BRIGHT ANTICIPATIONS. 473 



I now also exchanged my old Arab frock for a 

 French blouse, donned a clean pair of white 

 trowsers, and the black silk handkerchief I had 

 previously worn round my waist was transferred 

 to my neck. Having finished my toilette, I again 

 visited the rent mimosa- tree, taking with me a 

 small telescope, to assist me in examining places 

 the names of which were familiar, from having 

 with me a part of the journal of the Rev. Messrs. 

 Isenberg and Krapf, on the occasion of their first 

 visit to Shoa by the Adal road. 



I was now surrounded by crowds of the Kafilah 

 people, several of whom seizing the glass, as they 

 could get it, took a moment's peep, not unfre- 

 quently with the closed eye, at the country before 

 them ; but all vociferated " Whallah," that what 

 they had seen was most extraordinary. 



A short interval of darkness before the moon 

 rose occasioned us to retire to the camp, but not 

 long after her yellow light shed a rich softness 

 upon everything that could be seen, I found myself 

 sitting against the boxes that formed my hut, with 

 my face turned towards the promised land, which I 

 anticipated was so fraught with opportunities of 

 enterprise, and of every circumstance favourable 

 for exploring the unknown countries of intra- 

 tropical Africa. 



