There being, however, every prospect of the rain recommencing, we were all anxious to return to warm weather and Aliu Amba as soon as possible, and I only remained sitting with the priests until my mule was brought up. A large goat that had been royally fed with barley and salt for the king’s own table, afforded a tiresome occupation to Walderheros and Goodaloo, as in turns they took the long rope attached to his horns, and endeavoured, much against his inclination, to drag him along with us. He was as large as a roebuck, and as contumacious and stiff-necked as well-fed beasts of all descriptions are apt to be. Now hanging behind, nothing but being positively carried up the steep miry hill could induce him to ascend to the top, but when arrived there, he afforded every assistance to my servants on the descent; beginning the war by rearing up on his hind legs, and with nose pressed down upon his chest, darted like a flying battering ram, upon his persecutors, who generally went to the bottom of the hill by one application of the sort. In this manner he compelled us to come to terms, and when we arrived at Dubdubhee, Walderheros left him in charge with his mother, who was to take every care of him for the few remaining days of the fast; at the conclusion of which, he was destined to form a prominent actor in the festivity, which it is usual among the Shoans to indulge in, the day after any term of abstinence has expired. After remaining nearly all day at Dubdubhee, where my ague paroxysm came on, and obliged me to stay, we again started, and arrived at Aliu Amba a few hours before sunset, where I was right glad to lay myself comfortably down upon my own bed, and under my own roof. A bright fire soon blazed upon the hearth, and my first essay in the art of brewing was tested, a large gambo of tallah being brought out of the store recess, a small concavity being first made in the earthen floor, to receive its round bottom. The potent beverage was soon being decanted into large drinking-horns, and the value of misfortunes to heighten the enjoyment of succeeding pleasures, was demonstrated by the zest that the comforts of the night derived, from the recollection of the miseries of the last we had spent at Myolones. My teakettle, half filled with the ale, was soon heating over the fire, whilst eggs, and honey, and butter, in another vessel, were being mixed together for the manufactory of a certain beverage that Wallata Gabriel protested was to be a cure for my fever, whilst Walderheros, to expel the “saroitsh” that I understood had already taken possession of his hips and shoulders, drew from its hiding place his clumsy pipe. In the folds of his mekanet he soon found some tobacco, and breaking the hard cake in which it is dried into smaller pieces, charged the slightly excavated stone bowl, upon the top of which a glowing piece of charcoal was placed, and consolation and comfort in vast clouds soon spread through the close apartment.