ASSHASHEN 
^05 
and we had procured two before. In the most perfect specimens 
we found twelve feathers in the tail, in pairs of unequal length. 
I discovered some of their nests, built in the rushes; they are very 
small, and covered over, as appears to be the case with almost all 
birds nests in this country. The Derhomais are also numerous here ; 
they are fond of roosting among the steady branches of trees, and 
make a hoarse croaking noise much like the raven. 
We found, on Hamed Chamie's arrival, that our leaving 
Adowa had been of great service in forwarding our baggage; as 
immediately afterwards, Guebra Selasse, and the Basha, by promises, 
threats, and blows, soon compelled the Christians who had en- 
gaged themselves in our service to bring on every thing belonging 
to us. We stayed at Mumsai till about three o'clock, wdien the 
master of the house came, and made us a present of a bullock and 
two goats, with a view, no doubt, to get rid of us, for we were 
advised by our guide to set off immediately after for another vil- 
lage. Our road lay up the valley of Mumsai, which is every where 
in a good state of cultivation, part being laid out in gardens, chiefly, 
as it appears, for the cultivation of the capsicum. This is no doubt 
the stream and vale of Ribierani of Bruce, but neither the name, 
nor anecdote connected with it, is any longer known to the inhabi- 
tants in the neighbourhood. At the upper end of the valley we 
ascended a steep and rocky hill, leaving the mountain of Samayut, 
the refuge of Ras Michael, when in arms against his sovereign 
Yasous, on our right. Our guide now took us to a village on a 
high hill to the left, called Asshashen. The villagers here were not 
much pleased with our arrival, and soon after came in a body, armed 
with sticks, shields, and spears, as it appeared, to drive us away ; 
