XXXII.] UMBRELLAS AND PARAFFINE TINS. 423 



1875. 



by a number of porters, and I was nuicli puzzled as to their November, 

 use. 



The next day we rose with the Lark, and I was so Imngry 

 that I could not resist finishing the remains of my fowl, al- 

 though well aware I could scarcely hope for another taste of 

 flesh between this and the coast. 



Leaving camp, we made a gradual ascent, and, passing through 

 a gap, found before us a steep and almost precipitous descent, 

 down which we went like goats, jumping from stone to stone. 



Hamees Ferhan, my gun-bearer, now began to complain of 

 fatigue, and I had to relieve him of my heavy rifle and car- 

 tridges, giving him my fowling-piece in exchange. 



Another caravan with gay umbrellas and empty paraffine tins 

 met us at the bottom of this descent, and the leaders expressed 

 great astonishment at finding a white man with so few follow- 

 ers, and on foot. Their wonderment was still greater M-hen 

 told whence we had started the day before, and they declared 

 they had never before heard of people getting over so nuich 

 ground in a day. But harder marches were yet in store for us. 



No sooner had v:e reached this valley than we had to com- 

 mence the ascent of other hills, and on arriving at their summit 

 found ourselves overlooking other ranges in front of us, their 

 crests piercing the clouds which hung at our feet. 



Away to the south was a village situated on a small conical 

 mount, and this was the settlement of a colony of mulattoes 

 springing from the intercourse between whites and natives. 



These mulattoes generally possessed some small property ; but 

 being unable to hold any position among whites at the coast, 

 and being too proud to mix freely with pure blacks, they had 

 settled here. I was told they lived in peace and comfort, and, 

 having large numbers of slaves, occasionally dispatched trading 

 caravans. 



Descending again, we went through a deep gorge Avith its 

 sides clothed with trees, the graceful form and light foliage of 

 the wild date-palm contrasting well with the darker and heavier 

 shades of the acacias. 



From amidst this mass of tangled wood a cascade burst forth, 

 and fell in an unbroken sheet into a rocky basin seventy or 

 eighty feet below, whence clouds of spray were scattered over 



