tlie spring at the eastern base of the hills, we
ascended a rugged pass, winding for some miles
among ravines, and crossing elevated shoulders of
the range. Upon the summit, we passed a rich
mass of both rose-coloured and white limestone,
similar to that we had seen at Geera; this was
surrounded by basalt, and the presence of limestone
entirely mystifies my ideas of geology. Immense
quantities of very beautiful spar lay upon the surface
in all directions; some of this was perfectly white,
and veined like an agate—I believe it was white
cornelian; other fragments, of sizes equalling sixty
or seventy pounds weight, were beautifully green,
suggesting the presence of copper. Large masses of
exquisite bloodstone, the size of a man’s head, were
exceedingly numerous. Having crossed the hills, we
descended to a rich and park-like valley, covered
with grass, and ornamented with fine timber. Much
clhurra was cultivated, and several villages were
passed, that had been plundered by the Egyptians
during the recent attack. This country must be
exceedingly unhealthy during the rainy season, as
the soil is extremely rich, and the valleys, surrounded'
by hills, would become swamps. From
the Settite river, at Ombrega, to our halting-place
beneath the tamarind-tree, at this spot, is about
thirty-five miles south, 10° east.”
Our camp was in a favourable locality, well shaded
by large trees, on the margin of a small stream; this
was nearly dry at this season, and the water was.
extremely bad, having a strong taste of copper. I
had remarked throughout the neighbourhood unmistakable
evidences of the presence of this metal—the
surface of the rocks was in many places bright green,
like malachite, and, upon an exploration of the bed
of the stream, I found veins of a green substance in
the perpendicular cliffs that had been cut through by
the torrent. These green veins passed through a bed
of reddish, hard rock, glistening with minute crystals,
which I believe to have been copper. There is no
doubt that much might be done were s the mineral
wealth of this country thoroughly investigated.
The ■ day following our arrival, was passed in receiving
visits from a number of Abyssinians, and
the head men of Mek Nimmur. There was a mixture
of people, as many of the Jaleen Arabs who had
committed some crime in the Egyptian territory, had
fled across the country and joined the exiled chief of
their tribe. Altogether, the society in this district
was not crème de la crème, as Mek Mimmur’s
territory was an asylum for all the blackguards of the
adjoining countries, who were attracted by the
excitement and lawlessness of continual border
warfare. The troop that we had seen at Ombréga
returned with a hundred and two head of camels,
that they had stolen from the west bank of the Atbara.
Mounted upon hygeens, Mek Nimmur’s irregulars
thought nothing of marching sixty miles in one day,
thus their attack and retreat were equally sudden and
unexpected.
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