76 PERSONAL NARBATirE. 



but at the same time Mghly crystalline, and frequently 

 aboundiag in beautifuUy-formed crystals of glassy felspar 

 with rounded angles. These crystals, from their brilliancy, 

 are very conspicuous on the broken surface of the rock. 



The general effect of the scenery is depicted in the 

 frontispiece, a view of the Daga amba from the south, 

 showing the horizontal beds of trachyte. 



At the summit of the F«rra pass all the hiUs are 

 covered with a peculiar wiry grass, which appears to be 

 peculiar to the trachytic traps. 



The path descends from the saddle to the camping- 

 ground at Belago, situated at a very considerable eleva- 

 tion. Here the inclined beds of trap reappear, and hence 

 occupy all the country tdl far beyond Lake Ashangi, with 

 the exception of the top of some of the high ranges 

 north-west of the lake. From Belago to Makhan the road 

 for some distance proved uninteresting. After one steep 

 descent it passed along a flat valley to Makhan, the next 

 camping-ground. Here we were once more on the 

 eastern watershed, and continued east of the dividing 

 ridge until after crossing the Wombarat pass near Lat. 



The pass between Makhan and Ashangi is not so high 

 as those further north, and does not appear to rise above 

 the top of the inclined traps, or Ashangi group, as I pro- 

 pose to caU them. The road passes through a superb 

 forest of junipers, in which the plantain-eater was abun- 

 dant. Except around Meshek I had not noticed this 

 beautiful bird lately, doubtless in consequence of our road 

 having traversed open country. Ferns abound, and the 

 large heath attains magnificent proportions, the climate 



