CHELICUT. 
299 
the Galla immediately under the command of these two powerful 
chiefs. 
I have before stated my opinion, that the Galla entered Abys- 
sinia from the south, by the way of Melinda and Patta, and upon 
this subject little doubt can, I conceive, be entertained, from the 
circumstance of the tribes still forming an uninterrupted chain 
to those points. Like the Goths and Yandals, who spread them- 
selves over the greater part of Europe, the Galla poured in sepa- 
rate tribes into this part of Africa, at different periods, according 
to the prospect of advantage or settlement ; and, like the former, 
in a short time became naturalized, and have, in many instances, 
adopted the language, manners, and customs of the natives 
they have conquered. 
With respect to their invasions in three great divisions, each 
consisting of seven tribes ; their government established under 
kings, Lubo and Mooty, elected every seven years;'* ''their councils 
of chiefs,'' and other circumstances related by Mr. Bruce, they 
appear either to be customs or traditions peculiar to the Maitsha 
Galla, with whom Mr. Bruce conversed,* or to be confined entirely 
to the southern tribes, t as among those I am describing, no such 
regular political government is known to exist. As far as I could 
ascertain from the Ras, who spoke the language of the Galla, 
and seemed to be intimately acquainted with their history, it 
appeared that no common bond of union subsists between the 
different tribes, except that of their speaking the same language ; 
twenty tribes, at least, being known perfectly independent of one 
* Vide Bruce, Vol. III. p. 241, &c. 
f Some account of these will be subsequently given from different sources of infor- 
mation. 
Qq 
