Distinguished like the houses of York and Lancaster by their respective colours, "the white house" of Debenik-Woema, composed of various Adaiel clans, who in time of need rally under one standard, is banded against the Assa-himera, "the red house" of the Mudaito, with the same bitter feud and animosity which spread desolation through the fair domains of England, and poured out the best blood of her heroic sons. Well would it be for the cause of humanity were these savage combatants animated also with the same noble and chivalrous feelings which in days of yore reigned paramount in the breast of the British knight, and met together only in the open field of honourable contest. But the case is widely different indeed; and under whatever circumstances the hated and hereditary foe may here be discovered, the unarmed bosom of the lone, sleeping, or unsuspecting wanderer, rarely fails to prove a sheath for the murderous knife of the assassin. Aussa, formerly an important town, was, less than a century ago, the capital and principal seat of the united tribes of Mudaito, who extend thence to Ras Billool, and are represented to be countless as the hairs of a Danakil head. Regarded as the seat of wisdom and learning, and governed in the latter days of its strength by Yoosuf Ali ibn Ajdahis, a brave and martial sultan, whose armoury boasted of many matchlocks, and of several small pieces of cannon, it long flourished in powerful independence--a bright spot of beauty in a waste of barrenness. But the sun of its prosperity at length set; and the predatory hostilities long exercised towards the various united tribes of Adaiel, leading to a general invasion on the part of the Ado-himera, the prince was slain, the stronghold of the "red house" sacked, and its garrison put to the sword: nor in these degenerate days is this once important place more than an extensive encampment, whereat is held a perpetual fair, frequented by all the tribes of Danakil, Eesah, Somauli, and Mudaito. The site of Aussa, a wide-stretching valley, described to be from eight to ten days' journey across for a caravan, is hemmed in by lofty mountains, and fertilised in all its extended quarters by the Lakes Guraaid, Abhibbab, Hilloo, and Dugod--the first situated a little to the eastward of the town, and the last by far the largest of the four. These vast stagnant basins in the plain receive the Abyssinian waters of the Hawash and its tributaries, in addition to the contributions of all the streams from Jebel Oobnoo and other collateral ranges--the abundance of fluid thus lost upon volcanic formation, so enriching the soil as to enable this district to produce wheat, juwarree, barley, Indian com, pepper, and tobacco, in quantities sufficient for the supply of the entire coast.