r42 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
Tue laft part of the journey made ample amends for the 
difficulties and fatigue we had fuffered in the beginning. 
For our road, on every fide, was perfumed with variety of - 
flowering fhrubs, chiefly different fpecies of jeflamin; one in 
particular of thefe called Agam (a {mall four-leaved flower) 
impregnated the whole air with the moft delicious odour, 
and covered-the fmall hills through which we pafled, in fuch 
profufion, that we were, at times, almoft overcome with its 
fragrance. The country all round had now the moft beau- 
tiful appearance, and this was heightened by the fineft of 
weather, and a temperature of air neither too hot nor too cold. 
Nor long after our lofing fight of the ruins of this an- 
cient capital of Abyflinia, we overtook three travellers dri- 
ving a cow before them; they had black. goat {kins upon 
their fhoulders, and lances and fhields in their hands, in o- 
ther refpects were but thinly cloathed ; they appeared to be 
foldiers. The cow did not feem to be fatted for killing, and 
it occurred to us all that it had been ftolen. This, however, 
was not our bufinefs, nor was fuch an occurrence at all re- 
markable im a country fo long engaged in war. We 
faw that our attendants attached themfelves in a par- 
ticular manner to the three foldiers that were driving the 
cow, and held a fhort converfation with them. Soon after, 
we arrived at the hithermoft bank of the river, where I 
thought we were to pitch our tent. The drivers fuddenly 
tript up the cow, and gave the poor animal a very rude fall 
upon the ground, which was but the beginning of her fuf- 
ferings. Oneofthem fat acrofs her neck, holding down her 
head by the horns, the other twifted the halter about her 
forefeet, while the third, who had a knife in his hand, tomy 
very greatfurprife, in place of taking herby the throat got a- 
I ftride 
