434 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap. 



hardly to credit my statement that it was snow. The 

 Mad Mullah and his doings were discussed, also the 

 question whether the combined movement of Abyssinian 

 and British troops would succeed in crushing him. 

 Making the excuse of an early start, I at length tore 

 myself away from my kind hosts, and was conducted to 

 " my house," where I learnt that all my Somalis had left 

 camp to fraternise with their countrymen in the Italian 

 service, while most of the Abyssinians had done the 

 same ; so I thought it best to roll up my bedding and 

 return to the tents to watch over the safety of my 

 property. 



In the morning it was some time before I could 

 collect my servants, for most of the Abyssinians were 

 fuddled with tej, their e.xcuse being that the\' could get 

 no food the night before. The first part of the cart- 

 road was well metalled and drained on either side, but 

 it rapidly degenerated into a series of mere tracks 

 through liquid mud. In five hours we reached Debarroa 

 just as a cloud broke, which fairly damped everything 

 before we could get the tents up. This place had 

 apparently been a large village at one time, but had 

 fallen upon evil days, and prosperity had not yet 

 returned. 



At daybreak an escort of four men arrived, and a 

 six-hours' march, during which we crossed several of the 

 small streams which go to make the Baroa, brought us to 

 the outskirts of Asmara, under the hill on which Fort 

 Baldissera stands. Here I had expected one of my 

 men, sent on in advance, to meet me and point out the 

 camping-ground. Half an hour went by without any 



