220 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



The king of the weftern Galla is fliled Lubo, the other 

 Mooty. At this alTembly, the king allots to each their fcene 

 of murder and rapine ; but limits them always to fpeedy 

 returns in cafe the body of the nation fhould have occalion 

 for them. The Galla are reputed very good foldiers for fur- 

 prife, and in the firft attack, but have not conftancy or per- 

 feverance. They accomplifli incredible marches ; fwim 

 rivers holding by the horfes tail, (an exercife to which both 

 they and their horfes are perfe(5lly trained;) do the utmoft 

 mifchief poffible in the Ihorteft time; and rarely return by 

 the fame way they came. They are excellent light horfe: 

 for a regular army in an enemy's country. 



Iron is very fcarce among them, fo that their principal' 

 arms are poles fliarpened at the end, and hardened in the 

 fire, which they ufe like lances. Their fliields are made o£ 

 bulls hides of a iingle fold, fo that they are very fubjecfl to 

 warp in heat, or become too pliable and foft in wet weather, 

 Notwithftanding thefe difadvantages, the report of their 

 cruelty made fuch an imprellion upon the Abyffinians, that, 

 on their firft engagements they rarely ftood firmly the GaU 

 la's jfirft onfet. Befides this, the fhrill and very barbarous 

 noife they are alv/ays ufed to make at the moment they 

 charge,, ufed to terrify the horfes and riders, fo that ai 

 flight generally followed the attack made by Galla horfe. 



These melancholy and frantic howls I had occafion to- 

 I\ear often ia thofe engagements that happened while I was 

 in AbyfTmia. The Edjow, a body of Galla who had been- 

 in the late king Joas's fervice, and were relations to him by 

 his mother, who was of that clan of fouthcrn Galla, were 

 couftantly in the rebel army, and always in the moft dif- 



4- afl'eded; 



