172 AMONGST THE EESHIAT AND TO LAKE STEFANIE 



that such was our love of peace, they would never repent 

 having trusted us. 



After this naive interchange of civilities, a long strip of 

 the skin of the entrails of the sheep was wound round the 



neck of each of us ; 

 the Oromaj spat upon 

 us several times, whis- 

 pering Serian (peace), 

 and the bond of 

 friendship was sealed. 

 We presented the 

 Oromaj with the finest 

 beads we had, very 

 greatly to his delight ; 

 but though we had 

 never before seen him 

 in such good spirits, 

 he was not a bit more 

 ready to meet our 

 wishes. 



The Oromaj was 

 between fifty and sixty 

 years old, more than 

 six feet high, and of 

 altogether a striking 

 appearance. He was 

 very reserved, the ex- 

 pression of his face was gloomy, and his eyes were gene- 

 rally fixed thoughtfully on the ground. The back of his head 

 was developed in a very remarkable manner. The long piece 

 of woollen stuff already mentioned, which he wore either flung 

 picturesquely over his shoulders or wound round his loins, was 

 his only garment, whilst a pair of bracelets formed his sole 



A EESHIAT MAN. 



