ii8 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap. 



Greeks, but with one notable exception to be mentioned 

 presently, these deal chiefly in liquors and scents. The 

 foreign traders also included a few Armenians (one of 

 whom is a baker) and a Swiss watchmaker. 



The latest arrivals are several Indian firms from 

 Harrar, who followed Captain Harrington here. Owing 

 to their thrifty habits they are rapidly taking the trade 

 from both French and Greeks, and are finding a ready sale 

 for articles for which it was thouQ^ht there would be no 

 demand. Instead of sending cash to the coast they lay 

 it out in ivory, civet, and gold, and so secure a double 

 profit. 



Hitherto there has been so little demand for goods 

 by Europeans, that all these merchants get their stock 

 simply with a view to supplying Abyssinian wants, 

 and such articles as wine and spirits, sugar, scent, soap, 

 swords, rifles and ammunition, wide-brimmed felt hats, 

 cotton cloth, silk burnouses and scarfs, cheap watches 

 and clocks, can be bought in any quantity. But when, 

 in view of my solitary journey north, I wanted a kettle, 

 a pair of pliers, a thick suit or cloth from which to 

 make it, woollen underclothing, a cap, and such-like 

 things, all of which would be readily procurable in any 

 fair-sized Indian bazaar, none could be got for love or 

 money. 



Soon after my arrival in Adis Ababa, I was intro- 

 duced to the only curio-dealer in the capital, namely, 

 Balambaras Giorgis, a most picturesque old Greek, with 

 a long, flowing white beard. He had served in 

 Menelik's army with distinction, and was the only 

 European who fought with the Ethiopian forces in the 



