242 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA chap. 



they had found Argaferry guilty of being the aggressor 

 and of having struck the first blow. The court then 

 condemned him to provide the wounded men with money 

 for food till they recovered, and then to make them 

 a final present. On hearing this sentence, Argaferry 

 Tobedgee himself came forward and, addressing the 

 court, admitted that he had lost his temper and was 

 to blame ; that he was sorry for his conduct, and now 

 wished to perform the ceremony of reconciliation. All 

 present then stood up, forming a circle round the culprit, 

 at the side of whom stood one of the elders. Gabreo- 

 hanis and Dustar, the two injured men, were then led 

 forward, one at a time, while a new salt with the rush 

 band still round it was produced. Argaferry held one 

 end of this, while one of the wounded men held the other, 

 whereupon, with a smart blow from a stick, the elder 

 broke the salt in two. The aggressor then took both 

 pieces in his hand and threw them violently on the 

 ground, exclaiming: "If I ever strike this man again, 

 may God break me and cast me to the ground, as I do 

 this salt." Then stooping, he picked up one of the 

 pieces and bit off a portion, crunching it with his teeth, 

 and finally, spitting it at the injured man, said: "May 

 this quickly heal your wound." The curious ceremony 

 was then repeated with the other man, after which 

 the aggressor embraced both the injured men in turn, 

 taking them by the right hand and kissing them, with 

 the words : "As we were friends before, so let us be 

 now." The whole proceeding was treated with the 

 greatest solemnity, the oath being considered a most 

 sacred one. I asked afterwards, what was done with 



