442 
S AMH AR. 
came to a turn in the road where a mountain appeared in sight, 
bearing about due north, distant ten miles, on which formerly 
stood the monastery of Bisan, celebrated throughout Abyssinia 
for its wealth and the number and sanctity of the monks who 
resided there.* It is at present, as I was informed, deserted and 
in ruins. To the left of this mountain, a road was pointed out to 
us, which led westward to Gella Guro, and Hamazen, through a 
wild and picturesque country, much frequented by elephants, 
while to the northward of it lie the districts of Kot and Sahart, 
stretching out in a direct line towards Dobarwa. 
From this time we continued to descend, keeping the line of 
the stream for about ten miles, during which we met with great 
numbers of entate, (adansonias,) asclepias, euphorbias, and tama- 
rind trees, all of which are invariable signs of approaching the low 
and arid plains. A large herd of elephants appeal red to have 
been recently traversing along this gully, as scarcely a tree could 
be found which did not bear evident marks of their ravages. At 
three o'clock we reached an opening in the gully ; when Bahar- 
negash Yasous dismounted from his mule, and requested us to 
go out of our way a short distance to the left for the purpose of 
seeing a pass ^- through which the Tabot was brought into the 
* Vide Alvarez, p. 65, " lequel .est situe sur la polnte d'un roc, fort liaut; et de tons 
cotez, qu' on peut jeter la veue en bas, on apergoit line profandit6 tenebreuse et epouvant- 
able- L'eglise du monastere contient un grand circuit, et est d'une grande structure, bien 
dress€f, et les batimens magnifiquement ordonnez : et est le comble d'icelle eniicliy de 
trois nefs grandes.et furt industrieusement corapas§6es :" and Poncet's Voyage to Ethiopia, 
page 113, who has told a ridiculous fable of his having seen in the church a round staff 
of gold hanging unsuspended in the air, and, " fur better assurance," he adds, and, to 
take away all doubt, I passed my cane over it and under it and on all sides, and found 
4hat this staif of gold did truly hang itself in the air " ! ! 
