THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 547 



These Shangalla, during the fair half of the year, live un- 

 der the fhade of trees, the lowefl branches of which' they 

 cut near the ftem on the upper part, and then bend, or 

 break them down, planting the ends of the branches in the 

 earth. Thefe branches they cover with the ikins of wild 

 beafts. After this they cut away all the fmall or fuperflu- 

 ous branches in the infide, and fo form a fpacious pavilion, 

 which at a diftance appears like a tent, the tree ferving for 

 the pole in the middle of it, and the large top overfliadow- 

 ing it fo as to make a very piclurefque appearance. 



Every tree then is a houfe, under which live a multitude 

 of black inhabitants until the tropical rains begin. It is 

 then they hunt the elephant, which they kill by many va- 

 rious devices, as they do the rhinoceros and the other large 

 creatures. Thofe who refide where water abounds, with 

 the fame induftry kill the hippopotami, or river-horfeSi 

 which are exceedingly numerous in the pools of the ftag- 

 nant rivers. Where this iiat belt, or country, is broadeft, the 

 trees tliickeft, and the water in the largeft pools, there the 

 moll powerful nations live, who have often defeated the 

 royal army of Abyffinia, and conftantly laid wafle, and fome- 

 times nearly conquered, the provinces of Tigre and Sire, the 

 xnoii warlike and moil populous part in Abyllinia. 



The mod confiderable fettlement of this nation is at Am- 

 ba Tzaada, between the Mareb and Tacazi^e, but nearer by 

 one-third to the March, and almoil N. W. from Dgbarwa. 

 Thefe people, who have a variety of venifon, kill it in the 

 fair, monthss. ani^l hang it up, cut into tliongs as thick as a 

 man's thumb^iike fo majiy ropes, on theitrees around them. 

 The fun dries and hardens it to a confiftence almoft like 

 .U 3 Z 2 leather. 



