SPORT IN ABYSSINIA. 7 1 



across it lay to my left, which would bring us almost 

 together. He saw his chance, and whipped up his 

 mule, who had the legs of mine, and caught me ; 

 I then pulled up, and he asked for his spear. I 

 delayed a minute or two, and then began laughing. 

 He seemed to understand the joke, and 1 gave him 

 back his spear ; he told Brou, who was following 

 after me, that he really thought I meant to take it 

 away from him. I heard them laughing a little way 

 behind me. Abyssinians are very cheery fellows, 

 always ready for a joke, provided it does not touch 

 their pockets. 



When we reached Terramnee I sent for the chicker, 

 or head-man of the village, and they said they would go 

 and fetch him. There was an assembly of natives in 

 the village, all jabbering at once. I asked Brou what 

 it was all about, and he said it was a dispute between a 

 man and his wife ; one party takes the wife's part, 

 and another the husband's ; judges are appointed, 

 and they "jaw" away as hard as they can. Several 

 natives had come in from neighbouring villages about 

 this. At length, when it was over, they had the 

 civility to attend to me : the old story — the chicker 

 could not be found ; he was in the fields ; they had 

 sent for him, etc. I asked, " Where's his house .''" 

 They showed it me, and I went up to it. The old 

 ofentleman was at the bottom of the hill which I 



