CHAP. XXXIII 



A COOL REQUEST 381 



definite information about the extent of the ibex-ground, 

 but found it most difficult to extract from them anything 

 save the vaguest answers, every one in Simien appearing 

 — for some reason — most reluctant to tell me exactly 

 where the wala were to be found. After much wander- 

 ing from the point, I gathered that Talumph, Hi, and 

 Cherasse were the favourite hunting-grounds, that 

 there would now be three months' heavy rain and 

 snow, during which they considered getting - about 

 impossible, but that when the weather cleared up they 

 would have great ibex-hunts. 



While showing the governor my rifles, I was 

 disgusted to find the stock of the .400 snapped short 

 off, the result of our rough march two days ago. The 

 governor stayed for three hours, and it w^as evident 

 his visit had some special object in view, though I 

 could not get at its nature. At last he left, to put up 

 in the village, saying he would see me in the morning. 

 Before 6 a.m. he appeared again, and, after much beating 

 about the bush, said an Englishman had presented 

 him with a field-glass twelve years before, but that one 

 eye-piece was broken, and as I was now going home 

 and could easily get another, would I exchange the glass 

 for mine } As the one was absolutely useless, and the 

 other a first-rate Zeiss, I did not see it in the same light, 

 and told him so : however, we parted the best of friends. 

 I gave him various little things he wanted, and i)ro- 

 mised to send a field-glass one of these days, while 

 he presented me with a pair of wala horns and offered 

 me lots of shooting, if I should come again. 



It was market-dav, and on our march we met crowds 



