had pitched K.'s tent, which he had taken 

 on with him ; all were asleep and snoring. I had a 

 good mind to " draw " H., but it was a quarter to 

 eleven, so I let him repose in peace. K. roused up his 

 Abyssinian cook, Blanche* by name, and she made 

 us some coffee. The servants pitched our tent, and I 

 turned in, very tired but not exhausted. It has been 

 shrewdly observed of the air on these hills, that it 

 is "like champagne, minus the headache." 



Jan. 17. — We all took a "long lie" this Sunday 

 morning, it being a day of rest, and when we did 

 get up we found ourselves encamped near the village, 

 and close to a little Coptic church. The view was ex- 

 tensive, while across the table-land, which was inter- 

 sected by watercourses that looked like broken ditches, 

 might be seen three pointed rocky hills which rose up 

 out of this bare plain and formed a marked feature in 

 the landscape. On the side of one of these hills 

 nestled the village of Terramnee,t which was to be our 

 next halt. After breakfast we agreed to go and see 



* Her Abyssinian name was Desta, which means "happy." 

 t Terramnee means "stones in a row." This is a Tigre word, the 

 name of one of the large divisions or provinces of Abyssinia. 



