Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/220

 market-town greatly frequented by the Gallas. The surrounding district is the richest and best cultivated in Gojara, whilst its mixed Abyssinian and Galla population presents the most remarkable types of female beauty. South of Mount Naba, highest peak of the Talba "Waha Mountains, Damhadsha is much frequented by Mohammedan caravans, and possesses a sanctuary like that of Dima. Close by to the south-east stands Monkorer, the fortified residence of the King of Gojam, whilst farther to the north-west are the towns of Mankusa, Buri, and Gudara, the last mentioned standing on a volcanic crag near an intermittent lake and the sources of the Abaï. Ashfa, situated west of Gudara, in the midst of picturesque valleys, groves, and pasture lands, is the capital of the province of Agaumeder, which is peopled with Agau emigrants from Lasta. These populations, still half pagans although each village has its church, are the bravest, and the only Abyssinians who succeeded in evading the razzias ordered by the ruthless Theodore; in no other region of Abyssinia are the people more distinguished for courage and honesty. South of Gojam, in the vicinity of the Liben Gallas, are situated in two tributary valleys of the Abaï, close to its southern bend, the two neighbouring commercial towns of Yejihheh and Basso, where Abyssinians and Ilm Ormas assemble to barter the products of their respective lands. The merchants of Damot and Kaffa bring a little gold-dust to Basso; hence the country where this precious metul is found is looked upon as a land of marvels by its covetous neighbours. Archbishop Bennudez, formerly the Catholic Abuna of Abyssinia, tells us that the El Dorado of Damot is also in the popular estimation a land of unicorns and griffins, where amazons contend with fabulous monsters, and the phoenix springs again from its ashes. At the end of 1883, a bridge was constructed by an Italian engineer over the Abai, between Gojam and Gudru. East of the Abaï, on a promontory above the upper valley of the Beshilo, stands the famous fortress of Magdala, which was, like Debra-Tabor, one of Theodore's residences, where he preferred death at his own hands whilst still free, and defying his English assailants. The amba of Magdala, rising to a height of 9,100 feet, or 3,300 feet above the Beshilo, resembles the rock of Mahdera-Mariam, although higher, more difficult of access, and of a more imposing aspect. Apparently insurmountable, the basalt cliff terminates westwards in an almost vertical crescent-shaped wall sloping north-westwards, where it culminates in an isolated peak. The portion of the plateau on which the fortress is built is connected with the southern part, which is occupied by the Gallas of the Wollo tribe, merely by a narrow path, all the other approaches to Magdala being blocked by fortifications. The upper platform, some two square miles in extent, bears the arsenals, barracks, prisons, magazines for corn and other provisions, and blockhouses for the king's women