was brought off, though he
died directly after. Dr Stiles greatly exposed himself, and took great
pains to get the wounded removed to the camp.

When wounded, Captain Heaphy was urged by Colonel Havelock to go back to
camp, but he remained in the skirmish to the end, after aiding Dr
Stiles in attending to other wounded. When the troops withdrew to camp
after dark, while ten files of Major Von Tempsky's Rangers were covering
the rear of the stretcher parties, he remained with them, only crossing
the river with the last men. At the very moment of fording the stream,
a ball, passing between him and Colonel Havelock, struck a man of the
40th farther in advance through the wrist, thus proving that the gallant
Heaphy was under fire to the very end of the fight. Few will dispute
that this brave officer of the Auckland Volunteer Rifles, in addition to
the majority he forthwith obtained, deserved as much as any man the
honour of the Victoria Cross.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION--1867-1868.

A glance at the map of Africa shows us Abyssinia situated at the south
of Egypt, beyond Nubia, with the Red Sea on the east, and a wild and
little-known country of arid and sandy desert on the west, and a still
more mountainous and barbarous country to the south. It has therefore
long been considered a region inaccessible to an invading army. On the
north, the unhealthy plains and valleys of Nubia render its approach
dangerous and difficult, while a range of lofty mountains, rugged and
precipitous, and deep valleys run almost parallel with the sea, having
at their base a dry and sandy region, destitute of water, and productive
of fever and agues. The centre of the country consists of lofty
plateaus and rugged mountains, with deep valleys, lakes, and streams.
The higher regions are healthy and fertile, but in the valleys, at
certain seasons, pestilence destroys numbers who are subjected to its
influence.

Dark-skinned people, though of different tribes, inhabit this region. A
portion of the population who formerly dwelt in the eastern part of the
country are Jews. The ruling race are the Amharas, who are a warlike
and intelligent people, but of cruel and bloodthirsty disposition. They
are Christians, having been converted about the fourth century, but
their Christianity has been greatly corrupted. The country has for
centuries remained in a state of chronic disorder, the chiefs rebelling
against the sovereig