78 A SPORTING TRIP 'THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap. 



carried out was a marvel to us. After toasting King- 

 Humbert and Queen V^ictoria, we adjourned to the 

 reception hall, where three Abyssinian musicians played 

 and danced, or rather strutted about and recited. Then 

 a number of the Tigre soldiers of the Italian Embassy 

 guard danced and sang. After a most enjoyable 

 evening, we left at eleven o'clock and set out for our 

 quarters. It was cold work riding through the pitch 

 dark night, with a drizzling rain falling. As we wound 

 our way along, headed by one of the Aden troop with 

 a lantern, and shouting to each other to keep in touch, 

 our beasts kept slipping on the greasy mud and getting 

 left behind, till W.'s mule finally fell with him on the 

 steep descent of one of the ravines. However, no 

 material damage was done, and we reached home safely, 

 though rather damp. 



Next morning the Emperor, who had been away for 

 some days, unexpectedly returned. We had had several 

 talks with Captain Harrington about the practicability 

 of carrying out our original plans. He was of opinion 

 that the reports of drought and famine were much 

 exaggerated, and believed that if sufficient food was 

 carried, it would be quite possible to journey to Lake 

 Rudolf and thence on to Fashoda. It was, however, 

 quite clear that the zigzag route from the Omo to the 

 White Nile and back was out of the question, and that 

 it would be necessary to march steadily each day and 

 not stop in any one place on the road to shoot. He 

 was most anxious that we should at all events go as 

 far as Rudolf, as so inuch had been heard of our 

 expedition, which, with the exception of Captain 



