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40

HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES

15 abbdko, Limmudd
wdrra guddd dabomi
abbdko kan f^tte Gimmdda
mimittd sinicco
kabald ndmd'ggftu
20 abbdko kan finite Gommddd
nientd bukkekzeti

yd'bbako Tuccoda
gafdrsd mirgdn td ’u
yd'bbdko Tambodd
25 qierrdnsd mildn td ’u
yd^bbdko Noleda
kdna slf nan bteke

1 Abba Gubir: “A riddle! a riddle!” 2 Abba Digga: “Come on!” 3 Abba Gubir: “A
calladium moves the leaves (literally, the ears) in the plain! 4 There is great family of cow-
ards! 5 The very hot pepper, 6 a handful (of it) kills the people. 7 (There is) a lion at
my side, 8 there is a buffalo at my right hand, 9 there is a leopard at my feet. 10 Divine
this! (literally, know this!)” 11 Abba Digga: “My Lord, pardon me! 12 My Lord, I will
tell (it to you). 13 The calladium which in the plain 14 moves its leaves (literally, the
ears), as you have said, 15 my Lord, is Lfmmu. 16 The great family of cowards 17 which
you have mentioned, 0 my Lord, is Gimma (Abba Gifar). 18 The very hot pepper, 19 a
handful (of which) kills the people, 20 as you have said, 0 my Lord, is G6mma. 21 The
lion at your side, 22 0 my Lord, is Tucco (Danno). 23 The buffalo which is there at the
left hand, 24 0 my Lord, is (Abba Dima) Tambo. 25 The leopard which is there at the
feet, 26 0 my Lord, is the Nole (Kabba tribe). 27 This I have divined (literally, known)
for you.”
Notes. The population of Lfmmu (v. 3, 13-15) not brave, but vainglorious and in-
constant, is compared to the calladium sativum, the tuber of which is eaten by the Galla;
its leaves more according to the direction of the wind. The Galla often call the leaves
gurrd mukd, i.e. “the ears of the tree,” (cf. v. 3, 14 of this song and song 93); likewise, they
call fruits itfgd mukd, i.e. “ the eyes of the tree ” (this second metaphor is so usual that often
iggd, “eyes,” without the genitive muka means “ fruits ”). Also the Sidama (e.g. the Kaffa,
the Dawrb, and the Walamb) call leaves, “the ears of the tree.” There is no doubt a close
correspondence between this animistic conception and the religious ideas of the Kushites
concerning trees. Song 138 is a very important proof of this connection.
The population of Gimma Abba Gifar, although very numerous, was said to be wanton,
(see song 15, v. 40-44), and therefore not valiant in war (v. 4, 16-17). The warriors of
G6mma were few, as their native country was small; but they fought very bravely (v. 5,18-
20). As to the pepper, symbol of bravery, (v. 5) cf. song 1, notes. The three enemies who
resemble the three wild beasts (lion, buffalo, leopard) are north of Gtima—“at my side,”
says the singer, Tucco Danno; west of Guma, “ at my right hand,” Abba Dima Tambo;
northwest of Guma, “at my feet,” the Nole Kabba. Naturally this orientation was de-
termined by the place where the council of the officers had assembled, and by the position
of the singer (Abba Gubir). As to Abba Dima Tambo, cf. song 10.
 
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