SPORT IN ABYSSINIA. 77 



galloping their horses at full speed and throwing their 

 sticks at each other like spears, receiving them on 

 their shields. I believe there is a Turkish game, 

 called Jerrid, which is much the same thing. Their 

 horses were wretched specimens — thin, bony screws, 

 that could not gallop as fast as a person could kick his 

 hat. I asked one of them if he would let me get up 

 and try the game. So one of my servants asked, 

 " Will you lend the Feringee your horse .''" He said, 

 " The Feringee ! oh no," and galloped away as hard 

 as he could. When we had seen this, we determined 

 to go and pay a visit to Borum i3raswouldeselassie. 

 We found him just about to sit down to his dinner, 

 and he asked us to join him. My readers must not 

 imagine a table and chairs at this entertainment, as 

 the dinner was held in a stable ; Borum Braswoulde- 

 selassie and his family sitting on the ground. The 

 first thing they began to eat was some "tef" — a sort 

 of spongy, sour bread, made in large thin cakes. This 

 they dipped into a paste of red pepper, and ate it witli 

 their fingers. Borum Bras, had some very good "tej," 

 of which we drank. There was also some stewed meat, 

 which was broken up in bits by the servants with 

 their fingers, and then the dish was given to the lady 

 of the house, who divided the portions equally and 

 handed them to each member of the family as well as 

 to the guests. The enormous quantity of bread and 



