8 I'EliSONAL NARliATlli:. 



the volcanic mass of the Buri peninsula. The bay is 

 well known as one of the most lovely spots in the Eed 

 Sea. Hills rise around it on all sides, and, to the 

 westward, range towers over range in the great scarp 

 of the Abyssinian highlands. The coast is fringed by 

 rich green bushes, giving a deceptive appearance of 

 fertility. 



It is unnecessary to dwell upon our landing, or to 

 describe the camp of Malkatto or Zulla, with its dust 

 and flies, its polyglot inhabitants, its vast energy, and 

 its busy, excited population. All its peculiarities have 

 been related by abler pens, and I would rather refer to 

 the excellent letters of Dr. Austin in the Times, and of 

 Mr. Shepherd in the Times of India, and to the descrip- 

 tions in Mr. C. Markham's " History of the Abyssinian 

 Expedition," and other published accounts, than attempt 

 to repeat what would certainly not, at this time, have 

 the merit of novelty. I remained in Zulla and its 

 neighbourhood untU the ] 0th of January, making a few 

 excursions ; and on this and subsequent occasions I had 

 a fair opportunity of studying the rocks and fauna of 

 the surrounding country. The camp itself stood upon 

 an extensive sandy plain of alluvial origin, which ex- 

 tends for several miles along the coast, and inland as 

 far as the base of the great ranges, interrupted, however, 

 here and there, by small craggy hills. Two of these are 

 about two miles south of the spot occupied by the camp, 

 and consist of a succession of lava flows and scoriaceous 

 ash beds, much disturbed and very irregular in dip, 

 being evidently merely the remains of a large volcanic 



