TRAVELS IN SOUTHERN ABYSSINIA, 



ETC. 



CHAPTER I. 



Arrival in Aden.' — Preparations for my journey into Africa. — 

 Departure for Tajourah. — Stay in that town. — Unsuccessful 

 endeavours to proceed farther. — Return to Aden. — Time, from 

 24th of December to the 1st of March. 



I arbived in Aden on the 24th of December, 

 1841, very ill indeed; having been suffering for 

 nearly two months from a severe intermittent fever, 

 contracted in Bombay. I was advised to proceed 

 at once to England for the benefit of my health, 

 but having letters of introduction from the Indian 

 Government to Capt. Haines, the political agent in 

 Aden, and also to Capt. Harris, our ambassador at 

 that time to the court of Shoa, in Abyssinia, which 

 were calculated to assist me materially in my inten- 

 tion of penetrating into Africa, I persisted in my 

 determination, under all circumstances, to carry out 

 a resolution formed two years before of exploring 



VOL. I. B 



