260 MOCULLA. 
many kind expressions of friendship from the Ras. Another 
messenger soon afterwards arrived with a mule richly caparisoned^ 
sent by the Ras, as a present, for my own riding ; and by the 
same conveyance an order was forwarded to the Aristi, at Gibba, 
to provide a cow daily for the consumption of our party, and 
aiiord us every other accommodation we might stand in need of. 
In the afternoon of the 14th, Ayto Debib and Chelika Havea 
came up with the greater part of our baggage ; and, on the 15th, 
we proceeded in a body towards Chelicut, which place the Ras 
had appointed for the reception of the mission. 
Before I left England I had prepared a suitable dress for the 
occasion, the most important article of which was a dark red 
velvet pelisse bordered with fur, which, being folded round the 
body, served to conceal the rest of the dress and to give thaf kind 
of appearance which I knew the Abyssinians would look up to 
with respect ; for, as to the common European costume, I had 
formerly observed that it tended to excite a species of contempt 
and ridicule that occasionally became very unpleasant in its 
effects. The rest of our party were clothed also as neatly as 
possible, for the purpose of making, on our first visit, a favour- 
able impression. The country from Gibba was very hilly, and 
the road, for a considerable distance, lay along the edge of a steep 
precipice, from which extended, on our right, a fine view of the 
adjacent country. The descent from these heights conducted us 
into the rich and fertile plain of Gambela, and on the left stood 
the hill and town of Moculla, one of the favourite residences of 
the Ras which I had formerly visited in his company. Since 
that time, however, the church, which makes a conspicuous figure 
