SPORT IN ABYSSINIA. 1 35 



Certainly, to say the least of it, it was very annoy- 

 ing, especially on the point of departure. We called 

 our servants together and went up to the ballaga's 

 house where the donkeys had been put for the night. 

 The young chief evidently thought we had hostile 

 intentions, as his followers might be seen running in 

 front of him taking the sheaths off the points of their 

 long spears. When we got to the house we took up 

 our position just outside the low wall which sur- 

 rounded it. 



The young chief was close to a house not many 

 yards off. I sent word to say that, if the donkeys 

 were not immediately forthcoming, we should burn 

 down the man's house and take what goods and 

 chattels he had there. I went in and took a large 

 jar of honey and an enormous pumpkin as a sort of 

 security till the donkeys came. At length the two 

 donkeys we had bought turned up. We then de- 

 manded the other two which the priest had lent us. 

 The Abyssinians said, " They are not paid for ;" to 

 which we replied that he would not sell them to us, 

 but that he promised to lend them, and that, if they 

 would not give them up, we should do what we had 

 threatened. 



Before going on I may say that wc had letters 

 to send to the post, and it was important they 

 should start that day, so as to catch the steamer 



