DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0098
82
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
sowing it; after this period, it is planted with chick-peas. Verse 71 cites ironically as an
example of bravery Moroda who many years before had surrendered himself to the Amara.
48
During the battle at Gura Doba, Ligdf Bakarfb had taken the horse of Dallansa Nadb,
the famous Ragg! (rafifii means in Galla “ wonder ”).
gari Dallansa Nado
abbankie biyo gbte
an abba biyd gbte
1 O fine steed of Dallansa Nado, 2 your master had made you ashes. 3 I have made you
lord of the country!
Note. This means: Your master had humbled you, being defeated; I have accomplished
with you glorious exploits!
49
At this time, Ras Gobana departed with his officers from Shoa to aid Tasamma and
went towards Libqa by the way of Giedb. Fitawrari Garadd advanced by the way of Tibbie;
Moroda attacked the Sibu tribes, and Wayzaro Mastayft, the princess of Warra Himanb
(who had already fought together with Gobana in the battle of Imbabo), marched to assail
the Libqa Billo. Gobana defeated Tucco Dannb after many undecisive combats at Malka
Naggadie on the banks of the Wama. Tucco withdrew to the Tullu Amara; thence, after a
year of siege, he escaped and went to the court of the Emperor Menilek II, who, according
to his usual policy, appointed Tucco fitawrari and gave him the government of his own
once independent domain. Mastayit had conquered, in the meantime, the Lieqa Billo, and
the Sibu had been defeated by Moroda. Thus, after seven years of struggle, all the Lieqa
tribes were conquered. Garbf Gilo and Gienda Sone were appointed fitawrari and governors
of their former kingdoms.
Ras Gobana, fearing a new rebellion of Libqa, decided not to return to Faile in Shoa
and took up his residence at Hindieba Gaccf. Then he was obliged to begin a new campaign
against the Dervishes of the Mahdi. The Mahdi, during his war against the Emperor
Johannes IV ending with the battle at Matamma, had sent an expedition to Wallaga
hoping that the Mussulmen of that region would be favorable to him. Ras Gobana had
already fought against the chief of Lieqa Qiellem, Gote (a Mussulman), and the Nole Kabba;
but he had been obliged to leave off this enterprise on account of the outbreak of an epidemic
in his army. When the Arabs of the Mahdi entered Galla territory, Gote came to an agree-
ment with them, and his example was followed by the Sibu Gantf, Sibu Wambara, and
Sinasa. Ras Gobana moved against the invaders with Daggac Moroda and Moroda’s brother,
Fitawrari Amante leading the Lihqa Naqamte and the Tuqa. The two armies fought at
Sombo Darro, within the territory of the Sibu Wambara. The Mussulmen were defeated
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
sowing it; after this period, it is planted with chick-peas. Verse 71 cites ironically as an
example of bravery Moroda who many years before had surrendered himself to the Amara.
48
During the battle at Gura Doba, Ligdf Bakarfb had taken the horse of Dallansa Nadb,
the famous Ragg! (rafifii means in Galla “ wonder ”).
gari Dallansa Nado
abbankie biyo gbte
an abba biyd gbte
1 O fine steed of Dallansa Nado, 2 your master had made you ashes. 3 I have made you
lord of the country!
Note. This means: Your master had humbled you, being defeated; I have accomplished
with you glorious exploits!
49
At this time, Ras Gobana departed with his officers from Shoa to aid Tasamma and
went towards Libqa by the way of Giedb. Fitawrari Garadd advanced by the way of Tibbie;
Moroda attacked the Sibu tribes, and Wayzaro Mastayft, the princess of Warra Himanb
(who had already fought together with Gobana in the battle of Imbabo), marched to assail
the Libqa Billo. Gobana defeated Tucco Dannb after many undecisive combats at Malka
Naggadie on the banks of the Wama. Tucco withdrew to the Tullu Amara; thence, after a
year of siege, he escaped and went to the court of the Emperor Menilek II, who, according
to his usual policy, appointed Tucco fitawrari and gave him the government of his own
once independent domain. Mastayit had conquered, in the meantime, the Lieqa Billo, and
the Sibu had been defeated by Moroda. Thus, after seven years of struggle, all the Lieqa
tribes were conquered. Garbf Gilo and Gienda Sone were appointed fitawrari and governors
of their former kingdoms.
Ras Gobana, fearing a new rebellion of Libqa, decided not to return to Faile in Shoa
and took up his residence at Hindieba Gaccf. Then he was obliged to begin a new campaign
against the Dervishes of the Mahdi. The Mahdi, during his war against the Emperor
Johannes IV ending with the battle at Matamma, had sent an expedition to Wallaga
hoping that the Mussulmen of that region would be favorable to him. Ras Gobana had
already fought against the chief of Lieqa Qiellem, Gote (a Mussulman), and the Nole Kabba;
but he had been obliged to leave off this enterprise on account of the outbreak of an epidemic
in his army. When the Arabs of the Mahdi entered Galla territory, Gote came to an agree-
ment with them, and his example was followed by the Sibu Gantf, Sibu Wambara, and
Sinasa. Ras Gobana moved against the invaders with Daggac Moroda and Moroda’s brother,
Fitawrari Amante leading the Lihqa Naqamte and the Tuqa. The two armies fought at
Sombo Darro, within the territory of the Sibu Wambara. The Mussulmen were defeated