DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0109
THE FOLK-LITERATURE OF THE GALLA
93
by Loransiyos); but they will not descend into the valleys (cf. the frequent invitation in
the preceding Arussi song, “0 Dargie, descend to the valley ”). Verses 19-21 allude to
the Guragie who were allies of the Arussi against Dargib. Their chief was Baccf Sabo,
native of the Caha, the chief tribe of the Guragie. Verses 22-26 quote the oath of
Menilek to come against the Arussi. Note the Amharic formula of both oaths: Maryam
(v. 24) = Mary, abbdtze Giyorgis (v. 25) = my father, St. George (Galla, abbdko Giyorgis).
Verse 39 means: Do you believe that the river Awas is an insurmountable barrier?
55
When Menilek decided to conquer Harar, he first of all asked Ras Dargie to join this
new enterprise, but Dargie, who had already been engaged in the war against the Arussi,
refused. Therefore Menilek sent to Harar, Daggac Walda Gabr’el, governor of the Ittu
land, who was defeated and driven back. Again the negus made overtures to Dargie. Dargie
refused again, perhaps not wishing to aid Daggac Walda Gabr ’el, with whom he was not
on good terms because of the following incident. A little time before the overtures of Meni-
lek, Dargie had ordered his officer, Fitawrari Hullumanti, to occupy Copa, an important
strategic position on the frontier between the Arussi and Carcar. But Walda Gabr ’el,
saying that Copa belonged to his territory, sent there Fitawrari Sori Abba Gambar, who
forced Hullumanti to withdraw. Dargie was much offended by this affair, and it was said
that he afterwards ordered the murder of Fitawrari Sori. Son was actually killed in a place
on the way to Harar, which is still called Mot Abba Gambar, i.e. “Abba Gambar’s Death.”
After the refusal of Dargie, Menilek himself carried out the invasion of Harar (1887),
and after conquering the land, appointed Balambaras Makonnen governor of Harar; on
this occasion, Makonnen received also the title of daggac. He easily reconciled the Harargie,
and his soldiers, comparing the prompt pacification of Harar with the long and unsuccess-
ful wars of Ras Dargie against the Arussi, sang:
Makonnen alelu Dargie dzesse gale
hagugate ndta sabdsa bielase
1 Forward, 0 Makonnen! Dargie has returned (to his house) flying! 2 He (Dargie) eats
after veiling his head and causes his men to be hungry!
Notes. For the answer by Ras Dargie’s minstrels, see ‘ Canti popolari amarici’.1 The
eating with veiled head demonstrates the greediness of Ras Dargie (v. 2).
56
Ligg Hayla Maryam Gugsa, son of Ras Dargib, who was one of my informants, denies
that there had been rivalry between his father and Ras Makonnen. On the contrary,
Loransiyos states that the motives of dissension between the two chiefs were anterior even
to the expedition to Harar. (Ligg Gugsa is the youngest son of Ras Dargib, and he was only
1 Cerulli, op. cit.
93
by Loransiyos); but they will not descend into the valleys (cf. the frequent invitation in
the preceding Arussi song, “0 Dargie, descend to the valley ”). Verses 19-21 allude to
the Guragie who were allies of the Arussi against Dargib. Their chief was Baccf Sabo,
native of the Caha, the chief tribe of the Guragie. Verses 22-26 quote the oath of
Menilek to come against the Arussi. Note the Amharic formula of both oaths: Maryam
(v. 24) = Mary, abbdtze Giyorgis (v. 25) = my father, St. George (Galla, abbdko Giyorgis).
Verse 39 means: Do you believe that the river Awas is an insurmountable barrier?
55
When Menilek decided to conquer Harar, he first of all asked Ras Dargie to join this
new enterprise, but Dargie, who had already been engaged in the war against the Arussi,
refused. Therefore Menilek sent to Harar, Daggac Walda Gabr’el, governor of the Ittu
land, who was defeated and driven back. Again the negus made overtures to Dargie. Dargie
refused again, perhaps not wishing to aid Daggac Walda Gabr ’el, with whom he was not
on good terms because of the following incident. A little time before the overtures of Meni-
lek, Dargie had ordered his officer, Fitawrari Hullumanti, to occupy Copa, an important
strategic position on the frontier between the Arussi and Carcar. But Walda Gabr ’el,
saying that Copa belonged to his territory, sent there Fitawrari Sori Abba Gambar, who
forced Hullumanti to withdraw. Dargie was much offended by this affair, and it was said
that he afterwards ordered the murder of Fitawrari Sori. Son was actually killed in a place
on the way to Harar, which is still called Mot Abba Gambar, i.e. “Abba Gambar’s Death.”
After the refusal of Dargie, Menilek himself carried out the invasion of Harar (1887),
and after conquering the land, appointed Balambaras Makonnen governor of Harar; on
this occasion, Makonnen received also the title of daggac. He easily reconciled the Harargie,
and his soldiers, comparing the prompt pacification of Harar with the long and unsuccess-
ful wars of Ras Dargie against the Arussi, sang:
Makonnen alelu Dargie dzesse gale
hagugate ndta sabdsa bielase
1 Forward, 0 Makonnen! Dargie has returned (to his house) flying! 2 He (Dargie) eats
after veiling his head and causes his men to be hungry!
Notes. For the answer by Ras Dargie’s minstrels, see ‘ Canti popolari amarici’.1 The
eating with veiled head demonstrates the greediness of Ras Dargie (v. 2).
56
Ligg Hayla Maryam Gugsa, son of Ras Dargib, who was one of my informants, denies
that there had been rivalry between his father and Ras Makonnen. On the contrary,
Loransiyos states that the motives of dissension between the two chiefs were anterior even
to the expedition to Harar. (Ligg Gugsa is the youngest son of Ras Dargib, and he was only
1 Cerulli, op. cit.