Page:"Round the world." - Letters from Japan, China, India, and Egypt (IA roundworldletter00fogg 0).pdf/251

 Landing,” the towu and canfonments of the troops is situated in a hellow among the yel- ranie hills §ve miles away.

The “Padre” and I had an early start the next morning, before the sun aver the hills that hound the horizen on 1 tho east, Our steamer was already surroundet far the natiyes in curious boats, some ef them spall canoes, scarcely larger than chopping howls, and prepelled By one nian with 4 paddle shapwst like ® mustard speon, Thee fellows were coal black, uninenmbered by any surplus vlothing, and ready to dive and eyarrel under the water forthe possession of the smallest silver coin thrown over by the passengers. Cllia larger boats were filled with men, who held upto us bunches of 03+ frich feaichers, uges as big as babies’ heads, and vorals of (he brightest tints, whieh they effered for sale wilh great clamor. ‘They ware not allowed fo vame on board, for they have the reputation of being arrant thieves audeven the ports below were closed, lesi ¢ insinuating and slippery little searaps shonld erawl] up from the boats into our state rooms. We selected beut from the score soliciting our patronage, and six naked Ethiopians sct us ashore wally. At the pier we engaged a dilapidated, one-hor springless vehicle io convey us to the town. We had the choice etween this and donkey >, which f would have chosen, bit the Padre objected on the ground that his long bhiek serge gown was uot acomyenicnt rostame for Fiding «le Turk.

The read was hard aud smooth, ard fur half the distance wound aleng the shore, then turned inland, and wound with may sharp curves through ravines and round the hase of clifis hundreds of feet hish, on which not 2 particle of vegetable life could be seen, The seenery waz unique and grand, but the very picture of desolation. We wore in high spirits, like @ couple of sailorstaking w#run ashore after a long confinement on sbip. The Padre laughed joyially at the comi- cal sights on ihe road, sung snatches of songs (perhaps they were Ayimns) in his native tongue, and seemed as full of fun and frolic asaboy, We met long trains of camels and dromedarics, some Judened with hags of “Mocha,” others curring cach adozen goat- skins of wuter froma small stream fifteen miles away on the inuin lind. ‘hese un- gainly beastv, with cramelike neeky and awkward ait, plodding along in single file, wach one surmounted by a black urchin, perched high in the air, were in strong con-