SPORT IN ABYSSINIA. 2 1 7 



While I was lying under the tree a rather nicely- 

 dressed Abyssinian came up, followed by a couple of 

 loaded mules and two servants. Petros rushed up to 

 him and embraced him. I asked who he was, and 

 Petros replied, " It is my brother, whom I have not 

 seen for many years." I believe, in reality, it was his 

 step-brother. He was a merchant, who had come 

 from the Shoa country, and was going down to 

 Massowah with musk and gold. 



Since writing the above there has taken place in 

 this very spot, Gundet, a very severe battle between 

 the Egyptians and Abyssinians, and I cannot help 

 thinking that it was owing to the nature and con- 

 formation of the ground that the forces of Egypt, 

 2000 in number, were so completely overwhelmed 

 and destroyed by their enemies. Before reaching 

 Gundet, that is to say, on the road from Massowah, 

 tlie country is all flat table-land, when suddenly the 

 ground drops, and Gundet lies in a narrow valley, 

 with high cliffs on each side of it. An army march- 

 ing right down into this defile would easily be sur- 

 rounded, and its retreat cut off. Probably the Abys- 

 sinians let the Egyptians descend the steep hill, and 

 then encountered them, when the only thing remain- 

 ing for the invaders to do was to fight it out to the 

 last. But it seems incredible to me that a force of 

 2000 should march right into the jaws of an enemy 



