SE AH. 
439 
steep, and much incommoded with loose stones, but bore no 
proportion to that ofTaianta. On arriving at the bottom of the 
pass, we came to a plain thickly interspersed with caper bushes, 
and in part covered with fine turf, presenting a singular con- 
trast to the parched appearance of the country on the opposite 
side of the mountain ; and throughout the whole extent of the 
plain we occasionally met with loose piles of stones, resembling 
cromleks/' from which the earth had been washed away by the 
force of the periodical rains. This small tract of land forms a 
goolta, or fief, belonging to the Nayib of Massowa, who holds it 
by consent of the Abyssinian chiefs in the neighbourhood ; and 
it is said to yield him a considerable quantity of corn. A 
few miles beyond, we came to two villages^ called Seah and 
Kudoona, in the neighbourhood of which we pitched our encamp- 
ment for the night. The ruler of the district, Shum Sadoo, was 
at this time absent on a visit to Gondar, whither he had gone for 
the purpose of soliciting from the Emperor the rank of Kantiba ; 
the whole of the inhabitants of this part of the country, from 
Hamazen to Adowa, being much attached to royalty, and enter- 
taining a strong objection against holding their lands under any 
other authority. In his way to Gondar he had passed through 
Antalo, where I had seen him in the presence of the Ras, and 
the latter, when Shum Sadoo mentioned his purpose, smilingly 
remarked, you may go if you please and get what title you 
like, but you shall pay your tribute to me.*' 
Towards evening the brother of Shum Sadoo paid us a visit, 
and brought the usual supply of provisions, and in return T made 
him a present of twenty dollars, for which he promised us 
