TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
ties of those savages were continually scouring* 
To avoid them, it was necessary to travel only 
under night, and to hide themselves during the 
day in the forests and bushes. In this manner 
they travelled for four or five days, when descend- 
ing a very steep mountain, they came to the 
banks of the Zebee, a river which appeared to 
them to roll a greater mass of waters than the 
Nile. It was here sunk to a vast depth beneath 
perpendicular rocks, between which it rolled with 
prodigious rapidity. To the Portuguese, as they 
cast their eyes into the abyss, and heard the aw- 
ful roarings of the flood beneath, it appeared as 
if they were looking down into the infernal re- 
gions. But all their attention was soon drawn to 
the mode in which this frightful gulf was to be 
passed. The sole bridge consisted of the trunk 
of a tree, so long that it reached across from rock 
to rock. The moment this bridge felt the small- 
est weight above it, it began immediately to 
quiver and creak, like a green twig. The tra- 
vellers started " with horror backward 5" but 
the Galla, a worse fear, urged them behind. At 
length, after much trepidation, the boldest of the 
party put his foot on this frail support, and 
treading lightly, reached the opposite bank. The 
rest then passed one by one, leaving two to guard 
the cattle, with instructions, if the Galla should 
come, to save themselves instantly, and abandon 
