198 ITS TERMINATION 



Abisha Shoa, for the purpose of more definitely 

 particularizing whichever portion of the table-land 

 around the sources of the river Abi or Bruce's- 

 Nile, they may allude to in conversation. 



During the whole conversation so far, our actual 

 situation at the time, with respect to the termination 

 of the Hawash, had never been alluded to. Ohmed 

 Medina, supposing that I had understood him fully 

 when he said, "Over those trees the river ends, 1 ' 

 had not thought it necessary to repeat the remark, 

 but finished his map by making three lakes, one 

 larger and two smaller ones, into which the line 

 representing the river Hawash, was led as to its 

 termination. As I wrote the names down from 

 their dictation, I was waiting to receive that of the 

 largest lake, Abhibhad, when a careless movement 

 of the hand over the shoulder, made by Ohmedu 

 as his companion pronounced the word, intimated 

 that the lake was in our immediate neighbourhood, 

 and on making the inquiry, I found that it was not 

 one hour's journey from where we then were, and 

 that during our morning's march, before we de- 

 scended into the valley of the Gobarcl, we had 

 been even much nearer to it. This was a discovery ; 

 especially as I had not heard of any account having 

 been sent either to England or to India by previous 

 travellers, whilst I knew that at Aden considerable 

 desire was felt to receive some information respect- 

 ing the large city, as it was then supposed to be, of 

 Owssa, and the termination of the river Hawash. 



