Journey to the Galla Country. .169 
understand its meaning, but it may portend mischief, 
perhaps the ruin of the country." We were afraid 
that they were going to associate our visit with this 
matter, but they fortunately did nothing of the kind. 
When they had done speaking they looked to us 
for our news, which we gave them in a very few words, 
concluding by asking them to fulfil the programme 
which had been arranged on our former visit. The 
proceedings terminated by an effort on the part of 
the Gallas to obtain more cloth. The last speech 
they made ran thus : Everything is to our minds. 
What the Dunga " (white men) say is perfectly right 
and true ; they are good men and mean well ; we 
must keep faith with them. All that they have yet 
done has pleased us, but there remains one thing to 
complete our joy. We are about to take our leave, 
and we cannot do this with pleasure without a part- 
ing gift." Thus they go on, thinking only how they ^ 
can turn everything to their own immediate advan- 
tage. We managed to satisfy them, and then the 
party took their departure, leaving Hirebaya, Dado, 
Buiya, and Aba Rufat, etc., to conduct us to the 
country as soon as we should be prepared to travel. 
We could not have been placed in the hands of a 
more influential escort ; for they were all what are 
called " toibs " (councillors), and leading spirits among 
their people. 
The two former, after staying with us two or three 
days, decided that it would be better for them to pre- 
cede us in the way, in order to prepare the people for 
our reception, so with our consent they set out first. 
We hoped to have followed them in a few days, but 
just at this time an English vessel, the " Clutha Belle," 
