bruce's travels. 
79 
Mr Bruce next visited the ruins of Axum, 
which will be noticed more particularly under 
Mr Salt's travels. After leaving that place, he 
overtook three soldiers driving a cow, which they 
suddenly stopt, and threw down upon the ground* 
Mr Bruce supposed they were about to kill the 
animal ; but was much surprised, when, having 
cut out two beef-steaks from the buttock, they 
applied some clay to the wound, and again drove 
her before them. This appeared to him the most 
soldier-like and commodious mode of carrying 
provisions that he had ever seen. He was not 
yet aware, that food in this live state was the 
common and favourite banquet of the country. 
Bruce now passed through the province of Sire, 
and crossed the Tacazze, the banks of which ap- 
peared to him very beautiful, from the number of 
fine trees with which they were covered. Before 
reaching Gondar, he had still to cross the lofty 
mountain of Lamalmon. He did not, however, 
experience any inconvenience in the passage ; on 
the contrary, the cool air proved a restorative both 
to his spirits and appetite. On its top is a large 
plain, where corn is produced abundantly. In de- 
scending, he came in sight of Gondar, in which 
the king's palace only was visible ; the rest was 
so involved in trees, that it appeared merely like 
a dark grove. 
Abyssinia was at this time convulsed by violent 
25 
