V 
RE CONNAISSANCE OF AB YSSINIAN BORDER 119 
Travelling constantly over rolling, densely-wooded country, 
we were now entering the part of the Haud which is grazed over 
by the Ogdden from the south, and struck the Warda-Gumared, 
one of the great trade arteries between Berbera and the Webbe 
Shabeleh. The track here, for thirty miles at least, over red 
powdery earth, is so well worn and smooth that a bicycle might 
WALLER’S GAZELLE. 
easily be ridden at full speed on it. On either side of the path 
all was thorn-forest and grassy glades. The grasses were chiefly 
the dciremo , growing in tufts to about a foot, and durr , growing 
to six feet, both very fattening for live stock. The umbrella 
mimdsa, called Tchansa , grows to a height of ten feet, the bushes 
spreading out till their tops meet, forming shady tunnels which 
are the favourite haunt of lions and leopards during the heat of 
the day. The animals come out at night into the great plains 
and feed on the herds of game which live in the open. Sometimes, 
