The Life and Adventures of Bruce, the African TravellerHead, Francis Bond, Sir
History
The Life and Adventures of Bruce, the African Traveller
Head, Francis Bond, Sir
Bruce, James, 1730-1794; Ethiopia -- Description and travel
"At half past eight o'clock," says Bruce, "we encamped at a place called
Tubbo, where the mountains are very steep, and broken very abruptly into
cliffs and precipices. Tubbo was by much the most agreeable station we
had seen; the trees were thick, full of leaves, and gave us abundance of
very dark shade. There was a number of many different kinds, so closely
planted that they seemed to be intended for natural arbours. Every tree
was full of birds, variegated with an infinity of colours, but destitute
of song; others, of a more homely and more European appearance, diverted
us with a variety of wild notes, in a style of music still distinct and
peculiar to Africa; as different in the composition from our linnet and
goldfinch as our English language is to that of Abyssinia. Yet, from
very attentive and frequent observation, I found that the skylark at
Masuah sang the same notes as in England. It was observable, that the
greatest part of the beautiful painted birds were of the jay or magpie
kind. Nature seemed, by the fineness of their dress, to have marked them
for children of noise and impertinence, but never to have intended them
for pleasure or meditation."
Leaving Tubbo, they proceeded on their journey and at night encamped by
the side of a rivulet, in a narrow valley full of trees and brushwood: a
number of antelopes were running about in all directions; but as the
Hazorta tribes were supposed to be in the neighbourhood, Bruce was
advised not to fire until he reached the mountain of Tarenta, at the
foot of which he arrived on the following morning. In the cool of the
evening they began to ascend the mountain by a path of great steepness,
and full of holes and gullies made by the torrents. With extreme
difficulty Bruce and his party crawled along, each man carrying his
knapsack and arms; but it seemed quite impossible to carry the baggage
and the instruments.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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