rXDl'L RAFIXE. 31 



Xapier, by whicli all the camps in the pass were supplied 

 from the locality discovered by us, aud others in. the 

 neighbourhood, thus effecting an enormous gain in the 

 carrying power of the transport animals. 



A large number of birds which I had not previously 

 seen made their appearance a little above 5,000 feet. 

 Amongst these the most conspicuous was the Abyssinian 

 plantain-eater {Turo.cus leucotis), which flew from tree 

 to tree, high above our heads for the most part, dis- 

 playing its gorgeous crimson quill-feathers in its flight. 

 I was somewhat surprised at seeing a green pigeon 

 [Treron ahyssinica) in small flocks. The handsome 

 francolin {F. Erkelii ) was very abundant ; at almost 

 every turn of the valley one or more were seen, which 

 on our approach ran into the bushes, or up the sides 

 of the hills, rarely taking to flight. This francolin is 

 a noble game bird, the male being at least equal to 

 a pheasant in size. A few Beni Israel showed them- 

 selves, and several ^j/races- scampered away amongst the 

 rocks; but four-footed animals were not numerous. A 

 considerable change took place in the vegetation, two 

 or three kinds of Ficus appearing, two of which were 

 scarcely distinguishable from the peepul and banyan of 

 India. The temperature also, towards evening, was 

 decidedly cooL 



Our Shoho guide had for some time persisted that 

 there was no possible road, and that we should find no 

 water; but, as there was an excellent cattle-track, we 

 preferred seeing for ourselves, and at last he admitted 

 that there was a wevy little water in one place. About 



