484 
HAZORTA ENCAMPMENT. 
possessed many cattle, but seldom killed them, unless they were 
likely to die from disease or accidents, these animals forming the 
chief medium of barter for grain with the Abyssinians. On enquir- 
ing why they did not raise corn themselves, he replied, that they 
were ignorant of the art of doing so, otherwise they would willingly 
supply their own wants, without having recourse to others. He fur- 
ther informed me, that they never stripped the branches from the 
trees, except for the purpose of feeding their cattle, when the grass 
was burnt up or consumed. Hence it appears not improbable that 
these people might, by gentle means, be brought to a much higher 
state of civilization than that in which they are at present ; with re- 
gard to their population, if their number be only half so many as 
the chief represented them, they must be considered as a very power- 
ful tribe ; and being a brave, though rude people, and in possession 
of a very strong country, through which lies the only practicable 
passage into Abyssinia from this quarter, they might assume and 
maintain an importance much superior to what they actually 
possess. 
" At half past eleven, after about five hours continued wrangling 
with our people, during which we were several times on the point of 
proceeding to blows, we at length prevailed on them to fetch the 
mules, and we began to ascend the mountain ; Sheik Umma, from 
whom I had obtained the preceding information, taking his leave 
with many expressions of friendship and humility. The first part 
of the road was smooth and easy ; but, as we advanced, it became 
steeper and more incommoded with loose stones and masses of 
rock, over which however our excellent mules carried us with 
great facility, and in perfect safety. Such of the Nayib's people as 
