Journey to the Galla Country, 167 
attached a length of chain filling a large basket, 
which they had to carry about with them wherever 
they might go. Indeed, the clank of chains, the 
heavy thud of the " bakora " (walking-stick), and the 
deep sighs and sullen groaning of the oppressed, 
were the doleful sounds which were scarcely ever 
out of the ear. 
Our men were constantly coming to us exclaiming, 
Oh, bana, bana ! this is a dreadful place ! Go and 
look at the way in which they are treating slaves in 
the market. They are beating them till the flesh is 
almost dropping from their bones. Do go and help 
them if you can." But we had interceded for one 
poor fellow. He was liberated for a time ; yet we 
had no sooner gone out of the way than he was 
rebound and whipped to death ! Interference did 
more harm than good, so we were obliged to see 
and hear all, but say nothing. At length we shut 
ourselves up in our dark and sultry lodgings, in order 
to avoid witnessing cruelties which we could not 
prevent. 
On Saturday the 17th we heard that the Gallas for 
whom we sent had just arrived at Mambrui. On the 
following Monday, therefore, we went over to that 
place, and found rather a large party awaiting us. 
Mara Barowat had sent his brother. Aba Rufat, and 
two other leading men as his representatives ; Dado 
Guio Shelat had come ; and ultimately Hirebaya 
Didat and Buiya Dabassat, our former guide from 
Charra, made their appearance. These great men 
were accompanied by a large number of attendants. 
A great palaver was held, but before anything 
could be done the usual preliminaries had to be 
