DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0133
THE FOLK-LITERATURE OF THE GALLA 117
bits of salt used as money by the Galla. Verse 10 mentions the bobe (see song 95, v. 2,
notes). The gimma (v. 11) is a plant with red ears. It can be eaten, but the Galla use it
principally as a remedy for infection of the eyes.
Ill
kdn qaldn dulaccd kdn boe gdradd
riettin daft dull lappen ndsu dull
1 That which they have killed is the old cow; 2 the shegoat has died suddenly. 3 That
which weeps is the mind; 4 the heart has died because of sorrow!
Notes. Here the song distinguishes between the mind and the heart: the former is still
living and weeps; the latter has died after an unhappy affair of the singer’s.
Gtmmd gdmd farddrra^ntd ’u
moti Warqie farddtu kdse
kotif kankte wdq "drkd td ’u
112
dirma ndmd gargdr nu base
5 waq^drkd ta 'e badd'nfakkdtu
1 Do not let Gfmma of the other bank ride horses. 2 The king of Warqie has moved his
horsemen. 3 Let my affair and yours be in the hands of God. 4 The wickedness of men has
divided us. 5 As it has been (placed by me) in the hands of God, let it not seem that it is
lost.
Notes. Gfmma Warqie is a little Galla state, north of the Gibie, according to Loransiyos.
The oath waq'drka td ’u (v. 3-5), “ let it be in the hands of God,” is very common. The
Galla always swear “ by the hand their formula for the fitm (the legal oath of the
Ethiopic law) is harkd motitti, “by the king’s hand.” The singer says (v. 3-5) that, although
the slander of the people has divided him from his sweetheart, he still hopes that matters
can be adjusted.
113
Rzebuf abbdn Rzebu
galgdld duldni
gdccdna gurdni
Lalo ballzesdni
5 kottd sangd boqd
bariieda fulakze
baqqdld busdni
guon banesdni
dofie Rika ilmdn hold
10 obisen warrd told
1 Riebu and Abba Riebu 2 last evening, made an expedition. 3 They have collected
shields (as spoils); 4 they have wasted Lalo. 5 Pawing of the horse with a white star on
his forehead! 6 Your forehead is beautiful. 7 They have gathered togas; 8 they have
stitched draperies (for her). 9 Innocent as the little lambs, 10 she is compassionate and
benign to everyone.
Notes. The first verses of the song (1-4) concern Sayd Garba, a warrior, native of Hanna
Abba Bara, who made an expedition against Lalo Qile, a village west of Hanna. Riebu
bits of salt used as money by the Galla. Verse 10 mentions the bobe (see song 95, v. 2,
notes). The gimma (v. 11) is a plant with red ears. It can be eaten, but the Galla use it
principally as a remedy for infection of the eyes.
Ill
kdn qaldn dulaccd kdn boe gdradd
riettin daft dull lappen ndsu dull
1 That which they have killed is the old cow; 2 the shegoat has died suddenly. 3 That
which weeps is the mind; 4 the heart has died because of sorrow!
Notes. Here the song distinguishes between the mind and the heart: the former is still
living and weeps; the latter has died after an unhappy affair of the singer’s.
Gtmmd gdmd farddrra^ntd ’u
moti Warqie farddtu kdse
kotif kankte wdq "drkd td ’u
112
dirma ndmd gargdr nu base
5 waq^drkd ta 'e badd'nfakkdtu
1 Do not let Gfmma of the other bank ride horses. 2 The king of Warqie has moved his
horsemen. 3 Let my affair and yours be in the hands of God. 4 The wickedness of men has
divided us. 5 As it has been (placed by me) in the hands of God, let it not seem that it is
lost.
Notes. Gfmma Warqie is a little Galla state, north of the Gibie, according to Loransiyos.
The oath waq'drka td ’u (v. 3-5), “ let it be in the hands of God,” is very common. The
Galla always swear “ by the hand their formula for the fitm (the legal oath of the
Ethiopic law) is harkd motitti, “by the king’s hand.” The singer says (v. 3-5) that, although
the slander of the people has divided him from his sweetheart, he still hopes that matters
can be adjusted.
113
Rzebuf abbdn Rzebu
galgdld duldni
gdccdna gurdni
Lalo ballzesdni
5 kottd sangd boqd
bariieda fulakze
baqqdld busdni
guon banesdni
dofie Rika ilmdn hold
10 obisen warrd told
1 Riebu and Abba Riebu 2 last evening, made an expedition. 3 They have collected
shields (as spoils); 4 they have wasted Lalo. 5 Pawing of the horse with a white star on
his forehead! 6 Your forehead is beautiful. 7 They have gathered togas; 8 they have
stitched draperies (for her). 9 Innocent as the little lambs, 10 she is compassionate and
benign to everyone.
Notes. The first verses of the song (1-4) concern Sayd Garba, a warrior, native of Hanna
Abba Bara, who made an expedition against Lalo Qile, a village west of Hanna. Riebu