640 Report on Shoa [No. 140. 



the Aroosi and the Ittoo, still hold their own, and have by repeated de- 

 feats, taught the Amhara to beware of the close conflict. 



50. The spear, the sword, and the buckler, are the national wea- 

 pons, although the use of fire-arms is partially known and fully appre- 

 ciated, and the king's company of fusileers is gradually increasing in 

 number, to his own advantage, and to the consternation of his enemies ; 

 but the habitual suspicions of the monarch prevents the native from 

 being made thoroughly acquainted with the use of the firelock, the arms 

 being always deposited within the walls of the palace, excepting during 

 the actual period of the expedition, and ill-judged parsimony works its 

 usual baneful effects on the minds of the hired soldier. 



51. Combining the halberd with the javelin, the spear is used both 

 for thrusting and throwing, loaded at the butt with a stout ring of iron ; 

 it is short, light, with a keen long iron head, and well balanced, but bet- 

 ter adapted for launching as a missive weapon. The Abyssinian, from 

 constant practice, is well versed in its use, and after poising it for a 

 time over his head, displays considerable accuracy of aim at any dis- 

 tance within sixty yards of the mark. 



52. It may be generally said, that swords of civilized nations are 

 straight, whilst those of barbarous people are curved. The Abyssinian 

 implement, which is frequently represented in old Egyptian paintings, is 

 very short, hardly two feet in length, very highly recurved, and fa- 

 shioned out of very bad metal indeed ; altogether it is a most ridiculous 

 weapon of war, and would prove of but small service, if opposed to 

 any of the modern inventions. After the fashion of the ancient Persians 

 and Romans, it is worn on the right side, and is more like a short 

 reaping sickle with the back sharpened than a sword ; it is chiefly em- 

 ployed after the spear has finished the work of death, to complete the 

 work of mutilation of the body. 



53. The terrible effect which attended these weapons in ancient 

 times is not to be witnessed among the dastard sons of Shoa. "The 

 horseman indeed lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering 

 spear," but " there is no multitude slain," and if beat into ploughshares 

 and pruning hooks, the metal would prove of much greater service to 

 the nation in their agricultural pursuits, and of equal avail in braining 

 a defenceless Galla, their only enemies acquainted with the art of 

 war. 



