178 



CHAPTER XI. 



Leave Ankobar. — Arrive in Aliu Amba.' — Musical party. — 

 Durgo. — Arrangements with Tinta. — Remarks upon internal 

 Government of Shoa. — The authority of Sehale Selassee. His 

 virtues. 



Haying slept well during the night, in spite of the 

 very numerous fleas, and similar trifling annoyances, 

 to which I had become in some measure accus- 

 tomed, as must every traveller in Abyssinia, I arose, 

 like a giant refreshed ; for one comfort, amidst all 

 the disheartening circumstances that oppressed me 

 was, that every other day was one of rest, on 

 which I was, comparatively speaking, well. A few 

 beads to Eichess and Mahriam, repaid them for 

 their attention, and my mule being brought, before 

 the sun had cast his first beams over the ridge in 

 front of Ankobar, I was following Walderheros 

 along a narrow winding lane, between high banks, 

 on which grew the broad-leaved banana-like 

 Ensete plant, and the thick coarse foliage of a 

 dwarf tree called, "y' shokoko Gwomen," the 

 rock rabbit cabbage. In a short time, we 

 emerged into the regular road to Aliu Amba, 

 called the lower road, in contradistinction to the 



