C H E L I C U T. 
279 
Mr. Pearce, in his journey from Antalo, had not met with any 
river of importance, until his arrival at the Tacazze, the only 
stream he recollected, and that a small one^ shaping its course 
northward, through Wojjerat. 
On the 5th of October, Mr. Pearce directed his course nearly 
due north, following the windings of the Tacazze for eight hours, 
as far as Mukkine, where, from the accession of a number of 
small streams, the river swells into some importance, and extends 
full thirty feet across. From Mukkine, on the 6th, he travelled 
five hours to Selah-ferre, a lofty hill, lying about eight miles 
from the Tacazze ; and from this place, on the 7th, he proceeded 
six hours N. by E. to Socota, the reputed capital of Lasta. This 
province is extremely mountainous throughout, and forms an 
almost impenetrable barrierbetween the two great divisions of 
Abyssinija, generally comprehended under the names of Amhara 
and Tigre, two passes only existing through the mountains, 
which are easily commanded by a small number of troops. 
Mr. Pearce described the Lasta soldiers as remarkable for 
their horsemanship, a quality not common among mountaineers ; 
but this in a great measure is attributable to the connexion sub- 
sisting between this province and that of Begemder, the natives 
of which not only pride themselves on their breed of horses, but 
are also distinguished by the skill with which they train them for 
service. The language of the country is Amharic, and the inha- 
bitants wear their hair long and plaited, like the natives to the 
south. In other respects they resemble the Galla more than the 
people of Tigre, and they are considered, in general, as great 
boasters, though by no means deficient in courage, 
