OF ABANDONED STORES. 357 



without further discussion, as it would have been 

 absurd to hesitate under the circumstances, 

 especially as I did not know, but that many valuable 

 and necessary articles, might be amongst the 

 recovered property. 



All the day long Ohmed Mahomed was absent 

 on this business, and I heard or saw nothing of him 

 until the evening, when he came to congratulate 

 me on the success of his labours, saying the boxes 

 were on the road to the camp, and would arrive 

 during the night. 



The next morning by sunrise, Ibrahim, a 

 younger brother of Mahomed Allee, according to 

 promise, brought in the first instalment of the 

 valuables, consisting of two small square boxes, 

 packed in cloth, and containing shot. With him 

 were upwards of forty men and women and a large 

 Kafilah of salt which had been detained here 

 nearly two months in consequence of the disturbed 

 state of the country, for some days' journey on both 

 sides of the Hawash. A Galla tribe, called 

 Hittoo, on the south of our route, and an AfFah 

 people, the Assa-hemerah Muditu, to the north of it, 

 seemed to divide between them the attention of the 

 rich and the fearful among my friends. The Hy 

 Soumaulee, on the contrary, were in great glee, and 

 often would amuse themselves Avhen they saw me, 

 by calling out the names of the hostile tribes, and 

 then with an action as if striking with their daggers, 

 or imitating the report of my firearms, intimate 



