22o TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



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

 Mooty. At this affembly, 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 mould have occafion 

 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 accomplim incredible marches ; fwim 

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

 they and their horfes are perfectly trained;) do the utmoft 

 mifchief poilible in the fhorteft 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 fharpened at the end, and hardened in the 

 fire, which they ufe like lances. Their ihields are made of 

 bulls hides of a fmgle fold, fo that they are very fubject to 

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

 Notwithstanding thefe difadvantages, the report of their 

 cruelty made fuch an impreflion upon the Abyflinians, that, 

 on their firft engagements they rarely flood firmly the Gal- 

 la's firft onfet. Befides this, the Ihrill and very barbarous 

 noife they are always ufed to make at the moment they 

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

 flight generally followed the attack made by Galla horfe. 



These melancholy and frantic howls I had occafion to 

 hear often in thofe engagements that happened while I was. 

 in Abyflinia. 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 fouthern Galla, were 

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



4 affected 



