CHAP. XXXIII A COOL REQUEST 381 



definite information about the extent of the ibex-ground, 

 but found it most difficult to extract from them anything 

 save the vaguest answers, every one in Simien appearing 

 — for some reason — most reluctant to tell me exactly 

 where the wala were to be found. After much wander- 

 ing from the point, I gathered that Talumph, Hi, and 

 Cherasse were the favourite hunting-grounds, that 

 there would now be three months' heavy rain and 

 snow, during which they considered getting - about 

 impossible, but that when the weather cleared up they 

 would have great ibex-hunts. 



While showing the governor my rifles, I was 

 disgusted to find the stock of the .400 snapped short 

 off, the result of our rough march two days ago. The 

 governor stayed for three hours, and it was evident 

 his visit had some special object in view, though I 

 could not get at its nature. At last he left, to put up 

 in the village, saying he would see me in the morning. 

 Before 6 A.^[. he appeared again, and, after much beating 

 about the bush, said an Englishman had presented 

 him with a field-glass twelve years before, but that one 

 eye-piece was broken, and as I was now going home 

 and could easily get another, would I exchange the glass 

 for mine ? As the one was absolutely useless, and the 

 other a first-rate Zeiss, I did not see it in the same light, 

 and told him so : however, we parted the best of friends. 

 I gave him various little things he wanted, and pro- 

 mised to send a field -glass one of these days, while 

 he presented me with a pair of wala horns and offered 

 me lots of shooting, if I should come again. 



It was market-day, and on our march we met crowds 



