148 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
which he had ftabbed Laeca Mariam. This wretch was a 
native of a very barbarous nation near Shoa, S. E. of Go- 
jam. The name of their country is Guragué. ‘They are 
Troglodytes, and all robbers: their conftant occupation is 
attending the Abyflinian camps, and ftealing horfes, mules, 
or whatever they can get, which they do in a very fingular 
manner. 
Tuey all wear their hair very fhort, ftrip themfelves ‘ftark- 
naked, and befmear themfelves from head to foot with but- 
ter, or fome fort of greafe, whilft, along the outfide of their 
arm, they tye a long, ftraight, two-edged, fharp-pointed 
knife, the handle reaching into the palm of their hand, 
and about four inches of the blade above the knob of their 
elbow, fo that the whole blade is fafe and inoffenfive when. 
the arm is extended, but when it is bent, about four inches. 
projects, and is bare beyond the elbow joint; this being 
all prepared, they take a leafy faggot, fuch as the gatherers 
of fuel bring to the camp, which they faften to their middle 
by a {tring or withy, {preading it over to coneeal.or cover 
all their back, and then drawing in their legs, they lie 
down, in all appearance, as a faggot, and in the part of the 
eamp they intend to rob, crawling flowly in the dark when 
they think they are unperceived, and lying ftill when there 
is any noife or movement near them: In cafe they find 
themfelves difcovered, they flip the faggot and run; and 
whatever part of them you feize efcapes your fingers by 
reafon of the greafe. If you endeavour to clafp:them, how- 
ever, which is the only way left, the Gurague bends his. 
elbow and ftrikes you with his knife, and you are mor- 
tally wounded, as was the cafe with Laeca Mariam. 
Tus: 
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