iUnciI Tu llAhohJ. 15 



not uucommon, but, as is the wont of the group to 

 which it belongs, it was much more solitary in its 

 habits than its congener. It is almost identical with 

 the common " chinkara " or " ravine deer " of India 

 {Gazella Bennetti). 



The only common reptiles were a small lizard (a 

 species of Acanihod<uitylus), and a very venomous little 

 viperine snake {Echis arenicola), several of which were 

 killed in the camp, and which were at one time so pre- 

 valent that it is surprising no accidents occurred from 

 their bite. All seen by me were, however, too small to 

 have rendered it probable that they could have caused 

 death to a man. Their presence in the camp, though 

 decidedly objectionable, was not much noticed amongst 

 the rather numerous annoyances which life at Zulla 

 entailed. 



On the 1st January, 1868, I rode over to Hadoda, 

 sixteen miles distant to the westward, at the entrance 

 of the Haddas ravine, up which one of the best- 

 known passes leads to Halai, Dixa, and Takonda or 

 Degonta, on the Abyssinian highlands. Water occurs 

 here, and the post, together with another, four miles 

 further north, at Ooah or Wia, had been occupied by 

 strong detachments of the 3d Bombay Cavalry, the 

 majority of whom, however, in consequence of great 

 mortality amongst their horses, had already been re- 

 moved to the highlands, leaving only a small guard of 

 dismounted sowars in charge of the commissariat stores, 

 tents, &c. Major Bardin having been sent to arrange 

 about the removal of surplus stores, I accompanied him. 



