TRAVELLERS FROM SHOA. 333 



yellow-blossomed mimosa. Here it was determined 

 the Kafilah should halt for the day. The moment 

 we came up, five men sprung from a recumbent 

 position to their feet, seizing spears and shields, 

 whilst a little boy ran hastily to drive in three lean, 

 ragged-looking horses that were standing beneath 

 the shade of one of the larger trees, as if the 

 fatigue of a night march, or the growing heat of 

 the day had driven the animals for repose and 

 shelter to the same retreat with their owners. 



A word or two satisfied the surprised party that 

 we were friends, and they soon found plenty of 

 acquaintances among our Kafilah people. They 

 belonged to the little village of Ambabboo, which 

 it will be recollected, was our first halt after leaving 

 Tajourah. They gave us some news from Shoa, 

 from whence they were returning home. They 

 reported that the members of the Political Mission 

 were all well, and that Dr. Kraaf had left Ankobar 

 for Gondah. They confirmed what I had heard at 

 Tajourah from the two Greeks, Demetrius and 

 Joannes, of the death of three servants, who had 

 formerly belonged to the British Embassy, and who, 

 with five others had been discharged very summa- 

 rily, and, I think, very unwisely, on their arrival in 

 Shoa. These three unfortunate men had endea- 

 voured to return with the same Kafilah which 

 brought down the Greeks. They were attacked on 

 this side of the Hawash by the Takale tribe, who, 

 it was supposed, had killed the servants, and several 



