RECAITO. 
13 
may be compared to Tararita, though its height is considerably 
inferior. 
When we had arrived nearly at the top of the pass, the Bahar- 
negash led us out of the road, up a scarcely accessible ascent to a 
projecting rock, and it was not till we had toiled up with infinite 
difficulty, that we found our conductor had brought us thither for 
the idle purpose of gaining a shelter from the impending rain. With 
great labour we got our mules back again into the road, and began 
to descend the hill, which we found much more difficult than the 
ascent ; soon afterwards we were overtaken by the rain, but after 
traversing two more hills of moderate size, we reached a miserable 
village, where we took shelter. As soon as the weather had be- 
come fair again we recommenced our march, and travelled about 
three miles farther, nearly in a S.E. direction, to the ruinous village 
of Recaito, where, after having experienced much difficulty in pro- 
curing a shed, we halted for the night. The thermometer was 68^ 
The distance from Abha to Recaito we computed to be from ten to 
twelve miles. 
" August 18.— We procured a little supper last night, and eggs 
and milk this morning, in exchange for a few beads, but we found the 
damsels very keen in making bargains. The woman of the house 
was sufficiently civil, but the rest of the inhabitants appeared 
little disposed to accommodate us, and we discovered in the morn- 
ing, that they had neglected to procure food for our attendants, so 
that we had to wait a considerable time till it was prepared. 
" All the villages in this district bear strong marks of the rava- 
ges committed by the Ras's army, or some other military devasta- 
tion, for the greater part of them are at present mere heaps of 
