186 NORTH-EAST AERICA. 



lands of Shoa, three of which in the country of the Finfini Gallas, close to the lofty 

 and isolated Mount Entotto (9,956 feet), spout forth like geysers with a temperature 

 of 170° r. To the action of these warm mineral waters are probably due the 

 fossilised siliceous trees occurring in so many places on the plateau between Lasta 

 and Shoa. Like the " petrified forests " of Cairo, those of Abyssinia consist of 

 trees belonging to the order of the sterculiacese. 



The Galla Highlands. 



A ridge of uplands, curving to the south-west, and separating the Abaï from 

 the sources of the Awash, forms the natural boundary between Abyssinia proper 

 and Gallaland, This region is but slightly diversified, presenting no prominences 

 except those of the cliffs fringing both sides of the torrents ; but to the south the 

 mountains resume the appearance of a regular chain. They must be regarded, 

 however, rather as a general swelling of the surface broken into distinct segments 

 and isolated masses by the rivers flowing northwards towards the Blue Nile, and 

 southwards to the large river known as the Gugsa, TJma, Abula, and by a thousand 

 other names. By the action of the erosions which have broken up the plateau 

 into its present shape, the axis of these heights has been directed from the north- 

 west to the south-east. In this direction follow in succession Goro Chen, Belhella, 

 Tulu Amara, Chillimo, Diriko, Kalo, and Roggeh, all mountains exceeding 10,000 

 feet in height. The highest point at the eastern extremity of this range is said 

 to be Hamdo, with a reputed elevation of not less than 11,500 feet. In the same 

 direction, but in the Gurageh district, occurs the isolated Mount Wariro, to which 

 Chiarini has assigned an altitude of 13,000 feet. 



The mountainous masses bounded north by the course of the Upper Gugu are 

 considerably lower, having a mean elevation of scarcely more than 7,000 or 8,000 

 feet. Nevertheless a range in the Inarya district, running from the north-east to 

 the south-west, rises here and there to 10,000 feet, culminating in Moimt Egan, 

 10,300 feet high. In the Kaffa country, another chain, bounded north by the 

 river Gojeb, rivals the Gurageh Mountains in height ; and Mount Hotta, towards 

 the eastern extremity of this chain, is said to have an altitude of about 12,200 

 feet. But the giant of the Ilm-Orma territory is said to be Mount Wosho, 

 situated west of the river Uma, in the hitherto unexplored Waratta country. 

 According to Antoine d'Abbadie, who saw it at a distance of twenty miles, towering 

 above the valley of the tJma, this mountain exceeds 16,600 feet. 



The Afar Country. 



The country of Afars, east of the Abyssinian border-chain, usually designated as 

 a plain in opposition to the plateaux, has however a very hilly and even moun- 

 tainous surface in some places. In the volcanic chain which bounds the depression 

 of Lake Alalbed stand the Mount Ortoaleh of Munzinger, and another " Smoky 

 Mountain " seen by Bianchi during his vain attempt to reach Assab by descending 



