364 HOSPITABLE RECEPTION. 



decorum proper on the occasion. This reception 

 was so nattering, that I began to conclude my 

 appearance, as a civilized being, must be a good 

 deal worn off, and that my life in the desert had 

 given me somewhat of the savage air of one of 

 these roving family of man. They invited us into 

 one of the huts, and a large bundle of split palm- 

 leaves, ready for the women to plait into mats, was 

 placed for me to sit down upon. Scarcely had I 

 taken the offered seat, than a woman brought in a 

 large basket of milk, which was fairly divided 

 between Abu Mahomed and myself; and after it 

 was finished, we proceeded to view the stores. 



I found them carefully enough heaped up between 

 two of the huts, above which they stood some feet 

 in height, and were covered with three or four 

 covers of tarpaulin, the remains of a large tent, 

 which being worn out and useless, had been also 

 left with the boxes. They consisted principally, of 

 the trunks of Dr. Roth and Mr. Scott, some boxes 

 of ammunition, as also others containing a very 

 small seed bead, a favourite with the Christians of 

 Shoa, but of no value to the Dankalli people, two 

 corn-mills, and two boxes of silks, and valuables. 

 All these, with the exception of the latter, 

 had been opened. But as Abu Mahomed had 

 told me not to notice this circumstance, I did 

 not ask for any explanation, being satisfied 

 with what he had informed me upon the 

 road, that seven days ago, he had seen them 



