268 A SPORTIArO TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap. 



road, by the north bank of the Balarse, opposite Wogadar 

 Mariam. This stream, as it flows from the watershed 

 on the west of Lake Tana, forms the boundary between 

 Gazgay and Atchefar. Its course, till it reaches the foot 

 of a high conical hill on the edge of the plain, is almost 

 due west. This hill and the northern end of the flat- 

 topped mountain of Belaire are almost due east and 

 west, and some 20 miles apart. The Balarse stream 

 washes the southern foot of this conical hill, flows south- 

 east across the plain of Shimerler Jowee, and then runs 

 in a westerly direction till it joins the Abbai. 



At Wogadar is one of the most ancient monasteries 

 in Abyssinia, which at one time sheltered many monks, 

 but now the numbers have dwindled to six or eight. 

 They dress in skins, go barefoot, and their clean-shaven 

 heads are uncovered. The brethren own large flocks 

 of goats and herds of cows, which have absolute liberty, 

 wandering where they like without let or hindrance. 

 Large droves of monkeys have taken up their residence 

 in the rocks near the monastery, for they find that they 

 are never driven from the fields. Consequently the 

 monks have, every year, to bring more land under cultiva- 

 tion, so that, after feeding their ever-increasing, self- 

 invited guests, they may have just enough grain left for 

 their own sustenance. They have a great reputation for 

 charity, and no one applies to them for food and shelter 

 in vain ; the outlaws respect their flocks and granaries, 

 and the people employ them in arranging the tribute 

 they have to pay to the robbers in order to be left in 

 peace. These good monks sent me over some bread 

 and milk, which had to be fetched from their side of the 



