DIXAN. 
489 
walls of the required height, adjoining, and at right angles, to a 
steep slope on the side of a hill, and then laying on a roof of sods, 
pitched so as to correspond with the general descent of the hill, 
which gives the appearance of caves to these habitations. We much 
regretted having nothing with us to give these poor people but an 
empty wine bottle; with this, however, they were well satisfied. 
" Our companions soon after joined us, and about two in the 
afternoon, after the most unpleasant day we had yet experienced, 
we reached Dixan, completely wet, and without any of our baggage, 
which was all scattered upon the road in proportion to the strength 
or willingness of those who carried it. We were received by the 
Baharnegash Yasous, and the head men of the town, who were 
waiting at a house prepared for us. 
" Soon after our arrival, the Baharnegash sent us some large flat 
barley cakes, some honey, and hydromel ; and upon this, with a 
little of our Dhalac cheese, we were glad to make our dinner. 
" July 2S. — The thermometer in the morning at day break on 
Taranta was 59°; in the course of the day it varied from 61° to 66°. 
We passed a most miserable night, the air being extremely cold, 
(thermometer 59°) and the few cloaths we had with us completely 
wet ; for my own part, I sat till nearly morning with my feet in the 
embers of a small fire which occupied the centre of our cave. I call 
it so, because being constructed on the same plan as the habitation 
before described, it is evidently copied from natural or artificial ex- 
cavations. It may be said, in favor of this mode of building, that 
there is hardly any other better suited to the hilly nature of the 
country, or which, with so little labour, will afford an equally secure 
protection to the inhabitants and their cattle from the inconveni- 
