A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA 



to hear, no doubt, a highly coloured version of the 

 Emperor's letter. 



That afternoon, Shum Belat Wurgie of Atchefar 

 called on me, to try and persuade me not to go to 

 Shimerler Jowee, the native name for the low country, 

 to which I wanted to travel. He said that the rainy 

 season had begun, that we should all get fever, and that, 

 moreover, the road was bad and the place full of robbers. 

 I said: "All right, I will go and see!" As soon as 

 Argaferry Tobedgee, the man who had assaulted my 

 servants, heard of Menelik's letter, he disappeared, and 

 my men nearly created a disturbance, as they had not 

 received the sheep and various other things this man 

 had promised them. In the evening, a messenger from 

 Dedjatch Digsow arrived, who, after giving me his 

 master's compliments, said that the latter had sent him 

 to say, that, as I had many mules and much baggage, I 

 had better not come his way, since the road was bad and 

 infested with robbers. I assured him that my men and 

 mules were accustomed to bad roads, and that, being 

 well armed, I had no fear of robbers. He then got up 

 and said, " The Dedjatchmatch told me to tell you, if 

 you come to Tumma, he will not allow you to go any 

 further!" JNIy men were for kicking him out of camp, 

 but I ordered them to leave him alone, telling him, when 

 I reached his master's village, we would see if he dared 

 detain me. Basha Kassa then came in and said that I 

 could not start till he had Ras Wurgay's order for me to 

 do so. I laughed at him, and told him that, now there 

 was no doubt about the Emperor's orders, I intended 

 going when and where I liked ; that I would report any 



