CHAPTER XVII 



Abyssinian tents — Pack-saddles — The trade-dollar of Africa — Letters to 

 the Governor of Erythrea — A lieutenant of Leontieff's — News of 

 the Boer War — The Russian Legation are refused permission to 

 travel to Massowah — "Intelligence" of Abyssinia via 'Europe — My 

 caravan, its composition — I leave the Agency and set out on my 

 journey north. 



The day after the storm was spent in spreading things 

 out to dry and repairing the damage. The reception- 

 tent was badly torn and had to be struck and patched. 

 My Abyssinian servants were busy making little pent- 

 shaped tents for themselves and the Somalis, and others, 

 in which to shelter the stores. These were made of 

 double coarse cotton-cloth called " Americana " in Somali, 

 and "Abu Jadid " in Amharic, and were quickly run 

 together. The ridge has a short sleeve put in at either 

 end for ventilation, and through this a stout bamboo 

 passes to support the tent, this being held up by two 

 slighter sticks which fit into notches cut in the thick ridge- 

 pole. Round the bottom are sewn loops of cloth, which are 

 pegged down, leaving a gap of live or six inches between 

 the tent and the ground. In the door, which hangs 

 loose, a small triangular hole is left, through which by 



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