246 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap, xxii 



the flies, which were in swarms, spent their time, while 

 waiting for the next martcet, in attacking me and my 

 men. In the evenings I had long talks with Falukka, 

 who often came up for a glass of brandy and a chat. 

 He told me how the trade with the Soudan had entirely 

 ceased, since the Dervishes raided all the country round 

 Gondar. How in Ismail Pacha's time caravans were 

 constantly passing through here to Metemmeh, which is 

 only twenty days' easy marching, with water at every 

 stage and no dangerous rivers to cross. These caravans 

 would carry coHee, wax, civet, ivory, and gold, and 

 barter these commodities for cloth, cotton-sheeting, and 

 manufactured goods of all sorts ; for in tliose days none 

 came from the coast. A deaf uncle of Ledj Desster's was 

 also a frequent visitor to my tent, and a shocking old 

 beggar to boot. I amused the people very much once, 

 by telling them that in England we talked to deaf 

 people on our fingers, instead of seizing them by the 

 ear, as they were doing to the old man. One day I 

 secured a photo of one of the parties of beggars who 

 wander about the country, living on the charitable. 

 This group consisted of four men and a woman, all 

 more or less sick and sorry ; one had stumps for feet, 

 another was blind, and a third a mass of sores. They 

 carried their property on three donkeys, and were 

 provided with all sorts and sizes of empty calabashes 

 and jars, to carry off contributions of any kind. I 

 gave them a couple of salts, with which they seemed by- 

 no means satisfied. 



