58 ANTALOW. 
the morrow, and that as he thought, from the state of the roads, 
that it would be better for me to go with as few attendants as pos- 
sible, it was my intention to take with me only two servants, and 
during m'y absence I would leave Captain Rudland under his pro- 
tection at Antalow, and Mr. Carter might at the same time execute 
the plan of paying a visit to Bure. He was perfectly satisfied with 
this arrangement, and said, that two mules should be in readiness 
for me, and men to carry what baggage I might want. I then re- 
turned to the subject of the Jews' rock, and expressed my anxiety 
to see it, as being desirous of giving my countrymen some idea of 
a place that, till he took it, had been always considered as impreg- 
nable, and which Ras Michael Suhul had not dared to attack when 
Ayto Tesfos, governor of Samen, had fled thither for refuge. He 
expressed much surprise at my knowledge of this circumstance ; 
but was evidently highly pleased with the compliment, and pro- 
mised to arrange the expedition for me on my return from Axum, 
as by that time the waters of the Taccazza would have subsided. 
He added, that there was not such another fortress in the whole 
country; that it was extremely high, and the water upon the top 
was often covered with a substance like glass, and as hard as stone, 
(by which he undoubtedly meant ice) and moreover that a plant 
was found there, which would kill any person treading upon it, if 
he happened to have the least sore upon his foot. He concluded 
by telling me that he would order Hadjee Hamed to come to me in 
the morning, who, notwithstanding what had passed, would be the 
best person to attend me to Axum and Adowa, as he was well ac- 
quainted with both those places. He then shook us cordially by the 
hand, and we returned to our apartment, to the great satisfaction 
