164 DISAPPOINTED EXPECTATIONS.

In spite of the desolate appearance of the country, the view from the point we had chosen for our camp was decidedly picturesque. We were on a small hill a long way above the river, which we could see, winding in and out, a silver streak among the black rocks, for a long way in the direction of Abyssinia.

The most conspicuous object in the distance was an immense mountain, called Bokutan, which the natives asserted was in Abyssinia. It appeared to be fifteen or twenty miles off, at least, and was table-shaped ; it was marked, on a map we had with us, as five thousand feet high.

In the evening we were treated to another deputation of guides and camel-drivers, now quite a common occurrence, and almost as much to be expected as the setting of the sun. They all declared that they dare go no farther, and that we were then encamped farther in an eastward direction than we ought to be. They said that there were no Base living on the river, the Abyssinians having driven them all away into the mountains, taken their cattle, and burnt the country. The country had certainly been lately burnt, as the whole surface of the ground was covered with the ashes of grass. Between our camp and Bokutan there was a hill ; and between that hill and the mountain, according to these veracious guides, there was an Abyssinian village, which they dared not approach, as the Haikota people had killed two of their sheiks. All this we were told, after having been informed at Haikota that there were plenty of Base villages along the river, the names of many of them having been given to us ; and that the people were peaceably disposed, possessing flocks and herds and . fields of dJiurra. We had a long talk with the men, and could plainly see that they were not to be induced to go farther, and knew nothing of the country beyond. It was most provoking ; because, if we had known we could not go, we should have spent our time on the