228 SPORT IN ABYSSINIA. 



were built with stones, whereas the ordinary form of 

 huts was a round wall with an extinguisher-shaped 

 roof. It was very cold here, and directly the tent 

 was pitched and my bed made ready I turned into it, 

 and caused my dinner to be brought to me as I lay 

 between the blankets. I find this entry in my journal : 

 " I am not worse, but still very ill. Thank God, I am 

 getting near the end of this awful journey! The 

 chicker here was very kind, and gave my servants 

 abundance of bread for themselves and a chicken for 

 me." 



March 22 : Chickut. — The people here are all busy 

 putting a roof on the little Coptic church, close by 

 which I had encamped, and the work is done amidst 

 much chattering and talking. I heard from some mer- 

 chants yesterday that Arrekel Bey, the Governor, 

 had come back to Massowah ; so I hope, if this is 

 true, he will keep the steamer for me if I am late. 

 I sent on some of my servants to Beatmohar, K.'s 

 house, to-day, to let his boy Waldemariam know 

 that I was coming, so as to make everything ready 

 for me. Hadji Mahomet was behind with the rest of 

 my donkeys, and I was afraid they would not arrive 

 at Massowah in time to catch the steamer. I started 

 in the afternoon and climbed the steep hill which 

 lies between Chickut and the table-land of Asmarra. 

 It was a lovely view as we ascended, and looked 



