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CHAPTER VIII. 



The Salt Lake.' — Journey to Gunguntur, distance from Aleex' 

 Shaitan, ten miles, general direction, W. S. W. — Scene of the 

 murder of three Soldiers of the British Mission, in 1840. — 

 Halt for the Night.' — Journey to Alulee, distance seven miles, 

 general direction, S. S. W. — Stay at Alulee. — Attack of the 

 Muditu tribe. 



Bahr Assal, by observations made by Dr. Beke in 

 the first instance, and afterwards confirmed by the 

 observations of Lieut. Barker and Mr. Assistant- 

 Surgeon Kirk, officers connected with the Shoan 

 mission, is from four to five hundred feet below the 

 level of the sea. It is surrounded by very lofty 

 mountains, excepting in the direction corresponding 

 with the termination of the Bay of Tajourah, 

 where the ground is one fissured slope of sheets of 

 lava which have been poured out from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Goobat ul Khhrab. 



Considerable evaporation of the salt water of the 

 original sea, which I conceive must have once 

 extended to the lake, has taken place since its 

 separation ; and as this operation is favoured 

 considerably by the great depression of its sur- 

 face, the fresh water supplied by the numerous 



