176 DAMO. 
*, 
met with none that were new to us, excepting a kingfisher, or a bird 
much resembling it. 
" Hence we turned off rather more to the west than we had 
formerly done, leaving Ounah Samuel on our right, as also the 
mansion of Basha Guebra Eyut, and proceeded to the valley of 
Damo, in which was situated the house of a son of Gusmatie Ischias, 
and grandson of Ras Michael, to whom we had already been intro- 
duced by the Ras at Antalow. We found the master of the place 
particularly agreeable, and willing to accommodate us in every 
respect; he spoke with pride of his grandfather, yet owned that he 
did not regard the lives of his subjects. He was accompanied by his 
cousin, the son of Deghaie Gabriel, whom I before saw at Adowa, 
who was now humbled at the farther end of the room ; and, after we 
had taken our repast, was happy to make with his body a footstool for 
his cousin. Gusmatie Ischias's two wives were also present, one old, 
and the other young, fair, and handsome. Hamed Chamie declared, 
at first sight, that she would bring in Arabia one hundred and fifty 
dollars. There were other ladies present, particularly the young 
and beautiful wife of Nebrid Aram: they were all in high spirits, 
and by their agreeable conversation made the evening pass away 
very pleasantly. 
" October 16. — We parted from our kind host at an early hour, 
and proceeded on our journey. It is remarkable that the Ras per- 
mits this chiefs father to keep the title of Gusmatie, or Governor, 
of Tigre, of which all his family are not a little proud. 
" The road this day brought us into our old path near the village 
of Occabessa, whence we again turned off westward over the moun- 
tain of Adowa; for it seldom if ever happens, as far as I have ob- 
