I 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



37 



It is three days' march from Mkonumbi to the Tana 

 River, and the country passed through is similar in 

 topography to that surrounding Mkonumbi. 



At a point one day's journey from the river we 

 reached a small Galla village. The Galla here are an 

 insignificant and impov- 

 erished race, far differ- 

 ent from their brethren 

 who inhabit the country 

 lying to the west of Ab- 

 yssinia. It is estimated 

 that throughout the en- 

 tire length of the Tana 

 River there are not more 

 than looo Galla. These 

 people have had a sad 

 history, and their story 

 is as follows : 



Many years ago, two 

 brothers reigned over a 

 large Galla tribe, located 

 at a point several hun- 

 dred miles to the north 

 of the Tana — presuma- 

 bly the Aroussa. These 

 brothers quarrelled, and 

 concluded they could not inhabit the same country. 

 The younger set out with half the tribe, and, after 

 wandering many years, arrived at the upper regions of 

 the Tana River. At that time they possessed cattle, 

 camels, sheep, and goats. They had with them, so the 

 legend runs, a sacred book, which they called " kitab," 



Galla Girl 



