Travels in southern Abyssinia, Volume 2 (of 2)

VIEW OF ABHIBHAD LAKE, FROM SANKARL.
C. Johnston, del. T & E Gilks, Lithʳˢ
J. Madden & Co. Leadenhall Sᵗ.
TRAVELS IN SOUTHERN ABYSSINIA, THROUGH THE COUNTRY OF ADAL TO THE KINGDOM OF SHOA. BY
CHARLES JOHNSTON, M.R.C.S. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: J. MADDEN AND CO., LEADENHALL STREET. M DCCC XLIV.
MACINTOSH, PRINTER, GREAT NEW STREET, LONDON.
ERRATUM. Page 106, 14 lines from bottom, transpose the words Apis and Serapis , with Abi and Assabi of the next line.
TRAVELS IN SOUTHERN ABYSSINIA, ETC.
Staying at Farree.—​Alarm of Galla attack.—​Return to Kokki.—​Women of Kafilah carried into slavery.—​Five Gallas killed.—​Triumph of Hy Soumaulee victors.—​Return to Dinnomalee.—​The Wallasmah Mahomed.—​Seizure of the letters.—​Return to Farree.
May 23. —I had scarcely opened my eyes, after the first night’s rest in Abyssinia, when a heavy knocking at the door, and repeated calls for me, made me get up in a great hurry to know the reason of such a disturbance. I found the escort all in an uproar, and they pushed past me into the house for their weapons, where they had been safely deposited under my care, and which, as soon as they were seized, away my friends ran, one after another, in the direction of Dinnomalee. Ohmed Medina, who had suddenly sprung up from somewhere, sat upon his mule in the market-place, and was shouting for me to come, whilst one of his slaves was hastily saddling my mule also. I could not make out what was the matter, but as the word “Galla” was in the mouth of every one, I suspected that an attack had been made upon the stores during the night by those marauders, and began to be afraid that I had calculated too surely upon their being safe when at Dinnomalee.
Getting myself ready as quickly as possible, I was soon galloping along the road, following Ohmed Medina. We stayed not a moment at Dinnomalee, but a look satisfied my greatest anxiety; for the stores were all safe, and I cared for nothing else, so with a mind much easier, I called out to Ohmed Medina, for the first time, to ask what, and where the disturbance was. He only turned his face towards me, as he called out “Dophan,” and “Galla,” urging his mule on as he spoke, as if he wished he had wings to fly at once to the little town of half-civilized Wahamas, we had passed yesterday on this side of Kokki. We overtook, and gradually left behind us, all the Hy Soumaulee, who, in a far-apart, straggling line, were hastening to the rescue. As we came up to each of these, a vain attempt was made to keep alongside of us, but our pace was too good, and we entered alone the small densely-wooded valley, then along the deep ravine, and at length pulled up on the camping ground we had left yesterday morning, when the leading camels of the Hy Soumaulee Kafilah came in sight, and where they had halted for the night; the greater part of the Tajourah camels alone coming on after us to Dinnomalee the same day.