I 
70 ATBARA. 
inclined more to the north, passing a sloping plain, some part of 
which the inhabitants were ploughing for the first time, in spite of 
the stones and shrubs that impeded the progress of the bullocks, 
whose unnecessary toil we could not but pity, especially when we 
saw them lashed unmercifully by the drivers, who carry in the right 
hand a whip that leaves a mark wherever it strikes. We now came 
to the lower part of a mountainous ridge called Atbara, where we 
were joined by our guide, who had before gone off another way, 
and had appointed to meet us. I had just killed a small bird, 
much like the humming bird, and had with great difficulty dug up 
a few bulbs. The descent hence is extremely steep, and so much 
incommoded with loose stones, that we were obliged to dismount 
from our mules, and before we reached the bottom, had reason to 
exclaim that it was as bad as the descent of Taranta. About half 
way doM-n a few houses and a church are built under the shelter 
of projecting rocks, in a very picturesque situation. We met a 
kafila on its way to Antalow preparing to go up the steep that we 
had just descended. After we had with much toil reached the 
bottom, it w^as not a little provoking to find that, on passing the 
brook, it became necessary to climb another ascent before we could 
get out of the valley. Afterwards, the vegetation began to vary con- 
siderably, the country being much more thickly set with trees, some 
of which were of a large size. The soil was poor, and of a sandy 
nature ; and we passed one entire bed of loose sand nearly a mile 
in extent. Proceeding about three miles to the north, we halted 
by a running stream, and took our usual repast ; and being soon 
after overtaken by rain, we pursued our journey with all expedi- 
tion for another stage of about six miles, when we arrived, just as 
