4 
280 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
As foon as we found the villages deferted, and that there 
were no hopes of a fupply of bread, we ftruck our tent, and 
proceeded on our journey ; the pointed mountain Gutch bore 
north from our tent, at the diftance of about two miles. 
On the 29th, at ten in the forenoon, we left the mhof- 
pitable villages of Gimbaar, not without entertaining fome 
apprehenfions of meeting the inhabitants again in the 
courfe of the day. But though we took every precaution 
againft being furprifed, that prudence could dictate, our 
fears of the encounter did not rife to any great height. I 
got, indeed, on horfeback, leaving my mule; and, putting 
on my coat of mail, leaving the fire-arms under the com- 
mand of Hagi Ifmael, the old Turk, I rode always about 
a quarter of a mile before the baggage, that they might 
not come fuddenly upon us, as they. had done the. night 
before. ; | 
In afew minutes we pafled three fmall clear ftreams ina ve- 
ry fertile country; the foil was a black loomy earth; the grafs 
already parched, or rather-entirely burnt up. by the fun. 
Though this country is finely watered, and muft be very 
fertile, yet it is thinly inhabited, and, as we were informed, 
very unwholefome. At three quarters paft ten we came 
to the river Mahaanah, which fwallows up thefe three 
brooks, its courfe nearly N. W. it was (even at this dry fea-= 
fon of the year) a confiderable ftream.. 
Here we refted half an hour, and-then purfued our 
journey ftraight north.. We paffed a large and deep valley — 
called Werk Meidan, or the country of gold, though there 
is no gold in it. It is full of wood and bufhes. We had 
I left 
