DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0180
164
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
to the Tulama Soddb and wholly destroyed the soldiers of the holy war. He utterly
destroyed the soldiers of the holy war and entered Qabiena. He built a residence for himself
at Qabiena and remained there six months. Then the emperor called him to Shoa. When
he called him to Shoa, Hasan resumed the war and stopped in the region of AmbatA (14).
When Fitawrari Habta Giyorgis returned among the Guragie (15), the soldiers of the holy
war began to fight with him. Then Ras Gobana named as fitawrari the head of the
Sulus, Banti Manne, and gave him command. For the fifth time Ras Gobana returned and
exterminated the Hadiya, destroyed the soldiers of the holy war. Then he advanced and
entered Qabiena. Whether Hasan Ingamb sank into the earth or rose to heaven, no one
knows; he disappeared. “ Whither has Hasan Ingamb fled? ” said the Amara. “ He must
have fled to Gfmma, (to) Abba Gifar. Abba Gifar is a Mussulman. He has hidden this
other Mussulman in his royal enclosure and maintains and lodges him.” This they thought
and said to Gobana. Then the negus of the Amara called Abba Gifar to Shoa, ordering him,
“ Bring me Hasan.” And Abba Gifar said to the negus, “ What? Is Hasan perhaps a
sum of money that I can place him in a sack and bring him to thee (16)? ” “Thou goest in
search of trouble,” Negus Menilek answered him, “Go to thy encampment!” And
when Abba Gifar went out, he (Menilek) had him arrested at the door and exiled him to
Ankobar. Abba Gifar remained a prisoner in Ankobar for six months. At last, Goro Nabi
Bato came to Shoa to bring tribute to the negus and said, “ Of whom art thou negus?
Thou hast not the qualities of a negus; thou art a brigand. Robbers do as thou doest.
Perhaps Abba Gifar is like Gobana Dancf ? Perhaps he has eaten dry bread in thy house ?
Was not Abba Gifar a negus? (God) has given thee good fortune; take for thyself the
tribute and eat. If Hasan has entered the house of Abba Gifar, if they find Hasan in the
land of Gfmma, I will give thee my neck,” said the fitawrari, Goro Nabi. Then the negus
said, “ Thou art right. I will free thy master (17).” Then Goro returned. Then the negus
Menilek set free Abba Gifar. Thus it was.
Notes
(1.) See song 43.
(2.) Banti Manne was head of the Sulu Manne. See song 44, notes.
(3.) Fitawrari, Garado Waldie, officer of Ras Gobana. See song 47.
(4.) Daggac Basah, son of Abuye, and therefore brother of Ras Walda Giyorgis. He
died at Adua. Cf. Cerulli, f Canti popolari Amarici,’ op. cit., p. 573.
(5.) The lance being the noble weapon of the pagans, Hasan swears not to use it in
the Mussulman holy war.
(6.) In the figurative sense, for which see song 27, v. 69-78, notes.
(7.) Waliso or Oliso in southwestern Shoa.
(8.) For a similar anecdote, see song 24, notes.
(9.) This reply of Abba Gifar, a Mussulman sovereign, to another Mussulman chief
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
to the Tulama Soddb and wholly destroyed the soldiers of the holy war. He utterly
destroyed the soldiers of the holy war and entered Qabiena. He built a residence for himself
at Qabiena and remained there six months. Then the emperor called him to Shoa. When
he called him to Shoa, Hasan resumed the war and stopped in the region of AmbatA (14).
When Fitawrari Habta Giyorgis returned among the Guragie (15), the soldiers of the holy
war began to fight with him. Then Ras Gobana named as fitawrari the head of the
Sulus, Banti Manne, and gave him command. For the fifth time Ras Gobana returned and
exterminated the Hadiya, destroyed the soldiers of the holy war. Then he advanced and
entered Qabiena. Whether Hasan Ingamb sank into the earth or rose to heaven, no one
knows; he disappeared. “ Whither has Hasan Ingamb fled? ” said the Amara. “ He must
have fled to Gfmma, (to) Abba Gifar. Abba Gifar is a Mussulman. He has hidden this
other Mussulman in his royal enclosure and maintains and lodges him.” This they thought
and said to Gobana. Then the negus of the Amara called Abba Gifar to Shoa, ordering him,
“ Bring me Hasan.” And Abba Gifar said to the negus, “ What? Is Hasan perhaps a
sum of money that I can place him in a sack and bring him to thee (16)? ” “Thou goest in
search of trouble,” Negus Menilek answered him, “Go to thy encampment!” And
when Abba Gifar went out, he (Menilek) had him arrested at the door and exiled him to
Ankobar. Abba Gifar remained a prisoner in Ankobar for six months. At last, Goro Nabi
Bato came to Shoa to bring tribute to the negus and said, “ Of whom art thou negus?
Thou hast not the qualities of a negus; thou art a brigand. Robbers do as thou doest.
Perhaps Abba Gifar is like Gobana Dancf ? Perhaps he has eaten dry bread in thy house ?
Was not Abba Gifar a negus? (God) has given thee good fortune; take for thyself the
tribute and eat. If Hasan has entered the house of Abba Gifar, if they find Hasan in the
land of Gfmma, I will give thee my neck,” said the fitawrari, Goro Nabi. Then the negus
said, “ Thou art right. I will free thy master (17).” Then Goro returned. Then the negus
Menilek set free Abba Gifar. Thus it was.
Notes
(1.) See song 43.
(2.) Banti Manne was head of the Sulu Manne. See song 44, notes.
(3.) Fitawrari, Garado Waldie, officer of Ras Gobana. See song 47.
(4.) Daggac Basah, son of Abuye, and therefore brother of Ras Walda Giyorgis. He
died at Adua. Cf. Cerulli, f Canti popolari Amarici,’ op. cit., p. 573.
(5.) The lance being the noble weapon of the pagans, Hasan swears not to use it in
the Mussulman holy war.
(6.) In the figurative sense, for which see song 27, v. 69-78, notes.
(7.) Waliso or Oliso in southwestern Shoa.
(8.) For a similar anecdote, see song 24, notes.
(9.) This reply of Abba Gifar, a Mussulman sovereign, to another Mussulman chief