Page:A voyage to Abyssinia (Salt).djvu/208

 On the 10th of March we started at day light and travelled for about three hours through a rugged and mountainous district, where the path was often so steep as to compel us to dismount from our mules. This path, at length, brought us to an open country wearing a distinct character from the one we had already passed; exhibiting an extensive plain which stretches down from the hills of Agamé and Haramat, (lying at this time about twenty miles on our left) in a westerly direction as far as the river Tacazze, through the rich districts of Gullibudda and Temben. This plain divides the mountainous district of 'Tigré' (properly so called) from the no less elevated districts of Giralta and Enderta. The former is peculiarly distinguished from the others, by the soil being, in general, sandy, and the rocks rising in perpendicular strata, consisting of slate over schistus and granite. Whereas in the two latter the strata are more inclined to the horizontal direction, and the surface of the vallies consists of a rich black loam, particularly well calculated for the cultivation of barley. After crossing the above-mentioned plain, we came to a steep ghaut, or pass, which leads up to the same range of country as the one of Atbara, of which a view is given in my larger publication, and this brought us at once into the district of Giralta. Here, after gaining the summit, one of those grand scenes burst upon us, which often occur in mountainous countries, occasioned by the approach of a thunder storm. A heavy mass of clouds, obscuring the horizon, came sweeping over our heads from the south-east, emitting every moment vivid flashes of lightning, while, in every other direction, the sky was perfectly clear and serene, and the landscape lighted up with a brilliant sun; but this stupendous scene was only of momentary duration, for the storm every instant came nearer, the thunder seemed to roll beneath our feet, and