254 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



this, as far as ever I could inform myfelf, is a great exagger- 

 ation. They are exceeding good foldiers when they are 

 pleafed with their general, and the caufe for which they 

 fight; otherwife, they are eafily divided, great many private 

 interefts being continually kept alive, as it is thought induf- 

 trioufly, by government itfelf. It is well flocked with cattle 

 of every kind, all very beautiful. The mountains are full 

 of iron-mines ; they are not fo fleep and rocky nor fo fre- 

 quent, as in other provinces, if we except only Lafta, and 

 abound in all fort of wild fowl and game. 



The fouth end of the province near Nefas Mufa is cut 

 into prodigious gullies apparently by floods, of which we 

 have no hiflory. It is the great barrier againfl the en- 

 croachments of the Galla; and, by many attempts, they 

 have tried to make a fettlement in it, but all in vain. Whole 

 tribes of them have been extinguifhed in this their endea- 

 vour. 



In many provinces of Abyffinia, favour is the only necef- 

 fary to procure the government ; others are given to poor no- 

 blemen, that, by fleecing the people, they may grow rich, 

 and repair their fortune. But the confequence of Begem- 

 der is fo well known o the flate, as reaching fo near the 

 metropolis, and fupplying it fo conftantly with all forts of 

 provifions, that none but noblemen of rank, family, and 

 character, able to maintain a large number of troops always 

 on foot, and in good order, are truiled with its govern- 

 ment. 



Immediately next to this is Amhara, between the two 

 rivers Bafhilo and Geflien. The length of this country 



2 from 



