192 



CHAPTER XII. 



Study of Amharic. — Remarks upon wet season in Abyssinia. — Sad 

 prospect of recovery. — Accident to Walderheros. — Books in the 

 Amharic language. — Messages from the Negoos. — Inconvenience 

 of living with Miriam. — Require a house. — Expenditure. — 

 Choosing a residence. 



For several days I continued to apply closely to 

 the study of the Amharic language. My fever 

 paroxysms on alternate days, became gradually less 

 violent, and my simple fare and regular habits 

 whilst living in Aliu Amba, seemed to promise the 

 re-establishment of my health. The only thing I 

 dreaded was the continual wet weather, which had 

 now set in decidedly. 



In Shoa the rains commence in the month of June, 

 Messrs. Isenberg and Krapf say about the 21st, 

 and from the long residence of those gentlemen 

 in Abyssinia, they must be considered very good 

 authority. This year, the first rain that fell was on 

 the 7th of July, but this was an extraordinary irre- 

 gularity, for which the inhabitants could only 

 account by referring it to the presence of the 

 " Gypt sowitsh;" as subsequently, when it came 

 down in greater quantities than they desired, and 



