MOUNTAIN OF ASSAULl. 443 
country by Menilek/' This spot was distinguished by a large 
clump of wild date trees, a circumstance somewhat remarkable, 
as that plant does not appear to be indigenous in the country : 
the monastery of Bisan at the time bore from us about due 
west. Hence our coarse formed a complete traverse among loose 
blocks and ridges of granite, which brought us at last to a beau- 
tiful grove of trees situated by the side of a stream, where we 
pitched our tent for the night. 
On the 22d, we set off at day-light, and passed down a road or 
gully, nearly impracticable for mules owing to the immense 
blocks of granite impeding the way ; an obstruction which, 
at times, occasioned the stream to disappear. In the course of the 
day we met with several parties of Shiho carrying up merchan- 
dize towards Hamazen, and among them we observed some young 
girls with fine proportioned limbs and beautiful features, who 
were much lighter-coloured than any we had before seen. At 
half past seven, after an irregular course, we reached a spot where 
the road divided in two, and here we left the stream, (which, as 
I was informed runs off in an eastern direction to Weah) and 
turned northward up the ascent of the high mountain of Assauli. 
Near the entrance of the pass we visited a Shiho encampment, 
consisting of a circular range of conical huts, put together 
in a manner somewhat resembling the kraal of the KafFers, 
from which the natives were beginning to drive their goats up 
into the mountains to graze : the whole of this encampment had 
the appearance of great neatness and comfort, and the number 
of milch goats and kids amounted to several thousands. 
The ascent of the mountain Assauli was very steep, which 
