'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1865 to December 1867. (Edited by the Honorary Secretary.) Volume XVIII.' [‎6] (141/268)

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GLEANINGS AS TO THE
four miles, where he was staying at the country-house of M- Menzinger,
a merchant and the acting French Vice-Consul at Massowa ; across a
plain of mixed sand and clay, and on which each, scrub brushwood and
the prickly acacia are the only specimens of vegetation, and the road
through which had been formed by the foot-tracks of the natives in
their daily visits to transact their business at Massowa. I duly arrived
at Moncooloo, which is a scattered hamlet composed of three villages,
viz., “Moncooloo” “Atoomloo,” and “ Belaat,” and after a delay
of about an hour Dr. Blanc and myself, accompanied by Abdoo, the
Cussad Kebeer of Massowa, started on our journey. The road was but
a footpath, rising occasionally over small sandhills, and at times lead
ing through the dry beds of watercourses, passing a mile or two of
thickly wooded valley, well stocked with game, consisting of “gazelle,”
“ hare,” “ guinea-fowl,” and “ partridges” ; occasionally as we passed, a
hyena would show himself, or perhaps a pair of them, but always showing
that we were recognized, by keeping a considerable distance off* It is
said in Abyssinia that these animals often steal the blankets away
from a bed, and the sleeper is unconscious of the fact until awakened
by the cold.
As it was, the bright moonlight shining on the sandy plains and val*
l e ys, interspersed by innumerable small trees, the refreshing coolness
of the atmosphere and the balmy softness of the air rendered our
evening’s ride by far the most genial pleasure we had experienced
since our arrival at Massowa, until about 1 a.m., when, on turning
the corner of a hill, and descending a rocky pass, we came full in sight
of our tents and escort, pitched at the end of a ravine and near the
base of a perpendicular rock, rising 170 or 180 feet, at which point
also the water appeared to exude- This being the only watering place
for miles round, we were surprised to find no reservoir, or any means
of collecting the water, of which there was at some seasons a scanty
supply, and which is allowed to flow in a broad stream of two or three
inches deep by as many yards wide, until it wastes itself in a wide ex
panse of ground, which doubtless accounts for the trees in the neigh
bourhood having grown to a height of 30 or 40 feet. After our
journey we were glad to get to sleep, and about 3 o’clock we were
awakened by the noise of innumerable winged creatures flying past
close over our heads, and which I imagined to be swarms of bats, tk
moon having by this time sunk behind the hills by which we were