CHAPTER XIV.

Second Rainy Season ends - Scarcity and Dearness of Provisions - Meshisha and Comfou plot their Escape - They succeed - Theodore is

Robbed - Damash pursues the Fugitives - The Night Attack - The Galla War-cry and the "Sauve qui peut" - The wounded left on the Field - Hospitality of the Gallas - Theodore's Letter on the Subject - Mastiate's Troubles - Wakshum Gabra Medhin - Sketch of Gobaze's Career - He invites the Co-operation of the Bishop in seizing Magdala - The Bishop's Plan - All the rival Chiefs intrigue for the Amba - Mr. Rassam's Influence overrated.

Another Maskal (Feast of the Cross) had gone by and September ushered in fine, pleasant weather. No important change had taken place in our daily life: it was the same routine over again; only we were beginning to be very anxious about the long delay of our messengers from the coast, as our money was running short: indeed, we had hardly any left, and every necessary of life had risen to fabulous prices. Five oblong pieces of salt were now given in exchange for a Maria Theresa dollar, whilst formerly, at Magdala, during their first captivity, our companions had often got as much as thirty, never less than fifteen or eighteen. Though the value of the salt had so greatly increased, the articles purchased with it had not followed the same proportion, they were, on the contrary, lowered in amount and quality. When the salts were abundant we could buy four old fowls for a salt; now that they were scarce, we could only buy two; and everything in the same ratio; consequently all our expenses had risen 200 per cent.

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