218 EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKES. 



sometimes observes, the torrent rushing down 

 a precipitous and evidently a very recent one. 

 This interesting geological phenomenon is to be 

 attributed to the occurrence of frequent earthquakes 

 in this situation, which have the effect of altering 

 the previous level of the country. Another striking 

 evidence of this was pointed out to me by Ohmed 

 Medina, whose naturally inquiring mind, led him to 

 ask of me a solution of that which to him and to 

 others also who mentioned it, was a very remarkable 

 circumstance. A large lake, it appeared, had come 

 into existence within the last six years, in an adjoin- 

 ing plain, called Dowaleeka, similar to the one of 

 Sagagahdah, and a constant sheet of water which 

 abounded in leeches now occupied its upper end, 

 where previously a regular Kafilah route had 

 existed to Shoa. 



The sides of these fissured plains, I think, at a 

 certain depth, must meet in a synclinal axis ; but 

 time has nearly filled the valley between, to their 

 present level, with the detritus of the rocks around, 

 and the marly deposition from the evaporated 

 water, collected in them during the season of 

 the rains. In the plain of Lukkee, a day's journey 

 more to the west, this operation of filling up has 

 proceeded, even to the forming of one general level 

 of the country, and the alluvial soil of the former 

 valley is now continuous, with the stony summits of 

 the bounding ridges. 



Coming from the opposite side, diagonally across 



