DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0154
138
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
him to condemn the accused, procured for himself the necessary witnesses without too
many scruples and silenced those witnesses opposed to him by any means whatsoever.
This especially was the case in trials instituted directly by the king on some futile pretext
but really with the sole intention of condemning the innocent accused to slavery and selling
them to the merchants.
kard wdq darbe yo file Nbaqu
qn ''abban arge imdn ingilu
yd qard qbb yo gilNndabu
wdq gard bzeko ararfane yor "argane
5 sunsummi'nfilu
1 The ways by which God has passed, 2 who can ever see ? 3 0 edge of the lance! 4 God
knows the mind (of men). 5 The head is not combed, 6 unless, after it has been combed,
it is oiled. 7 I shall not weary of speaking, 10 if by growing weary, I shall not fail (to
obtain). 11 We have prayed: when shall we ever find (favor) ?
humba humbd yd Wdq 5 dagatte nufiribusini
humba humbd yd Wdq humba humbd yd Wdq
umte nufingatini ’ababdyqssa nuculekieti
humba humba yd Wdq ararfane yoWargane
1 Humbd! Humbd! 0 God! 2 Humbd, Humbd, 0 God! 3 Thou hast created us, do
not cast us away! 4 Humbd, Humbd, 0 God! 5 Thou hast shown us favor, do not abandon
us! 6 Humbd, Humbd, 0 God! 7 1 8 We have prayed; when shall we ever find (favor) ?
Notes. According to Loransiyos, humbd is a word which has no meaning, used in these
invocations to Waqa, because a magic force is attached to it.
igarte nufindigin, yd Wdq 5 gar gar bau nu olci, yd Wdq
kabde nuNbuqqisin, yd Wdq nd dabika, yd Rabbi
iggd bou nu olci, yd Wdq dkka mukd, yd Rabbi
gard nau nu olci, yd Wdq
1 Thou hast raised us up, do not cast us down, 0 God! 2 Thou hast covered us with
grass, do not destroy us, 0 God! 3 From weeping of the eyes, deliver us, 0 God! 4 From
grief of heart, deliver us, 0 God! 5 From being separated from one another, deliver us, 0
God! 6 Plant us, 0 God, 7 like a tree, 0 God!
Notes. The first verses compare, metaphorically, man created and protected by God
with a hut built and covered with grass by the hand of man.
In the second volume of Cecchi’s account of his travels occur some phrases which are
in reality a little song of the wdddga. As the transcription is very incorrect, and the trans-
1 Loransiyos could not translate this verse for me.
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
him to condemn the accused, procured for himself the necessary witnesses without too
many scruples and silenced those witnesses opposed to him by any means whatsoever.
This especially was the case in trials instituted directly by the king on some futile pretext
but really with the sole intention of condemning the innocent accused to slavery and selling
them to the merchants.
kard wdq darbe yo file Nbaqu
qn ''abban arge imdn ingilu
yd qard qbb yo gilNndabu
wdq gard bzeko ararfane yor "argane
5 sunsummi'nfilu
1 The ways by which God has passed, 2 who can ever see ? 3 0 edge of the lance! 4 God
knows the mind (of men). 5 The head is not combed, 6 unless, after it has been combed,
it is oiled. 7 I shall not weary of speaking, 10 if by growing weary, I shall not fail (to
obtain). 11 We have prayed: when shall we ever find (favor) ?
humba humbd yd Wdq 5 dagatte nufiribusini
humba humbd yd Wdq humba humbd yd Wdq
umte nufingatini ’ababdyqssa nuculekieti
humba humba yd Wdq ararfane yoWargane
1 Humbd! Humbd! 0 God! 2 Humbd, Humbd, 0 God! 3 Thou hast created us, do
not cast us away! 4 Humbd, Humbd, 0 God! 5 Thou hast shown us favor, do not abandon
us! 6 Humbd, Humbd, 0 God! 7 1 8 We have prayed; when shall we ever find (favor) ?
Notes. According to Loransiyos, humbd is a word which has no meaning, used in these
invocations to Waqa, because a magic force is attached to it.
igarte nufindigin, yd Wdq 5 gar gar bau nu olci, yd Wdq
kabde nuNbuqqisin, yd Wdq nd dabika, yd Rabbi
iggd bou nu olci, yd Wdq dkka mukd, yd Rabbi
gard nau nu olci, yd Wdq
1 Thou hast raised us up, do not cast us down, 0 God! 2 Thou hast covered us with
grass, do not destroy us, 0 God! 3 From weeping of the eyes, deliver us, 0 God! 4 From
grief of heart, deliver us, 0 God! 5 From being separated from one another, deliver us, 0
God! 6 Plant us, 0 God, 7 like a tree, 0 God!
Notes. The first verses compare, metaphorically, man created and protected by God
with a hut built and covered with grass by the hand of man.
In the second volume of Cecchi’s account of his travels occur some phrases which are
in reality a little song of the wdddga. As the transcription is very incorrect, and the trans-
1 Loransiyos could not translate this verse for me.