iSz TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



that the Abyflinians who pafTed had informed them, that; 

 at a certain pafs, called Dav-Dohha, which we Ihould arrive 

 at next day, above a thoufand men, Chriftians, Pagans, and 

 Mahoip.etans, all armed, were waiting for us, refolved to^ 

 Gilt us to pieces rather than let us pafs : that the Shangalla 

 were expeifted to burn Tcherkin, and Ay to Confu's houfe ; 

 and that his Billetaiia Gueta, Ammonios, had come with 

 a multitude of mules to carry away all that was valuable 

 in it. He added, moreover, that Abba Gimbaro, chief of 

 Sancaho, was fent for by Ay to Confu, and entrufted with 

 the defence of Tcherkin Amba, the hill upon which Ayto 

 Confu's houfe is fituated. He then called the Mahometaa 

 who fpoke to me, to witnefs the truth of all this, which he 

 did with repeated oaths ; and concluded, that nothing re^ 

 mained for us but to return to Gondar. They all, in anxi- 

 ous expe(5lation, awaited my refolution. One of the fer- 

 vants faid, that, by going out of the way about half a dayy 

 we could avoid the pafs of Dav-Dohha altogether. I told 

 them, this was neither a time nor place for deliberation ; 

 that we fliould make the bell of our way to Waalia, where 

 we were to lleep that night; as that was a town where there 

 was a market, and people came from every part, we lliould 

 there hear news, after which I promifed to tell them my 

 opinion. We accordingly fet out for "Waalia, and at half 

 pail four in the afternoon encamped in the market-place. 



Waalia is a colle<5lion of villages, each placed upon the top 

 of a hill, and inciofing, as in a circle, an exteniive flat piece 

 of ground about three miles over, on which a very well-fre^ 

 quented market is kept. The name is given it from a Ipe- 

 eiesof fmall pigeons*, with yellow brealls and variegated 



backs, 



* See ihe article Waalia in the AppendL-j, 



