DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0108
92
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
25 abbah'e Giyorgis gedera
dkka birrd kuni bate
dulGArussi ganamdda
fidi yaNussi gabbota
utu naddvenkze "nqabln
30 g abb 6nkz~eAzbo gamin
fidi gomfdsa wdrqzeda
wdrqze Sanqilldn "ungulate
fidi gomfd mana id ’u
kanumto isin cdlzu
35 Lteqa sandn gabbarera
gdn Gimmd gabbarera
turban Gudru gabbarera
ma Arussi gomfd didda
Azcdsin bolld fakkdtte
40 g ad "dule bakkzen imbdtu
Ddnb sila "nkakat&ra
akka "nafne Arussini
mat malatetta Arussiko
gomfd fiddufis imbdte
45 kdna dzftufis badida
1 And when the spring breaks forth, 2 what have you planned, 0 Arussi? 3 These (i.e.
the Amara) will not give up the enterprise. 4 Also for you, your coming is decided, 5 even
if you will lead all, 6 because Walie will not give up coming! 7 The name of his horse is
Tattaw, 8 a furious hero! 9 For even if the Wallo lie, 10 if Gobana will not give up
coming, 11 0 Arussi, you will be caught! 12 Let your Nur be in charge of lamps! 13
Bring calves for the yoke! 14 Let eighty young men descend for the expedition! 15 0
Arussi, what do you desire? 16 Bring the tribute to our house, 17 because we will not go
out of the house during the spring. 18 During the spring one calls down to the valleys.
19 Let the water take away the Guragie! 20 0 Bacci Sabo of the other bank, 21 carry for
us red gold! 22 Because Danaw will not give up coming against you, 23 and will not give
up coming against you. 24 By Mary, he has vowed and sworn. 25 By my father, Saint
George, he has vowed. 26 As soon as the spring breaks forth, 27 the expedition against
the Arussi is to be made at morning. 28 Bring to us the calves, 0 Arussi, 29 before your
wives be taken, 30 before your sons be prisoners! 31 Bring to us the tribute of gold, 32 the
gold which the negro hoards! 33 Bring it and let it be hidden in the coffers. 34 Those who
are stronger than you, 35 the five Lieqa tribes, have paid tribute. 36 The six Gfmma have
paid tribute. 37 The seven Horro have paid tribute. 38 How can you, O Arussi, refuse
tribute ? 39 Do you believe that the Awas is a precipice ? 40 He, Menilek, will descend for
the expedition and will fight on the plain, 41 because Danaw has sworn 42 that he will
not give up the expedition against the Arussi. 43 What have you planned, O my Arussi ?
44 Bring the tribute, and you will go out! 45 If you neglect this, your end will come.
Notes. The verses 4-5 state that the Arussi will come to the court of Menilek to sur-
render themselves as the other Galla tribes have done (afterwards enumerated in verses 35-
37). Verse 9 alludes to the question whether or not Ras Alika ’el would fight against the
Galla, compatriots of the Wallo and Mussulmen, as he himself once was. Verse 12 puns
on the word Nur, name of the sheikh of the Arussi, and nurd, “lamp” (Arabic, nur).
Verse 18 means that, during the season of the rains, they (the Amara) will remain on the
hills and thence they will call the Arussi to bring tribute (this is the explanation given me
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
25 abbah'e Giyorgis gedera
dkka birrd kuni bate
dulGArussi ganamdda
fidi yaNussi gabbota
utu naddvenkze "nqabln
30 g abb 6nkz~eAzbo gamin
fidi gomfdsa wdrqzeda
wdrqze Sanqilldn "ungulate
fidi gomfd mana id ’u
kanumto isin cdlzu
35 Lteqa sandn gabbarera
gdn Gimmd gabbarera
turban Gudru gabbarera
ma Arussi gomfd didda
Azcdsin bolld fakkdtte
40 g ad "dule bakkzen imbdtu
Ddnb sila "nkakat&ra
akka "nafne Arussini
mat malatetta Arussiko
gomfd fiddufis imbdte
45 kdna dzftufis badida
1 And when the spring breaks forth, 2 what have you planned, 0 Arussi? 3 These (i.e.
the Amara) will not give up the enterprise. 4 Also for you, your coming is decided, 5 even
if you will lead all, 6 because Walie will not give up coming! 7 The name of his horse is
Tattaw, 8 a furious hero! 9 For even if the Wallo lie, 10 if Gobana will not give up
coming, 11 0 Arussi, you will be caught! 12 Let your Nur be in charge of lamps! 13
Bring calves for the yoke! 14 Let eighty young men descend for the expedition! 15 0
Arussi, what do you desire? 16 Bring the tribute to our house, 17 because we will not go
out of the house during the spring. 18 During the spring one calls down to the valleys.
19 Let the water take away the Guragie! 20 0 Bacci Sabo of the other bank, 21 carry for
us red gold! 22 Because Danaw will not give up coming against you, 23 and will not give
up coming against you. 24 By Mary, he has vowed and sworn. 25 By my father, Saint
George, he has vowed. 26 As soon as the spring breaks forth, 27 the expedition against
the Arussi is to be made at morning. 28 Bring to us the calves, 0 Arussi, 29 before your
wives be taken, 30 before your sons be prisoners! 31 Bring to us the tribute of gold, 32 the
gold which the negro hoards! 33 Bring it and let it be hidden in the coffers. 34 Those who
are stronger than you, 35 the five Lieqa tribes, have paid tribute. 36 The six Gfmma have
paid tribute. 37 The seven Horro have paid tribute. 38 How can you, O Arussi, refuse
tribute ? 39 Do you believe that the Awas is a precipice ? 40 He, Menilek, will descend for
the expedition and will fight on the plain, 41 because Danaw has sworn 42 that he will
not give up the expedition against the Arussi. 43 What have you planned, O my Arussi ?
44 Bring the tribute, and you will go out! 45 If you neglect this, your end will come.
Notes. The verses 4-5 state that the Arussi will come to the court of Menilek to sur-
render themselves as the other Galla tribes have done (afterwards enumerated in verses 35-
37). Verse 9 alludes to the question whether or not Ras Alika ’el would fight against the
Galla, compatriots of the Wallo and Mussulmen, as he himself once was. Verse 12 puns
on the word Nur, name of the sheikh of the Arussi, and nurd, “lamp” (Arabic, nur).
Verse 18 means that, during the season of the rains, they (the Amara) will remain on the
hills and thence they will call the Arussi to bring tribute (this is the explanation given me