MUGGA. 255 
in every other direction, the sky was perfectly clear and serene, 
and the landscape"^ lighted np with a brilliant sun ; but this stu- 
pendous scene was only of momentary duration, for the storm 
every instant came nearer, the thunder seemed to roll beneath 
our feet, and a heavy shower of rain at once closed the prospect 
from our view. 
This storm, was fortunately of short continuance only, and 
proved a suitable prelude to the inhospitable treatment which 
we soon afterwards experienced, in the neighbouring town of 
Mugga. The Shum of the district being absent, neither house, 
nor any other accommodations were offered us, and we were at 
length compelled to have recourse for shelter to some stacks of 
straw which stood in its vicinity. Mr. Pearce, indignant at this 
treatment, obtained my permission to go forward to Chelicut, to 
acquaint the Has with the difficulties we had to encounter, and 
to prepare him for our approach. He had not been long gone, 
when the head-priest of the place came out and offered us a 
small house adjoining to the church, which we gladly accepted, 
and he afterwards was kind enough to provide us with a few 
cakes of bread. This, with a kid which we bought from one of 
the town's-people, and two jars of soue or bouza, that we got in 
exchange for its skin, constituted the whole of our provisions, 
and the night was passed away as well as the incessant annoy- 
* At this time, to the north-west, rose the peaked mountains of Adowa : to the west, 
the loftier, but more distant ones of Samen; to the east, the flat table lands of Haramat, 
Agame, and Devra Damo J and beyond these, extended ranges of distant hills, scarcely 
perceptible to the eye ; while close to us, on the south, lay the large town of Mugga, 
backed by a high, steep, and craggy mountain, which towered above it like a castle into 
the air. 
