DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0055
THE FOLK-LITERATURE OF THE GALLA
39
Qadida, and the kingdom of Gimma Abba Gifar. Although Gimma Abba Gifar is separated
from the other five tribes living between Gudru, Lfmmu and Libqa, on account of the
remembrance of their common origin, the six Gimma always consider each other akin, but
there is no political bond between them. Likewise, the Libqa esteem themselves brothers
of a tribe living near Warra Himanb in Wallb, and say that Gran expelled them from
Walid to their present seat.
Laloso (v. 5) is a tree, the wood of which is used by the Galla to construct yokes for
oxen; habakkd (v. 6) is a kind of spear with long wooden shaft and short blade; it is called
also tuma Limmu, because the smiths in Lfmmu construct and sell it in great quantities.
Seo (v. 11) “ thing ” is an Arabism; loko “ halter ” means horse figuratively; hunguldle
(v. 60, see also song 16), means “ to hoard the gold dust,” which in these countries was
found in the river gravels, and heaped up by the Galla. In this form, it is brought to the
chief as tribute. Borelli1 tells that Menilek II hurled against Walda Giyorgis the gold
heap which this daggac had paid as tribute to the Emperor.
22
The second defeat by the pagan league and the invasion of Lfmmu forced Abba Gubir
and his allies to demand an armistice, which was accorded to them by the pagans. In the
meantime, Abba Gubir sent his brother, Abba Digga, to Dapo Gumbf, the only land con-
quered by him during the war and kept by him till the armistice. Abba Digga was ap-
pointed governor {Abba Qord) chiefly to spy from the north upon the movements of the
pagan armies. Then Abba Gubir asked his allies whether they would conclude a new agree-
ment to take up arms again after the armistice. The king of Lfmmu, who had suffered
the largest losses during the invasion of his country, and had participated in the Islamic
war from motives political rather than religious, refused to renew the alliance. Likewise
Gfmma Abba Gifar did not desire to participate in another war. These refusals were
perhaps the cause of the wars between Guma and the two kingdoms of Lfmmu and Gimma
Abba Gifar which I have discussed in the notes to the songs 1-2. G6mma alone sent a
favorable answer by means of a special embassy. Then Abba Gubir assembled all the
princes and officers of his kingdom and recited to them the following riddle. The solution
of the riddle was given by Abba Digga.
Abba Gubir: hibo! hibo! gafdrsa mirgdn td ’u
Abba Digga: hip! qierrdnsa mildn td ’u
Abba Gubir: godarre bakkie ki'essa gurra rafte 10 kdna bieka
wdrra guddd dabomi Abba Digga: dondcco, na^mari!
5 mimittd sinicco dondcco, an nan r'imd!
kabald ndma g^ftu godarre bakkie kiessa
ni'enta bukkekoti gurra rafte kan fifyte
1 Jules Borelli, fithiopie m^ridionale, Paris, 1890, p. 166.
39
Qadida, and the kingdom of Gimma Abba Gifar. Although Gimma Abba Gifar is separated
from the other five tribes living between Gudru, Lfmmu and Libqa, on account of the
remembrance of their common origin, the six Gimma always consider each other akin, but
there is no political bond between them. Likewise, the Libqa esteem themselves brothers
of a tribe living near Warra Himanb in Wallb, and say that Gran expelled them from
Walid to their present seat.
Laloso (v. 5) is a tree, the wood of which is used by the Galla to construct yokes for
oxen; habakkd (v. 6) is a kind of spear with long wooden shaft and short blade; it is called
also tuma Limmu, because the smiths in Lfmmu construct and sell it in great quantities.
Seo (v. 11) “ thing ” is an Arabism; loko “ halter ” means horse figuratively; hunguldle
(v. 60, see also song 16), means “ to hoard the gold dust,” which in these countries was
found in the river gravels, and heaped up by the Galla. In this form, it is brought to the
chief as tribute. Borelli1 tells that Menilek II hurled against Walda Giyorgis the gold
heap which this daggac had paid as tribute to the Emperor.
22
The second defeat by the pagan league and the invasion of Lfmmu forced Abba Gubir
and his allies to demand an armistice, which was accorded to them by the pagans. In the
meantime, Abba Gubir sent his brother, Abba Digga, to Dapo Gumbf, the only land con-
quered by him during the war and kept by him till the armistice. Abba Digga was ap-
pointed governor {Abba Qord) chiefly to spy from the north upon the movements of the
pagan armies. Then Abba Gubir asked his allies whether they would conclude a new agree-
ment to take up arms again after the armistice. The king of Lfmmu, who had suffered
the largest losses during the invasion of his country, and had participated in the Islamic
war from motives political rather than religious, refused to renew the alliance. Likewise
Gfmma Abba Gifar did not desire to participate in another war. These refusals were
perhaps the cause of the wars between Guma and the two kingdoms of Lfmmu and Gimma
Abba Gifar which I have discussed in the notes to the songs 1-2. G6mma alone sent a
favorable answer by means of a special embassy. Then Abba Gubir assembled all the
princes and officers of his kingdom and recited to them the following riddle. The solution
of the riddle was given by Abba Digga.
Abba Gubir: hibo! hibo! gafdrsa mirgdn td ’u
Abba Digga: hip! qierrdnsa mildn td ’u
Abba Gubir: godarre bakkie ki'essa gurra rafte 10 kdna bieka
wdrra guddd dabomi Abba Digga: dondcco, na^mari!
5 mimittd sinicco dondcco, an nan r'imd!
kabald ndma g^ftu godarre bakkie kiessa
ni'enta bukkekoti gurra rafte kan fifyte
1 Jules Borelli, fithiopie m^ridionale, Paris, 1890, p. 166.