224 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap. 



courtyard, the local court-house and a large tucul filled 

 with people, I dismounted at the gate of an inner 

 enclosure and was conducted into another large tucul, 

 the door of which was guarded by a group of soldiers. 

 They drew aside and allowed me to enter the tent : 

 but the interior was so dark that at first I could make 

 out but little. I was led across to the far side, where 

 I found the Ras seated on a divan. He rose to greet 

 me and motioned me to a chair beside him. As my 

 eyes grew accustomed to the dim light, 1 saw that the 

 hut was circular in shape, some 24 feet across, with 

 a ring of posts four feet from the wall supporting the 

 roof. Ras Wurgay is a man of five-and-forty years 

 of age, with closely clipped hair and beard. His face, 

 when in repose, has rather a stern, impassive look, but 

 directly he is interested in a subject it becomes animated, 

 and he can laugh heartily. Over a fine red and white 

 shamma he wore a black silk burnous edged with gold 

 braid ; his head was bound in the usual white muslin, 

 while his feet were bare. On the third finger of the 

 left hand 1 noticed a curious ring ; it looked like two 

 writhing snakes, their heads formed of pale rubies close 

 together. Behind the Ras stood an attendant bearing 

 a beautiful shield, covered with purple velvet nearly 

 hidden with an intricate design of pierced silver-gilt 

 work, and a double barrelled .450 express rifle by Reilly, 

 with silvered barrels. A good many attendants stood 

 round the walls. After the usual compliments, I pro- 

 duced the Emperor's letter, which was received and 

 read with every mark of respect. The Ras said he 

 had heard from King Tecla Haymanot of my intended 



