440 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap, xxxvii 



my men on board in charge of the baggage, I set out 

 in search of breakfast. This time I enjoyed a pleasant 

 meal, during which I chatted to the proprietor, learning 

 his views on Erythrea in general and Massowah in 

 particular, which were not very rosy. 



Next I proceeded on board the little mail steamer 

 Palatina, which makes a weekly voyage to Aden and 

 back with the European mail for the colony. The news 

 of the assassination of King Humbert had just been 

 received, and every one was discussing the sad event. 

 We sailed sharp at eleven and had a smooth run down 

 the coast till next morning, when there was too much 

 sea to suit me, and I postponed attempting a meal till 

 we called at Assab in the afternoon. 



At 8. 30 on ist August, we anchored at Aden, where 

 1 had a busy two days, trying to discover what the 

 native agent had done with my baggage and all my 

 letters, for my last news from home was nearly six 

 months old. The plague and contradictory instructions, 

 since I had separated from the party, appeared to have 

 completely muddled him : my kit for the voyage had 

 been despatched home long since, and my letters, as they 

 arrived, had been forwarded to Mr. Harrison in England ! 

 so I had to collect some scratch garments, and, as for 

 home news, just possess my soul in patience. I heard 

 that the whole of our trophies sent from Tadechamalca 

 had been impounded by the Custom-house authorities at 

 Harrar, as no pass from the Emperor had accompanied 

 them, and that when they were eventually released, the 

 plague prevented their getting further than Aden, where 

 they had lain till just before my arrival. 



