CHAP. XIV CAVE-DWELLINGS 143 



included a rifle, a sword, and a couple of revolvers, 

 besides a hunting- knife ; on his saddle were packed 

 innumerable wallets, bags, cooking-pots, and impedi- 

 menta of all sorts, so that altogether he presented a 

 striking appearance. We heard afterwards that he had 

 been an armourer in the French army, who had come 

 to seek his fortune in Abyssinia and hoped to be em- 

 ployed by the Emperor to command his artillery, but up 

 to the time of my departure he had met with no success. 

 On the face of a sheer cliff, just below the ford, are 

 a number of cave-dwellings, which looked as if they 

 would repay investigation ; but ropes and ladders would 

 be required to get at them. That evening we camped 

 at Chaffe Dunsa. The night was cold with a heavy 

 dew, but, thanks to Captain Harrington's loan of a 

 couple of tents, we were in luxury compared with the 

 journey up. Next day we reached Godoburka at the 

 foot of Balji Hill. Here the nagadis struck, and said 

 we were overworking their animals, although they had 

 agreed to take us down in five davs. That nifjht was 

 made hideous by the growling and laughing round our 

 camp of numbers of hyaenas, who frequent this place in 

 bands and often attack both mules and donkeys. At 

 noon on 12th January we reached Minebella, and spent 

 the day under some trees. During an evening stroll, 

 we saw some monkeys in the valley of the Kassam. 

 As we were anxious to push on, we made a moonlight 

 march and reached Mantecura tanks at 6.10 on the 

 following morning. These tanks are two in number, 

 each some 35 yards square and 10 feet deep in the 

 centre. Although supplied by springs, they often run 



