80 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
slaves working on the plantations, and indulge frequently 
on their own account in target practice. 
They are very fond of elephant hunting, and shooting 
any game they can find. ‘They have thus learned the use 
of the rifle, and many of them are excellent marksmen. 
Most of them fire with a rest, consisting of a stick forked 
at one end, while the other end is pointed to plant in the 
ground. These rests, which are quite short, they carry 
about with them, using them as walking-sticks. Though 
they are impetuous and daring warriors, they are careful to 
obey the commands of their officers, —the smallest want 
of discipline in this respect being punished by death or 
the cutting off an arm. When going to war they ride 
mule-back, leading also a few ponies, which they mount 
only when they wish to make a charge upon their enemy. 
They are quick in seizing advantageous positions, attack- 
ing their enemy in the dark or from ambush, or luring 
them on to some point where they may have them ata 
disadvantage. A hardier, more energetic lot of men could 
not be found. I made up my mind then and there that 
any nation attacking them would have its hands full. 
Various cloths are manufactured in Abyssiniaa <A 
coarse cotton cloth, made into loose short trousers and 
cloaks, is worn by the poorer people, while the richer 
classes clothe themselves in beautiful and striking woollen 
cloaks of the finest texture, and wonderfully soft. These 
cloaks are eight feet long and doubled, so that they will 
cover the whcele person; and, being pure white, with a 
scarlet band running down the middle a foot and a half 
wide, they make a brilliant display. 
The women’s dress consists of a short skirt, with a loose 
blouse attached. 
The voices of both the men and women are pitched in a 
most unpleasantly high key, and their sentences are short 
