448 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER I 



rifmgs and defcents, but without mountains, 'faving that, 

 almoft in every tribe, Nature had placed one rugged moun- 

 tain to which thefe people retired upon the approach of 

 their neighbouring enemies the Galla and Shangalla. This 

 defcription does, in a more extenfive manner, belong to the 

 country of the Zeegam, the molt powerful, rich, and tra- 

 ding tribe of the whole nation. 



Not one fingle mountain, but a confiderable ridge, di- 

 vides the country nearly in the middle, the bottom of which, 

 and nearly one-third up, is covered with brufh-wood, full of 

 ftifF bamboos and canes, bearing prickly fruit, with aloes, 

 acacia very thorny, and of feveral dwarf fhrubby kinds, in- 

 terfperfed with the kantuffa*, a beautiful thorn, which a- 

 lone is confidered, where it grows thick and in abundance, 

 as a fufficient impediment for the march of a royal army. 

 Through thefe are paths known only to the inhabitants 

 themfelves, which lead you to the middle of the mountain, 

 where are large caves, probably begun by Nature, and after- 

 wards enlarged by the indufcry of man. The mouths of 

 thefe are covered with bufhes, canes, and wild oats, that grow 

 lb as to conceal both man and horfe, while the tops of thefe 

 mountains are flat and well-watered, and there they fow 

 their grain out of the reach of the enemy. Upon the firft 

 alarm they drive the cattle to the top, lodge their wives 

 and children in the caves, and, when the enemy approaches 

 near, they hide the cattle in the caves likewife, fome of 

 which cavities are fo large as to hold 500 oxen, and all the 

 people to which they belong. The men then go down to 



the 



* See the ankle. kantuffa in the Appendix. 



