THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 223 



pery, and men, horfes, and mules were rolling promifcuouf- 

 ly over one another. 



I RESOLVED to try for myfelf fome other way that might 

 be lefs thronged. " I went to the place where Woodage A- 

 fahel defcended when he was (hot by Sebaftos ; but the 

 ground there was more uneven, and fully as much crowd- 

 ed. I then crofled the road to the eaftward, where the Ras's 

 tent ftood, and where Kefla Yafous's two nephews had gone 

 round to diflodge Ayto Tesfos : there was a confideraBle 

 number of people even here, but it was not a croud, and 

 they were moftly women. I determined to attempt it, and 

 got into a fmall flanting road, which I hoped would con- 

 dudt me to the bed of the torrent ; but I found, upon going 

 half way down the hill, that, in place of a road, it had been 

 a hollow made by a torrent, which ended on a precipice, 

 and below, and on each fide of this, the hill was exceedingly 

 fteep, the fmall diftance 1 could fee. 



Ik Abyflinia, the camp-ovens for making their bread are 

 in form of two tea-faucers joined bottom to bottom, and are 

 fomething lefs than three feet in diameter, being made of 

 a light, beautiful potter's ware, which, although red when 

 firft made, turns to a gloffy black colour after being greaied 

 wuh butter. This being placed upright, a fire of charcoal 

 is put under the bottom-part ; the bread, made like pan- 

 cakes, is pafted all within the fide of the upper cavity, or 

 bowl, over which is laid a cover of the lame form or lliape. 

 It is in form of a broad wheel, and a woman carries one of 

 thele upon her back for baking bread in the camp. It hapn 

 pened that, jufl as I was deliberating whether to pro- 

 ceed or return, a woman had rolled one of thefe down the 



hill 



