' 242 PLAIN OF ZARAI. 
stars appeared more brilliant, and consequently nearer to tbe eye 
than on the coast. 
4 
March 5th. — Having parted from our Hazorta friends, whose 
company we were not sorry to get rid of, we left Dixan, at six 
f o'clock in the morning, attended by the Baharnegash, and pro- 
ceeded with recruited spirits on our journey. Our course lay 
westward, and in about an hour we reached the lofty hill, on 
which stands the village of Hadehadid, where the women as we 
passed greeted us with the usual acclamation heli, li li li li li li li^ 
which, as was observed in my former journal, resembles the 
ziroleet of the Syrians. We journeyed hence, nearly due south, 
across the plain of Zarai, which at this time looked very bare of 
verdure, the stream passing through it being completely dried up. 
The whole country, indeed, had the appearance of being scorch- 
ed, and we did not meet with water until we had passed the 
high rock of Addicota. At no great distance beyond, we came 
to a large daro, standing in the bed of a torrent, where we found 
some pits of water, a circumstance which determined us to rest 
there during the heat of the day. 
A debate at this place ensued between our guides, whether we 
should continue in the same encampment for the night, or pro- 
ceed to the village of Ambakauko, which lay about two miles 
distant on our right. The latter plan was considered by Mr. 
Pearce as strongly objectionable, owing to the place having been 
put under contribution, only the year before, by the Ras's troops, 
in effecting which, as is usual, several lives had been lost ; but 
"our people confident in their strength, unfortunately over-ruled 
this objection, and at their unanimous wish, I was induced to 
/ 
